Good Evening and welcome to May Day Dinner 2015.
This year is a special year for all of us as we celebrate SG50 – 50 years of independence and nation-building.
Over the last 50 years, workers of different collars, from different industries, and of different generations have worked together to transform Singapore into what it is today. Because they have risen up to the challenge to continually upgrade themselves to be relevant in a global economy, we have prospered as a Nation. In return, workers have also enjoyed a sustained increase in the standard of living for their families. This is indeed something worth celebrating.
Unions have also played a key role. Unions have not only protected and advanced the interests of workers. They have also modernized to be a key partner towards nation building by mobilising workers towards national initiatives that were critical for our nation’s survival and subsequent prosperity.
The unions and the Labour Movement didn’t achieve this alone. Singapore’s tripartism story has been a key cornerstone of our nation’s progress. Our unique model of tripartism must not be taken for granted. This relationship must continue to be nurtured and strengthened at all levels. Our tripartite system and vision must be robust enough to stand the test of time.
For this reason, every year at May Day, we recognize and honour not only outstanding unionists, but also supportive and enlightened management partners and tripartite leaders who have demonstrated a strong commitment to work together.
Tonight, we are very happy to confer the “Distinguished Comrade of Labour” award to someone who has played a key role in strengthening employers’ partnership with the Labour Movement in his 26 years as the longest-serving SNEF President. He is none other than our dear Brother Stephen Lee. With his enlightened leadership of the SNEF, the LM has been able to work with employers through many challenging periods to ensure win-win outcomes for both workers and companies. Thank you, Brother Stephen Lee.
We are also please to confer the “Distinguished Service” award to Brother Lim Pin. Brother Lim has been the Chairman of the National Wages Council since 2001. He has played a significant role in guiding tripartite discussions on wage reform to balance the concerns of both workers and employers. More recently, the NWC has agreed to implement quantitative wage increase guidelines for low wage workers. This is a key step towards ensuring fairer wage increases for those workers who are most at risk. Thank you, Brother Lim Pin.
On behalf of the Labour Movement, we would also like to thank and offer our congratulations to all the May Day award recipients tonight.
Tonight, we are honoured to have Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Finance, Brother Tharman as our Guest-of-Honour. Brother Tharman has always been a strong supporter of the Labour Movement and tripartite relations. As the Finance Minister and DPM, and not forgetting the time when he was also concurrently the Manpower Minister, he has often taken time to hear the views and gather feedback from unionists. It is my pleasure now to invite Deputy Prime Minister, Brother Tharman Shanmugaratnam, to deliver his keynote address.
Brother Tharman, please.
