Some 1,4000 Labour Movement leaders, workers and tripartite partners gathered today for the NTUC May Day Rally 2023 to celebrate the achievements and honour the contributions of our workers. The event was hosted by NTUC President Mary Liew, NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng and NTUC Central Committee Members; with NTUC Secretary-General Ng delivering the opening address.
Held at Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre, this year’s event is graced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong; with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong as Special Guest and Keynote Speaker.
Refreshing NTUC’s Compact with Workers
NTUC had set out intentions to refresh its compact with workers for some time. This includes efforts to reconnect with workers given vast changes at work, workplaces and the world at large. Through NTUC’s public engagement campaign #EveryWorkerMatters Conversations (#EWMC) which was launched in August last year, over 40,000 from all walks of life were reached out to. Some 130 in-person engagements were conducted, including a physical exhibition – the #EWMC Roving Showcase – which travelled to nine locations in the Central Business District and heartlands, including a pitstop at today’s event.
Workers – ranging from youth, mature workers, PMEs, essential and skilled trades workers; to self-employed persons, caregivers, ex-offenders and inmates – shared their work-related concerns and aspirations whilst envisioning their hopes for a better future. Issues raised included daily pressures they face such as cost of living and caregiving challenges, to longer term worries such as income security and retirement adequacy.
In forging a refreshed compact with workers, NTUC aims to co-create an economically vibrant and inclusive Singapore, where every worker can have the dignity of making a good living and improving their lives. NTUC will release a formal report on #EWMC recommendations later this year.
NTUC’s Key Focus Areas Moving Forward
Following insights and feedback gleaned from #EWMC as well as other ongoing initiatives to improve workers’ lives and livelihoods, NTUC will be sharpening efforts in the years ahead. In his May Day Rally opening speech, NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng outlined the following focus areas:
a. Scale up current initiatives, particularly redouble efforts on Company Training Committees to bring about real impact to both workers and companies;
b. Do better for underserved segments such as youth – being their trusted partner as they transition from school to work; and
c. Set in place a Culture of Innovation within the Labour Movement to better serve the evolving needs of our members
The last time that NTUC May Day Rally was held in a full physical setting was 2019. As the NTUC Family and tripartite partners gathered together to celebrate May Day, NTUC reaffirms our commitment to champion workers' interests whilst refreshing our compact with workers as we journey into the future together.
