Fourteen speakers took to the stage to pay their tributes on 27 March 2015 in an NTUC Tribute Service at the Singapore Conference Hall.
Over 800 guests, comprising union leaders, members of the Labour Movement family and communities, members of the People’s Action Party, as well as management and government partners, gathered to pay tribute to him.
“For the Labour Movement, he emphasised on building trusts among the government, employers and employees. Three of them must be brought up, for Singapore to go higher; not only one, but all three. He felt that the political and the trade unions should be together. Thus, he encouraged all his political leaders to be involved in the work of the unions and there should never be a separation.”
“He constantly exhorted us, even threatened us for our good, to avoid the excesses that befell other Labour Movements elsewhere. There were occasions he admonished us and addressed our destructive ways, only to return to management the right to manage their enterprises successfully, which in turn has benefitted us the workers, with better incomes and working conditions.”
Mr SR Nathan, President of Singapore (1999-2011), Pioneer Director of NTUC Administration and Research Unit (1962-1966)
“With the yearly wage increase guidelines provided by the NWC (National Wages Council) consistent with national productivity growth, gross wage rates increased by an average of 9.2% per annum in nominal terms or an average of 4.9% per annum in real terms during his Prime Ministership. These spectacular, unusual and unprecedented wage increases in Singapore were accompanied by favourable balance of payments, full employment, a strong currency, high savings and low inflation and increasing competitiveness of the overall Singapore economy.”
“He believed in fair play, fair share, which means in good times workers must enjoy pay increases and bonuses and during bad times we must all accept cuts in CPF and perhaps even in our pay. He believed that workers and the Labour Movement are partners in nation-building, therefore we now have the Labour Foundation, various cooperatives, Pasir Ris Resort and the Orchid Country Club.”
“Mr Lee even in his 90s was thinking of Singapore’s next 50 years. How we get there is now in the hands of a younger group of leaders. His legacy of tripartism and industrial peace will provide them with strong foundations to move forward. The lasting tribute to Mr Lee Kuan Yew would be for the government, employers and the labour movement to strengthen tripartite relationship and further enhance industrial peace so that Singapore can surge forward confidently.”
“In my adult life, I have some rare occasions to chair sessions of union leaders and tripartite seminars with Mr Lee Kuan Yew as the Guest-of-Honour. These are the occasions I will always cherish – ‘The Man amongst Man’ who always finds time to appreciate and empathise with workers’ issues.”
Mr John De Payva, Secretary-General Emeritus of The Singapore Manual & Mercantile Workers’ Union (from 2014), President Emeritus of NTUC (from 2011), President of NTUC (1997-2011), Secretary-General of The Singapore Manual & Mercantile Workers’ Union (from 1988 -2014)
“He was very troubled that many workers in the early 90s were being retired when they were still in good health, able to work, wanting to work and still needing an income to support their families. The bill for the Retirement Age Act was passed in Parliament in April 1993. I can recall that at our next lunch encounter, his first question was: When will the Ministry move to raise the retirement age beyond 60? We had taken the first step and he was already thinking of the next step!”
“In Singapore, if you are prepared to work for it, irrespective of what race you belong to or religion that you believe in, you can be successful. Mr Lee did not believe in spoon feeding and true to his words, “nothing is for free” and the world does not owe us a living. This is what that makes Singapore a Progressive Society.”
Mr Rahman Mahbob, Founding President of Union of Power and Gas Employees (1995-2007), Vice President of Public Utilities Board Staff Union (1989-1995)
“When unions went astray, and foolish action threatened group survival and group prosperity, he took us to task… Like when pilots of Singapore Airlines threatened the survival of this national icon. Shortly after I joined the NTUC in 1981, I was present in this conference hall when he addressed the pilots, and the management. He said he would not hesitate to close down SIA, and start a new airline. Again in 2004, Mr Lee played a critical role in resolving the wage dispute between Singapore Airlines and the pilots’ union.”
“As an employee, I am encouraged by his vision, his leadership skills and draw many lessons from how he juggled many aspects of his life. I learnt, with courage and strong believe in oneself, all our dreams can come true. Most importantly, I never stopped believing in myself.”
*Being a young worker in Singapore, I see fair and equal opportunities for all are always there as long as you work hard, regardless of race, language, religion or background. This is something which many of us take for granted. With your leadership, global companies chose to invest in Singapore, bringing in technology and equipment into Singapore and this gave us jobs and a good life.”
“Majority of Singaporeans today do not just have jobs, they have good meaningful jobs! When the present generation grows old, there is no need for any welfare state treatment because the CPF we have today is much more comprehensive than the form of CPF the colonial government had left us with. The lesson I learnt from Mr Lee was although no one owed us a living and that we have to stand on our own feet, the government will always give us opportunities to do so.”
