Close to 10,000 workers set to benefit from 700 approved NTUC CTC Grant projects
More than 3,600 Company Training Committees have been formed since the initiative began in 2019
[SINGAPORE] The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has approved over 700 Company Training Committee (CTC) Grant projects from more than 500 companies, which will help nearly 10,000 workers, it announced on Monday (Sep 15).
This update comes after it said in November last year that nearly 6,000 workers from about 260 companies would benefit from the grant projects.
The CTC Grant was launched in April 2022 and co-funds up to 70 per cent of qualifying costs for companies’ transformation projects, or transformation project-related training.
Workers – including professionals, managers and executives – will benefit through an average wage increase of 5 per cent above their annual increment, skills allowances and structured career pathways through career development plans.
The approved projects include over 70 projects featuring artificial intelligence (AI)-related initiatives since 2022. NTUC noted a rise in companies with AI projects compared with last year, which it said highlights AI’s growing role in enhancing business operations and workforce efficiency.
“We have seen more companies leveraging AI in their transformation plans and we are committed to work with them to adopt AI responsibly – not to replace workers and jobs, but to augment workers in using AI tools,” said secretary-general Ng Chee Meng. “As new job roles emerge, training and job redesign will ensure our workforce stays agile, adaptable and competitive.”
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More than 3,600 CTCs have been formed since the programme began in April 2019. The government supported the initiative’s expansion with S$100 million in funding in 2022, and another S$200 million in Budget 2025.
Recognising the rising role of AI in business transformation and raising productivity, NTUC worked with national programme AI Singapore to develop the AI Transformation Blueprint.
This provides a structured, step-by-step framework to help businesses assess themselves on the AI Readiness Index (AIRI); identify gaps between their current and desired state; accelerate the implementation of AI solutions through the CTC initiative; and equip workers with AI skills.
Since its March 2025 roll-out, the AIRI assessment has been completed by over 100 companies.
One company that has transformed through CTCs is SBS Transit, which recently launched a CTC Grant project to implement an automated tyre management system by end-2025 at its Seletar and Ulu Pandan Bus Depots.
The system uses cameras, strobe lights and ground sensors to automatically capture and measure tyre pressure, detect tyre damage and assess tyre tread depth.
It uses AI and machine-learning algorithms to process data in real time for faster and more accurate diagnostics and predictive maintenance, said NTUC.
The system is projected to free up about one technician per workshop – who can then take on higher-value job roles – and result in annual savings of about S$200,000, through workforce deployment optimisation, and reducing tyre casing replacements and fuel consumption.
It will also eliminate the need for manual inspections, enhancing safety.
Under the CTC grant, SBS Transit also introduced a new “Diagnostic Expert” career scheme that could benefit more than 50 workers, including a career development plan (CDP) with a structured career progression, skills road map and enhanced wage outcomes.
“Together with other initiatives, the CDP aims to elevate the professional image of technicians, helping to attract and retain talent within the sector,” NTUC added.
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