NTUC membership surpasses 1.4 million, signalling growing worker support

NTUC has reached a significant milestone, with its union membership surpassing 1.4 million, announced NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng on 20 April 2025, ahead of the annual May Day celebrations.

NTUC said the achievement highlights growing trust in the Labour Movement and underscores NTUC’s expanding role in uplifting the lives and livelihoods of workers across Singapore.

NTUC attributed this growth to its proactive and inclusive strategies, which have helped workers adapt to a rapidly changing labour market.

Through the wide range of initiatives by NTUC, its affiliated unions and associations, the Labour Movement said it has positively impacted more than 1.4 million members over the past year. The initiatives include from skills upgrading and job matching to financial relief and workplace advocacy.

NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng said: “Amidst the uncertainties brought about by global trade and tariff wars, NTUC will strengthen efforts and work with tripartite partners to enhance job security for workers, and support Singapore’s continued ability to attract foreign investments.

“NTUC will redouble our efforts to drive upskilling and reskilling, equipping workers with the skills needed to adapt and thrive, even as we approach a more uncertain economy.”

Remaining steadfast amidst global uncertainties

NTUC said that recent tariffs imposed by the United States and countermeasures from other nations would likely disrupt supply chains and investment flows, potentially affecting business competitiveness and job security, especially in export-reliant sectors.

NTUC is closely monitoring these developments and stands ready to respond through its network of 58 affiliated unions and 27 NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) touchpoints.

As part of the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce, NTUC will work with tripartite partners to safeguard workers and ensure Singapore remains attractive to foreign investments.

A workforce in transition

NTUC has also tailored its support to meet shifting demographic and workforce needs, with Professionals, Managers, Executives, and Technicians (PMETs) now comprising 63.7 per cent of Singapore’s labour force and 28.2 per cent of workers aged 55 and above.

The tailored support for PMETs includes a pilot Executive Mentorship Programme in 2023, which has has matched nearly 150 PME mentor-mentee pairs, and the recently launched Company Mentorship Circle.

NTUC’s advocacy has also led to the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support to help those involuntarily unemployed. Since 2014, NTUC had proposed short-term financial support for the involuntarily unemployed, conditional on their active reskilling and job search efforts.

For youths, initiatives like the NTUC Starter Membership and the Young NTUC Career Mentorship Programme have provided thousands with mentorship, training subsidies, and early career guidance.

Over 12,000 youths have benefited from structured mentoring and networking opportunities. At the same time, the NTUC-U Care Fund has pledged $3.85 million to assist school-going children and youths, providing essential financial relief during their academic journey.

For caregivers, NTUC successfully advocated for flexible work arrangements and enhanced paternity leave.

One example is the Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangement Requests, which gives workers, such as caregivers, the formal right to request flexibility in their working arrangements, thereby improving their ability to manage both responsibilities.

NTUC's calls for more caregiver support have also led the Government to introduce the expansion of Government-Paid Paternity Leave and the introduction of Shared Parental Leave. These changes allow both parents to share caregiving responsibilities while advancing in their careers.

The NTUC U Women and Family (U WAF) has also helped caregivers gain access to essential resources, such as support groups and advice.

Programmes such as the C U Back @ Work (CUB) Programme and the Women Supporting Women Mentorship Programme has helped caregivers re-enter the workforce, offering flexible arrangements and a supportive community.

For older workers, NTUC successfully advocated for the increase in statutory retirement and re-employment ages, allowing older workers to stay employed for longer and providing them with greater job security and the chance to continue contributing to the workforce.

NTUC has advocated for technology adoption and job redesign by companies to create more age-friendly and ergonomic work environments for older workers.

Through NTUC’s advocacy, vulnerable groups such as platform workers and low-wage employees have gained new protections under legislation like the Platform Workers Act, the recognition of the Platform Work Associations (PWAs) under the Act .

The Platform Workers Act and the recognition of PWAs will enable the assocations to potentially represent the 67,000 platform workers in Singapore. This representation gives them a formal channel to negotiate for fairer earnings, welfare, and working conditions.

NTUC's advocacy also led to the expansion of the Progressive Wage Model. Over 155,000 lower-wage workers have benefited across nine sectors and occupations, with those at the 20^th percentile experiencing a 5.9 per cent wage growth from 2019 to 2024.

NTUC has also successfully advocated for the Workplace Fairness Legislation, which protects workers from discrimination and ensures equal opportunities and impartial dispute resolution.

The legislation benefits all workers by ensuring fair treatment based on merit and create a level playing field, particularly PMEs, those who are vulnerable and in lower-wage positions.

Future-ready through collective action

Beyond individual programmes, NTUC’s broader infrastructure forms a strong safety net for workers navigating economic headwinds. From February 2020 to November 2024, the NTUC Job Security Council matched more than 110,000 workers to new roles.

NTUC’s Company Training Committee (CTC) has enabled over 7,400 workers to earn average wage increases of 5 per cent above their annual increments while gaining new skills and structured career development plans.

Looking ahead, NTUC reaffirmed its commitment to tripartism and its refreshed compact with workers, calling on more Singaporeans to join the movement.

Mr Ng said: “As we progress in SG60 and beyond, we must work together and leave no worker behind.

“Unity is our strength, and with more workers partnering with us, we can shape a future of resilience, dignity, and opportunity for all.”