During Parliamentary debate on Platform Worker Bill on 9 September, Mr Gerald Giam, Workers’ Party Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC, raised concern over symbiotic relationship between National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) with the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).
Mr Giam pointed out that many PAP MPs and branch chairpersons serve as advisors to NTUC-affiliated unions.
In 2017, NTUC announced that, where possible, all PAP MPs—including Cabinet Ministers—would be appointed as advisors to unions, professional associations, and guilds under its umbrella.
By 2017, 71 PAP MPs were serving as union advisors. Mr Giam emphasised that many of these advisors are not merely offering guidance, but are actively involved in the governance of the unions.
He noted that this close connection could undermine the independence of unions, resulting in muted advocacy and a lack of dynamism in labour policymaking.
Mr Giam advocated for an independent, non-partisan NTUC, argued that untethering NTUC from the PAP would make unions stronger and more independent in advocating for workers’ rights without being subordinated to the government.
However,his proposal faced strong criticism from PAP Ministers and MPs.
PAP MP Christopher de Souza accused Mr Giam of politicking, while Senior Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How defended NTUC’s relationship with the PAP, arguing that it benefits workers by effectively addressing their needs and prioritizing their interests.
Meanwhile, during his round up speech for the Bill on 10 Sept, Senior Minister of State for Manpower Koh Poh Koon further accused that WP, by advocating for the independence of unions from political parties, would destroy the productive relationship that underpins tripartism.
“The Tripartism that we have in Singapore today which many other countries want to emulate, only exists because of the close relationship and the mutual respect between the PAP and the NTUC. You dismantle this and everything falls apart.”
Desmond Tan, Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), also weighed in on the debate, rejecting the idea that symbiotic relationship prevents unions from speaking up, citing examples of NTUC pushing for policies, such as the Job Support Scheme, even when the government initially resisted.
In response, Mr Giam emphasised that WP seeks a middle ground, where unions maintain independence but still collaborate with the government and employers.
“I think the SMS is having difficulty seeing anything between the full dichotomy of full symbiosis and full confrontation with unions. ”
“We are calling for a third way, which is independent unions with tripartite dialogue to work towards achieving win-win outcomes for both workers and employers.”
Leong Mun Wai questions why NTUC leaders often come from the ruling party
The heated debate also prompted Mr Leong Mun Wai, Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) from the Progress Singapore Party, voiced support for WP’s call.
Mr Leong while acknowledged that tripartism is a fundamental aspect of governance that all parties, including opposition ones, seek to foster, he questioned the level of NTUC’s independence from the government.
He pointed out that the NTUC’s secretary-general is often a minister or former minister and that many NTUC leaders come from the ruling party.
“Can you find another trade union in the world where the trade union chief is a minister? Are there any countries? Please let me know if there are,” Mr Leong asked, further noting that few opposition politicians are given appointments in NTUC.
“I think we are entitled to think that the independence of NTUC ought to be better than this.”
PAP Influence on NTUC’s Leadership
Indeed, observing NTUC’s official website and noting the significant presence of PAP MPs and Ministers in the trade union, it is hard for readers not to echo NCMP Leong’s sentiments, questioning the extent of PAP’s influence over NTUC’s advocacy for workers’ interests.
A simple headcount reveals that at least 11 NTUC leaders are either former or current Ministers or MPs from the ruling PAP.
Notably, both SMS Heng Chee How and SMS Desmond Tan are currently serving as Deputy Secretaries-General in NTUC, while SMS Dr Koh Poh Koon held the same role from 2018 until May 2021.
Current Secretary-General Mr Ng Chee Meng, who assumed the position in 2018, previously served as Minister in the PMO.
Despite losing to the WP team in GE2020, he continues to hold his position at NTUC.
Mr Ng succeeded Chan Chun Sing in 2018, who led NTUC from 2015 to 2018.
Mr Chan, currently the Minister for Education and Minister-in-charge of Public Service, joined NTUC as Deputy Secretary-General in January 2015.
By May that year, he was promoted to Secretary-General, succeeding outgoing labour chief Lim Swee Say.
During his tenure, Mr Chan concurrently held a Cabinet position as Minister in PMO from April 2015 to April 2018, while also serving as a PAP MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC.
Mr Lim Swee Say became NTUC Secretary-General in January 2007, succeeding Mr Lim Boon Heng, who led NTUC for 13 years.
Mr Lim also served as Minister in PMO and MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC from 2006 to 2011.
He was later elected as MP for East Coast GRC in May 2011, serving until 2020.
Meanwhile, Mr Lim Boon Heng served as NTUC chief from 1993 to December 2006, while simultaneously serving as MP and being appointed Minister without Portfolio.
Mr Lim currently serving as NTUC Enterprise (NE) chairman.
Other PAP Ministers and MPs currently serving in the NTUC Central Committee include:
Mr Patrick Tay, who serves as Assistant Secretary-General in NTUC and is also a PAP MP for Pioneer SMC.
Joining Mr Tay are Mr Desmond Choo, Ms Yeo Wan Ling, and Mr Melvin Yong, who are PAP MPs for Tampines GRC, Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, and Radin Mas SMC respectively.
They also hold roles as Assistant Secretaries-General in NTUC.
Mr Mohd Fahmi Aliman, a Marine Parade GRC MP, is serving as director in NTUC.
Additionally, at least four former PAP MPs currently hold posts within NTUC, including Mr Ng Chee Meng.
The other three are Mr Ang Hin Kee, former MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC; Mr Zainal Sapari, former MP for Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC; and Mr Yeo Guat Kwang, former MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC.
Mr Ang and Mr Zainal currently serve as NTUC Assistant Directors-General, while Mr Yeo is an advisor.
Ng Chee Meng proudly highlighted NTUC’s strong bond with PAP
The relationship between NTUC and the PAP dates back to NTUC’s founding in 1961 by pro-PAP unionists.
NTUC has 1.3 million members and unites 58 trade unions, seven trade associations, seven social enterprises and other partners under its umbrella.
Notably, even incumbent NTUC Sec-Gen Mr Ng did not shy away from explicitly boasting about NTUC’s close ties with the PAP.
For instance, in a 2021 Facebook post, Mr Ng shared a photo of himself in a NTUC T-shirt with a PAP badge prominently pinned in the middle of the NTUC logo.
He remarked, “The PAP is at the heart of NTUC, and the NTUC is at the heart of what the PAP does.”
He emphasised that NTUC has been a symbiotic partner of the PAP, working together to improve the lives of workers, with both organizations sharing the same core objectives.
