Every year, Singapore confers National Day Awards on deserving individuals for their exemplary contributions to the country. The awards recognise individuals from the public service, Labour Movement, community work, the arts, private sector, and more.
The Prime Minister’s Office announced on 9 August 2025 that 7,210 individuals will be awarded the national honours.
Among them are five leaders from NTUC who received the Public Service Medal for their many years of hard work and dedication in uplifting the lives of Singapore workers.
These union leaders were selected for their steadfast leadership, significant breakthroughs, and important contributions to nation-building.
Singapore Teachers’ Union (STU) General Secretary Mike Mariyappa Thiruman may be a soft-spoken man, but when it comes to helping teachers grow professionally, he is as passionate as they come.
Mr Thiruman, who is also an NTUC Central Committee member, has represented the union in international bodies that promote teachers and teaching, such as the ASEAN Council of Teachers. Such platforms give STU members access to the latest advancements in teaching practices and forge networks across the global teaching fraternity.
To boost career planning for educators, he initiated career coaching services. He worked with organisations, such as NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) and SkillsFuture Singapore, to help them chart their career paths. The union leader believes that teachers can benefit from multiple pathways, such as curriculum development or opportunities within the Ministry of Education (MOE).
Under his leadership, the STU’s relationship with the MOE strengthened, leading to collaborations on international conferences and seminars.
Mr Thiruman also innovated the existing Teacher Wellness Counselling Services to take care of members’ mental and socio-emotional well-being.
As Singapore celebrates SG60, he believes it is essential to continue building human capital, a role in which teachers have been crucial.
“Be resilient, be adaptive, be innovative, and never shy away from challenges. If we need to pull up our socks and tuck in, we just do it and strive on until we achieve what we need to and progress together. At the end, we need to ensure that the prosperity is shared amongst everyone,” Mr Thiruman said.
As the General Secretary of the Union of Security Employees (USE), Raymond Chin Ming Jie eats, sleeps and breathes the Security Progressive Wage Model (PWM). After all, he was instrumental in its development, serving in the Security Tripartite Cluster from 2019 to 2024, which brought the PWM to life.
Mr Chin said that the PWM has been a game-changer for the industry, ensuring better pay, clearer career pathways, and career progression for security officers in the last nine years. Beyond the model, he is working to introduce more rest areas, provide mental wellness support, and boost upskilling opportunities amidst an increasingly digitalised security sector. He is also seeking to improve deployment practices to reduce fatigue and working hours.
The unionist, who is also an NTUC Central Committee member, has focused on growing the union. Today, USE has the highest number of members and branches since its inception in 1978.
He is also a strong advocate of workplace protection, working tirelessly to safeguard security officers against abuse.
Reflecting on Singapore’s 60th birthday, Mr Chin pointed out that NTUC has been crucial in ensuring the nation’s prosperity.
“Singapore at 60 is a milestone of resilience and unity. NTUC has been the critical pillar in that journey from protecting workers’ rights in the early days to helping them adapt through economic transitions. In the next 60 years, NTUC must continue championing for wages, progressive workplaces, and stronger protection for vulnerable workers,” he said.
Working in a sector with a high potential for safety risks, Tommy Goh Hock Wah, President of Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Employees’ Union, is no stranger to danger.
He makes workplace safety and health a focus of his union work, often sharing his knowledge and experiences on various panels organised by the Manpower Ministry. He works closely with employers and the Government to implement various initiatives to educate the diverse workforce on the importance of safety. These initiatives include promoting a zero-injury target and mindset to encourage workers to put safety first.
The union leader actively engages with SMEEU’s partners and participates in various NTUC committees and the NTUC Engineering, Marine and Manufacturing cluster.
Additionally, his leadership has been instrumental in grooming younger union leaders, enhancing human resource policies, and resolving employment-related issues.
Mr Goh believes that Singapore’s success can be summed up in one word: Tripartism. This collaboration between the NTUC, the Government, and employers drives the progress of the country's workers and businesses.
“Tripartism is a very strong pillar that has helped to build the Singapore economy till today. We have built a very good country, with good infrastructure, where everybody has a job, a family and a roof,” said Mr Goh, as he reflects on Singapore’s 60-year journey.
Singapore’s current city port terminals at Tanjong Pagar, Keppel, Brani and Pasir Panjang will be progressively consolidated at the new Tuas Port by 2027.
Since the transition has impacted port workers, Singapore Port Workers Union General Secretary Tan Teng Hong has been working tirelessly to ensure it goes smoothly. He played a critical role in addressing workers’ concerns during the transition, focusing on essential aspects, such as transport, meal provisions, and workplace facilities.
Mr Tan’s efforts in fostering a strong labour-management relationship with PSA have been key in assisting members with the move to Tuas Port. As a result, both partners were able to arrive at solutions for workers.
He also works closely with management to drive job redesign initiatives and training programmes, ensuring they align with members’ needs and concerns. His efforts encouraged port workers to embrace automation and adapt to evolving roles at Pasir Panjang Terminals and Tuas Port.
As Singapore turns 60, Mr Tan believes that NTUC will continue to partner with the Government to evolve its strategy to benefit a broader range of workers.
“NTUC has been working alongside the Government to provide [better] welfare, wages, and work prospects. Now we are looking at providing more holistic coverage to the younger generation, middle-aged workers, senior workers, and PMEs,” he shared.
In her 26-year career, Teo Siew Pan has been at the centre of two revolutionary transformations in the Singapore workforce.
She was part of the team that established the NTUC Company Training Committee (CTC), an initiative that has brought a paradigm shift in the way employers train their workers. Her efforts have helped to reskill workers for Industry 4.0 and champion sustainability training for PMEs. Ms Teo, currently the Executive Secretary of the Advanced Manufacturing Employees’ Union, had to knock on doors in the early years of the CTC’s launch to encourage companies to transform their workforce and business. She faced scepticism and doubt during this process.
In her other role as the Executive Secretary of the National Taxi Association (NTA), Ms Teo was instrumental in transforming NTA into a platform worker association that can legally represent taxi drivers’ rights. She had to work with taxi operators and NTA leaders to develop collective agreements, convincing taxi drivers that having representation was the right way forward.
As Singapore marks its 60th year of independence, Ms Teo is proud of how it has grown from a developing to a developed nation and looks forward to further progress.
“There will be many innovations and developments in the years to come. I’m looking forward to [seeing] how Singapore will evolve with the rest of the world. I think there are more things we can continue to achieve as a nation,” she said.
The complete list of the 2025 National Day Awardees is available at the Prime Minister's Office website. Discover other NTUC National Day stories in our Special Collections Segment!
