SINGAPORE — Minister in Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Ng Chee Meng took over the role of labour chief on Tuesday (May 22), following the resignation of National Trades Union Congress’ (NTUC) former secretary-general Chan Chun Sing.

Announcing the leadership change in a media release on Tuesday, NTUC said its central committee accepted Mr Chan’s resignation and made the unanimous decision to elect Mr Ng, who was deputy secretary-general, to the top post.

Although he is stepping down following the request of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to return to the Government, Mr Chan wrote in his resignation letter that he is not leaving the labour movement.

“My new portfolio in the Ministry of Trade and Industry is, in fact, an extension of the work in NTUC to ensure that our working people can continue to benefit from good jobs, and our businesses will have the opportunities to become more competitive and remain steadfast in their quest to take care of our working people,” he wrote.

Responding on behalf of the labour movement, NTUC president Mary Liew thanked Mr Chan for his service and leadership.

In her valedictory letter to Mr Chan, Ms Liew said that as labour chief, he had spared no effort in expanding its network to bring more rank-and-file workers, professionals, managers, executives, freelancers, self-employed, workers in small and medium-sized enterprises, migrant and domestic workers under its fold.

She also credited Mr Chan for urging Singaporeans to “step up lifelong learning, continuous training and reskilling to be future-ready” amid an environment that saw Singapore undergoing structural and disruptive changes caused by technology.

During his time in NTUC, Ms Liew added that Mr Chan had constantly emphasised tripartism as “Singapore's unique competitive advantage”, and one that must not be taken for granted.

Mr Chan — who has been touted as among the frontrunners to succeed PM Lee — took over as labour chief from Mr Lim Swee Say in May 2015.

The 48-year-old was the NTUC's 10th secretary-general since the labour movement was established in 1961.

His appointment three years ago had raised eyebrows among political watchers who noted that the labour movement was not seen as a traditional post for political high-fliers.

The observers had added that the move showed the Government's emphasis on labour issues, with economic restructuring regarded as one of its most important challenges at that time.

His successor, Mr Ng, was appointed and co-opted into the NTUC central committee on April 23, where he started serving on a part-time basis.

The 49-year-old assumed his role as deputy secretary-general on a full-time basis from May 1, after relinquishing his appointments as Minister for Education (Schools) and Second Minister for Transport.

Posting on Facebook on Tuesday evening, Mr Ng thanked Mr Chan for his contributions to workers. “Under Brother Chun Sing’s leadership, the Labour Movement of Singapore has bucked the global trend of shrinking union footprint. He strengthened our position as a relevant and representative (Labour Movement) — serving all working people with an expanded suite of products and services that meet evolving needs at different life cycle stages,” he wrote.

“Concerned that our working people are affected by rapid technological changes, Brother Chun Sing stressed the importance of training, skills upgrading and re-skilling; pushed for close collaborations with educational and training partners to create bite-sized, just-in-time training modules; and enhanced the NTUC-Education and Training Fund that funds course fees subsidies.”

Mr Chan, meanwhile, wished Mr Ng success in his new role.