SINGAPORE - Professionals here will soon get the chance to chat with the heads of Singapore and global firms and get career tips from them.

Singapore's labour movement started the sessions in response to members who said they wanted to hear from corporate leaders on how to progress in their careers.

These chats will be "informal and freewheeling", said National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) membership director Vivek Kumar at a press conference on Thursday. Groups of ten to 15 participants will meet the leaders over coffee and ask anything they like.

Four sessions have been planned from July until year end and 10 will be held next year. Already on board are NTUC Income chief executive Ken Ng as well as Mr Sandeep Suvarna, head of consumer marketing at social networking website LinkedIn.

Mr Kumar said: "We aim to invite leaders who have managed local and regional operations and come from different industries. Participants will benefit from hearing about their varied experiences."

The sessions will be held for free. Any worker can sign up for them but priority will be given to NTUC members.