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Mr Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies and Minister for Finance, was conferred the Medal of Honour – this year’s top May Day Honour – at the NTUC May Day Awards 2021 ceremony held on Wednesday, 28 April 2021. DPM Heng was amongst the 143 deserving union leaders and tripartite partners who were recognised for their exemplary contributions in advancing workers’ interests, as well as workers who are themselves role models at their workplaces.
The ceremony was hosted by NTUC President Mary Liew and NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng at Downtown East, with more than 200 attendees comprising union leaders and tripartite partners over two sessions on the same day. The ceremony was also streamed online via Zoom for awardees’ guests. DPM Heng was the Guest-of-Honour for the awards ceremony.
2021 is a significant year for our Labour Movement as we mark 60 years since the National Trades Union Congress’ (NTUC) founding on 6 September 1961. Through the ups and downs over the past six decades, what remains unchanged is NTUC’s steadfast commitment in helping our members and workers achieve better wages, welfare and work prospects. The NTUC May Day Awards serves to recognise individuals and organisations who have significantly contributed to this cause, for the betterment of our workers.
Formulating Pro-Worker and Pro-business Policies for Our Economy
This year’s top May Day Award – the Medal of Honour – was presented to Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat. The Medal of Honour is conferred on special individuals who have rendered distinguished services to the Labour Movement.
DPM Heng has played an instrumental role in ensuring that our economy continues to provide a thriving environment for our businesses and generate good jobs for our workers. As the Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies and Finance Minister, he formulates policies that are both pro-worker and pro-business, enabling our workers to be equipped with the necessary skills to stay ahead of the curve and remain employable. Since the onset of COVID-19, he has helped many businesses stay afloat and saved workers’ livelihoods through his five decisive and incisive Budgets. Through it all, DPM Heng engages union leaders and workers regularly to listen to their concerns and explain policies to them.
DPM Heng is a firm believer of tripartism and the unions’ significant role in our workforce, business and economic transformations. In his maiden May Day Rally speech in 2019, DPM Heng reaffirmed the People’s Action Party’s commitment to tripartism. He recognised NTUC’s brand of progressive trade unionism that has been crucial in enabling our workers to stay ahead of changes.
Honouring Exemplary Individuals and Organisations for Their Contributions
A total of 24 higher awards were presented this year. Among them were Senior Minister of State for Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Ministry of Transport Chee Hong Tat, for his active role as advisor to both the Healthcare Services Employees’ Union and Union of Power and Gas Employees (UPAGE). In his citation, he dedicated his award to veteran union leader Mr Nachiappan R.K. Sinniah (Emeritus General Secretary of UPAGE), who passed away in March 2021, for having learnt a lot from the latter and what it means to fight for our workers with courage, compassion and conviction. Mr Nachi was conferred the Comrade of Labour (Star) (Bar) posthumously.
Also receiving the Comrade of Labour (Star) (Bar) was Mr Fang Chin Poh, General Secretary of the National Transport Workers’ Union (NTWU), who has been active in union work for 35 years. He has been a strong advocate for workers’ welfare and worked hard during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that no public transport workers were retrenched, and that all rank-and-file workers did not receive pay cuts.
This year’s sole Veteran of Labour award recipient was Mr Murigasin Rajendran, Former Deputy General Secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Public Employees (AUPE). He started his journey with AUPE in 1982 and was active in union work until his recent retirement.
44 organisations were recognised for strengthening labour-management relations and supporting the Labour Movement’s initiatives in improving our workers’ wages, welfare and work prospects. 20 workers were also commended for being role models in enhancing their employability through upskilling, as well as being adaptable to changing work environments.
NTUC President Mary Liew said, “2020 has been a year of ups and downs, filled with much uncertainty and anxiety. However, 2020 was also a year where we saw the true spirit of tripartism prevail – where our government leaders and civil servants, union leaders and employers came together and stood in solidarity to help cushion the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our workers and companies and help them explore opportunities. Honouring them at our NTUC May Day Awards is a befitting tribute to all the hard work put in to protecting and caring for our workers, both in good times and bad.”
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