Lazada Singapore and FDAWU partner to drive workforce development through key focus areas

Among the areas of focus, Lazada will collaborate with the union to offer jointly curated lunch-and-learn sessions covering topics such as workplace safety, wellness, and skills development.

The Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union (FDAWU) and e-commerce platform Lazada Singapore (Lazada) are deepening their partnership with the aim to strengthen union representation and leadership within Lazada.  

Through this partnership, forged on Monday (20 January 2025), Lazada and FDAWU said they will explore opportunities to enhance leadership development, professional growth, and workforce capabilities for Lazada employees. 

During a visit to Lazada One by National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng, along with FDAWU leadership — President Julie Cheong, General Secretary Sankaradass S/O S Chami, and Executive Secretary Jean See, Lazada unveiled a suite of initiatives aimed at future-proofing its workforce and enhancing employee engagement as the company enters a new era of eCommerce.

The NTUC and FDAWU delegation were hosted by James Dong, CEO of Lazada Group; Lillian Jiang, Chief People Officer,, and Executive Vice President Wee Choo Hua. 

This visit highlighted key areas of collaboration, with productive dialogue between NTUC SG Ng, FDAWU, and Lazada management. The discussions also included interactions with employees across various departments, ranging from eCommerce to logistics. 

NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng emphasised: "By working closely with companies, our unions can strengthen labour-management relationships, putting workers’ wellbeing first while helping businesses grow.  

“Through FDAWU’s ongoing discussions with Lazada, we are creating pathways that allow workers to thrive and grow alongside the company’s business development and transformation. This partnership between FDAWU and Lazada exemplifies the power of collaboration between unions and companies. 

“It shows how such alliances can result in win-win outcomes, benefitting both workers and companies. By bridging the needs of workers and companies, such collaboration can pave the way for long-term success for all involved'” he added. 

FDAWU President Julie Cheong added her views, saying: "Over the past year, our labour-management partnership with Lazada has grown significantly. We’re now focused on building a long-term partnership that continues to support workers and the company’s growth.  

“Through open conversations and collaboration, we’ve identified key areas where our workers can benefit, such as leadership development and training. We’re excited to have our branch officials within the company, helping to strengthen communication between workers and management.  

“We’re eager to keep pushing this forward, ensuring that Lazada’s growth goes hand-in-hand with the wellbeing and development of our members.”

Key areas for collaboration 

Building stronger labour-management relations: 

Lazada and FDAWU will strengthen communication and trust between employees and management by equipping branch officials with industrial relations knowledge. This will provide the workforce with channels for open dialogue, ensuring employees' concerns are addressed and aligning workforce needs with the company’s goals. The branch committee will further enhance communication, improve workplace relations, and create a collaborative environment that benefits both workers and the company, reflecting Lazada’s commitment to a culture of simplicity, pragmatism, and openness. 

Workforce development & support initiatives: 

Lazada will collaborate with FDAWU to offer jointly curated lunch-and-learn sessions covering topics such as workplace safety, wellness, and skills development. By tapping into FDAWU’s expertise and network, these initiatives will equip employees with the skills necessary to thrive in an evolving industry, further reinforcing the shared commitment of Lazada and FDAWU to workforce transformation. 

"At Lazada, talent diversity and development are at the heart of our success. We believe that the richness of perspectives and backgrounds within our team drives innovation and strengthens our organisation,” said Lazada Group CEO James Dong.  

"Our newly launched immersive programme sees top talents from Lazada embark on overseas training to Hangzhou, China, where participants connect with market leaders, engage with cutting-edge innovations like AI, and gain personal insights into our global ecosystem.

"This fosters cross-cultural understanding, inspires growth, and strengthens our vision of empowering talents to build meaningful, long-term careers with us." 

Photo: Provided by NTUC