Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Desmond Tan Kok Ming remembers the smiles on the face of senior workers and their confidence in adopting new skills and taking on new roles.
“An uncle (at a farm) told me he used to carry at most three cartons of eggs at one go. Now, he can use the machine to lift 10 cartons effortlessly,” Mr Tan said, “That (machine) has increased his productivity … he gets better wages, and his work hours are also shortened.”
Desmond Tan, the Deputy Secretary General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), said the farm benefitted from NTUC’s Company Training Committee (CTC) Grant. The farm invested in new technologies, redesigned jobs, and upgraded worker skills.
Under the CTC programme launched in 2019, companies and unions form committees to transform businesses. As a result, workers gain better wages and outcomes – a win for both employers and employees, the Director of the NTUC Training and Transformation Group said.
In June 2022, Mr Tan was seconded from the Government to the labour movement. As DSG of NTUC, he plans for its future needs, and works with tripartite partners to ensure strong labour relations in Singapore.
He also serves as the Executive Secretary of the Singapore Industrial and Services Employees’ Union (SISEU). In this role, he handles the day-to-day operations of the union to ensure the interests of workers are protected.
As a Labour MP, he helps strengthen the symbiotic relationship between the People’s Action Party (PAP) and the labour movement, “the bedrock upon which the country has been governed.”
“Being in NTUC, we are privileged to be the voice of our workers…It is very motivating to see workers benefitting from the work that we do. We see workers benefitting from the negotiations we put in place, the policies we put in place, and the plans that we have, to ensure that they are protected…,” he said.
Mr Tan has many roles. He is the MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC and an Assistant Organising Secretary of the PAP.
Before entering politics in 2020, the first-term MP served in the army for 28 years and the public sector for three and a half years.
Mr Tan outlined three principles that have guided him throughout his career. They are: having a clear mission, basing decisions on values, and focusing on people.
“I make sure that I know what my mission is and ensure that I achieve success, but not doing so at all costs. We must anchor ourselves on some clear sets of values, in our decision making, our relationship with people and our policymaking,” he elaborated.
“No matter where I go, I believe we must always focus on the people. Getting to know them, helping them grow, and ensuring they can perform their roles. If they succeed, so will our mission.”
Noting that NTUC is a “people organisation”, Mr Tan acknowledged some of the challenges he faced at work.
“It’s always having to balance the needs and interests of our workers with the needs of our country, in terms of the businesses and our economy. If the economy doesn’t do well, our workers will not benefit. But we are always inclined to support and protect the welfare of our workers.”
“We spend a lot of time walking the ground, listening to our workers. That may encroach into some of the other responsibilities that I have within the community, in the government or with the family.”
On his immediate plans to help workers, Mr Tan is determined to get more companies in Singapore to come on board the CTC programme and work with employers and the government to roll out more schemes to support companies in the transformation.
Given Singapore’s evolving workforce and emergence of more types of jobs, Mr Tan said he is reviewing and transforming NTUC’s membership model.
“Our young people have different aspirations. How can we be more appealing to our younger workforce and PMEs? How can NTUC continue to stay relevant in our membership model?” he added.
At the Budget debate last month, he spoke up for middle-aged workers – the sandwiched class. Incidentally, there are many such residents at Pasir Ris Central where he oversees, he said. Many of them face challenges in transitioning after they lose their jobs.
“It is important that we see how they are coping especially in times of inflationary pressures. In this time when wages seem to be on the decline and the job market is also loosening a little, so I want to hear from them,” he told Petir.sg.
Making Pasir Ris cleaner, greener, and livable; building a close-knit and caring community
Be it helping workers or residents, Mr Tan goes by his motto: there is no higher purpose than improving people’s lives.
He has been focusing on three key areas: making Pasir Ris Central cleaner and greener; ensuring it is livable and safe, and building a close-knit and caring community.
Pasir Ris is like a resort town, he noted, with its lush greenery – parks, mangrove forest, beaches. Many residents who grew up in Pasir Ris appreciate the greenery. Mr Tan and his team have introduced initiatives like beach cleaning, educational mangrove tours, a recycling programme and sustainability talks.
“I am trying my best to protect the environment and the biodiversity of wildlife. We are working with interest groups, volunteer organisations and residents who are keen to learn more about environmental stewardship,” he added.
With the building of the Cross Island Line and the remaking of Pasir Ris Central – new Build-to-Order flats are being constructed, Mr Tan’s other top priority is to reduce the disamenities like noise pollution and minimise the inconveniences to residents.
“While our residents look forward to the new amenities, new offerings, in the process, we want to make sure that their quality of life, especially their mental health and physical health are not affected.”
Back during Covid-19 days, Mr Tan experienced the kampong spirit in Pasir Ris where people looked out for one another. His team would be organising more programmes to promote community bonding and support residents, he told Petir.sg
One such initiative is the Grocery Run programme where grassroots volunteers teamed up with community organisations to give out free food and sundries to residents at the Costa Ris estate. Started in March 2022, the fortnight food distribution drive has become like a kampong activity for residents, Mr Tan noted.
“We have gifts exchange; we have a band playing music…Instead of coming just to collect food, they come a little earlier to have coffee with neighbours, get to know friends, some they stay a little longer. So, it’s like a kampong.”
In addition to meeting with residents at the weekly Meet-the-People’s session, Mr Tan and his team regularly walk around the estate and reach out to residents living in two-room and three-room flats. They distribute gifts during festive occasions.
“One thing I learned is that you really must spend time walking the ground… to deal with the situation, to understand the concerns and issues clearly, and making effort to bring different agencies together to make sure that the problem is resolved. Not just give instructions.”
Second, he firmly believes in making house visits regularly because MPs cannot assume that residents know what they are doing or will come to them for help.
Lastly, he noted the importance of recruiting more volunteers since they play an integral role as activists in the branches or volunteers in the grassroots organisations to implement programmes for residents.
“Our volunteers are the important interface to help bridge between the residents and the government, as well as the party. That’s something that I learn to appreciate, learn to recognise, and respect the work that they do,” he added.
Reiterating his focus on people, Mr Tan said: “Seeing the improvement for my residents’ lives, seeing the improvement of the estate, seeing the improvement in the spirit of the community and the environment that we live in. These are the things that continue to motivate me.”
“At the end of the day, it is always about people.”
| Desmond Tan: Helping the Party to expand its outreach and engagement with stakeholders As the Assistant Organising Secretary of PAP, Mr Tan helps the Organising Secretaries by focusing on how the Party can expand its outreach and engagement with stakeholders. “We are actively reaching out to different segments of our society, organisations, work groups and interest groups to remain relevant going forward.” He also assists the Assistant Secretaries General by coordinating discussions with activists at the GRC level as well as functional groups to refresh the Party. |
