DPM Heng conferred NTUC's top May Day honour

SINGAPORE: Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat was on Wednesday (Apr 28) conferred the Medal of Honour in the course of the Nationwide Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Might Day Awards held at Downtown East.

The highest Might Day Award is given to “special individuals who have rendered distinguished services to the labour movement”, NTUC stated in a information launch.

Mr Heng was additionally the guest-of-honour on the awards ceremony, which was held with greater than 200 attendees comprising union leaders and tripartite companions over two periods on the identical day. The ceremony was streamed on-line through Zoom for awardees’ company.

The Medal of Honour was conferred on Mr Heng for enjoying “an instrumental role in ensuring that our economy continues to provide a thriving environment for our businesses and generate good jobs for our workers”, NTUC stated.

“As the Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies and Finance Minister, he formulates policies that are both pro-worker and pro-business, enabling our workers to be equipped with the necessary skills to stay ahead of the curve and remain employable.

“Since the onset of COVID-19, he has helped many businesses stay afloat and saved workers’ livelihoods through his five decisive and incisive Budgets.”

Mr Heng additionally engaged union leaders and staff recurrently to take heed to their issues and clarify insurance policies to them, it added.

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The award will “serve as a constant reminder that the welfare of our workers and their families will always be at the heart of what we do”, Mr Heng advised on-line publication LabourBeat.

“I am deeply humbled by this award and am accepting it on behalf of all our tripartite partners,” he stated.

“We have been able to make a difference to the lives of our workers only because of strong tripartism in Singapore – working collaboratively to take care of our workers, businesses and national interests.”

MORE THAN 140 INDIVIDUALS, ORGANISATIONS RECOGNISED

Mr Heng was among the many 143 awardees who had been recognised on the ceremony for his or her “exemplary contributions in advancing workers’ interests, as well as workers who are themselves role models at their work places”.

Twenty-four people had been offered with larger awards, together with Mr Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of International Affairs and Ministry of Transport.

Mr Chee acquired the Distinguished Service award for his “active role as adviser to both the Healthcare Services Employees’ Union and Union of Power and Gas Employees (UPAGE)”.

He devoted his award to veteran union chief Nachiappan R Ok Sinniah, “having learnt a lot from (him) and what it means to fight for our workers with courage, compassion and conviction”.

Mr Nachi was emeritus normal secretary of UPAGE. He died in March and was posthumously conferred the Comrade of Labour (Star) (Bar) on Wednesday.

The Comrade of Labour (Star) (Bar) was additionally awarded to Mr Fang Chin Poh, normal secretary of the Nationwide Transport Employees’ Union (NTWU).

Mr Fang, who has been energetic in union work for 35 years, has been a “strong advocate for workers’ welfare and worked hard during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that no public transport workers were retrenched, and that all rank-and-file workers did not receive pay cuts”, NTUC stated.

Mr Murigasin Rajendran, former deputy normal secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Public Workers, was the only real recipient of the Veteran of Labour award this yr.

He was energetic in union work till his latest retirement, having joined the organisation in 1982, NTUC stated.

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As well as, 44 organisations had been recognised for “strengthening labour-management relations and supporting the Labour Movement’s initiatives in improving our workers’ wages, welfare and work prospects”.

Additionally recommended had been 20 staff for being “role models in enhancing their employability through upskilling, as well as being adaptable to changing work environments”.

Whereas 2020 was stuffed with “much uncertainty and anxiety”, it was additionally the yr the place Singapore noticed the “true spirit of tripartism prevail”, NTUC president Mary Liew stated.

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“Our government leaders and civil servants, union leaders and employers came together and stood in solidarity to help cushion the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our workers and companies and help them explore opportunities,” she added.

“Honouring them at our NTUC May Day Awards is a befitting tribute to all the hard work put in to protecting and caring for our workers, both in good times and bad.”