SMRT, NTUC, NTWU to help over 200 SME contractors strengthen workplace safety

• SMRT, with the support of NTUC and NTWU, aims to help more than 200 SME contractor partners in strengthen workplace safety capabilities.

• SMRT SME contractors will receive support in three areas: digital safety tools, capability building, and access to safety technology and hardware.

• The partners will leverage the Company Training Committee (CTC) Grant to help SMEs manage transformation costs.

SMRT Corporation aims to help more than 200 of its SME contractor partners strengthen their workplace safety capabilities over the next three years through a partnership with NTUC and the National Transport Workers’ Union (NTWU).

The initiative will give smaller contractors access to training, consultancy, digital tools and safety technology to improve their Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) practices.

Eligible companies can also tap the NTUC Company Training Committee (CTC) Grant, which provides co-funding of up to 70 per cent of qualifying project costs.

Speaking at the SMRT Contractors’ Safety Forum on 12 August 2026 at Orchid Country Club, SMRT Corporation Chairman Seah Moon Ming said the initiative will help address some of the cost and capability challenges SMEs face when improving workplace safety.

“We understand that transformation can be challenging and costly, especially for SMEs. That is why we are working with the NTUC CTC, through a unique cluster framework,” he said.

Mr Seah added that SMRT is prepared to lead and co-fund this transformation with the CTC grant.

“This will reduce the cost of our contactor partners and make it easier to invest in better safety practices and technology,” he said.

As the industry’s WSH Advocate and Queen Bee, SMRT said its role goes beyond setting safety standards to helping its contractor partners develop the capabilities to meet them.

Helping businesses and workers transform together

NTWU Executive Secretary Yeo Wan Ling said the partnership can help SMEs transform their operations while ensuring their workers develop the skills needed to keep pace with change.

Ms Yeo, who is also NTUC Assistant Secretary-General, encouraged companies to identify the workplace challenges they want to address before deciding on the technology to adopt.

“Start with the problem, not the technology. This is where the CTC be very useful,” she said.

She added that the CTC Grant co-funding up to 70 per cent of qualifying project costs can make transformation more accessible to SMEs.“SMRT, NTUC and NTWU will walk that journey with you. Because ultimately, the measure of our partnership is not how many projects we launch or how many grants we approve.

“It is whether our businesses become stronger, whether our workers become more capable, and whether at the end of every shift, our workers goes home safe,” she said.

Three areas of workplace safety support

SMRT will focus its support for SME contractors on digital ecosystem integration, capability building and the adoption of safety technology.

Under its digital ecosystem integration efforts, SMRT will progressively introduce its AI-enabled WorkSafe App to its contractor partners. The platform provides unified safety reporting, instant AI advice and insights to help companies identify and manage workplace risks.

For capability building, SMRT will provide training and consultancy services in safety, as well as its Kaizen for Safety programme. The support will help contractors improve workplace safety and productivity, and work towards higher BizSAFE certifications.

SMRT will also support safety technology and hardware adoption by using its collective purchasing power to achieve economies of scale.

The approach is intended to lower costs and give smaller contractors better access to industry-grade safety equipment and technologies that may otherwise be costly to adopt.

More than 250 attend SMRT safety forum

More than 250 attendees attended the fourth SMRT Contractors’ Safety Forum, themed “AI-Ready Workforce, Safe and Strong.”

The forum brought contractors and industry partners together to discuss ways to strengthen workplace safety culture and standards.

It was also the stage for SMRT to present its inaugural Safety Excellence Awards, the corporation’s highest safety accolade for its contractor partners.

This year, the awards went to Efficient Networks International (Singapore) Pte Ltd and TNT Surveillance Pte Ltd.

Ms Yeo, together with Mr Seah, presented the awards to the recipients.

Is your company looking to transform its business and workforce? Find out how NTUC’s Company Training Committees and CTC Grant can support your transformation.