Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute - OTCi

We recently brought new key union leaders together for another engagement session with senior NTUC leadership.

At our latest session, Cham Hui Fong, NTUC Deputy Secretary-General, joined us for an open conversation on the issues affecting workers and workplaces today. It was a lively conversation, with lots of questions and sharing from our leaders.

Beyond training courses, another important aspect of the Institute’s work is creating regular platforms for union leaders to engage directly with senior NTUC leaders and policymakers, and better understand the evolving needs of workers and workplaces.

Yesterday, we hosted an engagement session for new key leaders of our unions with NTUC Deputy Secretary-General Desmond Tan 陈国明. Such sessions allowed for meaningful conversations on the challenges facing workers and the Labour Movement priorities in supporting them.

The Economic Strategy Review (ESR) is a major initiative by the Singapore Government, under the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce (SERT), to create a new economic blueprint for the next decade in response to the geopolitical shifts and rapid technological changes.

In support of this effort, OTCi organised a closed-door dialogue on 13 April 2026, bringing together union leaders for a constructive exchange with the co-chairs of the various committees:

- Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo

- Minister of State for Home Affairs & Social and Family Development Goh Pei Ming

- Minister of State for Defence and NTUC Deputy Secretary-General Desmond Choo 朱倍庆

- Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth & Sustainability and the Environment Goh Hanyan

The views and concerns shared by our union leaders will help the ESR better shape its final recommendations.

Image credit: Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI)

Post-Budget 2026 Dialogue with Manpower Minister and NTUC

OTCi hosted a Post-Budget 2026 dialogue on 25 March last week with Minister for Manpower, Dr Tan See Leng, and NTUC Secretary-General, Ng Chee Meng 黄志明, alongside union leaders to discuss key workforce challenges ahead.

As global uncertainties continue to evolve, one message stood out clearly: Singapore must remain both pro-worker and pro-business, ensuring workers are supported while businesses stay resilient.

Key issues raised during the dialogue reflected real ground concerns. These included how training can translate into better jobs and wage progression, support for senior workers and fair employment practices, job opportunities for young graduates, and the impact of rising costs across different sectors.

In response, there was strong emphasis on better aligning training with job outcomes, strengthening job matching efforts, and continuing tripartite collaboration to support workers through change. Assurances were also given that support measures will be in place should conditions worsen.

As shared during the session, this is not a time for complacency, but neither is it a time for alarm. It is a time to stay ready, stay united, and move forward together.