Labour Chief Ng Chee Meng: NTUC must stay people-centred as AI transforms Singapore’s workforce

NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng called for union leaders to stay people-centred even as technology and artificial intelligence (AI) reshape jobs and industries.

He emphasised that NTUC must continue to support workers in seizing opportunities and facing challenges in a changing world of work.

Mr Ng was speaking at the NTUC Ordinary Delegates’ Conference on 13 November 2025, attended by 1,400 union delegates, tripartite leaders, and guests.

He said: “How can we ourselves as NTUC be AI-ready? We have taken some steps in digital transformation, but they're more dedicated. How can we use AI to enable tools at one level to make us more efficient and productive, and two, where there are more developments in AI that must bend better to grow and press on? 

"The culture that we put in place will be important. How do we take this collective effort that we have built over the last 17 years, move it into our NTUC Labour Movement DNA, make it an operating culture that will guide us in the change of time.”

A relevant Labour Movement to help workers seize opportunities

Mr Ng added that the next lap for NTUC will come with challenges as global economic and trade uncertainty becomes the new normal.

“AI and technologies emerging are reshaping work faster than ever ... AI is creeping in our face even faster than ever, and often in ways that we cannot yet imagine.”

Other challenges also include a more cautious approach to hiring by companies, where workers grow more anxious about their job security.

“In these times, we must ensure that NTUC, the Labour Movement, remains strong and relevant, ready to support our workers, including the PMEs, to seize the opportunities and face the challenges of this time,” added Mr Ng.

Progress since NTUC National Delegates’ Conference 2023

The Secretary-General added that the Labour Movement had made significant headway since the NTUC National Delegates’ Conference in 2023.

Nearly 3,700 Company Training Committees (CTCs) have been formed, exceeding the 2,500 by 2025 goal set in 2023.

Mr Ng said that CTC Grants have uplifted 10,000 workers through wage increases, averaging 5 per cent above their annual increment, skills allowances, and structured career pathways.

Cluster-level CTCs with key Queen Bee partners such as ST Engineering, YCH Group, PSA Singapore, FairPrice Group and SMRT have also been formed, and are expected to benefit 45,000 workers and 600 SMEs.

Mr Ng also highlighted NTUC’s success in securing the landmark Platform Workers Act, which now covers close to 70,000 platform workers, extending CPF, work injury compensation and representation to them.

NTUC will move to amend its constitution to welcome Platform Work Associations as full NTUC affiliates.

Meanwhile, efforts to engage PMEs and youths are gaining traction.

The Mentors Network now counts 1,500 mentors guiding close to 1,000 PMEs, while the NTUC Youth team continues to build youth mindshare through leadership programmes, the NTUC Starter Awards and Youth Excel workshops.

Click on the Secretary-General’s Report to read more about the achievements.

Digital transformation and focus on serving members

NTUC’s digital drive has improved member services, reducing membership activation time from five days to almost instant and cutting service costs by 34 per cent.

Mr Ng also called for union leaders to leverage digital technology and AI further to serve members smarter and faster.

He reaffirmed NTUC’s commitment to uplift every worker’s Wages, Welfare and Work Prospects, with membership already surpassing 1.4 million and on track for 1.5 million by 2030.

“Let us plan ahead in the very challenging world, let us push ahead with our ideas and let us power through with our commitment and dedication to do all the things we have set out to do.”

For workers, discover more about AI Career Coach, part of NTUC’s AI-Ready SG initiative.

For employers, find out more about how you can transform your business with our Company Training Committee (CTC) initiative.