While May Day Rallies are typically platforms for NTUC to unify tripartite partners and reaffirm the Labour Movement’s compact with workers, NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng struck a sobering tone on global developments at this year’s rally.
“There are dark clouds overhead,” he warned, referencing rising US tariffs, a weakening global rules-based order, and Singapore’s downgraded 2025 economic outlook – from 1–3 per cent to 0–2 per cent.
As the global economy becomes more volatile and uncertain, Mr Ng said NTUC will innovate and refresh the Jobs Security Council (JSC) to help workers pivot to different roles and industries quickly should the need arise.
In his address to over 1,600 union leaders, workers, employer partners and Government leaders at the year’s May Day Rally on 1 May 2025, Mr Ng shared that the JSC played a crucial role in helping displaced workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Good jobs are the best security for our workers. Through the JSC 2.0, we will push for more business transformation and workforce training through CTCs, deepen efforts to help workers future-proof their careers through upskilling, career guidance and mentorship, and enhance our ability to match workers into good jobs,” he said.
He added that NTUC also aims to scale Cluster CTCs in partnership with Queen Bee companies to drive industry-level transformation and support SMEs.
Mr Ng also said that NTUC has set up the Job Security Directorate to coordinate and drive the efforts of JSC 2.0.
In response to the renewal of the JSC, Singapore Teachers’ Union General Secretary Mike Thiruman believes that the initiative helped many workers weather the pandemic, and it would be good to refine it further to once again protect workers’ livelihoods.
“We now need longer-term perspectives in skills upgrading, and [we need] to bring companies together, even the smaller SMEs, to make sure we can weather this upcoming storm,” he said.
With a bleak economic outlook predicted, Mr Ng promised that the Labour Movement would renew its solidarity and strengthen its resilience for workers.
This was echoed by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in his rally speech as well.
“We will work closely with tripartite partners to advance our workers’ interests and enable them to seize new opportunities in a changed world,” Mr Ng shared.
He also underscored how the spirit of tripartism and innovation has delivered significant gains for workers – including lower-wage employees, PMEs, platform workers, caregivers, and older workers.
Mr Ng shared how sustained efforts have helped “move the needle” for Singapore’s workforce.
Key among them is the Progressive Wage Model (PWM), which has, despite the rising cost of living, helped boost real incomes for lower-wage workers by nearly 6 per cent from 2019 to 2024.
He cited the story of Mr Hamdi, a cleaning supervisor whose wages increased from $1,000 to $2,500 through the PWM and skills upgrading.
“Together with Workfare Income Supplement (WIS), while life can still be challenging, he is able to manage better,” said Mr Ng.
He added that more than 155,000 lower-wage workers have benefited from the PWM, contributing to Singapore’s lowest income inequality level since 2000.
Built Environment And Urban Trades Employees’ Union General Secretary Irdawaty Jammarudin said that the PWM has improved the real wage of the union’s members, many of whom are essential workers.
“With the [PWM’s] yearly increments, I believe it will help alleviate some of the cost challenges for our members,” she shared.
In the platform sector, Mr Ng Chee Meng said delivery riders and private-hire drivers have seen progress in their CPF contributions, workplace injury protection, and union representation.
He recounted an interaction with a young rider who thanked NTUC for standing up for gig workers and shared how the changes have given him assurance in his work.
For PMEs, Mr Ng highlighted the implementation of key recommendations from the PME Taskforce, including the COMPASS framework, the recently passed Workplace Fairness Act, and the new SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support Scheme which now offers financial aid of up to $6,000 over six months for those transitioning between jobs.
“We called for bold measures to ensure a level playing field for our PMEs amidst foreign competition, and for more support for those retrenched or involuntarily unemployed."We knew that these were difficult asks … But we persevered,” he said, thanking Manpower Minister Tan See Leng and the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) for their partnership in uplifting PMEs.
Mr Ng also touched on how support for caregivers has expanded, with new tripartite guidelines granting employees the right to request flexible work, alongside enhanced parental leave policies.
He added that older workers too will soon benefit from raised retirement and re-employment ages to 65 and 70 respectively by 2030, along with increased CPF contribution rates.
Mr Ng credited the Company Training Committees (CTCs) for boosting productivity and worker progression.
He also thanked Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is also Singapore’s Finance Minister, for supporting the CTC initiative with an additional $200 million in funding through the CTC Grant.
Over 3,000 CTCs have been formed, and more than 400 transformation projects have taken off, improving wages and career prospects for over 7,400 workers.
He spotlighted Ms Trixie, a mid-60s worker who rose from part-time baker to training manager at Munchi Pancakes after learning to use tech tools through CTC-driven initiatives.
“Sister Trixie went for training together with us to learn how to use automated inventory management and staff scheduling systems. What used to take her hours to do manually, can now be completed in minutes,” said Mr Ng.
Furthermore, Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Employees Union Vice President Nicholas Chia said that the CTC has also helped strengthened the Singaporean Core.
“The CTC is a good system because employers can only apply for the CTC Grant if they have Singaporean workers,” he shared.
Mr Ng Chee Meng also highlighted NTUC's progress in growing its membership, crediting innovations in its business, membership, and training models for the strong momentum.
“Because of your hard work, we now have more than 1.4 million members,” he said.
Beyond the numbers, Mr Ng said the achievement reflected something more meaningful: the lives touched and improved through the Labour Movement’s efforts.
Mr Ng closed his speech with an appeal for solidarity and resolve.
He said: “Let us redouble our efforts to deliver on our Workers’ Compact – for our youths, PMEs, caregivers, senior workers, and vulnerable workers.
“Because Every Worker Matters. Because you matter!”
