NTUC to commit $37 million to help workers in 2026

SINGAPORE – The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) announced a $37 million commitment in 2026 to support workers and their families amid economic instability. NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng emphasized two major structural shifts: an aging society and AI disruption, compounded by geopolitical fragmentation and rising costs. The initiative includes: - **$5 million savings** through NTUC and FairPrice Group for essentials, with union members benefiting from in-app deals. - **NTUC Community Fund** to improve educational access for young children and affordable eldercare support. - **NTUC Care Fund** for financial assistance to lower-income members and their families. - **FairPrice Foundation** to uplift communities and improve nutrition access. - **Income OrangeAid** to assist lower-income families, young people, and seniors through financial empowerment and community care. Ng Chee Meng noted that the Middle East conflict and recent layoffs by tech giants like Meta and Microsoft create job uncertainty. Nearly one in five workers cited job security as their top concern. He warned that AI disruption could reshape jobs, particularly for younger workers, while global instability exacerbates cost-of-living pressures. To address these challenges, NTUC launched the **NTUC Job Security Council**, which has placed over 100,000 workers since 2020. A new **Tripartite Jobs Council** (NTUC, Manpower Ministry, and Singapore National Employers Federation) will upskill workers and redesign jobs with AI tools. NTUC is expanding **Company Training Committees (CTCs)** to support professionals, such as partnerships with general practitioners and accountants to adopt AI. Ng stressed collective action, citing Singapore’s tripartite partnership between government, unions, and employers. He warned that past disruptions, like the Industrial Revolution, can leave workers behind, but Singapore’s approach aims to integrate efforts around every worker’s needs. The commitment aims to empower workers through financial support, skill upgrades, and career transitions.