The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) is pleased that Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies Brother Tharman Shanmugaratnam has announced his intention to stand in the upcoming Presidential Election 2023.
Brother Tharman takes a keen interest in ensuring workers benefit from economic transformation. Brother Tharman’s extensive contributions to the Labour Movement encompass various workforce needs. Brother Tharman has been the Chairman of the Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute (OTCi) Board of Governors since 2002 and has led the institute to several wins. He supported doubling the training placement for union leaders, management representatives and government officers at OTCi and introduced more flexible and accessible learning methods for them. The institute also expanded its focus beyond industrial relations to a broader range of courses to meet the needs of our union leaders in tandem with changing economic trends and needs. OTCi also built up its research capability and established thought leadership among various stakeholders in the Labour Movement to support our union leaders in their role as the voice of workers. Through it all, Brother Tharman believes that union leaders play an important role in helping enterprises grow and uplifting workers’ livelihoods.
Brother Tharman advocated the advancement of tripartism through key councils he chaired; the National Productivity Council, SkillsFuture Council, and subsequently, the Council for Skills, Innovation and Productivity. Through Brother Tharman’s involvement in the Councils, he engaged NTUC and other tripartite partners to formulate and implement policies that promote sustainable economic growth, social progress, labour rights and enhance workers’ training and lifelong employability.
Brother Tharman played a significant role in the development and implementation of the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) for our workers in Singapore. As Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance at the time, he actively supported and advocated the adoption of the PWM together with NTUC. He galvanised the Government's commitment to the PWM, emphasising the importance of fair wages and career progression for lower-wage workers. He continued to fight for the interests of essential workers through Parliamentary debates, conferences and other platforms, especially in recent years. He referred to the PWM as a “Minimum Wage Plus”, underscoring the importance of workers’ upskilling in tandem with wage improvements for sustainable career growth. He emphasised how sustaining income progression for a broad spread of workers requires a combination of approaches and not just a blanket minimum wage.
Brother Tharman is an unassuming and approachable leader among unionists; one who makes a genuine effort to engage with, understand and address unionists’ and workers’ aspirations and concerns. He served as Advisor to two unions – Singapore Industrial and Services Employees’ Union (SISEU) from February 2007 to March 2011, and Chemical Industries Employees’ Union (CIEU) from April 2002 to January 2007. During his tenure, his invaluable guidance led to the growth of CIEU’s membership and established a solid financial footing for SISEU and positioned it for further expansion. Brother Tharman sincerely listened to and understood the concerns of workers and the needs of management partners, contributing to the formation of policies that uplift their lives.
In recognition of Brother Tharman’s outstanding contributions to the Labour Movement, NTUC conferred on him the Medal of Honour in 2017, the highest award of the year. Brother Tharman is undoubtedly a man who places people at the heart of Singapore’s progress. Given his stellar track record and genuine care for Singaporeans, the Labour Movement wholeheartedly supports his intent and stands alongside him.
Mary Liew
President
National Trades Union Congress
Ng Chee Meng
Secretary-General
National Trades Union Congress
