Prime Minister and Mrs Lee Hsien Loong
Senior Minister and Mrs Goh Chok Tong
Minister Mentor and Mrs Lee Kuan Yew
Brother Lim Boon Heng and Mrs Lim
Ministers
NTUC Central Committee members
Brothers and sisters from our affiliated unions, associations and cooperatives
Tripartite partners and guests
Good evening
We gather as brothers and sisters this evening under the roof of the Labour Movement’s very own Orchid Country Club to say a big “Thank you” to our dear Brother Lim Boon Heng.
Having joined the National Trades Union Congress 25 years ago, the last 13 years as NTUC’s Secretary-General, Brother Boon Heng has dedicated the better part of his career to the Labour Movement, fighting for the cause, the rights and the interests of our workers. The plight of the lower income and the elderly, particularly, has a special place in his heart.
Many unionists, tripartite partners and friends, who know and have worked with Brother Boon Heng would describe him as being compassionate, humble, approachable, patient, dedicated, fair, sensible and visionary. In being himself, he has won the hearts and minds of many of us as well as workers. With an enlightened leadership and sharp acumen, he has led the Labour Movement through both good and bad times to help, care for and improve the lives of workers and their families. Many would say that it is through time and crises that a person’s character is put to the test. And I strongly believe that Brother Boon Heng has passed this test with flying colours, and many times over.
In 1985, Brother Boon Heng was instrumental in pushing for fundamental changes to our wage system. The change was necessary to address the strain caused by the rigidity in our wage system. He pushed for a wage system that would be flexible enough to tackle future problems faced by both employers and workers, like slower economic growth and ageing population. While Brother Boon Heng knew that the various wage restraint measures recommended subsequently by the Economic Review Committee seemed harsh and painful for the workers, he did not back down. Instead, he urged workers to accept the temporary sacrifice under the wage restraints in order to pull ourselves out, with the promise of better things to come.
From the mid-1980s through the Asian Financial crisis in the 1990s and till today, Brother Boon Heng’s call to the employers to change the wage system, to move away from the seniority-based wage system, has been resounding and resolute. He has never wavered for he has the interests of the workers at heart. He has convinced many of us that in order for the workers’ interests to be looked after, companies must not fail as a result of inflexible wage systems. If companies fail, workers will lose their jobs. This is a reality that we have witnessed over the decades.
Brother Boon Heng has also never been afraid to go against the grain of popular belief whenever he feels that the right thing must be done. For example, during the worst of economic times, he led the Labour Movement’s call to cut the Central Provident Fund (CPF) rates, even though such a move made workers worried. And when the economy is doing well, he is first to urge the Government to restore the cuts in the CPF rate, even though it made employers uncomfortable. True to his nature, Brother Boon Heng has been sensitive to the fact that it is important to strike a balance between the health of the businesses and economy, and the interests of the workers and their families.
Brother Boon Heng’s contributions to workers and their families extend beyond jobs and training. His compassion for workers, especially the less privileged, made him determined in growing and strengthening the social mission of the NTUC co-operatives. Under his charge, he has created co-operatives like NTUC Eldercare, to provide quality and yet affordable services and products for workers and Singaporeans. Prices of essential products also remained stable in times of crises like SARS. Till today, our nine NTUC co-operatives have returned many millions of dollars in terms of cost savings and financial assistance back to workers and Singaporeans.
As union leaders would attest, Brother Boon Heng has played a critical role in formulating innovative ideas that enhanced the strength of the Labour Movement. Under his leadership, union membership has grown from 235,000 members in 1993 to 460,000 members today, bucking the trend of declining union membership globally. He introduced the concept of seamless membership, which allows members to pay their union dues directly to the unions, so that when workers change jobs, they can continue to remain as a member. He also pushed for the formation of the General Branch union membership so that a broader spectrum of workers, including executives and those in non-unionised companies, could join the unions. To him, a strong union membership base would allow the Labour Movement to do even more for the workers.
As Brother Boon Heng strengthens the Labour Movement to help the workers, he has never lost sight of the fundamentals of tripartism, which has proven effective in creating a stable economic environment here for investors and businesses and economic growth for Singapore. He has often stressed to employers, unions and the Government that trust and fair play are important ingredients of tripartism. In fact, his sincerity and affable personality, and his love for golf, have in many ways help built stronger bonds among union leaders, employers and government leaders.
Through Brother Boon Heng’s far-sighted vision, sheer determination and quiet persistence, the Labour movement has become a vibrant and dynamic force. He has lifted the Labour Movement to the high standing it enjoys today locally and internationally. But yet, he has been magnanimous and determined to ensure that there is proper leadership succession and good governance even when he first became Secretary-General. He once said that the greatest harm he could do the NTUC was to hang on, and to deprive it of fresh ideas. He acknowledged openly that it was good for NTUC to have a change of leadership, and to let the new leaders provide fresh perspective and ideas. Kudos to him and thankful for us, he has found a very capable successor in Brother Lim Swee Say, whom the Labour Movement will strongly and firmly support. I am sure that Brother Swee Say will also lift the Labour Movement to even greater heights!
Brother Boon Heng, although you have stepped down as Secretary-General, your advice and legacy would still be highly regarded. We will reminisce fondly the times and indeed the battles we have gone through together. As the longest serving Secretary-General in NTUC, you have left an indelible mark on NTUC and the Labour Movement. Many workers today enjoy better lives today because of your efforts, whether they know it or not. On a personal note, it has indeed been my honour and privilege working with you.
