The NTUC May Day Awards 2025 will honour 143 exemplary individuals who have made a difference in the lives of workers and the Singapore workforce.
The annual event celebrates the contributions of union leaders, tripartite partners, management representatives, and workers who have improved workers' wages, welfare, and work prospects.
Union leaders will receive awards under the Distinguished Service (Labour), Comrade of Labour (Star), Comrade of Labour and Veteran of Labour categories.
Meanwhile, tripartite and management representatives will be recognised in the categories of Distinguished Service (Star), Meritorious Service, Medal of Commendation (Gold), Medal of Commendation, Friend of Labour and Partner of Labour Movement.
The spotlight will also shine on workers in the Model Worker category.
The prestigious May Day Awards, held annually since 1963, is one of the Labour Movement’s signature events to mark workers’ contributions in Singapore.
Individuals will receive their awards on 25 April 2025, which will also see the unveiling of the top awardee.
The announcement of the 143 awardees follows an earlier update that 37 companies will be conferred May Day awards for their exceptional contributions to workers and nation-building.
As the core of the Labour Movement, union leaders play a pivotal role in representing workers’ interests and addressing the everyday issues workers face. As workers themselves, they can relate to the issues and provide the right support.
Veteran unionists who have dedicated years to advancing worker rights will be lauded for their efforts in the SG60 instalment of the May Day Awards.
Distinguished Service (Labour) awardee Toh Hock Poh, a familiar figure in the Labour Movement, has committed 46 years to improving the lives and livelihoods of metal and manufacturing workers. He began his journey with the former Metal Industries Workers’ Union (MIWU) in 1979 and continues to share his extensive experience as a consultant for the union, which has since been renamed the Advanced Manufacturing Employees’ Union (AMEU).
Other deserving leaders include Comrade of Labour (Star) recipients DBS Staff Union (DBSSU) President Patrick Sim Eng Hup, Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore Staff Union (IRASSU) General Secretary Mabel Low Wan Yeong and United Workers of Petroleum Industry (UWPI) General Secretary Muhammad Aswadi.
Workers have also proven themselves worthy of acclaim.
This year’s 27 Model Worker recipients bear the hallmark of Worker 4.0 — ready, relevant and resilient individuals who elevate their careers through upskilling, initiating productivity improvements and adapting to the fast-changing work environment.
Determined to make a mark in the information technology (IT) field, Ainul Mardhiyyah Mohamed Razib is a self-taught coding enthusiast who underwent formal IT training and leveraged networking events, career fairs and mentorship opportunities to land her current role as a Cyber Security Engineer at IBM Innovation Services.
Other recipients who display Worker 4.0 traits include Raffles Girls’ School (Secondary) Chinese teacher Benedict Ng Min Zhong, Security & Risk Solutions Operations Manager Raymond Sim and Temasek Polytechnic Senior Executive Mohammad Fadlin Mohamed Saffri.
Supported by the strong partnership of management and tripartite partners, the Labour Movement has made significant strides in improving the lives of workers in Singapore.
May Day Awards 2025 recognises these individuals who have worked hand-in-hand with the Labour Movement towards advancing the workers’ cause.
A key employer partner, Distinguished Service (Star) awardee Robert Yap Chin Kok has been an indefatigable supporter of the Labour Movement. The former Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) President’s decade-long contributions include uplifting lower-wage workers through the formation of the Tripartite Workgroup on Lower-Wage Workers and improving the lives of PMEs through the joint NTUC-SNEF PME Taskforce.
Other significant tripartite partners include Meritorious Service recipients NTUC Fairprice Director Albert Cheng Yong Kim and former Manpower Ministry Deputy Secretary (Workplaces) Jason Chen.
As employers, management partners are crucial in enabling workers to thrive in the workplace.
Hailing from private and public sectors, they have been instrumental in ensuring meaningful change within their respective areas.
Medal of Commendation (Gold) awardee Goh Choon Phong is the epitome of a management partner who has gone above and beyond for worker protection. As the Chief Executive Officer of Singapore Airlines, he is a true COVID-19 hero who collaborated with air transport unions to safeguard jobs and minimise layoffs. Today, he continues to make a difference as a mentor in the NTUC Executive Mentorship Programme, providing invaluable guidance to workers seeking a career boost.
The Medal of Commendation (Gold) is the highest honour bestowed on management personnel.
Other management staff who prioritise workers include Medal of Commendation awardees SBS Transit Group Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Sim Vee Ming, Singapore Technologies Engineering Group Chief Operating Officer (Technology & Innovation) Ravinder Singh and SP Group (SP) Group Chief Executive Officer Stanley Huang Tian Guan.
More details on the awardees can be found at May Day Awards Organisations Listings.
