Desmond Tan, Da Shuai Ge of NTUC, Pushes for Job Security and Better Wages with $200 Million CTC Grant Boost

NTUC Deputy Secretary-General Desmond Tan Budget Debate 2025

Not only his face is good looking, but this yandao MP’s heart is also in the right place – championing for better wages and job security for workers! Hen loves.

Since the launch of the Company Training Committee (CTC) in 2019—more than 5 years ago—the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has formed over 3,000 CTCs and helped more than 7,000 workers receive an average of 5% wage increment on top of their annual increments!

You know one lah hor, a lot of things can happen within 5 years one.

Some people can 歪掉 (become senget), some people can become jiao-jiao like prune, some people get forgotten like Ivan Lim, but not 国民大帅哥 (Nation’s Heartthrob) who still looks as FINE as wine! Not only his face is good looking, but his heart is also in the right place ah! 😍

Got face and got heart. 老娘很喜翻,lao niang very like!

Better Pay and Career Progression for Workers

You see, this Desmond Tan was appointed as the Da Shuai Ge, I mean the deputy secretary-general of NTUC in 2022. Since then, he has been at the forefront, championing for the workers.

In his most recent Budget Debate speech, the Deputy Secretary-General of NTUC, who is also the group director of the NTUC Training and Transformation Group reminded everyone that in this rapidly changing world, the skillsets that brought us success yesterday may not be enough to secure our future. To remain competitive, all of us must keep learning and upskilling ourselves.

And that is exactly what NTUC’s CTC initiative is doing! Helping businesses and workers to navigate these rapidly evolving and changing landscapes, in his words, “future-proofing businesses while uplifting workers”.

Additional $200 Million to Help Workers Upskill

In case you didn’t know, during the Budget 2025 speech, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that the Gahmen will be giving NTUC an additional $200 million for the CTC initiative so that more companies can help their workers upskill, secure jobs, and earn better pay!

Budget 2025: More $$$ for Company Training Committees – Issa BIG WIN for NTUC and Workers!!!

With this additional $200 million, NTUC aims to uplift even more workers and help them secure higher wages so that workers won’t just kena left behind as industries evolve. Instead of losing their jobs to robots and technologies, workers will be trained for higher-value roles and also get promoted!

Good right??? Training the workers so that they can use technology to help them move up, and not push them out.

Hong Kong Money No Enough! Maybe Need to Learn from Singapore’s GST System?

Supporting Mid-Career Workers

On top of helping workers to safeguard their jobs, this yandao MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC has also called for greater support for mid-career workers.

As you all know lah, many mid-career workers worry about job security, especially as industries change and new technologies keep popping out like wrinkles.

NTUC Deputy Secretary-General Desmond Tan calling for more support for mid-career workers in his 2023 Debate Speech.
NTUC Deputy Secretary-General Desmond Tan calling for more support for mid-career workers in his 2023 Debate Speech.

During the budget speech, the Gahmen also announced that:

  • Workers who take selected full-time training courses can now receive up to $3,000 per month under the SkillsFuture Mid-Career Training Allowance.
  • From 2026, part-time training will also be covered. This will give workers more flexibility to upgrade their skills while staying employed.

While NTUC’s efforts in pushing for greater support for mid-career workers are paying off, but their work doesn’t stop here. Because the world keeps moving, just like your wrinkles won’t stop growing no matter how much botox you inject, right?

With industries evolving and job requirements shifting, Da Shuai Ge Desmond Tan said that NTUC will continue to push for better wages, stronger job security, and more training opportunities for all workers.

In his concluding speech, he said:

Whether you are a delivery rider battling the elements on the streets, a mid-career professional adapting to AI, a senior worker seeking renewed purpose, the Labour Movement fights tirelessly to uplift your voice, secure your livelihoods and future proof your potential.

Because when workers win, Singapore wins. And on this momentous year of SG60, in solidarity with our tripartite partners, the labour movement will march forward with our workers, for our country Singapore.”

WAH, LAI, LAO NIANG GIVING YOU A STANDING OVATION!

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