NTUC is committed to enhancing the job security for workers, and it will continue to work closely with tripartite partners to enhance workers’ employability and job security.
NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng reaffirmed the commitment on 13 February 2025 at a media session ahead of this year’s Budget Statement.
Mr Ng said: “Even while the Singapore economy grew at more than 4 per cent last year, job security is still the top of mind for many working Singaporeans, including PMEs. Our own internal surveys on economic sentiments show that 34 per cent of workers are concerned about job security in over the next three months.”
To address these concerns, the Labour Chief shared some of NTUC’s latest initiatives to enhance workers’ job security and career development opportunities, including the new Company Mentorship Circle (CMC) initiative.
The CMC is a pilot programme which aims to connect unionised companies with some 1,200 mentors and experienced industry leaders in NTUC’s network.
These mentors will provide skills and career guidance to employees working in these companies.
The CMC leverages the existing NTUC Executive Mentorship Programme, which has benefitted nearly 150 mentees over three pilot runs.
The next run, which is scheduled to take place from March to May 2025, will provide structured guidance to over 250 PME mentees.
Beyond benefitting PMEs and new graduates, Mr Ng added that companies too can benefit from the CMC.
He said: “Many CEOs often tell me that they cannot get Singaporeans into their workplace. We hope that through this CMC scheme, our unionised companies can have a leg-up and attract graduates from our IHLs (Institutes of Higher Learning), be it from universities, polytechnics or ITEs.”
More details of the CMC will be provided soon.
Meanwhile, NTUC is also stepping up efforts to enhance job security through digital innovation and strategic partnerships.
With financial assistance from the Government, initiatives like the Company Training Committee (CTC), has benefitted more than an additional 7,400 workers with real wage increases.
Mr Ng shared that NTUC has already started conversations with the Government to further support the CTC Grant.
“[From] the last tranche, the Government gave NTUC the responsibility to handle $100 million in the CTC Grant. This time round from the Budget, we are seeking Government support to increase the scale of our efforts, to be able to use the CTC initiative to do even more for business transformation and worker outcomes,” he said.
Additionally, Mr Ng said NTUC is further innovating its CTC initiative to go beyond single companies, and into clusters of companies.
Citing companies like ST Engineering, which NTUC is already in collaboration with together with SkillFuture Singapore, he said that NTUC wants to collaborate with more of such companies so that they may influence their subsidiaries and suppliers to scale the CTC concept even further.
“We hope to put this up institutional upskilling and reskilling in place so that we can better equip working people, including PMEs,” said Mr Ng.
Beyond training, he added that NTUC continues to collaborate with tripartite partners – the Government and employers – to advocate for policies that improve job security, fair wages, and workplace fairness.
Policies include the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme, the Platform Workers Act, and Workplace Fairness Legislation.
As Singapore’s workforce navigates evolving economic challenges, Mr Ng said NTUC remains committed to empowering workers through upskilling, career support, and stronger workplace protections, ensuring they remain competitive and resilient.
He shared that Singapore ultimately needs a strong economy – coupled with thriving businesses – so that workers too can reap from their successes.
Mr Ng said: “We need to understand the Singapore growth strategy in a very challenging world so that we as tripartite partners can do our part to rally behind Government initiatives to support businesses, so that we can bring the best for workers in terms of wages, welfare and work prospects.”
