Lim Swee Say granted highest award by NTUC, the Distinguished Comrade of Labour
Former Manpower Minister and former NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Say was granted the highest award, the Distinguished Comrade of Labour, at the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) May Day Awar…
Former Manpower Minister and former NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Say was granted the highest award, the Distinguished Comrade of Labour, at the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) May Day Awards 2018 held on Saturday (5 May).
The Distinguished Comrade of Labour award is the May Day Awards’ highest accolade conferred on individuals who have made unique and supreme contributions to the Labour Movement.
Past recipients were Stephen Lee, former President of Singapore National Employers Federation (2015); Lim Boon Heng, former Secretary-General of NTUC (2007); Goh Chok Tong, former Prime Minister of Singapore (2001), the late Ong Teng Cheong, former President of Singapore (1994); and the late Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew (1991).
A total of 141 awards were presented to deserving individuals and organisations for their outstanding contributions in making a difference to the lives of working people in Singapore, which was hosted by NTUC President Mary Liew and NTUC Secretary-General Chan Chun Sing.
NTUC stated that Mr Lim Swee Say’s belief that a job is the best welfare and full employment is the best protection for workers led him to make a positive impact in the lives and livelihood of our workers.
"During his tenure, he helped our workers weather through two financial crises. His leadership and strong relationship with the tripartite partners cushioned the impact on workers in Singapore, as he pushed for all to Upturn the Downturn," it said.
"He forged ahead to build an inclusive Labour Movement for all collars, ages and nationalities, one that helps working people earn a better living and live a better life. He also advocated for change and championed initiatives that evolved into policies and programmes at the tripartite and national levels," it added.
Mr Lim first joined NTUC in 1996. A year later, Singapore was hit by the Asian financial crisis.
According to NTUC, as the Executive Secretary of two major industrial unions, Mr Lim led the drive to enhance the employability of workers to minimise structural unemployment. He helped retrenched workers and job seekers secure new jobs so as to minimise unemployment and underemployment.
"He proved his mettle in 2009 when the global financial crisis brought various economies to their knees. His leadership and strong relationship with the tripartite partners cushioned the impact on workers in Singapore. As he rallied the workers together, he also persuaded employers to agree to “cut costs to save jobs” and the Government responded with measures to help businesses keep jobs for our workers. As a result, Singapore was able to “upturn the downturn”," it said.
However, TOC and its commenters question the results of the effort over the years to address unemployment and underemployment as figures are muddled with citizens undergoing skill upgrading courses and those who have sought employment as private hire drivers or delivery servicemen or women.
Development and renewal of union leadership strengthened under Lim
Mr Lim left NTUC to join the Government in 1999 and returned to the Labour Movement in 2004. By then, three potential divides in the workforce had become apparent – an ageing workforce, widening income gap and greater dependency on foreign manpower. To help bridge these divides, Mr Lim steered the Labour Movement to reposition itself as an inclusive "All C. A. N." Labour Movement – one that is for all collars, all ages and all nationalities of workers in Singapore.
It is touted that union membership grew from less than 500,000 before the LM’s repositioning to over 850,000 by the end of Mr Lim's term, reaching out to all collars and three generations of workers.
NTUC stated that in his eight years as Secretary-General, Mr Lim advocated for change and championed initiatives that evolved into policies and programmes at the tripartite and national levels.
It also said that the development and renewal of union leadership were also strengthened. Through the collective commitment and efforts of the unions, Mr Lim put in place a "3 Flow" system for the flowing-in of young activists, flowing-up of promising unionists and flowing-on of mature union leaders in a planned and more orderly manner.
NTUC has also named Mr Lim, who retired from the Cabinet on Tuesday, as chairman of NTUC’s administration and research unit (ARU) board of trustees, as well as advisor to its training council.
This entry was posted in Current Affairs, Labour.
