Ng Chee Meng, Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), has been announced as the People’s Action Party (PAP) candidate for Jalan Kayu Single Member Constituency (SMC) in the upcoming General Election 2025 (GE2025).
“Some have asked me in my interactions, ‘Why return to politics after the last election?’ My answer is a simple one: Because I’ve never stopped caring.” – Ng Chee Meng
A surprise? Not really.
Ng has been a regular presence on the ground – walking the estate, engaging residents, and responding to municipal concerns.
He had also dropped subtle hints earlier — including in a recent interview with Lianhe Zaobao, where he shared his intention to return to Parliament on his own merit, adding that the best way to do so would be to contest in a Single Member Constituency (SMC).
Over Three Decades of Public Service
Ng’s career spans more than 30 years across Singapore’s key institutions — the military, political office, and the labour movement.
- Military Service: Ng served in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) from 1986 to 2015. He was appointed Chief of the Republic of Singapore Air Force in 2009, and later became the 8th Chief of Defence Force from 2013 to 2015.
- Political Leadership: Entering politics in 2015, Ng was elected as part of the PAP team in Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC. He held several portfolios, including Acting Minister for Education (Schools), Second Minister for Transport, and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Since 2018, Ng has helmed NTUC as Secretary-General, focusing on improving outcomes for workers in a rapidly evolving economic landscape.
Advancing Labour Policy
Under Ng’s leadership, NTUC has spearheaded a range of policy developments aimed at supporting Singaporean workers across different life stages and job types:
- Company Training Committees (CTCs): NTUC launched the CTC to address job security concerns amongst workers. Over 2,700 CTCs have been formed under his leadership, impacting approximately 7,400 workers, with 5% real wage increase. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong reaffirmed the Government’s commitment in Budget 2025, announcing an additional S$200 million to support NTUC’s continued efforts in uplifting workers through CTCs.
- SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support Scheme (JSS): Introduced in April 2025, the scheme provides up to $6,000 in financial relief over six months for involuntarily unemployed individuals undergoing training. NTUC had advocated for such support for over a decade.
- Platform Workers Act: This legislation extends legal protections to gig workers, including CPF contributions for retirement adequacy, work injury compensation, and formal representation and is the first of its kind globally.
- NTUC Care Fund (Caregiver Support): This fund, launched in 2025, sets aside $5.4 million over three years to support lower-income caregivers, including those caring for children with special needs and elderly family members.
- Flexible Work Arrangements (FWAs): NTUC played a key role in pushing for the Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangement Requests. These guidelines require employers to formally consider and respond to employees’ requests for flexible work — especially benefiting working parents and caregivers.
- Job Security Council (JSC): Launched in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Council matched over 25,000 displaced workers to new roles, working with a network of around 9,000 companies.
- Expanding Worker Representation: NTUC has extended its representation beyond rank-and-file workers to include PMEs, gig workers, and the self-employed—reflecting the shift in Singapore’s workforce profile.
Ng’s candidacy in Jalan Kayu SMC draws from more than 30 years of public service — as a Chief of Defence Force, a Cabinet Minister, and the Secretary-General of NTUC. In each of these roles, he has contributed to serving Singapore and Singaporeans. He may see a three-cornered contest in GE2025, with two opposition parties — the People’s Power Party (PPP) and Red Dot United (RDU) — expressing interest in fielding candidates.
His run in Jalan Kayu SMC now marks a new chapter, where his national-level experience could be applied to serving residents on the ground.
