Tripartite system has achieved so much in S'pore, the worker at the heart of all we do: PM Wong's May Day speech

Singapore's strong tripartite partnership is critical in the face of economic uncertainty, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said at the May Day Rally on May 1.

Speaking to members of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), including Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng, PM Wong reminded the audience how unique Singapore's tripartite system is, and its contribution to nation-building.

"In many other countries, unions stand across the picket line – protesting and agitating. Here in Singapore, our unions are partners in nation building. You are not at the sidelines, you are at the decision-making table."

He added that unions help to shape policies and move things forward, although there are disagreements and there is no "groupthink".

And due to this unique partnership, Singapore has achieved what few other countries could.

"We’ve kept unemployment low.

We’ve kept real wages rising.

We’ve kept Singaporeans united and confident in our future."

PM Wong said this is a partnership "forged in crises and tested by time".

He reflected that for him, it was forged through battling the Covid-19 pandemic together, "with all of you, side by side".

The PAP will never step away from the Labour Movement: PM Wong

PM Wong mentioned the upcoming General Election on May 3, where Singaporeans will "decide on our next chapter".

He called on Singaporeans to "judge [him] and [his] team fairly".

If voters believed in their "heart of hearts" that they have stayed true to their promise, and that the PAP is the best team to take Singapore forward in these turbulent times, he asked for their support.

But regardless of the outcome, he gave his word that the PAP will "never step away from the Labour Movement."

"We will walk with you as comrades. We will work with you, shoulder to shoulder, for a better Singapore.

This is my promise to you. This is my promise to all workers of Singapore."

Come a long way

PM Wong started his speech by acknowledging the last day of the GE2025 campaign, paying tribute to activists and volunteers who have been walking the ground and interacting with residents, and thanking those from the Labour Movement who have lent their support.

He reflected on Singapore's transformation from a third-world country to a first-world country over 60 years, staying united with the workers who "gave their all", and said that today's Singapore is a testament to their dedication and resilience.

PM Wong referenced the Covid-19 pandemic, with the worst full-year recession since independence, shuttered businesses, and soaring unemployment.

However, he also saw how everyone "banded together" and "lifted each other up", with the NTUC leading the charge to protect workers.

Minimising impact of Covid

He mentioned NTUC working with companies to minimise retrenchments, negotiating fair retrenchment benefits, helping displaced workers find new roles through the Jobs Security Council and providing assistance to the needy through the NTUC Care Fund and the Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme.

Because of these actions, PM Wong said, the impact of the Covid-19 was "minimised" and when the pandemic stopped, Singapore was able to "strongly" bounce back.

GDP growth exceeded 4 per cent in 2024, and Changi Airport has been revitalised after being a "ghost town" in 2020.

He added that the SG60 May Day rally is also a tribute to everyone in the Labour Movement who held the fort in stormy times.

Tariff storm ahead

However, having recovered from the pandemic, Singapore and the world face another storm, the Tariff Trade War started by U.S. President Donald Trump.

However, it's not just the U.S., with trade barriers going up across the world. Companies report orders being cancelled and investments going down.

"We cannot rule out a full-blown recession," PM Wong said, reminding the audience that this is not a short-term blip and the storm will not pass quickly.

Just like Covid-19 with its recurring waves of outbreaks, the Tariff storm will remain for some time, and certainly not a "1-year affair".

Singapore has to be prepared for the long haul, with challenges like cost-of-living pressures made worse by such global developments.

Don't treat loss of key ministers lightly: PM Wong

With the U.S. targeting regional countries that they think are bypassing their rules, Singapore will come under greater scrutiny.

PM Wong said good relationships with overseas counterparts take time to build, and can't be done overnight.

"So in this election, when opposition parties treat so lightly the loss of key ministers, I say please have a care," he said, adding:

"In a football [match], if three or four members of the starting 11 are unable to play, what happens?

Sure, there will be backups and reserves. But everyone knows the team can’t function at the same level.

It’s the same in any organisation.

That’s how it will be in the next Cabinet if we end up with such a loss; and that means we can’t have as an effective a team working for Singaporeans and Singapore."

He said that despite the election, his team has "not stopped working", speaking to other world leaders to strengthen partnerships and, securing new opportunities.

PM Wong mentioned Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, who has been "on call" with his trade counterparts to keep economic ties strong and work out new frameworks for trade and investments.

PM Wong said "every worker matters" and it is his duty to protect workers, families and the country.

"That is why I take this election very seriously. Others may take this chance to rock the boat, but I will never gamble with your lives, or our future."

Preparing for the storm

PM Wong said the PAP government has "always looked ahead" to anticipate challenges instead of waiting until the last minute to fight fires.

"In our last term, when we saw there were gaps in our fiscal position, we decided on a series of tax changes.

The moves may not be popular, but they were the responsible thing to do.

As a result of those steps, we are now in a healthy fiscal position – we have the resources we need to protect our workers and tackle the challenges ahead."

PM Wong also mentioned the support measures in the 2025 Budget, helping ease cost-of-living pressures for workers and helping workers and businesses uplift their wages, skills and competitiveness.

The government is closely monitoring the situation and stands ready to "do more" if conditions get worse.

He again mentioned Gan as a "key minister" in charge of this, heading the taskforce together with other ministers and tripartite partners.

"The Taskforce is hard at work. They are preparing drawer plans to help businesses and workers. They will announce more details when ready," he added.

Opportunities in the storm

Despite the risks, there are also opportunities as the Singapore brand is still "known and respected" in emerging regions like Latin America and Africa.

Many companies "see the potential in Asia" and are keen to do more in Singapore, as they see it as a reliable and stable pro-business hub.

"Let’s keep it this way, because that’s our key competitive advantage," PM Wong said.

He praised NTUC for their efforts in helping to restructure companies to be more competitive, and added that Singapore unions have a different mindset, instead of being "adversarial and confrontational".

"For our unions, it’s not zero-sum. I Win-You Lose. You look for win-win," he said.

He cited the example of the NTUC Company Training Committees (CTC), with the government supporting the idea in 2019, providing S$100 million in funding support and another S$200 million to help scale it up.

Today there are over 3,000 CTCs, benefiting more than 7,000 workers.

"That's real impact, real transformation for businesses and for workers," he said.

PM Wong pledged to back every worker at every stage of their life, whether it's a young person keen on pursuing careers in less conventional paths like the arts, mid-career workers looking to change careers, and seniors who wish to continue working.

"Don't worry, we'll be there for you," he said.

Top image by Mothership.