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It is no surprise that Mr Ng Chee Meng is co-opted into the PAP CEC. Here is why.

sgmatters.com it is no surprise that mr ng chee meng is co opted into the pap cec here is why it is no surprise that mr ng chee meng is co opted into the pap cec here is why

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. National Trades Union Congress Secretary-General (NTUC Sec-Gen) Ng Chee Meng is not a Minister of Parliament but is co-opted into the 37th People’s Association Party’s Central Elective Committee (PAP CEC) on Saturday, 26 November 2022.

Is this possible?

Yes, let me explain why.

PAP and NTUC have a Symbiotic Relationship

Simply put, PAP and NTUC have an intertwined relationship such that each extracts value from the other. An analogy would be the relationship between flowers and bees. Bees gather nectar from flowers, which they make into food. Pollen from the flowers rubs onto the bees’ bodies as they collect the nectar, which pollinates the next flower that the bee goes to. A win-win situation.

Let us dive a little into history to know why this relationship exists between both parties.

Brief History between PAP and NTUC

It all started when PAP’s founding father, Mr Lee Kwan Yew, embarked on his political life by representing unions. And of the first PAP CEC Protem Committee, more than half of its members were from trade unions. To put it in a one-liner, PAP has its roots in union. This close relationship existed even before the formation of NTUC.

sgmatters.com it is no surprise that mr ng chee meng is co opted into the pap cec here is why it is no surprise that mr ng chee meng is co opted into the pap cec here is why

The formation of NTUC was due to a need to create a peaceful trade union. Before NTUC, trade unions’ efforts focused on agitation and political mobilisation, calling for strikes at the slightest provocation. Looking in from the outside, it reeks of the instability of a nation.

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The PAP-supported union, NTUC, however, was pragmatic and focused on workers’ welfare. PAP’s goal was to help Singaporeans get jobs and create a strong economy and through NTUC, drive it. Creating a strong economy by looking after the jobs and welfare of workers was instrumental in ensuring a small nation like Singapore could remain competitive and survive. 

For a more in-depth history between PAP and NTUC, read here

Union Leaders within PAP

Since the formation of NTUC, union leaders have been part of PAP to ensure workers’ voices are not forgotten.  

sgmatters.com it is no surprise that mr ng chee meng is co opted into the pap cec here is why it is no surprise that mr ng chee meng is co opted into the pap cec here is why 1

NTUC chooses to work with a political party because this is where union leaders can lobby for workers at the highest level of policy decision-making, should the union leaders get elected to Parliament via the political party. 

Moreover, we have to give credit when it is due. Since his appointment as NTUC Sec-Gen in 2018. Mr Ng has accomplished A LOT in 5 years.

Ng Chee Meng’s Accomplishments as NTUC Sec-Gen

From the initiation of Company Training Committees (CTCs) to setting up the Job Security Council, there is no denying that Mr Ng has done a tremendous amount of work to improve the work, wages, and welfare of workers.

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Since the establishment of the CTC model in 2019, NTUC currently has more than 1000 CTCs to help workers train for the technological challenges of the future. Schemes such as the Fair Retrenchment Framework and the Self-Employed Income Relief Scheme were also introduced to help workers tide over the trying times of COVID-19. Not forgetting the mobilisation of the Job Security Council to help with the placement and training of workers.

The Professionals, Managers, and Executives Taskforce (PME TF) and Youth Taskforce set up in 2020 and 2021 respectively, look into the work-life aspirations of these groups of people through a series of focus group discussions, events and surveys.

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The taskforces are part of the #EveryWorkerMatters Conversations launched by NTUC in August last year, to hear about the hopes and aspirations of workers. With insights from the engagement, NTUC can champion the interest of workers by co-creating solutions through policy recommendations.

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Mr Ng Co-leads Empower Pillar of Forward Singapore Exercise

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If you are keeping up with the news, you should know that Mr Ng is now co-leading the Empower pillar with Manpower Minister Tan See Leng (also co-opted into the 37th PAP CEC on Saturday) and Senior Minister of State Koh Poh Koon. As part of the Forward Singapore exercise to review and refresh Singapore’s social compact, the Empower pillar focuses on the economy and jobs.

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The list of good works goes on. And these could not have been done without an effective Labour Chief setting the right direction.

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