ES Ms Mary Liew now a NMP in Singapore

SMOU Executive Secretary Ms Mary Liew has been selected by the Special Select Committee of Parliament as a newly Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP).

She was a recently-elected member of the National Trades Union Congress's (NTUC) Central Committee for the term 2011-2015.

The Singapore President, Mr Tony Tan, will be presenting the Instruments of Appointment to the new NMPs at the Istana on Thursday, 9 February 2012 and they will take their oath at the next sitting of Parliament on Tuesday, 14 February 2012.

Ms Mary Liew has been in the Labour Movement with the Singapore Maritime Officers' Union (SMOU) for almost 30 years. She first joined SMOU in 1982 and became the first woman Executive Secretary of the union in 1999.

In her years with SMOU, she has had considerable exposure to the industrial relations dealings with the shipping management and authorities.

"Many years of working together with the members have also provided me insights to the issues and challenges confronting the workers, helping them cope with the changes and working closely with the companies, and to promote good industrial relations and tripartism," she said.

Today, she is managing the National and International affairs of SMOU and taking care of the membership and the welfare of members and their families.

She is also active in the NTUC International Relations Committee; NTUC Membership Committee; NTUC Womens Committee; the NTUC CBF Tripartite Committee; and is presently the First Vice President of the Singapore Council of Womens’ Organisation.

Internationally, she was elected as the first woman from South East Asia to be in the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) Executive Board and is also presently involved in the ITF Women's Committee.

Just recently, she was elected to represent Singapore as a Substitute Member of the International Labour Organisation Governing Body in Geneva, Switzerland representing the Workers' Group.