Union leaders present gifts, mementoes to PM Lee

After delivering his last major speech as prime minister on May 1, PM Lee Hsien Loong was surrounded by unionists in red polo shirts who gave him gifts and lined up to take photos with him.

- Tay Hong Yi and Jean Iau

PM Lee on May 1 delivered his final major speech at the annual National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) May Day Rally 2024, held at Sands Expo and Convention Centre. The event was attended by some 1,700 unionists, business leaders, government officials and guests.

He is set to pass the baton to Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who will be sworn in as the Republic's fourth prime minister on May 15.

PM Lee received several standing ovations throughout his speech, with some in the audience holding up balloons that spelt out "I LOVE U PM LEE" and blowing whistles.

The group behind the balloons was the Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union. The union's president Julie Cheong said that unionists wanted to express their appreciation to PM Lee, especially after the Government subsidised up to 75 per cent of workers' wages during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ms Cheong, 52, recounted meeting PM Lee over lunch at the Istana before several May Day rallies. The meetings were held to give PM Lee a sense of unionists' and workers' sentiments on the ground.