SINGAPORE: During an interview session with Sumiko Tan of The Straits Times, Ng Chee Meng, a prominent figure in Singapore’s political and labour landscape, shared about his potential participation in the upcoming General Elections 2025, stating that the possibility “is on the table”.
A Look Back at Ng Chee Meng’s Political Journey
Ng Chee Meng’s move from the Punggol-Pasir Ris GRC to contest in Sengkang during the last General Elections in 2020, captured the attention of many. The Sengkang team faced an unexpected loss, a result that took many by surprise, given his strong background and significant contributions in various capacities prior to the elections.
Post-GE 2020, Ng Chee Meng’s approach has been to “Keep calm, press on, and do the things that we have set out to do.” This mantra has guided him through his 30 years in the Singapore Armed Forces, where he served as both Chief of Air Force and Chief of Defence Force, and into his political career in 2015.
Ng Chee Meng expressed a reflective yet forward-looking perspective. “I suppose it was a profound sense of having let the party down, having let NTUC down, the supporters and residents… but the bounce back is probably the more important thing,” he shared.
Continuing Contributions Despite Setbacks
Not letting the loss waver his commitment to public service, Ng Chee Meng continued to serve as the Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and retained his role in the People’s Action Party (PAP) Central Executive Committee for two consecutive terms. Over the past five years, Mr Ng’s leadership at NTUC has been marked by his fervent dedication to improve the welfare of Singapore’s workforce, a noteworthy achievement given that he is the first Secretary-General to hold the position without a ministerial post, yet still making significant strides for workers across various sectors.
Ng Chee Meng shared his perspective, saying, “If you need a position to do your job, maybe it’s time to reflect whether you are just in a position of authority given to you, or whether you can actually improve things…(through) the merit of your ideas, the merit of your intentions and getting things done.” This was in response to inquiries about the potential disadvantages of not being a Cabinet minister in effecting changes within the NTUC.
While he acknowledges there are pros and cons, he points out how past NTUC chiefs in government have been of great service to both the labour movement and Singapore. “Either way, i fall back to the same mantra: Regardless of your position, just do the right thing, get it done as best as you can.”
Elaborating on his approach during the challenging COVID-19 times, Ng Chee Meng noted, “Thankfully, we have this innovation culture… making an impact across low wage workers, freelancers, a world’s first in the platform field, women coming back to the workforce, flexible work arrangements, seniors looking for options.”
His initiatives focusing on enhancing workers’ welfare — from innovatively supporting low-wage workers and freelancers, to facilitating flexible working arrangements for women re-entering the workforce and older workers seeking employment options — have garnered praise. Moreover, his push for upskilling and reskilling, particularly among older workers, through various programs and collaborations, exemplifies a forward-looking approach to Singapore’s evolving employment landscape.
NTUC’s Strategic Push for Job Security in Singapore
Under the leadership of Ng Chee Meng, NTUC has taken significant strides towards addressing the growing concerns of job security among Singapore’s workforce, particularly spotlighting the plight of Professionals, Managers, and Executives (PMEs), and the youth. Given the challenges posed by fast-paced technological changes and the rising risk of job redundancies, NTUC launched the Job Security Council (JSC) in February 2020. The JSC has notably achieved in transitioning over 110,000 individuals into new job roles, actively mitigating the impact of job losses and fostering ongoing skill development. Additionally, NTUC introduced various support measures during retrenchments and launched services such as mentorship programs and networking initiatives, as well as “Starter Membership” and “Starter Awards” for the youths, in effort to sustain and enhance Singapore’s workforce resilience.
As NTUC continues to adapt to the challenges of a dynamic economic landscape, initiatives like the Company Training Committee (CTC) and CTC Grant demonstrate a commitment to not only worker welfare but also to the holistic transformation of companies for the betterment of the Singaporean workforce. With nearly 200,000 workers benefiting from skills training and more than 85% of the S$100 million given to the Company Training Committee (CTC) Grant already committed to the 480 approved CTC Grant projects, it’s clear that the future direction is one of sustained support and career development for workers across all stages of their careers, in tandem with business transformation. In fact, NTUC is calling for a fresh injection of government funds to scale up this initiative.
Image: NTUC Singapore Facebook
Looking Ahead
As the conversation with Sumiko Tan unfolded, Ng Chee Meng reflected on his political and professional journey, and remained grounded yet optimistic about the future. With GE 2025 on the horizon, his contemplative yet forward-thinking outlook—”2025? Have I left politics? I would say that it’s on the table. I’m prepared, if asked.” —echoes a readiness to continue serving, be it within the political sphere or through continuing impactful work at NTUC.
Image: Ng Chee Meng’s Facebook
As Ng Chee Meng maps out his potential paths forward, his dedication to doing right by the workforce and Singapore remains clear, perhaps best encapsulated in his commitment to “do the right thing, do things right, do your best and let the outcomes take care of themselves.” Whether or not he re-enters the political fray, his ongoing contributions continue to shape Singapore’s socio-economic landscape.
