Beyond a buzzword: How collaborative tripartism holds Singapore together

You’ve probably heard policymakers or union leaders describe Singapore’s collaborative tripartism as our nation’s “secret sauce”, and you may have dismissed it as just another cliché political catchphrase.

The truth is, the tripartite relationship that we’ve come to know locally has quietly shaped our country into what it is today.

And while calling it our 'secret sauce' might sound trite, the effect is anything but.

It is the reason we’ve avoided strikes, wage stagnation and political paralysis that have hit many developed countries. It is why foreign investors have remained confident in our small city-state even though we have limited natural resources.

And it is why, when crises hit, we do not descend into panic or paralysis. We adapt, adjust and keep moving.

What exactly is collaborative tripartism?

Collaborative tripartism is often described as this harmonious relationship triangle between the Government, employers and unions.

But the word “harmonious” probably paints an unrealistic image of a friction-free partnership.

In reality, difficult conversations are part of the deal.

At the table, NTUC represents workers, employers push for business sustainability, and the Government considers long-term national interests.

They don’t always agree, but they always engage.

In countries where a more adversarial form of tripartism is practiced, these bodies only meet when a crisis erupts.

Whereas for Singapore, they meet constantly. Be it through tripartite committees, councils, workgroups, advisory panels and taskforces that hash out everything from wages to skills to workplace fairness.

Down here, tripartism isn’t just a slogan. It’s an infrastructure, one that has been painstakingly built over the last six decades.

Three moments that show what tripartism can achieve

While it is easy to say Singapore’s tripartism works, it’s far more convincing to look at what it has delivered.

1. The Progressive Wage Model: Singapore’s answer to increasing wages and productivity

Globally, the debate over minimum wage is heavily divided.

In Singapore, we took a more pragmatic and collaborative approach—the Progressive Wage Model (PWM).

Mooted by the Labour Movement and co-created by tripartite partners, the PWM lifted wages sector by sector, tying wage increases with training and productivity, while creating real career ladders for lower-wage workers.

It wasn’t a quick fix; it took years since former NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Say first introduced the concept back in 2012.

But it worked because all three parties collaborated to build it.

As a result? Better wages, better-skilled workers and better service levels, and a model that continues to expand today.

2. COVID-19: How tripartism pulled the country through a crisis

The pandemic put every country’s resilience to the test.

While Singapore’s experience wasn’t perfect, tripartite partners were able to respond decisively.

With their relationships and mechanisms in place, they moved quickly.

The Government rolled out wage support through budgets after budgets at an unprecedented speed. NTUC and its affiliated unions negotiated pay cuts instead of retrenchments, and employers came together through the Labour Movement’s Job Security Council to swiftly transfer workers from sectors where there was excess manpower to sectors that needed them most.

Throughout the chaos, the message was consistent: protect workers and their livelihoods.

Singapore’s ability to endure through the pandemic wasn’t a case of dumb luck, but through the hard-fought foundation that the tripartite partners had established.

3. Transformation: Preparing the nation for the future

The shift towards automation, digitalisation and green jobs could have triggered fear and resistance.

Instead, our collaborative tripartism turned it into a coordinated national effort.

Through SkillsFuture, Industry Transformation Maps and NTUC’s Company Training Committees (CTCs), tripartite partners didn’t just tell workers to “upskill”.

They designed pathways, created training infrastructure, and restructured jobs so that upskilling would actually lead to better outcomes for workers.

The result is a workforce better prepared for disruption in this increasingly uncertain economy.

Why collaborative tripartism matters more than ever

Today’s stresses are multiplying.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rewriting jobs, businesses are facing unpredictable global shocks, cost-of-living pressures are shaping every conversation, and societies everywhere are grappling with mistrust and division.

In this environment, Singapore’s collaborative tripartism isn’t just an ideal; it’s an assurance.

It ensures disagreements don’t balloon into hostility, that workers feel heard, employers feel supported, and the Government has the support to act decisively.

Singapore’s unique tripartism isn’t just relevant in 2025, it may be one of the few national capabilities that give us an edge in an increasingly fractured world.