NTUC to commit $37 million to help workers in 2026

“Even as we celebrate, we must be clear-eyed,” he said. “While our economy remains resilient, there are dark clouds on the horizon.”

Mr Ng noted that some young graduates are finding it harder to secure jobs and that retrenchments among professionals, managers, executives and technicians, or PMETs, have picked up.

In an NTUC survey, nearly one in five workers said job security was their top concern, he added.

He also said that AI disruption will reshape jobs across sectors, including roles like those of doctors, lawyers and accountants.

“It risks hollowing out the first rung of the career ladder – taking away not only jobs but opportunities for our younger workers to build critical foundational skills,” he said.

“Add global instability, and workers of all collars are now exposed to twin pressures – less job security and higher cost of living.”

But amid these challenges, there are opportunities, Mr Ng said, referring to the Chinese term for crisis, weiji, which incorporates the idea of opportunities and danger.

He noted that previous crises like Covid-19 have created new initiatives such as the NTUC Job Security Council, which has placed more than 100,000 local workers into jobs since 2020.

On April 30, NTUC, the Manpower Ministry and the Singapore National Employers Federation announced the formation of a new tripartite council to upskill workers and help companies redesign jobs and adopt new tools.

“It is our way – Singapore’s way – to make a strong statement of commitment to our workers… that we will be alongside them in the era of AI,” Mr Ng said.

To help workers become AI-ready, the new Tripartite Jobs Council will bring together various agency efforts to provide more tailored guidance for workers.

Specifically, union members will receive funding support for AI tool subscriptions so they can experiment with, learn about and apply AI confidently at work.

NTUC is also expanding its company training committees (CTCs) to uplift more workers, including professionals.

For instance, it is partnering general practitioners to improve productivity in clinics. It is also working with accountants to help them adopt AI tools to reduce manual work, freeing staff to focus on higher-value, analytical work.

Clustering the CTCs and using “queen bee” companies to lead change also has the potential to benefit workers in more than 600 small and medium-sized enterprises, Mr Ng said.

Meanwhile, the Government is supporting companies in job redesign, while the employers’ trade union helps companies in their transformation, among other efforts to help workers.

“Imagine now, dream again, the possibilities if these efforts were integrated and designed around every worker’s needs,” Mr Ng said.

“We will be able to do a lot more to come alongside our workers to support them in critical career transitions.”

This is why collective action is vital, he said, which is exemplified through the Tripartite Jobs Council.

Mr Ng said history shows that when there is great disruption, like in the Industrial Revolution, some workers can be left behind.

“Trust can break down. Societies can fracture. We will never let this happen in Singapore,” he said.

Mr Sanjeev Tiwari, the general-secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Public Employees, said the $37 million support commitment will help lower-income families at a time of increased costs due to the current geopolitical situation, which has caused them to have to stretch their dollar.

He said the support could also help them upgrade their skills and go for training.

“It provides them a headstart to capitalise on such opportunities. So it’s (helpful) on both fronts,” added Mr Tiwari, who is also a Nominated MP.

Mr Andy Ang, assistant executive secretary of the Supply Chain Employees’ Union and executive secretary of the National Delivery Champions Association, said that in a time of crisis, young, senior and low-wage workers are most impacted by cost-of-living issues in daily essentials and transport costs.

Welcoming the NTUC support measures, he added: “In times of global crisis, as well as cost-of-living (issues) and AI disruption, I think such funds will be very important, together with other government help and support, to actually help our low-wage workers and more needy families keep up with what is happening.”