Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong delivered a powerful message at the May Day Rally 2025, directly addressing the United States, with a sharp warning aimed at Donald Trump. As U.S. tariff tensions with China escalate, PM Wong's speech signals Singapore's firm stance on global economic stability and fair trade. Watch now to see the full address and understand what this means for U.S.-Asia relations.
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NewsTranscript
00:01President and Secretary General of the NTUC, President of SNF, brothers and sisters from
00:07the Labour Movement, comrades, fellow Singaporeans, good morning, Happy May Day.
00:22It's so good to be here and to see all of you gathered together for this happy occasion.
00:28I've spoken at May Day rallies before, but today it's my first time doing so as your
00:34Prime Minister.
00:37Thank you for the warm welcome.
00:46Today also happens to be the last day of campaign.
00:51Over the last nine days, our PAP candidates have been working tirelessly and many of them
00:59are here, including our candidates from the Labour Movement.
01:03We've walked the ground from dawn to dusk, we've knocked on doors, we've met Singaporeans
01:17all over Singapore in markets, coffee shops and MRT stations.
01:22Through it all, we've been supported by activists and volunteers, including many brothers and
01:28sisters from the Labour Movement.
01:30So thank you, thank you everyone for your unwavering support.
01:35This year we have a double celebration.
01:49We have May Day, but we also have SG60.
02:00And we have every reason to rejoice.
02:02Look at how far we've come in Singapore these last 60 years.
02:06It wasn't always an easy road.
02:09We've had our ups and downs.
02:11But through it all, we stood together, we stood united.
02:25And our workers gave their all to building this country.
02:30Our unions stood shoulder to shoulder with us.
02:34Singapore today is a testament to your dedication and resilience.
02:39This is your achievement.
02:50Earlier this decade, we had to confront a crisis like no other.
02:56We had our worst full-year recession since independence.
03:01Businesses shut down, unemployment soared during COVID.
03:05It feels like a bad dream now, but I think many of us remember those dark days vividly still.
03:14But I also remember how everyone banded together and how we lifted each other up.
03:20And NTUC was at the front line of all this.
03:33You led the charge to protect our workers.
03:36You worked with companies to minimize retrenchments and to negotiate fair retrenchment benefits.
03:43You helped our displaced workers find new roles through the Job Security Council, which SecGen mentioned just now.
03:50You provided assistance to those who needed it through the NTUC Care Fund and the Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme.
03:58Sirs, because of your actions, we were able to minimize the impact of COVID.
04:08Our workers, especially those across essential industries, whether it's cleaning, security, healthcare, power generation,
04:17continued working hard to keep Singapore going through those difficult times.
04:22For workers who were impacted, we helped them find jobs quickly.
04:26In areas where it's critical, we helped to retain our capabilities.
04:32And so when the pandemic stopped, we were able to bounce back strongly.
04:47Look at what happened last year.
04:50Last year, our GDP growth exceeded 4%.
04:58Remember in 2020, how Changi Airport was like a ghost town, literally.
05:04Earlier this year, traffic is already back at pre-COVID levels.
05:09And in two weeks' time, we are opening Changi Terminal 5.
05:20Groundbreaking.
05:24Groundbreaking.
05:28Groundbreaking.
05:30But we will open Changi Terminal 5.
05:41At Chinese New Year this year, I visited the airport.
05:46I met many workers and union leaders.
05:48There were smiles all around.
05:51I asked them, how was your bonus last year?
05:55The smiles got bigger.
06:03From one of our lowest points in history,
06:07we climbed back up to new highs,
06:09and it's because of you, our brothers and sisters.
06:12So this year's SG60 May Day is a tribute to everyone in the labour movement.
06:32You held the fort in times of storms.
06:36You worked tirelessly behind the scenes.
06:39So I say to all of you, thank you for your commitment
06:43and your dedication to Singapore and Singaporeans.
06:57Unfortunately, just as we thought we were entering calmer waters,
07:02now a new storm emerges.
07:05We know the world has changed,
07:07and it's not changing back any time soon.
07:09This is not just about what one country does.
07:15The fact is, trade barriers are going up,
07:18and the rules keep shifting.
07:21The tensions between the major powers,
07:23especially America and China,
07:25are heating up and will continue to do so.
07:29They are already in a trade war.
07:31Terrorists between them are sky high.
07:33Even China-built ships going to the U.S. are being taxed,
07:39and most of the ships are built in China.
07:42So you can imagine what will happen to global logistics.
07:48America is also targeting other regional countries
07:51that they think are bypassing their rules.
07:54For example, America has tariffs on solar panels from China.
08:00But they can see that Chinese firms are going to ASEAN countries
08:06to make these panels and export to America.
08:10So now, they have imposed high tariffs on solar panels
08:15from a few ASEAN countries as well.
08:18Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand.
08:22Tariffs that are a few hundred percent in some of these countries,
08:26as high as 3,500 percent.
08:30You might as well say,
08:37please don't export to America.
08:40It's literally like an import ban.
08:43There is no way you can export anything
08:46at this kind of tariffs.
08:48The business can close shop.
08:52So far, Singapore has not come under the spotlight.
08:56But you can be sure,
08:57we will be put under greater scrutiny as well.
09:03We must expect more pressure on us.
09:07And to navigate these pressures,
09:10it will take experience and skill.
09:13It will take people in government
09:16who have built up trust and close relationships
09:19with their counterparts in both America and China.
09:23These relationships take time to build.
09:28You can't build this overnight.
09:32Trust relationships take time to cultivate.
09:36So in this election,
09:38when opposition parties treat so lightly
09:42the loss of key ministers,
09:44I say please,
09:46please have a care for our country
09:49and for the well-being and livelihoods
09:52of every Singaporean.
09:57Imagine if we were in team sports.
10:01Take football as an example.
10:03If three to four members of the starting eleven
10:07in a football team
10:08are unable to play,
10:11what happens?
10:14Well, the coach can say,
10:16I have backups,
10:17I have reserves.
10:18Sure.
10:19But everyone knows that the team
10:21cannot function at the same level.
10:23It's the same in any organisation.
10:29And it will be so in our next cabinet
10:31if we end up with such a loss.
10:35And that means
10:35we cannot have as an effective a team
10:39working for Singaporeans and Singapore.
10:44And these are the implications and consequences
10:48that I hope Singaporeans will consider carefully.
10:51Because the challenges are real.
10:55And when we speak to companies,
10:57we know that the impact is real and growing.
11:01It's not just happening now,
11:03it's continuing to get worse.
11:05Orders are being cancelled or postponed.
11:08Investments are being held back.
11:10Operations are being scaled down.
11:13All this will hit the global economy.
11:17America is already feeling it.
11:18It will be felt around the world
11:21and it will hit Singapore too.
11:25MTI has already lowered its GDP forecast
11:28for this year, 0% to 2% now.
11:32For now, we think it's a matter of slower growth.
11:36But we really cannot rule out
11:38a full-blown recession,
11:41which will then have impact
11:42on Singaporeans' incomes
11:45as well as jobs.
11:48And this is not just a short-term blip.
11:52This storm won't pass quickly.
11:55It's not rain today
11:56and then sunshine tomorrow.
12:00We went through this during COVID.
12:02And you might remember,
12:03during COVID,
12:04when the outbreak started,
12:05some people said,
12:08don't worry,
12:08it's going to be like SARS,
12:10very short,
12:10a few months
12:11and it's going to be over.
12:13At that time,
12:14I said that the pandemic
12:15could be with us
12:16for a few years.
12:19Some people didn't believe me.
12:21They said it's just
12:22scare tactic
12:24and fear-mongering.
12:26But look what happened.
12:28We ended up with
12:29repeated waves of outbreaks
12:31and eventually,
12:33the pandemic only ended
12:34in 2023.
12:37This new storm
12:39will be similar.
12:40It will be with us
12:41for some time.
12:42For exactly how long?
12:44No one can tell.
12:46But it's not going to be
12:47a one-year affair.
12:50So we have to be
12:51mentally prepared
12:52for the longer term,
12:54for the bumpy rides ahead,
12:56and do everything we can
12:58to strengthen
13:00Singapore's position.
13:02Because this is
13:03the biggest challenge of all.
13:05It is Singapore
13:06versus this very uncertain
13:08and troubled world.
13:10And we must,
13:11all of us,
13:12do everything we can
13:13to strengthen
13:14Singapore's positions
13:15to get through this storm.
13:19The uncertainties we face
13:21will add to the existing challenges
13:24we are already seeing today.
13:26Like cost of living pressures.
13:28Cost pressures is a problem
13:32that started earlier
13:33because of global inflation
13:35due to conflicts abroad,
13:37due to global supply chain disruptions.
13:41Inflation everywhere
13:42has started to ease,
13:44including in Singapore.
13:45In fact,
13:45we have come down
13:46faster than other countries.
13:48But these recent global developments
13:51may cause further disruptions
13:53and may cause
13:54further price shocks.
13:57Jobs will be impacted.
14:00In recent weeks,
14:01I met many of our union leaders,
14:03including Sister Tana
14:04and Brother Samad
14:05and many others.
14:07I know many of you
14:09are worried about this.
14:11Sister Tana told me
14:12that SMEs are anxious
14:14about how tariffs
14:15would affect their businesses.
14:16workers are also very concerned.
14:20Brother Samad
14:21shared with me
14:22the anxieties
14:23felt by our younger workers,
14:26whether there would be jobs
14:27that fit their aspirations.
14:30Brother Daniel
14:31from the Air Transport
14:32Executive Staff Union
14:34and Brother Govidan
14:36from the Sats Workers Union
14:38said to me,
14:41we've all worked so hard
14:42to get through COVID.
14:43Everyone is so tired
14:45and now things
14:46are finally better.
14:48We thought
14:49we could look forward
14:50to better days ahead.
14:52Do we really now
14:53have to go through
14:54turbulence again?
14:58My heart went out to them,
15:00to all our workers
15:01who have given
15:02their all these past years.
15:07Unfortunately,
15:07I couldn't give them
15:09the answer
15:10they were hoping for
15:11because the storm
15:14is already here.
15:15we are already
15:16experiencing turbulence
15:17and it may well
15:19get worse.
15:21But what I will promise
15:22is this,
15:24we will face
15:25this storm together.
15:36And we will overcome
15:38just like we did it before.
15:40this is why
15:50even during
15:51this campaign period
15:52my team and I
15:53have not stopped working.
15:55We didn't press pause.
15:57We simply
15:57couldn't afford to.
15:59I've been speaking
16:00with other world leaders,
16:02strengthening partnerships
16:03and securing
16:04new opportunities.
16:05and others have been
16:09on call
16:09with their counterparts,
16:11keeping our economic
16:13ties strong
16:14and working out
16:15new frameworks
16:16for trade
16:17and investments.
16:19Just like all of you
16:20in the unions,
16:21we share your concerns
16:23for our workers
16:24because every worker
16:27matters.
16:37It is my duty,
16:39it is my team's duty,
16:41it's our collective duty
16:42to protect our workers,
16:44our families
16:45and our country.
16:54And that's why
16:55we take this election
16:56so seriously
16:57and that's why
16:58we want to be upfront
17:00and honest with Singaporeans
17:01about the challenges
17:03we face.
17:04Others may say,
17:06don't worry,
17:07it's okay,
17:08let's take this chance
17:09to rock the boat.
17:11But we will never
17:13take such risk
17:14with your lives
17:15or our future.
17:26The PAP
17:27will always look ahead
17:30to anticipate
17:31and tackle challenges
17:32and as a government,
17:33that's what we have
17:34always done.
17:35We don't wait
17:36to the last minute
17:37to fight fires
17:38because by then
17:39it's too late.
17:41And you saw this
17:42in the last term
17:43of government
17:45when we saw
17:46that there were gaps
17:47in our fiscal position.
17:50We acted on this.
17:53We implemented
17:53a series of tax changes
17:55in order to tackle
17:57this funding gap.
18:00The moves may not
18:01be popular
18:02but they were
18:03the responsible thing
18:05to do.
18:06And as a result
18:07of these steps,
18:08we are now
18:09in a healthy fiscal position.
18:11And so today,
18:14when we look ahead,
18:15when we are entering
18:16these uncertain times,
18:17we have the resources
18:19to protect our workers
18:21and to tackle
18:22the challenges ahead.
18:24That's what
18:24responsible government
18:26is about.
18:26in this year's budget,
18:39I had announced
18:40a comprehensive package
18:41of measures
18:42for households
18:43to ease
18:44your cost of living concerns,
18:46for workers
18:46to uplift wages
18:47and boost your skills,
18:49and for businesses
18:50to restructure,
18:51transform,
18:52and stay competitive.
18:53The measures
18:56in the budget
18:56are still being rolled out
18:58progressively
18:59over the next few months.
19:01We will monitor
19:03the situation closely
19:05and if conditions
19:06worsen,
19:08we are ready
19:09to do more.
19:11We will continue
19:12the help
19:13for as long
19:14as it is needed
19:15and we will ensure
19:17we get through
19:17this storm.
19:18The key person
19:29in charge
19:30of this work
19:30is no stranger
19:32to you.
19:33He is no stranger
19:34to the whole
19:35of Singapore.
19:37He is none other
19:38than Gan Kim Jong.
19:39He is heading
19:51the task force
19:52together with
19:52other ministers,
19:54with NTUC
19:54Secretary General
19:55and our
19:56tripartite partners.
19:57The task force
19:58is hard at work.
20:00They are preparing
20:01and putting in place
20:03drawer plans
20:04to help businesses
20:05and workers.
20:06And they will
20:07announce more details
20:08when ready.
20:10We will make sure
20:12that we do
20:13everything we can
20:14to support
20:15our workers.
20:16Do not fear.
20:28Brothers and sisters,
20:29the challenges ahead
20:31may be immense,
20:32but fortunately
20:33it is not all
20:34doom and gloom.
20:35even in the darkest
20:38of storms
20:39there are rays
20:40of light.
20:42New opportunities
20:43for those
20:43who are prepared.
20:44And I want
20:45to make sure
20:46that every worker
20:47in Singapore
20:48is prepared.
20:49What are some
20:58of these opportunities?
20:59for one,
21:01in Asia,
21:02the growth story
21:03continues to unfold.
21:05Many countries
21:06in Asia,
21:07including parts
21:07of the Middle East,
21:08are amongst
21:09the fastest-growing
21:10economies today.
21:12So collectively,
21:13it is a large market
21:14with a rising
21:15middle class.
21:17The region
21:17will continue
21:19to attract
21:19global investments
21:20and we can
21:22position ourselves
21:23to attract
21:24our fair share
21:25of these investments.
21:35Beyond Asia,
21:36we see potential
21:37in emerging regions
21:39like Latin America
21:40and Africa.
21:41Our ties
21:42with these regions
21:43are limited today
21:44because of distance,
21:46but the Singapore brand
21:47is known
21:48and respected there
21:49and we can do more
21:51to link up with them
21:52for mutual benefit.
21:53So while others
21:56see risk,
21:57we are always
21:58on the lookout
21:59for new openings
22:00and new opportunities.
22:03In fact,
22:03over recent months,
22:04I have met many CEOs
22:06of multinational firms.
22:08They see
22:09the potential
22:10in Asia
22:10and within Asia,
22:13they want to
22:14diversify
22:15their presence.
22:17So they are keen
22:18to do more
22:18here in Singapore
22:19because they see
22:20Singapore as a reliable
22:21and a pro-business hub.
22:23secure,
22:24stable,
22:25and trusted.
22:26So let's keep
22:27this going
22:29for as long
22:30as we can.
22:31That is our
22:32competitive advantage.
22:41Besides attracting
22:43new investments,
22:44we will help
22:45Singapore firms
22:46restructure
22:47and transform.
22:48several have
22:50established
22:51themselves
22:51as regional
22:52or industry
22:53leaders
22:53like Grab
22:54and Razer,
22:55just to name a few.
22:57We will do more
22:58to help
22:59the SMEs
23:01scale up.
23:03There are
23:03many government
23:04schemes that can
23:05help them
23:05to transform
23:06and improve
23:07their productivity
23:07and also expand
23:09overseas.
23:10But what is
23:11very heartening
23:12is that it's not
23:13just the government
23:14doing this.
23:15NTUC is doing
23:16its part
23:16to help
23:17them too.
23:24You don't
23:24see this
23:26anywhere else
23:26in the world.
23:28In other countries,
23:29unions fight
23:30businesses.
23:31The relationship
23:33is adversarial
23:34and confrontational.
23:36In Singapore,
23:37our unions
23:38have a different
23:39mindset,
23:39a better
23:40mindset.
23:41For our unions,
23:42it's not zero-sum.
23:44I win,
23:44you lose.
23:45You look for
23:46win-win.
23:54And a very good
23:55example of that
23:56is the company
23:57training committees.
23:59This idea
24:00came from
24:01the labour movement
24:01to bring
24:03businesses,
24:04workers and
24:04unions together
24:05to identify
24:07the skills
24:07that are needed
24:08for the company
24:09to transform
24:10and then to
24:11develop plans
24:12to train
24:13and uplift
24:14the workers.
24:15So everyone
24:16wins.
24:17The businesses
24:17transform,
24:19they stay
24:19competitive,
24:20workers gain
24:21new skills,
24:22stay ahead
24:23of the curve
24:24and as you
24:24heard just
24:25now,
24:25in many cases
24:26they get
24:26better wages
24:27too.
24:37When the
24:38CTC idea
24:39was first
24:40presented to
24:40the government
24:41back in
24:412019,
24:43we supported
24:44it wholeheartedly.
24:46Suikiet was
24:46then finance
24:47minister and
24:48he gave it
24:49his full
24:49support.
24:54When I took
24:58over from
24:59Suikiet as
24:59finance minister
25:00in the
25:012022 budget,
25:03I provided
25:03$100 million
25:04in funding
25:05support for
25:06the CTC.
25:12The funds
25:13have been put
25:14to good use
25:15and we see
25:15many positive
25:16outcomes.
25:17And last
25:18year,
25:19NTUC
25:20applied
25:21and asked
25:22for a
25:22top-up.
25:23So in
25:24this budget,
25:25I was
25:25happy to
25:25provide
25:26another
25:26$200 million
25:27of funding
25:28to help
25:28NTUC scale
25:29up its
25:30CTC efforts.
25:37And that's
25:38why now
25:39we have
25:39over
25:403,000
25:41CTCs
25:42benefiting
25:42more than
25:437,000
25:44workers.
25:45That is
25:46real
25:46impact.
25:51It is
25:55real
25:55transformation
25:56for businesses
25:57and for
25:58workers too.
25:59Take the
26:00example of
26:01Gary
26:01Yong.
26:02He's a
26:02supply chain
26:03manager
26:03in Eora,
26:05one of our
26:06many local
26:07SMEs.
26:09In the
26:10past,
26:10Gary's work
26:11was manual.
26:12He tracked
26:13incoming and
26:14outgoing shipments
26:15by hand.
26:16Tedious work
26:17that was
26:18susceptible
26:18to human
26:19mistakes.
26:20Through
26:22the CTC,
26:23the company
26:23worked with
26:23NTUC and
26:25the Singapore
26:25Manual and
26:26Mercantile
26:26Workers Union
26:27to adopt
26:28digital tools
26:30to improve
26:31their shipment
26:31processing and
26:32inventory
26:33management.
26:34So Gary
26:35was trained,
26:35he was
26:36upskilled.
26:37Now,
26:38he does
26:38trend analysis
26:40and data-driven
26:41forecasting.
26:50bigger job,
26:51bigger
26:51responsibilities,
26:53higher pay.
27:01And that's
27:02what CTCs
27:03can do for
27:04all our
27:05workers.
27:06And that's
27:06why it's a
27:07good effort
27:07by the NTUC,
27:09that's why the
27:09government is
27:10supporting you,
27:11and that's
27:11why together,
27:13we will make
27:14life better
27:15for every
27:15worker.
27:23We will
27:24continue to
27:24back every
27:25worker across
27:26every stage
27:26of life.
27:28I know that
27:28new graduates
27:29from our
27:29Institutes of
27:30Higher Learning
27:31are concerned.
27:32They worry
27:33about getting
27:33a job,
27:34about building
27:35their careers
27:36in these
27:36uncertain times.
27:37I say to
27:39you,
27:39don't worry,
27:40we will be
27:40there for
27:41you.
27:49We will
27:49do more
27:50to step up
27:51career
27:51counselling,
27:52career
27:52sessions,
27:54job-matching
27:54programmes.
27:55We will
27:56help you
27:56secure
27:57apprenticeships
27:58and
27:58traineeships.
28:00If
28:01conditions
28:01worsen,
28:02we know
28:02what to
28:03do.
28:03We've
28:03done it
28:03before in
28:04COVID,
28:04and we
28:05will have
28:05drawer
28:06plans ready
28:06to make
28:07sure
28:07that you
28:08are well
28:09taken care
28:09of.
28:17Some
28:18young
28:18people I
28:19meet are
28:19keen to
28:20pursue
28:20careers in
28:21different,
28:22less
28:22conventional
28:23paths,
28:24in arts,
28:24in sports,
28:25in media,
28:26for example.
28:27And indeed,
28:28many more
28:28possibilities
28:29are opening
28:30up because
28:31our economy
28:33today is
28:33more diversified
28:34and there
28:35are more
28:35possibilities
28:36to pursue.
28:37There is
28:38also more
28:38government
28:39support in
28:39these areas.
28:41So to
28:41our youths,
28:42I say
28:43whatever your
28:44abilities,
28:45whatever your
28:45strengths,
28:46there will
28:47be opportunities
28:48for you
28:49and we
28:49will help
28:50you chase
28:51that rainbow.
28:52for those who
29:02are already
29:02in the
29:02workforce,
29:03especially for
29:04mid-career
29:04workers,
29:05we know the
29:06pace of change
29:07and innovation
29:08will be faster
29:09than ever.
29:10And that's why
29:11we invested
29:11heavily in
29:12SkillsFuture,
29:13to give you
29:14a substantial
29:15injection of
29:16skills.
29:16and many
29:19have benefited
29:19from these
29:20programs.
29:22In my budget
29:22speech this
29:23year, I
29:23cited the
29:24example of
29:25Ms. Zarina
29:25Binti Abdul-Rahman.
29:28She started
29:29out as an
29:29intern in
29:30Rand Start
29:31SourceRide.
29:32This is a
29:32global
29:33recruitment
29:33agency.
29:36She is now
29:36an office
29:37administrator.
29:39But she is
29:40full of spirit,
29:41she wants to
29:41do better,
29:42and so she
29:43is upgrading
29:44her skills in
29:45business operations
29:46through a
29:47part-time
29:48diploma.
29:49She can't do
29:49a full-time
29:50study because
29:50of her work
29:51and family
29:52commitment,
29:53but she is
29:53doing a
29:53part-time
29:54diploma in
29:55business
29:55practice in
29:56Nanyang
29:56Polytechnic.
30:04And so
30:05for workers
30:05like Zarina
30:06and all
30:07others who
30:08want to
30:09upgrade
30:09yourself,
30:11you want
30:11to do
30:11better,
30:12you want
30:12to get
30:12better
30:13skills,
30:13more
30:13skills,
30:14we will
30:15be there
30:16to help
30:16you in
30:17your
30:17upgrading
30:18journeys.
30:27There are
30:28also seniors
30:29in our
30:29workforce.
30:30Many tell
30:31us they
30:31would like
30:31to continue
30:32working.
30:33Some say
30:34it's not
30:34just because
30:35of the
30:35income,
30:36but they
30:36see work
30:37as something
30:38that gives
30:38them dignity
30:39and purpose
30:39and enables
30:41them to
30:41stay active
30:42and healthy.
30:43That's a
30:44very positive
30:45mindset to
30:45have and
30:46we will do
30:47more to
30:47support you.
30:55For example,
30:57we have
30:57provided wage
30:58support for
30:58employers to
30:59employ older
31:00workers.
31:01We have
31:01job matching
31:02services to
31:03senior job
31:04seekers.
31:04workers and
31:05now we
31:05have formed
31:06a new
31:07tripartite
31:08workgroup
31:09chaired by
31:10KOPO-KUN.
31:11They will
31:12study how
31:12to empower
31:13more of our
31:14seniors to
31:14stay in the
31:15workforce and
31:16I look forward
31:17to their
31:17recommendations.
31:26This is the
31:28way for us
31:29to secure
31:29a brighter
31:30future even
31:32in this
31:33changed world.
31:34Between the
31:35PAP and
31:36the NTUC,
31:37we discussed
31:38and we have
31:39put together
31:39these plans.
31:41And as
31:41symbiotic
31:42partners,
31:43we will
31:43deliver them.
31:52We will
31:54deliver them
31:55for all
31:55workers and
31:56for all
31:57Singaporeans.
32:07There is a
32:08reason why
32:09we can
32:09achieve so
32:10much together
32:11here in
32:12Singapore.
32:13All this
32:14didn't just
32:14happen by
32:15chance.
32:16It happened
32:17because of
32:18one thing.
32:20Tripartism.
32:25It's the
32:29PAP
32:29government,
32:30the NTUC
32:31and the
32:31labour
32:31movement,
32:32employers and
32:33business leaders
32:34all coming
32:35together,
32:36working as
32:37partners,
32:38not at
32:38odds with
32:39one another,
32:40always with
32:41the worker
32:41at the
32:42heart of
32:42all we
32:43do,
32:43always with
32:44a shared
32:45commitment
32:46to uplift
32:47every
32:48Singaporean.
32:48We do
32:59not agree
32:59all the
33:00time.
33:00In fact,
33:00we often
33:01disagree.
33:03I assure
33:04you,
33:04there is
33:04no
33:05group
33:05thing.
33:06If there
33:07is group
33:07thing,
33:07Singapore
33:08would not
33:08be here
33:09today.
33:16We do
33:17not fight
33:18with one
33:19another,
33:19but we
33:20fight
33:20together
33:21to secure
33:22better
33:23outcomes
33:23for every
33:24worker.
33:31And because
33:32of the
33:32deep
33:33bonds
33:33of mutual
33:34trust and
33:35respect,
33:36we can
33:37always find
33:38ways to
33:39accommodate
33:39one another,
33:41to give
33:42and take,
33:43and to
33:43find the
33:43best way
33:44forward.
33:45So,
33:47brothers and
33:48sisters,
33:48you've heard
33:48this before,
33:49but it's
33:49worth reminding
33:51ourselves and
33:52repeating how
33:53unique,
33:55how exceptional
33:56this situation
33:58is here in
33:59Singapore.
34:00Just look
34:00around the
34:01world.
34:02You don't
34:03find a
34:03similar model
34:04like this.
34:05Let's
34:05cherish it.
34:06Let's
34:07protect it.
34:09In other
34:10countries,
34:11unions will
34:11stand across
34:12the picket
34:12line,
34:13protesting,
34:14agitating,
34:16tearing down.
34:18Here, we
34:19don't tear
34:19down, we
34:20build up.
34:35Here in
34:36Singapore, our
34:37unions are
34:37partners in
34:38nation-building.
34:39You are not
34:40at the
34:40sidelines.
34:41You are at
34:42the decision-making
34:43table.
34:44You help
34:51shape policies.
34:53You help
34:54move things
34:55forward.
34:57And because of
34:57this unique
34:58partnership,
34:59we've done
35:00what few
35:01others could
35:01do.
35:03We've kept
35:03unemployment low
35:04in Singapore.
35:05We've kept
35:06rail wages
35:07rising consistently
35:08over decades.
35:10most of
35:11all, we've kept
35:13Singaporeans
35:14united and
35:15confident in
35:16our future.
35:17ours is a
35:30partnership forged
35:31in crisis and
35:33tested by time
35:34through every
35:36downturn,
35:37through every
35:38major transformation,
35:40through every
35:40challenge we face
35:41together.
35:42and for me,
35:44it was forged
35:45in particular,
35:47battling COVID
35:48together with all
35:49of you,
35:49side by side.
35:50exactly one year
36:05ago, right
36:07here at this
36:08Mayday Rally
36:09platform,
36:10Senior Minister
36:11Li announced that
36:12he was passing
36:13the baton of
36:15leadership to me.
36:17You were the
36:18first to
36:19witness the
36:20beginning of
36:21this leadership
36:21transition.
36:23This election
36:23will mark the
36:25completion of
36:26the transition.
36:39So on
36:403rd May,
36:41Singaporeans
36:42will decide
36:43on the next
36:44chapter.
36:46And I ask
36:46Singaporeans,
36:48judge me
36:49and my team
36:50fairly.
36:51Examine what
36:52we've done,
36:52how we've led.
36:54If you believe
36:55in your heart
36:56of hearts
36:56that we have
36:58stayed true
36:59to our promise,
37:01that we are
37:01the best team
37:02to take Singapore
37:03forward in
37:04these turbulent
37:05times,
37:06then give us
37:07your support.
37:12whatever the outcome,
37:23I want to give
37:24all of you
37:24my word
37:25as Secretary
37:27General of the
37:27PAP.
37:29The PAP
37:30will never
37:31step away
37:32from the
37:33labour movement.
37:34we will
37:45walk with you
37:46as brothers
37:47and sisters,
37:48as comrades,
37:50side by side.
37:51We will
37:59walk with you
38:00shoulder to
38:01shoulder
38:01for a better
38:02and brighter
38:03Singapore.
38:11This is my
38:12promise to you.
38:14This is my
38:14promise to all
38:15workers of
38:16Singapore.
38:17The road
38:29ahead
38:30will not
38:30be easy.
38:31The winds
38:31will be strong.
38:32The seas
38:33will be rough.
38:35But if we
38:35stay united,
38:36we will
38:37weather this
38:38storm.
38:40Together,
38:41we have
38:41built
38:42this miracle
38:43called
38:44Singapore.
38:45Now,
38:46we must
38:47sustain it.
38:48We must
38:48renew it.
38:49We must
38:50continue to
38:51write the
38:51Singapore
38:51story.
38:52We will
39:15do so not
39:15just for
39:16ourselves,
39:17but for
39:17our children
39:18and
39:18grandchildren.
39:19so let
39:28us go
39:29forward
39:29with new
39:30resolve.
39:41Let us
39:42stand tall,
39:44stand together,
39:45and let us
39:46build a
39:47stronger,
39:48fairer,
39:49and brighter
39:49Singapore
39:50for all.
39:57Majula NPUC!
40:01Majula PAP!
40:05One more time
40:06for Singapore!
40:08Majula Singapura!
40:09Majula Singapura!
40:13Happy May Day,
40:14everyone!
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