SISEU was formed in 1981, after NTUC restructured the omnibus unions into industry-wide unions in the 1980s. It represents employees in commercial, social, community & related services and has since amended its scope of representation to include employees from the logistics industry as well.

SISEU currently has, under its stable of unionized companies, more than 150 companies (termed as ‘branches’). These range from aerospace engineering companies like ST Aerospace to property services firms like Capitaland Limited and leisure establishments like Sentosa Leisure Management and Jurong Birdpark.

SISEU is currently one of the largest unions affiliated to the National Trade Union Congress (NTUC) with more than 54,000 members from various walks in Singapore, including both blue-collar workers and white-collar executives.

SISEU actively promotes harmonious Union-Management relations and assists in the promoting and implementation of key NTUC programmes, many of which are itself key initiatives promoted by the government, for example, implementation of competitive-based wage systems, raising the effective retirement age of older workers, job redesign and assistance for lower income workers.

In addition, SISEU too support NTUC and WDA (Workforce Development Agency) in key national programmes like Advantage Scheme, Skills Redevelopment Programme (SRP), Critical Enabling Skills Training (CREST), Singapore Employability Skills System (ESS), National Skills Recognition Systems (NSRS) and Surrogate Employers Programme (SEP) amongst others. These are implemented with the long-term aim to ensure the increased productivity, employability and competitiveness of our workers and members.

Finally, SISEU too help to negotiate workplace related issues like collective agreements, wage increments/disputes, performance bonus and workplace grievances in its unionized companies and provides a host of social benefits to its members.