~ SEU will represent over 5,000 employees across Seatrium’s five shipyards, unifying the company’s workforce under one union ~
The Seatrium Employees Union (SEU) and Seatrium Limited have announced today that a house union has been formed for Seatrium employees. SEU1 was formed and formally affiliated with the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) in January 2026. SEU represents more than 5,000 workers, comprising both PMEs and rank-and-file workers, across the company’s five shipyards under a single representative body. This provides a unified platform to support and represent Seatrium’s workforce.
NTUC Deputy Secretary-General and SEU Executive Secretary Desmond Tan said, “The formation of SEU marks a significant step forward as it brings Seatrium workers under a single union, strengthening collective representation at the workplace. As the marine and offshore industry evolves with new technologies, this enables the union to work closely together with the company to ensure fair, progressive and equitable support for members. A skilled and supported workforce contributes to greater stability and Seatrium’s long term competitiveness. We welcome all Seatrium workers to be part of SEU.”
Uniting Seatrium Employees Under One Collective Identity
Following the merger of Keppel Offshore & Marine and Sembcorp Marine to form Seatrium Limited, SEU brings together workers and union members from three unions across five different shipyards — Keppel Employees Union (KEU), Keppel FELS Employees Union (KFEU) and the Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Employees’ Union (SMEEU).
With the five shipyards now operating under Seatrium as a single entity, SEU provides a unified platform for stronger representation and harmonised workplace practices for all employees across the shipyards. Union members will have continued access to union support under this new structure.
SEU will also represent both executives and non-executives, providing a unified platform for communication, engagement and collective bargaining, so that every worker’s voice can be heard.
SEU President Atyyah Bti Hassan said, “For our members, the formation of SEU provides clarity and assurance during a period of change. Bringing everyone under one union allows us to represent workers holistically across shipyards, address workplace concerns effectively, and support our members’ development, wellbeing and career progression as the company moves forward.”
SEU General Secretary Eileen Yeo said, “The new SEU reflects months of careful planning and collaboration among union leaders from the three unions. We are all committed to supporting our members and workers and ensuring continuity of our care for them through change. Looking ahead, SEU will continue building on this shared leadership and responsibility so that members remain supported and confident as the industry evolves.”
A Strengthened Labour Management Partnership
Union and company leadership have committed to close collaboration to support workers through the transition and strengthen long‑term workforce resilience. Seatrium CEO, Chris Ong, said, “The establishment of SEU reinforces our One Seatrium philosophy, enabling our people to operate as an integrated, agile workforce across our facilities. As a unified entity, SEU forges a common identity for its members, deepening alignment, trust, and shared purpose throughout the organisation. This structure also enhances Seatrium's partnership with SEU to invest in our workforce - equipping our people with new capabilities alongside the evolution of our business model; products and new technology; and embedding AI and technology meaningfully in the way we work. This ensures our workforce remains future ready and enables Seatrium to compete at the highest global standards.”
Formation Milestone Event on 22 January 2026
To mark this key milestone, SEU held an event on 22 January 2026 at Seatrium Tuas Boulevard Yard. The event brought together SEU Protem2 Committee leaders and union leaders from the three former unions to formally establish SEU and set out a collaborative and consultative labour management relationship in line with Singapore’s Tripartite principles.
Seatrium and SEU affirmed their commitment to work closely to future‑proof the workforce, enabling employees to transition into new and enhanced roles amid ongoing industry transformation. To support this, both parties agreed to form a Company Training Committee (CTC), comprising representatives from the company and union, to jointly identify skills and training needs aligned with the company’s strategic priorities.
These commitments were formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Seatrium and SEU, underscoring their shared intent to strengthen collaboration, workforce development and skills transformation.
1A house union refers to a company‑specific union formed to represent only the employees of a single organisation. In addition, union membership is only available to employees of that company (i.e., workers from other companies in the same industry are unable to join as members).
2 Protem refers to an interim committee appointed to serve temporarily pending formal elections or confirmation.
