{"id":49015,"date":"2026-05-01T22:34:35","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T14:34:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=49015"},"modified":"2026-05-01T22:34:35","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T14:34:35","slug":"ntuc-to-commit-37-million-to-help-workers-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=49015","title":{"rendered":"NTUC to commit $37 million to help workers in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SINGAPORE \u2013<!-- --> The labour movement will commit $37 million in 2026 to help workers and their families.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">National Trades Union Congress secretary-general Ng Chee Meng announced this in his speech during the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/politics\/govt-cant-protect-every-job-in-ai-shift-but-will-protect-every-worker-pm-wong?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">May Day Rally on May 1<\/span><\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mr Ng said: \u201cThe world around us has shifted and has become more unstable than ever \u2013 and our workers, blue- and white-collar, are feeling it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He added that Singapore is facing two structural shifts: a super-aged society and artificial intelligence disruption. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">These forces are hitting at the same time, with geopolitical fragmentation and rising cost pressures, he said. <\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"[FULL] Ng Chee Meng\u2019s 2026 May Day Rally speech\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RnFaH1BT7ew?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">To help workers and their families, Mr Ng said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/50-discounts-on-selected-essentials-at-fairprice-for-ntuc-and-link-members-as-part-of-may-day-deals?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">NTUC and FairPrice Group are delivering $5 million in savings on essentials<\/span><\/a>, with union members getting more through FairPrice Group in-app deals. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">There are more than 1.4 million union members, with NTUC aiming to reach 1.5 million by 2030.<!-- --> <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mr Ng<!-- --> <!-- -->said a total of $37 million will be committed to help workers. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">This amount goes towards initiatives such as the newly launched <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/community\/ntuc-to-grow-500-million-endowment-fund-for-children-seniors-over-next-five-years?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">NTUC Community Fund<\/span><\/a> to improve educational access for young children and affordable eldercare support for seniors. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">It will also support NTUC Care Fund to provide financial assistance to lower-income members and their families. In addition, the amount will go towards the FairPrice Foundation to uplift communities and improve access to nutrition. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">It will help Income OrangeAid as well, to assist lower-income families, young people and seniors through financial empowerment, education and community care. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mr Ng told the 1,600 attendees at the May Day event that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/world\/middle-east\/us-israeli-attack-on-iran-what-we-know-so-far?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">the ongoing Middle East conflict<\/span><\/a> is causing significant economic disruption and putting pressure on businesses and jobs. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He also noted the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/opinion\/meta-and-microsoft-have-joined-the-tech-layoff-tsunami-is-ai-really-to-blame?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">global layoffs that were recently announced<\/span><\/a> by large technology companies like Meta and Microsoft. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">These situations create uncertainty for workers, but Singapore\u2019s brand of three-way partnership between the Government, unions and employers<!-- --> <!-- -->can give it an edge in working through challenges, he added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cEven as we celebrate, we must be clear-eyed,\u201d he said. \u201cWhile our economy remains resilient, there are dark clouds on the horizon.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">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.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In an NTUC survey, nearly one in five workers said job security was their top concern, he added. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He also said that AI disruption will reshape jobs across sectors, including roles like those of doctors, lawyers and accountants. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cIt risks hollowing out the first rung of the career ladder \u2013 taking away not only jobs but opportunities for our younger workers to build critical foundational skills,\u201d he said.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cAdd global instability, and workers of all collars are now exposed to twin pressures \u2013 less job security and higher cost of living.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">But amid these challenges, there are opportunities, Mr Ng said, referring to the Chinese term for crisis, <i>weiji<\/i>, which incorporates the idea of opportunities and danger. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">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. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">On April 30, NTUC, the Manpower Ministry and the Singapore National Employers Federation announced the formation of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/new-tripartite-council-to-maximise-job-security-help-firms-amid-ai-disruption?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">a new tripartite council<\/span><\/a> to upskill workers and help companies redesign jobs and adopt new tools. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cIt is our way \u2013 Singapore\u2019s way \u2013 to make a strong statement of commitment to our workers&#8230; that we will be alongside them in the era of AI,\u201d Mr Ng said. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">To help workers become AI-ready, the new Tripartite Jobs Council will bring together various agency efforts to provide more tailored guidance for workers. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Specifically, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/ntuc-members-to-get-subsidies-for-subscriptions-to-popular-ai-tools-part-of-ongoing-efforts-to-equip?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">union members will receive funding support for AI tool subscriptions<\/span><\/a> so they can experiment with, learn about and apply AI confidently at work. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">NTUC is also expanding its company training committees (CTCs) to uplift more workers, including professionals. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">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. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Clustering the CTCs and using \u201cqueen bee\u201d companies to lead change also has the potential to benefit workers in more than 600 small and medium-sized enterprises, Mr Ng said. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"landscape inline-media-wrapper\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/a312c3d8ff4b164fde727b74b1a68a54f1b83ce0d4b7e11085061ac52ba54c89?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/a312c3d8ff4b164fde727b74b1a68a54f1b83ce0d4b7e11085061ac52ba54c89?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px and max-width: 3999px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/a312c3d8ff4b164fde727b74b1a68a54f1b83ce0d4b7e11085061ac52ba54c89?w=900\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 4000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/a312c3d8ff4b164fde727b74b1a68a54f1b83ce0d4b7e11085061ac52ba54c89\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/a312c3d8ff4b164fde727b74b1a68a54f1b83ce0d4b7e11085061ac52ba54c89\" alt=\"Labour chief Ng Chee Meng said that a total of $37 million will be committed to help workers.\" class=\"aspect-landscape flex items-start shrink-0 object-cover landscape article-landscape mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div><figcaption class=\"mobile:mx-16 tablet:mx-00 flex flex-col gap-08 py-16 desktop:pb-24\">\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular text-secondary\" data-testid=\"inline-media-caption-test-id\">Labour chief Ng Chee Meng said that a total of $37 million will be committed to help workers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular text-placeholder\" data-testid=\"inline-media-credit-test-id\">ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Meanwhile, the Government is supporting companies in job redesign, while the employers\u2019 trade union helps companies in their transformation, among other efforts to help workers. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cImagine now, dream again, the possibilities if these efforts were integrated and designed around every worker\u2019s needs,\u201d Mr Ng said. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cWe will be able to do a lot more to come alongside our workers to support them in critical career transitions.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">This is why collective action is vital, he said, which is exemplified through the Tripartite Jobs Council. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mr Ng said history shows that when there is great disruption, like in the Industrial Revolution, some workers can be left behind. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cTrust can break down. Societies can fracture. We will never let this happen in Singapore,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He said the support could also help them upgrade their skills and go for training.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cIt provides them a headstart to capitalise on such opportunities. So it\u2019s (helpful) on both fronts,\u201d added Mr Tiwari, who is also a Nominated MP.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"[FULL] May Day Rally 2026 and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong\u2019s keynote speech\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fKVzkMq_T0E?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Mr Andy Ang, assistant executive secretary of the Supply Chain Employees\u2019 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Welcoming the NTUC support measures, he added: \u201cIn times of\u00a0global 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-list-container\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-test-id\">\n<ul class=\"pl-22 list-disc article-list-wrapper\">\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Additional reporting by Samuel Devaraj<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/politics\/ntuc-to-commit-37-million-to-help-workers-in-2026\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SINGAPORE \u2013 The labour movement will commit $37 million in 2026 to help workers and their families. National Trades Union Congress secretary-general Ng Chee Meng&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":49018,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-49015","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49015","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=49015"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49015\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/49018"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=49015"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=49015"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=49015"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}