The central committee of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has unanimously agreed that Social and Family Development Minister Chan Chun Sing is a "suitable" cabinet minister to join its leadership ranks.

THE central committee of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has unanimously agreed that Social and Family Development Minister Chan Chun Sing is a "suitable" cabinet minister to join its leadership ranks.

In a letter sent to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday, the labour movement's 17-member central committee wrote that Mr Chan would be able to "strengthen labour leadership at the NTUC and the link between the labour movement and the government".

In his reply, Mr Lee said that he supported the NTUC's choice and has agreed to release Mr Chan to serve in the labour movement immediately on a part-time basis, and full-time from April 1.

With current NTUC secretary-general Lim Swee Say unable to serve another full-term as labour chief when the next central committee is elected this October, the NTUC said that it wanted to put in place its succession plans ahead of time.

Mr Lim turns 62 next year, which is the NTUC's statutory retirement age for its central committee members.