A renewed call to strengthen the symbiotic ties between the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) and the Labour Movement (LM) was made at the PAP Convention 2017 on 19 November 2017 by PAP Secretary-General and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
He noted that the LM is a very important part of the PAP's support base.
This year saw a large delegation of some 250 NTUC leaders from the NTUC Central Committee and various unions attend the convention.
“I am happy to see the unions represented in force at the convention this year,” said PM Lee.
Maintaining the Relationship
PM Lee noted that the older union leaders who had worked closely with the PAP Government understood the relationship well and strengthened it.
He added that NTUC must build this same understanding into the minds of the new generation of union leaders so that they will continue to work closely with the PAP in the years to come.
As such, there is also a need to nurture this symbiotic relationship at the leadership levels of both the party and the Labour Movement (LM).
PM Lee noted that at the recent NTUC Ordinary Delegates' Conference on 15 November 2017, NTUC had announced that each fourth generation minister will take on a specific partnership with the LM.
He has asked the younger ministers to work more closely with the LM, and this will also include younger Members of Parliament.
“This will also be a key testing ground for us to identify and develop our future leaders and to maintain the close partnership between the party and the unions for succeeding generations of leaders,” emphasised PM Lee.
Stepping Up To Challenges
PM Lee added that whenever Singapore faced a problem, the NTUC has always stepped up - whether it was to tighten workers’ belts in a recession or to step in and prevent milk powder profiteering.
On its part, the PAP has always had workers’ interests at heart when making policies.
“In the coming years, this symbiotic relationship will be even more crucial. Workers will need support to cope with the economic disruption. Some industries will see job losses even as we create new jobs and opportunities. Workers will need all the help that unions can give them. Unions will need to work with the PAP Government so that we can develop effective policies to help workers and enable Singaporeans to weather the changes, get new jobs and do better,” emphasised PM Lee.
Building Stronger Ties
Also speaking at the convention was an activist from the Creative Media and Publishing Union (CMPU) - David Tay.
He shared his ideas to strengthen the symbiotic ties which include being more involved in each other’s leadership training process and having dialogues and learning journeys together like a PAP-NTUC policy forum.
