One Sneak Peek Into Advocacy Beyond Headlines: The Unseen Work

Some fight for rights in boardrooms; others do so on the ground. 

Jaga does both. 

As a trade unionist, activist and the Singapore’s General Election 2025 candidate under the People’s Action Party for Aljunied GRC, his work lives at the intersection of policy, advocacy, and community service.

From representing creative professionals and public servants as Executive Secretary of both VICPA and IRASSU, to championing the rights of freelancers in his role at NTUC Freelance, Jaga’s journey is one rooted in amplifying unheard voices.

His secondment to the Ministry of Trade and Industry offered him a rare insider’s view into the machinery of policymaking—an experience that would later sharpen his approach to ground-up representation. 

Through every posting, campaign, and conversation, he continues to ask: how can we build a more just and inclusive Singapore?

1. What do trade unions in Singapore do?

In many parts of the world, trade unions are seen as adversaries to governments. But in Singapore, they operate differently. The model here is built on collaboration, not conflict — a tripartite approach where unions, employers, and the government work together to improve the lives and livelihoods of workers.

“You won’t find the word tripartism in any dictionary,” said Jaga. “But the idea is simple: we all want the same thing — better lives for our people. We just go about it differently. Businesses want to do well so that they can continue to grow and support their employees and their families. The Government wants to create jobs (pro-business) and a pro-worker environment. And unions are here to make sure no one gets left behind.”

Behind the scenes, unions quietly negotiate terms with employers. Many of these negotiations may never make the news or social media but their impact is still deeply felt. Additional family care leave, flexible work arrangements, or enhanced medical benefits are just some examples. “We can negotiate for anything above what the law provides but never below. If it’s agreed upon and documented, it’s legally binding under the Industrial Relations Act.”

One union under his care is IRASSU, which represents staff at the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore. Its mission is simple: work with management to protect and promote staff welfare. But that work often extends beyond contracts. It includes resolving internal disputes, protecting workers’ rights quietly, and advocating for long-term wellbeing. “This is what we call industrial peace,” Jaga explains. “If you don’t hear about problems, it doesn’t mean nothing’s happening. It means we’re doing our job.”

Singapore’s legal structure supports this cooperative approach. The Employment Act ensures basic protections for all workers, while the Industrial Relations Act and the Trade Unions Act spell out the roles and responsibilities of unions, including conditions under which a strike may be called. But even that is tightly regulated. “Essential services can’t strike, because trust in these sectors matters. Stability matters.”

At its core, union work is about helping others — quietly, consistently, and with conviction.

2. VICPA and the Freelancers’ Right to Fairness

Not all workers clock in at offices or factories. Many are found behind cameras, in front of laptops, on studio sets — navigating gig to gig, contract to contract. For creative freelancers in Singapore, this includes everyone from photographers and videographers to social media influencers, graphic designers, and production crew.

This is where VICPA (the Visual, Audio, Creative Content Professionals Association [Singapore]) comes in. Unlike unions for full-time employees, VICPA represents freelancers exclusively, offering support, guidance, and advocacy for those who often fall through the cracks.

“In creative industries, if you're employed by a company like MediaCorp, you’re still protected as an employee,” he explains. “But VICPA looks at those on contracts for service — independent workers doing one-off gigs, managing their own branding, pricing, and delivery.”

Freelancers in Singapore form a significant community of nearly 10% of the workforce, or around 200,000 people. Some take up freelancing to escape rigid work structures; others are drawn to the flexibility, especially those with caregiving duties. “But each freelancer’s journey is different. Some transitioned from full-time jobs. Others turned a passion into a profession. Some started from scratch.”

That diversity creates a spectrum of needs. Through the programmes under NTUC Freelance, VICPA educates creatives on everything from personal branding and pricing, to negotiating contracts and managing cash flow.

“One of the first things we teach is the importance of having clear agreements — not just verbal promises on WhatsApp or email. If there’s no written contract, and payment doesn’t come through, you may not even qualify for a small claims’ tribunal.”

Freelancers may set up micro-business entities — not quite SMEs, but legally registered so they can operate under a brand. “People may feel more comfortable hiring ‘J Services’ than hiring just one person. It’s also a way to protect your personal identity and establish professionalism.”

Beyond contracts and cash flow, another major concern is copyright. The Copyright Act 2021 gives freelance creators strong legal rights: even if a company commissions a piece of work, the copyright belongs to the creator unless explicitly transferred. That means a client can’t reuse your design, video, or voice recording for a different campaign without your consent. “We always tell creatives that your work may be sold, but your rights are not.”

To support freelancers navigating IP issues, VICPA partners with IPOS to conduct legal clinics. “It’s not a full legal service, but it helps freelancers ask key questions: ‘Is my case strong? Should I pursue it? What will it cost me?’ Because for freelancers, cost isn’t just money, it’s also time and opportunity.”

Safety is another issue. Freelancers often work in unpredictable conditions — from climbing scaffolding for a shoot to handling sensitive props or equipment. “We’ve seen people asked to work at heights on short notice or engage in intimate scenes without proper safety protocols. Who protects them?”

The answer lies in industry practices like having standby personnel for shoots with children or engaging Intimacy Coordinators to ensure both physical and emotional wellbeing during sensitive scenes. But these practices aren’t always enforced, especially when companies try to cut corners. “That’s where unions can help push for better standards across the board.”

And then there’s AI. Many creative professionals worry about being replaced by voice generators, auto-design tools, or even deep fakes. “AI isn’t taking thousands of jobs overnight,” he says. “But it is changing the way we work. The question is: how do we embrace it ethically?”

Instead of resisting it, he believes the creative community should work with policymakers and platforms to define what’s acceptable use. “AI can help with ideation and enhancement. But when it starts replacing actual creative labour, that’s where we need to draw the line.”

Whether it’s fighting for fair pay, legal protection, or future-proofing creative livelihoods, VICPA is part of a broader effort to show that freelancers aren’t on their own, and they shouldn’t have to be.

3. Stepping up for Political Office

Jaga’s involvement in politics didn’t emerge out of ambition — it grew naturally from his work on the ground. “When you spend years talking to workers, understanding their challenges, and helping them navigate complex systems, it becomes clear where the gaps are. And you start to wonder, can we fix this further upstream?”

That question eventually led him to run as a political candidate under the People’s Action Party for Aljunied GRC. It was a bold move, but one consistent with his broader purpose: to be of service. Politics, for him, was not a career shift but a continuation of the same mission, just at a different level.

Before that, he had already gained valuable experience during a secondment to the Ministry of Trade and Industry. “That was where I really saw how policy is crafted — the back-and-forth, the trade-offs, the time it takes. It gave me a deep respect for public servants and the system behind the scenes.”

That experience also reshaped how he approached union work. It wasn’t just about reacting to issues but about anticipating them, collaborating on policy solutions, and ensuring implementation didn’t lose sight of the ground realities. “When you’ve been on both sides, you learn to connect the dots. You learn to ask: what would this look like for the single mother, the hawker, the freelancer?”

Politics also gave him a platform to speak to a different audience, one that may not otherwise hear the stories of union members, gig workers, or frontline staff. And while the campaign may be over, the work continues. He remains active in community outreach and sees political involvement not as a title, but as a responsibility. “Some things you fix with a policy. Some with a conversation. Some just need someone to show up.”

Whether in union halls or on doorsteps, his approach remains consistent: listen first, act second, and never lose sight of the people you’re trying to help.

Closing the Loop: Advocacy in Every Arena

Spend enough time with Jaga, and one thing becomes clear: he doesn’t see his work as separate chapters, but as part of the same story. Whether he's negotiating a better deal for a freelancer, walking the grounds with a union, or stepping up for politics, it all comes back to the same question — how can we make things better for people?

He’s not chasing titles or recognition. He’s simply doing what he’s always done: showing up, listening hard, and doing the quiet work that often goes unseen. In a world where noise often overshadows substance, Jaga reminds us that real impact happens in the everyday, with one conversation, one contract and one act of care at a time.

And that, perhaps, is the truest kind of leadership.

Connect with Jaga here: Jagathishwaran Rajo | LinkedIn

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And that is all for today’s One Sneak Peek Into.

Stay tuned for more insights from our interview series as we continue to explore the stories of trailblazers breaking barriers and redefining success.