Nominated MP: Special Select Committee chooses NTUC unionist Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari as the workers’ voice

The Special Select Committee of Parliament has selected NTUC Central Committee member Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari, 47, as the next Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) to speak up on worker issues at the 15^th term of Parliament.

Mr Tiwari is also the General Secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Public Employees (AUPE), one of the largest public sector unions in Singapore.

The Select Committee announced their choice on 2 January 2026.

Under the Singapore constitution, the committee is formed to consider proposals submitted by the public regarding individuals who may be nominated. The committee may propose up to nine individuals for the Singapore President’s appointment as NMP.

NTUC President K Thanaletchimi welcomed the parliamentary committee's choice of Mr Tiwari.

“Upon appointment as an NMP, we hope he can further strengthen the voice of all workers in Parliament, so that their contributions are valued, and their aspirations and challenges are heard. We have full confidence that he will speak up with courage and empathy for all workers,” she said.

The road to Parliament

Mr Tiwari will succeed Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union Executive Secretary Jean See. Her term ended when the 14th Parliament of Singapore was dissolved on 15 April 2025 ahead of the General Election.

He will also become the 15th NTUC representative since 1992 to speak up for workers’ rights on the national stage.

“I want to focus on helping workers stay employable and valued at every stage of their careers, especially our older workers and Professionals, Managers and Executives (PMEs). By working closely with our unions and tripartite partners, I hope to help shape and sharpen policies that will bring better wages, welfare and work prospects for every worker,” Mr Tiwari said.

Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam will be presenting the Instruments of Appointment to the NMPs at the Istana on 8 January 2026. He will be sworn in at the first parliamentary session on 12 January 2026.

From serving the public to empowering workers

Mr Sanjeev has nearly two decades of union work under his belt.

He started his career in the Labour Movement in 2007, joining NTUC as an industrial relations officer. Working in various unions, he eventually rose through the ranks to become the assistant executive secretary of the Education Services Union (ESU) and NTUC industrial relations deputy director.

After spending nearly a decade in NTUC, he joined AUPE as a union leader in 2016. Three years later, he was elected as the union’s general secretary, a position he still holds today. AUPE is one of the largest public sector unions in Singapore.

In 2019, he was also elected to the NTUC CC as a member and is currently in his second term. The NTUC CC is the organisation’s highest planning, policy and executive organ, responsible for steering the NTUC’s direction. It also ensures NTUC remains relevant to and representative of workers’ interests.

Since 2021, Mr Tiwari has also served as an adjunct lecturer at the Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute (OTCi), a centre for labour education and training in Singapore. In this role, he delivers joint union-management programmes on industrial relations and other workplace practices.

A heart for senior workers and civil servants

As a champion of re-employment, Mr Tiwari was part of the pioneer team that helped to prepare companies to re-employ older workers ahead of the 2012 legislation requiring firms to do so. He was instrumental in advising companies to be early adopters of re-employment and securing funds to support them for job redesign for older workers.

As a strong advocate for public service workers, he focuses on improving their livelihoods, ensuring they remain upskilled, competent, and employable.

One key achievement was leading AUPE in establishing the first Government-wide Company Training Committee with the Public Service Division in 2019, which created new roles for public officers.

Recognising the contributions of former NMP Jean See

NTUC also expresses its appreciation to Jean See, who served as an NMP from June 2023 to April 2025. At the time, she was concurrently the director of the NTUC Freelancers and Self-Employed Unit, now known as NTUC Freelancer.

NTUC lauded her dedication to speaking up for self-employed workers, and the strides she made in uplifting their lives and livelihoods, which culminated in the landmark Platform Workers Act.

Ms See also voiced issues relating to workplace fairness, caregiving, and families.