Top labour award for Tharman

Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam receiving the Medal of Honour from NTUC president Mary Liew and secretary-general Chan Chun Sing.
Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam receiving the Medal of Honour from NTUC president Mary Liew and secretary-general Chan Chun Sing. ST PHOTO: SEAH KWANG PENG

Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam topped the annual labour movement awards list this year for his contributions in improving the lives of Singapore workers.

Yesterday, he received the Medal of Honour from the National Trades Union Congress, joining the ranks of a select number who have been given the highest award, including Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean.

Mr Tharman said in an interview with NTUC This Week that the Singapore economy needs to make a bold, disruptive leap to get slower- moving sectors to do better.

"If a large part of the economy is stuck on low gear, then overall wages too will see little growth, and lower-wage workers especially will see little improvement," he said.

The labour movement handed out 115 May Day awards this year.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on May 14, 2017, with the headline Top labour award for Tharman. Subscribe