Aug 11, 2025 10:19:56 AM
Singapore, 6 August 2025 – At the YCH Asia Supply Chain Summit 2025, YCH Group, National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to support the supply chain and logistics industry. Through this MoU, YCH Group will be appointed a SkillsFuture Queen Bee and collaborate with NTUC through the cluster Company Training Committee (CTC) initiative.
This initiative highlights a national effort to strengthen small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through capability and workforce development, and marks a significant milestone in YCH Group’s mission to drive transformation within the supply chain and logistics sector. As a SkillsFuture Queen Bee for the supply chain and logistics sector, YCH Group will uplift its network of SMEs in the areas of digitalisation, industry 4.0 adoption, and sustainability to drive workforce transformation. Through this three-year partnership with SSG and NTUC, YCH Group aims to benefit at least 110 SMEs with over 7,500 workers in their network. It will work with SSG and NTUC to strengthen the jobs-skills nexus, fostering both workforce development and business outcomes.
This collaboration aims to strengthen skills development in the sector by leveraging YCH Group’s extensive industry experience to support knowledge transfer, promote capability building, and enable innovation adoption. A key focus of the initiative will be on raising awareness of digital and AI capabilities, as well as sustainability practices among YCH Group’s SME suppliers.
The MOU will be formally signed by Mr. Melvin Yong, Assistant Secretary-General of NTUC and Supervising Lead for NTUC Land Connectivity Cluster of unions; Ms. Xu Wenshan, Director of Enterprise Engagement Division, SkillsFuture Singapore; and Ms. Annie Lam, Head of Human Resources at YCH Group. The signing will be witnessed by Mr. Ng Chee Meng, Secretary-General of NTUC; Mr. Tan Kok Yam, Chief Executive of SSG; and Dr. Robert Yap, Executive Chairman of YCH Group. The MOU reflects a shared commitment to building a resilient, inclusive, and future-ready logistics industry, positioning SMEs for long-term, sustainable growth.
Mr. Ng Chee Meng, Secretary-General of NTUC and Guest-of-Honour for the event, said, “As a key enabler of trade and commerce, the supply chain and logistics sector is integral to Singapore’s economy and presents opportunities for innovation, growth, and good jobs. With rapid transformations driven by artificial intelligence, companies must stay agile while workers need to upskill and adapt to remain competitive. NTUC is glad to join YCH Group and SSG on this Queen Bee approach to support both business and workforce as they evolve together. We will continue to drive productivity, build a robust and resilient logistics ecosystem, and ensure that our workers, including PMEs and fresh graduates stepping into this sector, can thrive in their careers. Because Every Worker Matters.”
Dr. Robert Yap, Executive Chairman of YCH Group, said, “This partnership with NTUC and SSG builds on YCH Group’s longstanding commitment to empowering people and businesses. For decades, we have championed inclusive workforce practices, continuous learning, and the use of technology as a tool to uplift rather than replace human potential. The tripartite partnership allows us to deepen this support for SMEs and their workers, reinforcing our belief that resilience in the supply chain and logistics sector comes from investing in people, strengthening collaboration, and driving innovation.”
Mr. Tan Kok Yam, Chief Executive of SSG, said, “The inclusion of YCH Group into the ranks of our Queen Bees further strengthens the SkillsFuture movement's reach and support to SMEs looking to upskill their workforce. YCH Group, NTUC and SSG - together with the training partners in the SkillsFuture ecosystem - will strive to help SMEs achieve business and workforce transformation hand in hand.”
Supporting SME Capability Building
Under this partnership, YCH Group will leverage the capabilities of Y3 Technologies—its technology partner specialising in supply chain management IT solutions, the Supply Chain and Logistics Academy (SCALA), and several Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), to roll-out technology such as Warehouse Management System, Transformation Management System, and training programmes such as AI & Predictive Analytics for Supply Chain Optimisation. This will benefit 40 suppliers and their workforce of 1,200.
In addition, NTUC will engage YCH Group and its network of SME suppliers through the cluster CTC initiative, with the opportunity to tap into CTC Grant to co-fund proposals that raise productivity, redesign jobs, and improve work prospects. As part of this collaboration, NTUC will lead the sector Operation and Technology Roadmap - bringing together YCH Group as the SkillsFuture Queen Bee, and its suppliers to identify challenges, exchange ideas, and co-develop scalable solutions. YCH Group is a unionised company under NTUC’s affiliated union, the Supply Chain Employees’ Union (SCEU).
To illustrate, the SkillsFuture Queen Bee company may identify a common solution that can be applied across its supplier ecosystem – such as the adoption of AI-powered predictive analytics to enhance warehouse space planning, transport coordination, and route optimisation. This project could enhance operational efficiency for the SkillsFuture Queen Bee company, but also for its SME suppliers, enabling them to benefit from shared innovation and digital transformation. To support the implementation of such solutions, SME suppliers could leverage the NTUC CTC Grant, which co-funds up to 70 percent of qualifying cost for transformation projects or training tied to the transformation project with business capabilities, innovation, and/or productivity.
Refer to the Annex for details on YCH Group’s CTC Grant initiative and its collaboration with NTUC LearningHub to drive workforce transformation.
Expanding Industry-Academia Collaboration
In conjunction with the appointment of SkillsFuture Queen Bee, YCH Group will also formalise collaborations with the signing of MOUs with IHLs, including the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), National University of Singapore (NUS), Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP), and Republic Polytechnic (RP).
These MOUs will pave the way for a stronger industry-academia partnership focused on talent development and experiential learning. YCH Group and these IHLs will work together to support the skills development of the industry workforce through Continuing Education and Training courses. Students will also benefit from curated learning journeys, site visits, and internship opportunities at YCH Group’s Supply Chain City®, gaining firsthand exposure to real-world operations and innovation in logistics. The partnership will also enable experiential learning opportunities and joint projects that bridge classroom theory with industry practice.
For a start, RP’s School of Engineering will support YCH Group’s workforce and its network of partners in developing competitive capabilities across a wide range of technological and engineering domains, aimed at building agility and resilience amid complex market conditions. Learners will also be able to tap into RP’s deep expertise and access to state-of-the-art facilities including the Supply Chain Innovation Lab, simulators, and research and testing facilities.
Ms. Annie Lam, Head of Human Resources at YCH Group, said, “The signing of MOUs with our valued partners in institutes of higher learning is a powerful extension of the Queen Bee programme’s mission. At YCH Group, we recognise that building a future-ready workforce demands close collaboration between industry and education. These partnerships enable us to co-create learning journeys that are directly relevant to the evolving needs of our sector, ensuring that both students and employees benefit from real-world experience, enhanced skill sets, and new career pathways. It is through such synergy that we can nurture talent, foster lifelong learning, and drive sustainable growth for the entire logistics ecosystem.”
The MOU signings will take place during the inaugural YCH Asia Supply Chain Summit 2025 at Supply Chain City®, a regional conference uniting leaders from government, business, and academia to tackle the region’s evolving logistics challenges and opportunities. As the industry transforms through digitalisation, automation, and sustainability, the summit offers a timely focus on future talent. With new skills in demand, it highlights the need for experiential learning, real-world exposure, and continuous upskilling to develop a workforce that is agile, adaptable, and ready to lead in a dynamic global landscape.
Through these strategic partnerships, YCH Group reaffirms its commitment to futureproofing the logistics industry, championing workforce transformation, and co-creating a sustainable, resilient, and forward-looking supply chain ecosystem for the region.
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About YCH Group
YCH Group is Singapore’s leading homegrown end-to-end supply chain solutions provider, with a presence in over 100 cities across the Asia Pacific. YCH focuses on boosting productivity and sustainability for its customers with its proprietary best-in-class suite of award-winning solutions across industries such as fast-moving consumer goods, electronics, chemical and healthcare, cold chain logistics, and e-Commerce. A strong proponent of innovation, YCH is recognised for its 7PL™ approach in seamlessly integrating supply chain strategy with execution. Its leadership in initiatives like the ASEAN Smart Logistics Network (ASLN) underscores its pivotal role in advancing the goals of regional frameworks and multilateral trade agreements, such as the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
About National Trades Union Congress (NTUC)
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) is a national confederation of trade unions as well as a network of professional associations and partners across all sectors in Singapore. NTUC's objectives are to help Singapore stay competitive and working people remain employable for life; to enhance the social status and well-being of our members and working people; and to build a strong, responsible and caring labour movement. NTUC's vision is to be an inclusive labour movement for all collars, ages and nationalities. NTUC is at the heart of the Labour Movement, which comprises 58 affiliated unions, seven affiliated associations, a portfolio of businesses, six related organisations as well as a growing ecosystem of professional associations and enterprise partners. For more details, visit www.ntuc.org.sg
About SkillsFuture Singapore
SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) drives and coordinates the implementation of the national SkillsFuture movement, promotes a culture of lifelong learning and strengthens the ecosystem of training and adult education in Singapore. Through a holistic suite of national SkillsFuture initiatives, SSG enables Singaporeans to take charge of their learning journey in their pursuit of skills mastery. SSG also works with key stakeholders to ensure that students and adults have access to high quality and industry-relevant training that meets the demands of different sectors of the economy for an innovative and productive workforce. For more information, visit https://www.skillsfuture.gov.sg/.
For more information, please contact:
YCH Group
Ms Tammy Ho
Deputy Head of Communications
E: tammy.ho@ych.com
T: +65 8086 1921
NTUC
Ms Pearlene Wong
Manager, Strategic Communications
E: pearlene_wong@ntuc.org.sg
T: +65 9271 7890
SkillsFuture Singapore
Ms Sarah Lua
Senior Manager, Corporate Marketing and Communications Division
SkillsFuture Singapore
E: sarah_lua@ssg.gov.sg
T: + 65 9625 8878
Annex
YCH Group first established a Company Training Committee in partnership with the Supply Chain Employees’ Union (SCEU) in 2019. The company had faced manpower constraints, with physically demanding tasks requiring extensive walking and resulting in reduced accuracy — particularly during peak e-commerce periods.
Working with NTUC and SCEU, YCH tapped on the CTC Grant and introduced an Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) system in its e-commerce warehouse to transform operations and improve its productivity in 2024. The AGV automated shelf movements to designated picking stations, allowing workers to remain stationed, reducing physical strain and improving picking accuracy. This enabled YCH Group to better manage peak volumes and achieve up to three times improvements in operational efficiency. The project will benefit 32 workers with an average wage increase of 5% on top of their annual increment.
In addition to its collaboration with NTUC through the CTC, YCH Group will formalise a partnership with NTUC LearningHub (NTUC LHUB) to provide structured upskilling in digital and artificial intelligence (AI) as well as sustainability capabilities. As part of this partnership, YCH will support NTUC LHUB’s outreach to its network of SME partners to identify training needs and facilitate access to relevant programmes. This includes joint efforts in promoting awareness and adoption of emerging technologies, co-developing tailored training pathways, and building future-ready competencies aligned with sectoral transformation priorities and national initiatives.
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