NTUC’s pre-Budget 2026 discussions brought together workers across life stages to share concerns on living costs, fair wages, job security and skills.
In a lead-up to Budget 2026, NTUC has been engaging workers from different life stages through a series of pre-budget discussions since November 2025.
The annual Budget sets out how the country will respond to the year’s economic challenges and social needs. It also signals the Government’s priorities for the near future.
The ages of the attendees ranged from fresh graduates entering the workforce to seniors nearing retirement. Their occupational demographics were just as diverse, ranging from freelancers to PMEs.
They shared candid views on rising costs, job security, skills development and retirement adequacy.
Through lively exchanges and grounded discussions, their lived experiences and suggestions helped surface practical ideas that could inform Budget 2026, ensuring that workers’ voices remain part of the national conversation as policies take shape.
Freelancers and platform workers gathered on 19 December 2025 to raise concerns about incomes keeping up with the cost of living, financial resilience and retirement inadequacy, stress from balancing work and caregiving responsibilities, and training constraints.
The participants were members from the National Private Hire Vehicles Association (NPHVA), National Delivery Champions Association (NDCA), National Taxi Association (NTA), Visual, Audio, Creative Content Professionals Association (VICPA) and the National Instructors and Coaches Association (NICA).
Some shared that these pressures have had real consequences on their daily lives—from delayed retirement planning to longer working hours to maintain stable earnings.
A few noted having to postpone training opportunities or personal commitments, while others described the constant strain of managing unpredictable incomes alongside caregiving responsibilities.
Meanwhile, others highlighted additional pressures from uncertainties in fee structures, technological disruption, unhealthy competition and higher cost of operations.
Though training support exists, many felt a loss of income during training remains a key upskilling barrier.
Through the dialogue, participants urged stronger safeguards to instil fair pay, transparency and sustainable livelihoods for freelancers and platform workers.
At the NTUC Youth Pre-Budget 2026 dialogue on 13 December 2025, around 40 young union leaders and activists shared their concerns ahead of Budget 2026.
Key issues included workplace mental health support—especially fears around disclosure and need for training to handle such disclosures—job security, and the effect of AI on future jobs.
Participants also discussed smoother school-to-work transitions, structured internships, job-search mentoring, and caregiving support.
They emphasised the importance of policies that help young workers build resilience, skills and stable career pathways in a rapidly changing economy.
READ MORE: NTUC Budget 2026 wishlist: Mental health, job security top youth concerns
Members and leaders of Union of Security Employees (USE) came together on 13 December 2025 to highlight issues that go beyond pay, underscoring the everyday realities of their work.
Despite the gains from the Progressive Wage Model (PWM), attendees raised issues such as long shifts, inadequate rest areas, barriers to career progression, and the lack of Annual Wage Supplements (AWS).
They also discussed workplace dignity, training support, and technology adoption—offering their real-world perspectives on the challenges faced by security officers.
READ MORE: Security workers and union leaders raise concerns beyond pay in pre-Budget 2026 dialogue
Union leaders from across industries came together on 27 November 2025 to flag key worker concerns, urging the Government to address both immediate and structural challenges.
Rising cost-of-living pressures, wage progression and job security topped discussions, alongside anxieties about how artificial intelligence and technological change could disrupt roles and careers.
Leaders also highlighted lifelong training needs, caregiving burdens, and the impact of autonomous systems, calling for targeted upskilling, fair transitions, and support for workers at all life stages.
READ MORE: Unions push for AI safeguards, cost relief in Budget 2026 priorities
NTUC’s Pre-Budget Dialogues are a series of engagement sessions the Labour Movement holds with various worker groups and union leaders to consolidate their concerns, challenges, and aspirations. These dialogues will inform NTUC’s advocacy for worker issues and shape the policy development in preparation for Budget 2026.
