National Trades Union Congress
Encyclopedia
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), also known as the Singapore National Trades Union Congress (SNTUC), is the sole national trade union centre in Singapore
. It currently has 60 Trade Unions and 6 Affiliates.
(PAP) in its successful drive for self-government, split into the pro-PAP NTUC and the leftist Singapore Association of Trade Unions (SATU). The SATU collapsed in 1963 following the government's detention of its leaders during Operation Coldstore
and its subsequent official deregistration on 13 November 1963, leaving NTUC as the sole trade union centre. Presently, over 98% of union members are in unions affiliated with the NTUC.
After the PAP's decisive electoral victory in 1968, the government passed the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act of 1968, which severely limited workers' rights to strike. From 1969, the NTUC adopted, in its own words, "a cooperative, rather than a confrontational policy towards employers."
Relations between PAP and NTUC are very close, and have often resulted in members holding office in both organizations at the same time. The NTUC's founder, Devan Nair
, was a PAP stalwart and later served as President of Singapore
. Ong Teng Cheong
, the first directly elected President of Singapore, was both the NTUC secretary general, and the Deputy Prime Minister (from 1985), until his presidential election. Lim Boon Heng
, the previous secretary general, is also a Member of Parliament, and the Chairman of the People's Action Party. As of January 5, 2007, Lim Swee Say
, the deputy Secretary General, has replaced Lim Boon Heng. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/250852/1/.html
.
There are three tiers of union leadership, all elected via secret ballot. Workers in a company elect their branch leaders. The next layer is the executive committee of a union. Officials from the executive committee are drawn from the branches. At the national level, there is the Central Committee of the NTUC. The 21-member Central Committee is elected every four years.
Union leaders and employers serve on key institutions such as the National Wages Council, the Economic Development Board
, the Central Provident Fund
and the Singapore Productivity and Standards Board. Government and employer representatives also serve on the boards of the cooperatives, business ventures and other organizations controlled by NTUC.
Affiliated unions are represented at the NTUC Delegates Conference, the supreme authority of the labour movement. The Delegates Conference is held once in two years. During this conference, delegates review the work of the NTUC and map out future directions for the labour movement.
Union leadership includes Members of Parliament. These Members of Parliament are subject to elections, just as the other grassroots unionists are. Many other Members of Parliament, including Cabinet Ministers, serve as union advisors.
The list of 12 Social Enterprises include:
Additionally, the NTUC has an Administration and Research Unit (ARU) to carry out work related to and supporting Industrial Relations. Within the ARU, the Secretary-General functions as the Director-General. The Director-General is assisted by Divisional Directors, each of whom is in charge of a cluster of departments.
and NTUC Link, as well as partners like NTUC Club and NTUC Healthcare to provide a range of core and lifestyle benefits for all of its members.
Since 2002, executives are also permitted to join the NTUC membership base, which was traditionally composed of rank-and-file employees. Apart from lifestyle benefits, they also enjoy some representation (if they are employed in unionised companies).
is the youth wing of Singapore's National Trades Union Congress. Aimed at attracting younger workers into unions, Young NTUC is part of the organisation's efforts to project a more vibrant, modern and youthful image and, at the same time, remain relevant and representative of the workforce.
With a base of about 150,000 young members, Young NTUC is, by far, the largest youth movement in Singapore, as compared to Young PAP and the People's Association's Youth Movement. It enables younger members and unionists to participate and be actively involved in the various levels and activities of the labour movement, sharing ideas, views and concerns with their peers, as well as senior leaders of NTUC and affiliated unions.
Source:
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. It currently has 60 Trade Unions and 6 Affiliates.
History
NTUC was created in 1961 when the Singapore Trades Union Congress (STUC), which had backed the People's Action PartyPeople's Action Party
The People's Action Party is the leading political party in Singapore. It has been the city-state's ruling political party since 1959....
(PAP) in its successful drive for self-government, split into the pro-PAP NTUC and the leftist Singapore Association of Trade Unions (SATU). The SATU collapsed in 1963 following the government's detention of its leaders during Operation Coldstore
Operation Coldstore
Operation Coldstore was a security operation launched in Singapore on 2 February 1963 in which at least 111 anti-government left-wing activists were arrested and detained, including key members of the opposition political party Barisan Sosialis...
and its subsequent official deregistration on 13 November 1963, leaving NTUC as the sole trade union centre. Presently, over 98% of union members are in unions affiliated with the NTUC.
After the PAP's decisive electoral victory in 1968, the government passed the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act of 1968, which severely limited workers' rights to strike. From 1969, the NTUC adopted, in its own words, "a cooperative, rather than a confrontational policy towards employers."
Relations between PAP and NTUC are very close, and have often resulted in members holding office in both organizations at the same time. The NTUC's founder, Devan Nair
Devan Nair
Devan Nair a/l Chengara Veetil, also known as C. V. Devan Nair , was the third President of Singapore and was elected by Parliament on October 23, 1981. He served as President until his resignation on March 28, 1985.-Youth:Nair was born in Malacca, Malaysia, the son of an Indian immigrant I.V.K...
, was a PAP stalwart and later served as President of Singapore
President of Singapore
The President of the Republic of Singapore is Singapore's head of state. In a Westminster parliamentary system, as which Singapore governs itself, the prime minister is the head of the government while the position of president is largely ceremonial. Before 1993, the President of Singapore was...
. Ong Teng Cheong
Ong Teng Cheong
Ong Teng Cheong was the first directly elected President of the Republic of Singapore. He was the nation's fifth President, and served a six-year term from 1 September 1993 to 31 August 1999.-Early life:...
, the first directly elected President of Singapore, was both the NTUC secretary general, and the Deputy Prime Minister (from 1985), until his presidential election. Lim Boon Heng
Lim Boon Heng
Lim Boon Heng is a politician from Singapore. He is currently the Chairman of Singapore's governing People's Action Party . He is also the Deputy Chairman of the People's Association, and was formerly the Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress...
, the previous secretary general, is also a Member of Parliament, and the Chairman of the People's Action Party. As of January 5, 2007, Lim Swee Say
Lim Swee Say
Lim Swee Say is a politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party , he is currently a Cabinet Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and the Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress....
, the deputy Secretary General, has replaced Lim Boon Heng. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/250852/1/.html
Trade Unions in Singapore
Trade unions in Singapore are run along democratic lines, and membership is voluntary. Major decisions on industrial actions are taken only with majority support expressed through secret ballotSecret ballot
The secret ballot is a voting method in which a voter's choices in an election or a referendum are anonymous. The key aim is to ensure the voter records a sincere choice by forestalling attempts to influence the voter by intimidation or bribery. The system is one means of achieving the goal of...
.
There are three tiers of union leadership, all elected via secret ballot. Workers in a company elect their branch leaders. The next layer is the executive committee of a union. Officials from the executive committee are drawn from the branches. At the national level, there is the Central Committee of the NTUC. The 21-member Central Committee is elected every four years.
Union leaders and employers serve on key institutions such as the National Wages Council, the Economic Development Board
Economic Development Board
-Overview:The Economic Development Board is a statutory board of the Government of Singapore that plans and executes strategies to sustain Singapore as a leading global hub for business and investment....
, the Central Provident Fund
Central Provident Fund
In Singapore, the Central Provident Fund is a compulsory comprehensive savings plan for working Singaporeans and permanent residents primarily to fund their retirement, healthcare and housing needs. It is administered by the Central Provident Fund Board, a statutory board under the Ministry of...
and the Singapore Productivity and Standards Board. Government and employer representatives also serve on the boards of the cooperatives, business ventures and other organizations controlled by NTUC.
NTUC Executive Committee
At union headquarters level, key branch officials represent their branches at Union Headquarters as delegates. They have a right to vote or stand as candidates in elections to the Union Executive Committee which is responsible for the effective operation of the union.Affiliated unions are represented at the NTUC Delegates Conference, the supreme authority of the labour movement. The Delegates Conference is held once in two years. During this conference, delegates review the work of the NTUC and map out future directions for the labour movement.
The NTUC Central Committee
At the national level, once in four years, the union delegates elect a 21-member NTUC Central Committee to oversee the work of the labour movement. The Central Committee members elect among themselves the Secretary-General, the President, the Secretary for Financial Affairs (Treasurer) and Vice Presidents. The Central Committee appoints other principal office bearers.Union leadership includes Members of Parliament. These Members of Parliament are subject to elections, just as the other grassroots unionists are. Many other Members of Parliament, including Cabinet Ministers, serve as union advisors.
NTUC Social Enterprises
The objectives of NTUC Social Enterprises are:- to help stabilize prices of basic commodities and services
- to strengthen and protect the purchasing power of workers
- to allow union leaders to gain management experience, and to understand the problems faced by management, thus helping to promote better labour-management relations
The list of 12 Social Enterprises include:
- NTUC Choice Homes
- NTUC Club
- NTUC Eldercare
- NTUC FairPriceNTUC FairPriceNTUC FairPrice Co-Operative is a supermarket chain based in Singapore and the largest in the country. The company is a co-operative of the National Trades Union Congress or NTUC. The group has 100 supermarkets across the island, with over 50 outlets of Cheers convenience stores island-wide...
- NTUC First Campus
- NTUC Foodfare
- NTUC Healthcare
- NTUC IncomeNTUC IncomeNTUC Income is a life and general insurance company based in Singapore. It is one of the "Big Three" insurers with a significant share of the local motor insurance market. Its current Chief Executive Officer is Tan Suee Chieh, who took over from Tan Kin Lian in February 2007.-External links:*...
- NTUC LearningHub
- NTUC Link
- NTUC Media
- NTUC Thrift & Loan
Related Organisations
The list of Related Organisations include:- Singapore Labour FoundationSingapore Labour FoundationThe Singapore Labour Foundation was established in 1977. Its aims are to improve the welfare of union members and to further the development of trade unions in Singapore....
(SLF) - Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute (OTC Institute)
- e2i (Employment & Employability Institute)
- Consumers' Association of Singapore (CASE)
Additionally, the NTUC has an Administration and Research Unit (ARU) to carry out work related to and supporting Industrial Relations. Within the ARU, the Secretary-General functions as the Director-General. The Director-General is assisted by Divisional Directors, each of whom is in charge of a cluster of departments.
Union Membership
As of May 2010, the total Union Membership figure in Singapore stands at 555,000. There are two main groups of members: Ordinary Branch (OB) members are directly represented by the unions/affiliates and enjoy direct collective bargaining rights, while General Branch (GB) members, who work in non-unionised companies, cannot be represented directly but are given workplace advice and whose employment issues are still handled professionally. NTUC also works with social enterprises like NTUC FairPriceNTUC FairPrice
NTUC FairPrice Co-Operative is a supermarket chain based in Singapore and the largest in the country. The company is a co-operative of the National Trades Union Congress or NTUC. The group has 100 supermarkets across the island, with over 50 outlets of Cheers convenience stores island-wide...
and NTUC Link, as well as partners like NTUC Club and NTUC Healthcare to provide a range of core and lifestyle benefits for all of its members.
Since 2002, executives are also permitted to join the NTUC membership base, which was traditionally composed of rank-and-file employees. Apart from lifestyle benefits, they also enjoy some representation (if they are employed in unionised companies).
Young NTUC
Established in 2005, Young NTUCYoung NTUC
Young NTUC is the official youth wing of the National Trades Union Congress . Launched in April 2005 by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Young NTUC represents working adults aged below 35 years old and currently has a membership base of more than 160,000; making it the largest youth movement in...
is the youth wing of Singapore's National Trades Union Congress. Aimed at attracting younger workers into unions, Young NTUC is part of the organisation's efforts to project a more vibrant, modern and youthful image and, at the same time, remain relevant and representative of the workforce.
With a base of about 150,000 young members, Young NTUC is, by far, the largest youth movement in Singapore, as compared to Young PAP and the People's Association's Youth Movement. It enables younger members and unionists to participate and be actively involved in the various levels and activities of the labour movement, sharing ideas, views and concerns with their peers, as well as senior leaders of NTUC and affiliated unions.
List of Leaders of NTUC
| Secretary-General | Term of Office | President | Term of office | Chairman | Term of office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devan Nair Devan Nair Devan Nair a/l Chengara Veetil, also known as C. V. Devan Nair , was the third President of Singapore and was elected by Parliament on October 23, 1981. He served as President until his resignation on March 28, 1985.-Youth:Nair was born in Malacca, Malaysia, the son of an Indian immigrant I.V.K... |
1961-1965 | Ho See Beng | 1962-1964 | Mahmud Awang | 1961 |
| ST Nagayan | 1965-1966 | RA White | 1966-1967 | Ho See Beng | 1962-1964 |
| Ho See Beng | 1966-1967 | Peter Vincent | 1967-1970 | Phey Yew Kok | 1979 |
| Seah Mui Kok | 1967-1970 | Phey Yew Kok | 1970-1979 | Yu-Foo Yee Shoon | 1980-1985 |
| Devan Nair Devan Nair Devan Nair a/l Chengara Veetil, also known as C. V. Devan Nair , was the third President of Singapore and was elected by Parliament on October 23, 1981. He served as President until his resignation on March 28, 1985.-Youth:Nair was born in Malacca, Malaysia, the son of an Indian immigrant I.V.K... |
1970-1979 | Devan Nair Devan Nair Devan Nair a/l Chengara Veetil, also known as C. V. Devan Nair , was the third President of Singapore and was elected by Parliament on October 23, 1981. He served as President until his resignation on March 28, 1985.-Youth:Nair was born in Malacca, Malaysia, the son of an Indian immigrant I.V.K... |
1979-1981 | position abolished | |
| Lim Chee Onn | 1979-1983 | Peter Vincent | 1981-1985 | ||
| Ong Teng Cheong Ong Teng Cheong Ong Teng Cheong was the first directly elected President of the Republic of Singapore. He was the nation's fifth President, and served a six-year term from 1 September 1993 to 31 August 1999.-Early life:... |
1983-1993 | George Chua | 1985-1986 | ||
| Lim Boon Heng Lim Boon Heng Lim Boon Heng is a politician from Singapore. He is currently the Chairman of Singapore's governing People's Action Party . He is also the Deputy Chairman of the People's Association, and was formerly the Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress... |
1993-2006 | Oscar Oliveiro | 1986-1997 | ||
| Lim Swee Say Lim Swee Say Lim Swee Say is a politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party , he is currently a Cabinet Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and the Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress.... |
2007-present | John De Payva | 1997-present |
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External links
- National Trades Union Congress (NTUC)
- NTUC Choice Homes
- NTUC Club
- NTUC Eldercare
- NTUC FairPrice
- NTUC First Campus
- NTUC Foodfare
- NTUC HealthCare
- NTUC Income
- NTUC LearningHub
- NTUC Link
- NTUC Media
- NTUC Thrift & Loan
- Singapore Labour Foundation (SLF)
- Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute (OTC Institute)
- e2i (Employment & Employability Institute)
- Consumers' Association of Singapore (CASE)
- Young NTUC