In conversation with Dr Vivian Balakrishnan

Any extracts should be attributed to Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs.

At this year’s May Day Awards, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan receives the Medal of Honour — the highest accolade of the evening — in recognition of more than two decades of steadfast partnership with the Labour Movement, from guiding workers through major industrial transitions to championing Singapore’s standing on the world stage.

He shares with us what the Labour Movement has meant to him, and why trust remains the foundation of it all.

How does it feel to receive the Medal of Honour at this year’s May Day Awards?

Deeply honoured and very grateful to all the union leaders over the past twenty-five years who have been my mentors, role models, comrades and life-long friends. They are the real heroes – the pillars of the trade union movement.

You have been involved with the Labour Movement for more than two decades. How did that relationship begin, and what has kept you committed to it through the many chapters of your public life?

My father was involved with the Singapore Teachers Union many decades ago. He used to share snippets of the pressure and dilemmas that unionists faced in the early difficult years.

I saw first-hand the importance of standing up for others and working through issues in a fair and constructive way. So I always said “yes” whenever NTUC or the unions summoned. I believe in your cause.

You have advised unions across very different sectors — oil refineries, petrochemical plants, integrated resorts, attractions, clubs and the teachers’ union. What has surprised you most about workers in these industries?

It has been a real privilege to have met so many people from such diverse sectors. What stands out to me is how similar people's priorities are regardless of their life journey.

Whether it is someone working long shifts in a refinery or someone keeping a hotel or attraction running smoothly, all are focused on the same things. We want to build a better life, support our families, and give our children more opportunities than we had.

I once asked Mr Lee Kuan Yew how he felt when he watched our beautiful skyline. He simply said, “A hardworking and disciplined people built all this”. What we see in today’s Singapore did not happen by accident, but through hard work, discipline and sacrifice over generations.

That same spirit prevails today. People are prepared to put in the effort, adapt, and keep moving forward, not just for themselves, but for those who come after them.

Can you share a moment from your time working with union leaders that has stayed with you?

The most meaningful, significant part of this journey have been the leaders I’ve learnt the most from, especially people like the late Mr Nithia Nandan of UPAGE and the late G Muthukumarasamy (often known as Brother Kumar).

They were wonderful human beings who came from very deprived beginnings, climbed up the ladder through grit and honest hard work, and then turned around to help and support their fellow colleagues.

They showed me what union leadership really is. They had the support and the trust of their members, and they advocated on their behalf in an unvarnished, honest and direct way. They came up with practical solutions to real problems. They spoke truth to power.

Over the years, I have met successive generations of union leaders upholding this same tradition.

In my current appointment, I travel all over the world and observed many societies. I am more convinced than ever before that this unique tripartite model in Singapore is a source of considerable competitive advantage for us.

And the key ingredient is TRUST. You must have the trust of the workers. The workers expect you to represent their interests robustly, honestly and candidly. And the union leaders know the Government is on their side. And employers know we take a long-term view and are protecting workers by helping companies stay viable and competitive. We work with each other; not against each other.

This unique model enables us to grow our economy, grow jobs, and most importantly, protect our workers. Given the circumstances we are in now with great transformation in economics and in geopolitics, this trust has become even more valuable.

When the 2024 divestment of Shell’s Energy and Chemicals Park to CAPGC Pte Ltd happened, you stepped forward to support affected workers and took on the advisory role for the newly formed union. That was no small commitment. What drove that decision?

This was not just a corporate transaction. It affected livelihoods, families, and a workforce that had built up deep capabilities over many years. In that situation, it was important to step in early, work closely with all parties, and ensure that workers were treated fairly and kept informed throughout the process.

It is also worth appreciating that the value of a company is not just a bunch of formulae in a spreadsheet but also the accumulated skills, experience and commitment of the workers.

I was glad that both Shell and CAPGC recognised this and we were able to find solutions that were fair and enabled our workers to move forward with greater confidence.

Tripartism is often spoken about in the abstract. From where you stand — as both a Minister and a union advisor — what does it actually take to make it work, especially when things get difficult?

It is especially when things get difficult that trust is most necessary. Trust has to be built up in peacetime; you cannot build trust when you are already having an argument.

Having said that, if you have got trust, a track record, and then you deal with the problems, I found that it lends itself to a much more constructive form of engagement. Both sides, the employers and the unions are looking for solutions that are practical, that are fair, and that can stand the test of time.

As Singapore’s Foreign Minister, you have worked to keep Singapore relevant and trusted on the world stage. How do you see that work connecting to the everyday lives of workers here?

Foreign policy begins at home. The biggest advantages we have are domestic. A cohesive society, hardworking disciplined workers, a system based on integrity with large reservoirs of trust. Only then will we have credibility on the international stage.

But it also works both ways. For a small, open economy like Singapore, what happens externally has a direct impact on jobs here. Our ability to attract investments, keep supply chains open, and maintain access to markets depends on how we are viewed internationally, as a reliable and trusted partner.

You see this translate on the ground in very practical ways. Our network of free trade agreements with different regions and countries gives our businesses access to markets and allows them to grow and create jobs here. When companies choose Singapore as a base for their regional or global operations, it generates opportunities across sectors, from manufacturing and logistics to finance and technology.

We saw this clearly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our relationships with partners helped keep supply chains open and ensured continued access to essential goods, including vaccines and medical supplies. Similarly, with the current energy crisis, we are working closely with partners such as Australia and New Zealand to keep energy supplies flowing and maintain stability.

So foreign policy is not abstract. It is about securing opportunities, maintaining stability, and creating the conditions for Singaporeans to have good jobs and better prospects.

What do you hope younger Singaporeans — whether they are union leaders, workers or future ministers — understand about why the Labour Movement matters?

The greatest danger is to take the value of the Labour Movement for granted because we have had peace and success for many decades.

Major industrial disputes are rare, jobs have been relatively secure and working conditions have improved over time. It can feel as though these things are a given.

But from my own experience, I have seen how the Labour Movement continues to make a difference in very practical ways. Whether it is supporting workers through major transitions like the Shell Energy and Chemicals Park divestment, or persuading foreign enterprise that unions are worthy partners instead of opponents.

Unions are also a source of new policy ideas. For example, I recall Brother Kumar embarking on job re-design for cleaners at the National Environment Agency in 2008 to improve their productivity and wages. I was glad to move the initial legislation in Parliament to establish the Progressive Wage Model for cleaners in 2014. Whenever PWM is discussed nowadays, I still think of him.

Looking ahead, the challenges will be different. Workers will need more support in areas like skills upgrading, mid-career transitions, adapting to new technologies like AI, and navigating more flexible or non-traditional forms of work. The Labour Movement must continue to play a key role in helping workers make these transitions with confidence.

Ultimately, it is about making sure that progress is shared, and that we continue to move forward together as a society.

If you could change one thing about how Singapore approaches the relationship between workers and employers, what would it be?

To take a long-term view. Technology and business models will change. But people are not tools to be used and replaced. The relationship between workers and employers must evolve into long term partnerships with mutual commitment.

We must deepen that sense of alignment in more practical ways. For example, being honest and fair in negotiations. Treat everyone with respect. More support for working parents with greater flexibility, enabling senior workers to stay employed with dignity, helping those making mid-career transitions find new opportunities, and strengthening support for platform and lower-wage workers as work arrangements evolve.

Ultimately, the relationship works best when both workers and employers see themselves as partners in the same journey, with a shared stake in each other’s success.

What do you want people to remember you for?

That is not for me to choose.

I am proud of our Labour Movement and feel privileged to have shared part of the journey with all of you.

More details on this year’s 188 awardees can be found at the May Day Awards 2026 Citations Magazine.