Singapore Reporter

Rallying workers amid slowing wage growth and painful economic restructuring will be a key challenge facing Social and Family Development Minister Chan Chun Sing as he prepares to become the next labour chief, political observers and MPs said yesterday.

The growing complexity of workers’ issues and the requirements of a role that demands persuasive charisma as much as policy smarts make the NTUC a tough testing ground for a man also at the core of the next generation of Singapore’s leaders.

“The labour movement is entering a critical phase and labour issues now impact on many different facets, from productivity to immigration,” said Singapore Management University law professor Eugene Tan.

“For someone likely to take a bigger leadership role in the future, the exposure in the labour movement would benefit the Cabinet and it would also let him connect with more Singaporeans.”