Plenary Speech at 114th International Labour Conference

Dr Tan See Leng, Minister For Manpower, Geneva, Switzerland

ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo,
President of the International Labour Conference Juan Castillo,
Excellencies, 
Distinguished delegates,

1. My delegation joins others in congratulating the ILO on convening this 114th International Labour Conference, and we thank the Government and people of Switzerland for their warm hospitality.

2. Singapore welcomes the Director-General's Report "A moment of choice: Harnessing artificial intelligence for decent work." 

The report captures a defining challenge of our time. 

AI will transform our economies and workforces. 

The key question is not whether change will come, but whether we are able to manage the transition in a manner that protects our workers, promotes inclusion, and provides opportunities for all. 

Addressing risks and ensuring inclusive growth

3. To sustain Singapore's economic competitiveness, we must embrace AI, while ensuring no worker is left behind. 

Our approach is deliberate and long-term. 

We launched our first National AI Strategy in 2019, refreshed it in 2023, and established a National AI Council chaired by our Prime Minister this year. 

A key priority of the National AI Council is to drive broad-based AI adoption across our economy, especially among our Small and Medium Enterprises, while equipping Singaporeans to thrive in an AI-enabled future.

Singapore's human-centred approach to AI adoption and workforce development

4. As we enter this new AI-powered era, Singapore remains guided by the same  principle: technology must serve people, not the other way around. 

5. That is why we adopt a human-centred approach towards Ai adoption. 

We are merging two existing government agencies to establish a new Skills and Workforce Development Agency, to better integrate skills training, career guidance, and job matching services. 

This, we believe, will strengthen our workforce ecosystem to help employers and workers promote better career health, including navigating AI-driven change.

6. To ensure every worker can engage with AI meaningfully, we are also introducing self-diagnostic tools to help workers assess their AI-readiness and identify the right training for their needs. 

We are giving Singaporeans who take up selected AI courses six months of free access to premium AI tools, to practise and apply their skills in real life contexts. 

7. In this new economy, lifelong learning and career health has become a practical and indispensable necessity for every worker in order to upkeep their continued employability and secure career longevity. 

Tripartite Collaboration through the Tripartite Jobs Council

8. Singapore's tripartite approach to managing AI's impact on the workforce reflects our long-standing approach of having unions, employers and the Government engage collectively in constructive dialogue and collaboration to advance the shared interests of our people, economy and our society. 

Through this process, we commit to ensuring that technological transformation benefits all stakeholders. 

As the report notes, bipartite and tripartite dialogue can help ensure that decisions on AI adoption are fair, inclusive and grounded in workplace realities.

9. In April this year, my Ministry, together with the National Trades Union Congress and the Singapore National Employers Federation, established a new Tripartite Jobs Council. 

The Council will coordinate enterprise workforce transformation, AI training, and transition support, ensuring that the gains from AI are shared across all segments of the workforce.

10. This tripartite approach is one of Singapore’s enduring strengths. 

It allows us to build trust and align the interests of workers, employers, and the Government.  

And crucially, it ensures that consultation and information exchange on AI design and deployment result in better outcomes for employers and workers alike.

Conclusion

11. Mr President, Director-General, distinguished delegates, the choices we make today will shape the future of work for generations to come. 

No country can navigate the AI transition alone. 

We must learn from one another and work through the ILO and other rules-based international platforms to ensure that AI advances decent work for all. 

Thank you very much.