PM Lee to deliver May Day message on television for first time on April 30

SINGAPORE — Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s May Day message will be televised for the first time on Thursday (April 30) at 7.30pm. The usual annual May Day Rally organised by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) is not being held owing to the circuit breaker measures.

In a media statement on Sunday, NTUC said viewers can watch Mr Lee’s speech on the following Mediacorp channels:

• CNA and Channel 5 (English message with English subtitles)

• Channel 8 (Mandarin message with Chinese subtitles)

• Suria (Malay message with Malay subtitles)

• Vasantham (English message with Tamil subtitles)

Mr Lee’s message will also be streamed on his Facebook page and the Prime Minister's Office’s YouTube channel, as well as NTUC’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

An NTUC spokesperson told TODAY on Sunday that Mr Lee’s May Day message had not been televised previously. Usually the message is issued to media outlets in written form with no video.

Mr Lee usually delivers his May Day message one day before Labour Day, which falls on May 1, followed by a keynote speech at the annual May Day Rally on the day itself.

The rally, organised by NTUC, is typically attended by more than 1,500 unionists, workers, employers and Cabinet ministers.

Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, who is also Finance Minister, delivered the keynote speech at the rally last year.

In view of the tightened circuit breaker measures, NTUC said in its media release that it will replace its annual May Day Rally with a closed-door virtual dialogue session.

The session will be led by NTUC president Mary Liew, NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng, Manpower Minister Josephine Teo and Singapore National Employers Federation president Robert Yap.

Some 500 people, including union leaders, NTUC communities, employers and government leaders will participate in the session, which will take place after Mr Lee delivers his May Day message.

The session will kick off with a short, pre-recorded video greeting by Mr Lee to the tripartite representatives at the session.

OTHER MAY DAY EVENTS CANCELLED OR MOVED ONLINE

Besides the May Day Rally, other changes will also be made to NTUC’s May Day celebration events that were originally scheduled to take place from late April till June this year.

The May Day Awards, which is a ceremony to honour individuals, companies and tripartite partners who have made significant contributions to the welfare of workers, will be cancelled. NTUC said that alternative arrangements to honour this year’s awardees will be advised on a later date.

Similarly, the May Day Fiesta, which is a carnival held for over 25,000 union members and their families at Downtown East in Pasir Ris, has been cancelled.

NTUC is exploring the use of online platforms for its May Day Migrant Workers Celebration, which usually features live performances and activities for workers.

A similar celebration for domestic workers will be held on online platforms instead.

Mr Vivek Kumar, NTUC’s assistant director-general and the organising chairperson of this year’s May Day events, said: “These are unusual times that call for an extraordinary display of spirit and gumption, whether from our union leaders and workers, to our tripartite partners, and even the May Day 2020 organising committee.

“While we will be celebrating May Day 2020 differently this year, I am heartened that the spirit of wanting to come together to serve our workers, and to show our solidarity as tripartite partners remains very strong. We stand in solidarity with our workers in these difficult times.”