Eric Cheong, pioneer union leader who helped shape Singapore's Labour Movement, dies aged 96

• Eric Cheong Yuen Chee was a pioneer Singapore trade unionist, former Toa Payoh MP and key figure in the NTUC Labour Movement.

• He played major roles in The Singapore Manual and Mercantile Workers’ Union (SMMWU), NTUC, the trade union co-operative movement and the Singapore’s tripartite model of co-operation.

• His legacy lies in advancing workers’ welfare, building stronger union-management relations and supporting social enterprises that helped lower everyday living costs for Singaporeans.

Eric Cheong Yuen Chee, a pioneer trade union leader who spent more than three decades championing workers' rights and helped lay the foundations of Singapore's modern Labour Movement, has died. He was 96.

Mr Cheong passed on 15 July 2026, leaving behind a legacy that spanned trade unionism, politics and the co-operative movement. Throughout his career, he was widely regarded as a principled and steadfast advocate for workers, while helping to strengthen the partnership between unions, employers and the Government that underpins Singapore's tripartite model.

As the Secretary-General of The Singapore Manual & Mercantile Workers' Union (SMMWU) from 1977 to 1988, he played a central role in expanding the union and improving the welfare of its members. He later served the union as its President from 1988 to 1990.

He also served on the NTUC Central Committee from 1967 to 1984, and held senior leadership positions in several NTUC co-operatives, helping to make everyday essentials more affordable for Singaporeans.

From 1968 to 1988, Mr Cheong represented Toa Payoh in Parliament, viewing his role as a legislator as an extension of his work in the Labour Movement.

The Labour Movement honours Eric Cheong

Tributes poured in following news of his passing, with union leaders remembering Mr Cheong as part of the generation that shaped the Labour Movement in its formative years.

The SMMWU took to Facebook on 16 July 2026 to “bid farewell to one of our own,” lauding his most significant contributions.

“He devoted himself to improving workers’ lives, while helping build the trust and partnership between unions, employers and the Government that has become a hallmark of Singapore's tripartite model,” the union said.

NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng also paid a personal tribute to Mr Cheong in a Facebook post on the same day, praising the integrity he demonstrated through his actions.

“He believed unions must always uphold the highest standards of integrity and that lasting progress for workers comes from working constructively with the Government and employers, not through confrontation.

“He held himself and his team to those same high standards, never wavering from them,” the Labour Chief said.

Helping shape Singapore's Labour Movement

Mr Cheong belonged to the generation of trade unionists who helped build NTUC during its early years.

According to an NTUC News article published in 1990, he led many workers to leave the pro-communist Singapore Association of Trade Unions (SATU) and join SMMWU, strengthening NTUC during a pivotal period in Singapore's labour history.

He went on to transform SMMWU into one of the country's leading unions, overseeing its growth while advocating better wages, working conditions and stronger representation for workers.

Bringing workers’ voices into Parliament

In a 2022 interview with Petir, he said entering politics was a natural continuation of his union work, believing Parliament offered another avenue to advance labour legislation and improve workers' lives.

Throughout his parliamentary career, he remained closely associated with labour issues and was recognised as a strong advocate for working Singaporeans.

Growing the co-operative movement

Mr Cheong also played a significant role in developing NTUC's co-operative movement.

Drawing on SMMWU's experience in the trading sector, he became the first Secretary/Manager of NTUC Welcome, the supermarket co-operative that later became NTUC FairPrice.

Reflecting on its success in a 1990 interview with NTUC News, Mr Cheong said: "NTUC Welcome succeeded because we carried out our promise to share our profits with those who patronised us."

He later held senior positions in NTUC Comfort and NTUC Denticare, helping to expand affordable transport and dental services as part of the Labour Movement's broader effort to ease the cost of living for workers and their families.

For many within the Labour Movement, Mr Cheong's legacy extends beyond the offices he held. He belonged to the pioneering generation of union leaders whose emphasis on constructive dialogue, tripartism and service helped shape the Labour Movement that continues to represent workers today.