The setting up of the Singapore Institute of Labour Studies (SILS) in 1990 marked the fulfilment of our long desire to have labour college.

The NTUC Pasir Ris Resort was upgraded while two new resorts were constructed - the Orchid Country Club and the Sentosa Beach Resort. To focus on the varied programmes offer by the NTUC family, Lifestyle Centres were built.

New cooperatives came on the scene - providing pharmaceutical services, going into food business with existing hawkers under a franchise scheme, building quality homes for workers, meeting the needs of an aging population and strengthening our media services.

The NTUC stepped up efforts to help the less privileged in society, adopting more welfare homes and reaching out to senior citizens living on their own in one-room flats.

The NTUC initiated steps to change the wage payment system from one based on seniority to a more equitable one, for new employees as well as older ones.

With our economy affected by the regional financial turmoil, we have been calling for wage restraint while pressing for more workers to go for training and retraining. Indeed, SILS upgrading forms an integral part of NTUC 21, our blueprint for the next century. We want to work even more closely with business and government to create a more competitive and better Singapore, one where our workers can enjoy quality lifestyle. This way, we stay relevant and at the same time add value to Team Singapore to cope with the challenges ahead.