Veteran healthcare union leader K Thanaletchimi elected NTUC president
Members of the new National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Central Committee pose for a group photo during the 2023 NTUC National Delegates' Conference on Nov 23, 2023. (Photo: NTUC)
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SINGAPORE: Veteran healthcare union leader K Thanaletchimi was appointed as president of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) on Thursday (Nov 23), following the election of a new NTUC Central Committee.
Ms Thanaletchimi, 57, takes over the role from Ms Mary Liew, who did not seek re-election after serving two terms as president. NTUC has a rule that requires its leaders to step down when they turn 62 to make way for younger successors.
Ms Thanaletchimi was elected as the president of the National University Hospital Employees’ Union (NUHEU) in 1998 and was the driving force behind the merger of NUHEU and the Health Corporation of Singapore Staff Union, NTUC said in a media release.
This led to the successful formation in 2006 of the Healthcare Services Employees’ Union (HSEU), which she has led as president since 2011.
Ms Thanaletchimi was first elected to NTUC’s Central Committee in October 2015 and became one of its vice-presidents in 2019.
She also served as a Nominated Member of Parliament from 2016 to 2018.
“Earlier this year, we had renewed our workers’ compact, and it will be my duty as president to continue to champion the interest of our workers with the new Central Committee, working on initiatives targeted at bettering their wages, welfare and work prospects,” said Ms Thanaletchimi after her election.
“They can be assured that we will continue to walk alongside them in our renewed workers’ compact.”
Ms Liew, who was first elected president in 2015, expressed her thanks to fellow labour movement leaders, saying that her time at the helm was “nothing short of enriching and fulfilling”.
“As I conclude my second term, I extend my deepest gratitude for the unwavering support and collective leadership of my fellow NTUC Central Committee members and our union leaders across different sectors,” Ms Liew said in a statement.
“Their dedication to our workers’ cause; robust debates on how best to help our workers; and taking action on the ground to make a difference in our members’ lives really inspired me to do even more for our workers.”
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 a 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 Employees' 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.
