SINGAPORE – The “symbiotic relationship” between the PAP government and the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) lets hard decisions be made by Singapore to overcome crises, sustain growth and protect livelihoods, said Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong on Nov 13.
Speaking at the NTUC Ordinary Delegates’ Conference, DPM Gan touched on the heightened relevance of the three-way partnership between the Government, labour movement and employers amid geopolitical, technological and demographic shifts.
“(Tripartism) also gives businesses and investors confidence that Singapore remains a place where change can be managed responsibly, where policies are rational and predictable, and where workers and employers can both have a stake in our success.”
DPM Gan was the guest of honour at the event, which was held at Downtown East. It marks the midterm of the current central committee, the labour movement’s highest decision-making body.
While much has changed in the world of work, he said, NTUC’s mission to champion the interests, dignity and progress of every worker has remained.
He said NTUC has shown its capability to evolve with the times, through better internal coordination and expanding its reach to youth and platform workers, as well as professionals, managers and executives (PMEs).
Nonetheless, he outlined both ongoing efforts and potential opportunities to further deepen its engagement with these groups for a more relevant and responsive labour movement.
On technology, DPM Gan said shifts including in artificial intelligence (AI), automation and digitalisation hold promise for uplifting productivity, but both firms and workers worry about keeping up with these shifts.
He then praised NTUC’s efforts against this backdrop, which include both an AI-powered career coach and a new “AI Ready SG” initiative to help workers and employers map out how AI would affect them.
He said the initiative ensures that both enterprise and workforce transformation can go hand in hand, allowing for better careers and better wages.
