SINGAPORE – The labour movement elected 21 members to its highest decision-making body for a four-year term ending in 2027 as it gears up to push for better wages, welfare and job prospects for workers.

Fellow members voted for veteran unionist K. Thanaletchimi, 57, as president of the National Trades Union Congress’ (NTUC) central committee on Nov 23.

She takes over the helm from Ms Mary Liew, 61, who did not seek re-election after two terms as president.

Mr Ng Chee Meng, 55, who has been secretary-general since 2018, was also re-elected.

Nearly 450 delegates from NTUC’s 58 affiliated unions elected the new committee by secret ballot during the two-day National Delegates’ Conference from Nov 22 to 23 at Orchid Country Club.

The elected committee members, in turn, voted to elect the office-bearers.

The committee also appointed Mr Heng Chee How, Senior Minister of State for Defence, as deputy secretary-general, bringing the total number of members to 22.

NTUC elects a new central committee and charts out the direction the committee will take in its term during the quadrennial conference.

Ms Thanaletchimi, president of the Healthcare Services Employees’ Union, was previously elected to the committee twice, in 2015 and 2019. She was elected as vice-president during her second term.

All 16 incumbent members on the committee who ran for election were re-elected.

Five from the previous central committee, including Ms Liew, declined to seek re-election, paving the way for fresh faces to be voted in.

In 2011, NTUC implemented a self-imposed leadership renewal rule that requires top union leaders to voluntarily step aside to make way for new blood when they turn 62.

The new members include Ms Julie Cheong, 51, president of the Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union; Mr Larry Gwee, 43, assistant general secretary of the Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union (SMOU); and Mr Daniel Loh, 45, president of the Air-Transport Executive Staff Union.

Mr Mike Mariyappa Thiruman, 54, general secretary of the Singapore Teachers’ Union, and Ms Noor Irdawaty Jammarudin, 40, general secretary of the Building Construction and Timber Industries Employees’ Union, are also first-time members.

Mr Arasu Duraisamy, 55, was re-elected as secretary for financial affairs, while Mr Abdul Samad Abdul Wahab, 51, was re-elected as vice-president.

Meanwhile, Mr Andy Lim, 47, secretary-general of the Singapore Manual & Mercantile Workers’ Union, and Mr Lim Teck Chuan, 51, president of the Advanced Manufacturing Employees’ Union, were elected as vice-presidents for the first time.

Ms Thanaletchimi, who works as a manager at the National University Hospital, was previously elected as president of the National University Hospital Employees’ Union in 1988.She served as a Nominated MP from 2016 to 2018.

At a media conference to unveil the new committee, Ms Thanaletchimi said that she had “big shoes to fill”, following Ms Liew’s run.

“I’ll be the president for all workers and ensure the plight of the workers is heard, and, at the same time, ensure their wages, work prospects and welfare grow along with them,” she said.

She added that training would be a key focus area during her term, describing it as the best form of welfare as it ensures workers’ employment and employability.

Other areas of focus include growing the labour movement’s membership, especially among youth, and ensuring mature workers can stay in employment, she said.

Ms Thanaletchimi paid tribute to Ms Liew’s leadership and guidance.

“She can be soft in nature, but she’s a very assertive person,” she said, adding that Ms Liew always made it a point to remember special occasions and make others feel included.

Echoing Ms Thanaletchimi’s sentiments, Mr Gwee said that Ms Liew’s meticulous approach to her union work and her dedication to the training and welfare of Singaporean seafarers has been inspirational for him.

Mr Gwee and Ms Liew, who remains SMOU general secretary, have worked together for over 16 years since he started out as an industrial relations officer there.

He recounted how Ms Liew worked tirelessly to repatriate the body of a foreign sailor who had died on board a ship in Singapore waters, a process that was hampered by Covid-19 pandemic measures.

“She went all out – she went to the minister, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, and all that, just to make sure that seafarer’s body went back to the family.”

Mr Gwee also said that he hoped to share SMOU’s experience in training workers on decarbonisation in the maritime sector with the wider labour movement, and help Singapore achieve its zero-carbon target.