The May Day rallying cry: "Majulah NTUC! Majulah PAP! Majulah Singapura!" traces all the way back to 1958 when Mr Lee Kuan Yew was first involved in union work representing postmen strike.
When the PAP government was first formed in 1959, it openly declared that it was a government on the side of workers.
In his first May Day speech in 1960, Mr Lee Kuan Yew said:...
May Day 1960 will always be a notable occasion in the history of the trade union movement of Singapore. For this is the first time that May Day is celebrated in Singapore when there is a government which is openly on the worker's side. The PAP said clearly before and during the elections that a PAP Government is a Government on the side of the workers. Today nearly a year after assuming office both the employers and the people generally know the significance of this.
He also said:
Not only must we ensure that existing employers are giving their workers a fair share of the fruits of their labour, but we must also ensure that a reasonable margin of profit is left for the employer so that he will find it worthwhile to re-invest and expand. And at the same time other capital must be attracted to come in and build factories.
Today, the declaration has not changed. PM Lee Hsien Loong, in his May Day message said that the Government is on the side of workers, but we must be business-friendly to support businesses so that we can have jobs for all.
The relationship between the PAP and NTUC is a symbiotic relationship in which both the government and the labour movement recognize that a strong economy benefits workers.
When the PAP government was first formed in 1959, it openly declared that it was a government on the side of workers.
In his first May Day speech in 1960, Mr Lee Kuan Yew said:...
May Day 1960 will always be a notable occasion in the history of the trade union movement of Singapore. For this is the first time that May Day is celebrated in Singapore when there is a government which is openly on the worker's side. The PAP said clearly before and during the elections that a PAP Government is a Government on the side of the workers. Today nearly a year after assuming office both the employers and the people generally know the significance of this.
He also said:
Not only must we ensure that existing employers are giving their workers a fair share of the fruits of their labour, but we must also ensure that a reasonable margin of profit is left for the employer so that he will find it worthwhile to re-invest and expand. And at the same time other capital must be attracted to come in and build factories.
Today, the declaration has not changed. PM Lee Hsien Loong, in his May Day message said that the Government is on the side of workers, but we must be business-friendly to support businesses so that we can have jobs for all.
The relationship between the PAP and NTUC is a symbiotic relationship in which both the government and the labour movement recognize that a strong economy benefits workers.
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