2,500 workers to benefit as ALPS, NTUC partnership targets healthcare supply chain transformation

• Some 2,500 healthcare supply chain workers are expected to benefit from upskilling and job redesign opportunities through the partnership.

• More than 100 SMEs could benefit as ALPS extends the NTUC Company Training Committee (CTC) initiative across the sector.

• The partnership will drive workforce transformation, sustainability and green skills across Singapore’s healthcare supply chain.

The Agency for Logistics and Procurement Services (ALPS) Pte Ltd has signed a partnership with NTUC and the Healthcare Services Employees’ Union (HSEU) on 19 August 2026 to strengthen workforce capabilities, accelerate business transformation, and advance sustainability across Singapore’s public healthcare supply chain.

Approximately 2,500 workers are expected to benefit from upskilling and job redesign opportunities.

ALPS will be appointed as the first Queen Bee in the healthcare sector, working with NTUC and HSEU to extend the Company Training Committee (CTC) initiative to more than 100 SMEs in the public healthcare supply chain.

HSEU President K Thanaletchimi, HSEU Executive Secretary Steven Goh and ALPS Chief Executive Officer Yong Hwee Yee signed the agreement. NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng and ALPS Chairman Ong Kim Pong witnessed the signing.

Mr Ng shared that ALPS is well-positioned to bring businesses across the healthcare supply chain together to tackle shared challenges and seize new opportunities. 

He said: “This partnership enables workforce and business transformation at scale, across the ecosystem. At the same time, through CTC Grant projects, we ensure both blue- and white- collar workers in the sector benefit through better jobs, stronger career opportunities and continued employability.”

Supporting workforce and business transformation

As Singapore’s integrated procurement and supply chain agency for the public healthcare sector, ALPS will work with companies across its network to identify common workforce and business challenges, particularly in sustainability, and co-develop practical solutions.

These include skills upgrading, technology adoption, mentorship and other workforce initiatives to equip workers with future-ready capabilities while helping businesses operate more sustainably.

Eligible companies can tap the NTUC CTC Grant, which co-funds up to 70 per cent of qualifying costs for transformation projects or training tied to transformation projects.

Ms Yong said that ALPS is proud to support this Queen Bee partnership, seeing it as a meaningful step towards Singapore’s national sustainability progress.

“Together with NTUC, HSEU, our vendors and SME partners, we will strengthen sustainability capabilities, equip workers with green skills, and help businesses embed more sustainable practices,” she said.

He added that working across the ecosystem would create better opportunities for vendors and SME partners while contributing to a greener and more sustainable healthcare ecosystem for Singapore.

Building a more sustainable healthcare supply chain

The agreement comes as the healthcare sector steps up efforts to reduce its environmental footprint.

The healthcare sector accounts for about 5 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, with around 70 per cent arising from supply chain and procurement activities.

As organisations adopt more sustainable practices, businesses and workers will need to develop new capabilities to support the transition.

Through the Queen Bee partnership, NTUC, HSEU and ALPS will work with companies in healthcare procurement and supply chain to identify sustainability-related challenges and develop practical solutions.

Equipping workers with future-ready skills

Ms Thanaletchimi, who is also NTUC President, emphasised the importance of putting workers at the heart of the healthcare sector’s transformation and sustainability journey.

“This collaboration [between NTUC, HSEU and ALPS] will extend opportunities to workers across the entire healthcare supply chain, providing them with the support to upskill in emerging areas such as sustainability and AI, while improving their wages and work prospects, and building a more sustainable healthcare ecosystem,” she said.

Since 2024, some 70 union leaders have been trained through HSEU’s Environmental Steward Programme, which includes engagements with sustainability leaders across the public healthcare sector.

HSEU has also partnered the Centre for Healthcare Innovation and NTUC LearningHub to develop a Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) sustainability course, equipping healthcare workers with practical skills to integrate sustainable practices into their daily work.

To date, 35 additional union leaders have completed the WSQ course. This brings the total number of union leaders trained through HSEU’s sustainability initiatives to 105 since 2024, representing about one-third of HSEU’s Branch Officials.

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.