Young NTUC may be known for cause-based activities like Project Refresh and career support programmes such as the Youth Career Network, but another key facet of the unit’s work is in leadership development for the young unionists and youth activists within its ranks.
The most recent of these was a specially-arranged session where over 120 young union leaders and activists held a conversation with President Halimah Yacob on 30 August 2018 at NTUC Centre.
In the lead up to the dialogue, attendees were engaged in breakout discussions where facilitators encouraged them to think about issues of national interest, explore potential solutions and take a closer look at the role unions can play in helping workers cope with technological disruptions in the workplace.
President Halimah encouraged youth leaders to take a broader view of global trends. While Singapore may not have been directly affected by global events just yet, there will be implications that will affect the industries that our workers have careers in. She also added that technology is changing faster than before, and that union leaders have an important responsibility in helping themselves and their members cope. One example was through keeping abreast of industry trends and developments, both locally and internationally.
She also added that union leaders have an important role to play in communications, especially with their greater awareness of national issues where they can help to dispel misconceptions or myths members may have about policies in Singapore.
Understanding the Concerns of Singaporeans
Participating in such a dialogue for the first time, Danny Jay Luke Davis, 29, a Young NTUC Youth Career Network volunteer career guide said: “Through the intimate setting of this dialogue, we can better understand the concerns of fellow Singaporeans from across different backgrounds and industries. We even got to hear the perspectives of the President of Singapore and how she could understand and relate to the concerns of normal Singaporeans like all of us.”
Echoing his sentiments, Young Public Utilities Board Employees’ Union (PUBEU) leader Melissa Tay, 30, said: “We not only got an opportunity to meet up with President Halimah and NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng, but also exchange views with our fellow unionists on the issues that impact our everyday lives.”
