About 450 delegates from NTUC’s 58 affiliated unions elected via secret ballot the new committee for a four-year term which will run from 2023 to 2027.
The election was held at the 2023 NTUC National Delegates’ Conference, which took place on Wednesday and Thursday. NTUC holds a National Delegates’ Conference once every four years.
A new 21-member committee was elected, with all 16 incumbent members who ran for re-election retaining their places in the labour movement’s top decision-making body. The committee members then voted to elect office-bearers among themselves.
Mr Ng Chee Meng, 55, was re-elected as secretary-general, while Mr Arasu Duraisamy, also 55, was elected as secretary for financial affairs.
Mr Abdul Samad Abdul Wahab, 51, Mr Andy Lim, 47, and Mr Lim Teck Chuan, 51, were elected as vice-presidents, while Ms Cham Hui Fong, 55, and Mr Desmond Tan, 53, were chosen as deputy secretary-generals.
Mr Heng Chee How was also appointed as deputy secretary-general by the committee, bringing the total number of committee members to 22.
The new members of the committee are 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; 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’ Union.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Mr Ng said he believes that the new Central Committee has the collective wisdom, tenacity and care to take challenging actions to benefit workers.
“As leaders of the labour movement, it is important that we work together to achieve a blend of dynamism and wisdom that will enable us to chart the way forward, building on the foundations of the past four years,” he said.
“Only then can we forge strong partnerships to take action and anchor the future of the labour movement, and bring about better outcomes for our workers.”
“We will charge ahead and continue to innovate so that we can remain relevant to the workers,” he added.