Minister of State for Home Affairs and Sustainability and the Environment, Desmond Tan, will join the labor movement and resign from his existing political positions.
Effective June 13, he will replace Senior Minister of State for Transport Chee Hong Tat, who is now the deputy secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress.
As part of the current changes to the Cabinet, Mr. Tan will also be named as Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Monday (6 June).
PM Lee stated that he decided to appoint Mr. Tan, 51, to the labor movement after consulting with NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng.
PM Lee requested that Mr. Chee be released from his position so that he can return to full-time government service, according to a letter sent to the NTUC's president, Ms. Mary Liew, on Thursday.
In addition, he had recommended that the NTUC Central Committee review Mr. Tan's membership in the labor movement.
The NTUC Central Committee convened last Friday and accepted PM Lee's proposal, according to the statement.
In a letter to Ms. Liew, Prime Minister Lee stated: "Brother Desmond has many years of experience in public service across the ministries, People's Association, and Singapore Armed Forces. I am convinced that he will make a big contribution to the NTUC's efforts to help businesses and employees prepare for the end of the pandemic."
Ms. Liew remarked in her response that the long-standing symbiotic connection between the People's Action Party (PAP) and NTUC had been beneficial to Singapore and its workers. She said, "We appreciate the PM's willingness to appoint Brother Desmond Tan to the NTUC to further the work of the Labour Movement."
NTUC stated that Mr. Tan would be officially appointed to his position at a later date.
Mr. Tan entered politics in 2020 when he was elected as part of the five-member PAP team contesting Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC in the general election.
Mr. Tan said on Facebook on Monday that he was thrilled to join NTUC and serve the Labor Movement. "It has played a pivotal role in building our economy throughout the decades and has cared for our employees in both good and terrible times. I have much to learn from former leaders and will do my very best for every employee."
I am thrilled to join the NTUC and serve the Labor Movement. It has had such a profound impact on moulding our...
As part of the restructuring, Mr. Chee will be designated Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, in addition to retaining his current position in the Ministry of Transport.
Monday, NTUC lauded Mr. Chee's efforts to advance workers and expressed its eagerness to collaborate with him in his new role.
It mentioned, among other things, his position as head of the NTUC's Training Executive Committee, where he oversaw the Company Training Committees and the Job Security Council, as well as initiatives to assist businesses in transforming their workplaces.
NTUC said that he firmly backed the Singapore Maritime Officers' Union and the Singapore Organisation of Seamen for the immunization of maritime personnel during the Covid-19 outbreak so as to minimize disruptions to the global supply chain.
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