Speech by NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng at May Day Rally 2025

Prime Minister Brother Lawrence Wong, SM Brother Lee Hsien Loong, ESM Brother Goh Chock Tong, Cabinet Ministers,
President Sister Thana and fellow Central Committee Members,
SNEF President Brother Tan Hee Teck and Tripartite Partners,
Brothers and sisters,

Good morning, and Happy May Day! I am so happy to be here this morning with you to celebrate May Day.

I am doubly glad that for the first time, a Straits Times survey has listed NTUC as the top employer in Singapore! Sisters and brothers, we know we are unique. But we are unique that now we not only stand tall for workers, but we are also a choice employer in Singapore. A world first!

I must say – this May Day is a little different for me. It has been a very, very busy period to say the least. But every second of it has been worth it. Because every hour spent, every day spent, is for the larger purpose of serving fellow Singaporeans and workers of all collars!

If you are interested in a weight loss programme, come see me. For the past 45 days or so, I think I’ve been home for dinner about twice, and I’ve lost about 4kg. But it has been worth it.

This May Day, we have much to celebrate together! Our win-win tripartism; our unique Singapore strength that will carry us forward in a very troubled world; and within the Labour Movement, our innovations and breakthroughs in the past few years have achieved much to uplift our workers’ wages, welfare and work prospects across all collars.

Breakthroughs We Have Achieved

And it is possible only because, sisters and brothers, you led and you cared, and we have made needle-moving impact for our working people, regardless of whether you are a lower-wage worker, platform worker, Professional, Manager and Executive (PMEs), caregiver; or senior worker. In all these spaces, we have made a difference. 

For the lower-wage workers, amidst rising cost-of-living, the Progressive Wage Model has raised wages – real wages – close to 6 per cent from 2019 to 2024.

And, to me, this is not just a number, but this is a real big change for our sisters and brothers on the ground.

Brother Hamdi is with us today. He used earn $1,000 or so, 10 years ago, as a cleaner. Today, with the Progressive Wage Model and skills upgrading, Brother Hamdi is earning $2,500 a month as a cleaning supervisor, in charge of 10 other cleaners. And together with Workfare Income Supplement, whilst life can still be challenging, Brother Hamdi is able to manage better.

Brother Hamdi, I’m glad you’re here with us today. Thank you for being on the ground as well. We will do our best to support you and fellow workers with the PWM.

And we know that there’s more to be done, but I am proud at the same time of our efforts. 155,000 lower-wage workers have been impacted by your leadership and care! Income inequality in Singapore is at a record low since 2000!.

To read the full article click here:
https://www.ntuc.org.sg/ucarecentre/news/May-Day-Rally-2025-Speech-by-Sec-Gen-Ng-Chee-Meng/