Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and NTUC thank SMRT public transport workers at Lunar New Year Visit

Morning light filtered through the vast hangar doors of Bishan Depot as workers gathered for the 9am visit. Some midway through their shifts, others preparing to head out onto the network.

It is the eve of Lunar New Year on 16 February 2026. As families across Singapore prepared for reunion dinners and last-minute grocery runs, more than 180 public transport workers reported for duty beneath the cavernous roof of SMRT’s Bishan Depot Workshop.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong arrived at Bishan Depot to thank them. Not at a rally or a stage-managed event, but on the shop floor where grease-streaked gloves and high-visibility vests mark the rhythms of a different kind of celebration.

He was joined by NTUC President K Thanaletchimi, NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng, Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow and National Transport Workers’ Union (NTWU) Executive Secretary Yeo Wan Ling. NTWU leaders and management from SMRT stood shoulder to shoulder; a tableau of Singapore’s tripartite model in action.

Keeping Singapore moving

For the workers gathered—train captains, station managers, engineers and technicians—Lunar New Year rarely means a full day off. While much of the city pauses, the transport network cannot.

The annual visit, a long-running tradition by NTUC since 1999, is meant to recognise that quiet sacrifice: the missed reunion dinner, the postponed family visit, the shift that starts as Lion Dance drums beat in the distance.

Mr Wong moved from group to group, shaking hands and exchanging brief words of thanks. He handed out Lunar New Year gift bags containing mandarin oranges, along with red packets from NTUC.

The visit ended in a Lo Hei, with union leaders, management and workers tossing strands of shredded vegetables high into the air, voices rising in unison with wishes for health, safety and smooth journeys in the year ahead.

Mr Ng said that while Lunar New Year is a time of reunion, public transport workers remain on duty to keep the country moving.

“Our workers’ sacrifice deserves our appreciation and respect,” he said. “Even amid changes brought about by technology, our workers continue to adapt with professionalism and embrace continuous learning to take on new or different roles.

“NTUC is here to support them through this training and transformation journey, so that they can enjoy better wages, welfare and work prospects.”

A depot transformed

Bishan Depot is more than a backdrop for seasonal gratitude. It is home to SMRT’s Depot 4.0 initiative; a project launched in November 2025 to modernise Singapore’s oldest train depot into a smart maintenance facility.

Through automation, AI and data analytics, overhaul capacity has doubled from two to four trains a month. Machines now take on much of the heavy lifting, easing the physical strain on workers and making processes smoother and more ergonomic.

Technical officers were involved from the outset, including learning visits to workshops in Qingdao, China, to assess suitable technologies. NTWU leaders, too, were part of discussions as workflows evolved; an example of how union representation has been woven into operational transformation.

Looking ahead, NTUC and its tripartite partners say they will continue to align upskilling efforts with automation, while strengthening career progression, workplace safety, rail reliability and wage outcomes.

Uplifting the wider ecosystem

The transformation extends beyond the depot gates.

In October 2025, NTUC, NTWU and SMRT launched what they described as a sector-first “Queen Bee” partnership, with SMRT appointed to help uplift contractors and workers across the public transport ecosystem.

(Credit: MDDI)

About 20,000 workers across more than 200 small- and medium-sized enterprise contractors are expected to benefit from wage increases, clearer career pathways and improved workplace safety standards.

From rails to runways

Earlier the same day, NTUC leaders made another festive stop, this time at Changi Airport Terminal 3, to thank taxi and private hire vehicle drivers working through the holiday period.

Gift bags with mandarin oranges and red packets were distributed once again, followed by a Lo Hei to usher in the new year.

For many Singaporeans, Lunar New Year is marked by reunion and rest. For those who keep the trains running and the roads moving, it is another shift. And, for a brief moment, a handshake of thanks before the next journey begins.