The labour movement or labor movement is a broad term for the development of a collective organization of working people, to campaign for better working conditions and treatment from their employers and governments, in particular through the implementation of specific laws governing labour relations. Trade unions are collective organizations within societies, organized for the purpose of representing the interests of workers and the working class. Many ruling class individuals and political groups may also be active in and part of the labour movement.

In some countries, especially the United Kingdom and Australia the labour movement is understood to encompass a formal "political wing", frequently known by the name labour party or workers' party, which complements the aforementioned "industrial wing".

Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.

Jay Naidoo (born Jayaseelen “Jay” Naidoo, 20 December 1954) is the co-founder of the J&J Group and founder of the J&J Development Projects Trust. He is the non-executive Chairperson of the premier development finance institution in Southern Africa, the Development Bank of Southern Africa. He is also Chairperson of the Geneva-based Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, a global public-private partnership committed to fighting malnutrition with projects in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and South America.

Naidoo is a member of the Global Health Advisory Panel of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and of the Health Advisory Board of the Clinton Global Initiative, and is Trustee and Deputy Chair of an eminent South African organisation dealing with HIV and Aids, loveLife. He also sits on the Advisory Committee of the International Telecommunications Union.

Naidoo was General Secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions from 1985 to 1993. He then served as Minister responsible for the Reconstruction and Development Programme in President Mandela’s office and as Minister of Post, Telecommunications, and Broadcasting (1996 – 1999). Naidoo was a member of the NEC of the African National Congress. For his accomplishments he has gained many honors, including becoming a Chevaliers de la Legion d’Honneur

Lim Swee Say (Chinese: 林瑞生; pinyin: Lín Ruìshēng, born 13 July 1954) is a politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he has been a Cabinet Minister in the Prime Minister's Office since 2004 and Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) since 2007. He previously served as the Minister for the Environment from 2001 to 2004. He has been a Member of Parliament (MP) since 1996.

Lim was educated at Catholic High School and National Junior College, before being awarded a Singapore Armed Forces Scholarship in 1973 to study in the United Kingdom at Loughborough University. He graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Electronics, Computer and Systems Engineering in 1976. In 1991, Lim completed a Master's Degree in Management at Stanford University.

Lim served at Singapore's National Computer Board as Chief Executive from 1986 to 1991, and as Chairman from 1994 to 1998. He also served at Singapore's Economic Development Board as Deputy Managing Director based in New York City from 1991 to 1993, and as Managing Director from 1994 to 1996.

Teo Chee Hean (simplified Chinese: 张志贤; traditional Chinese: 張志賢; pinyin: Zhāng Zhìxián; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tiuⁿ Chì-hiân; born 27 December 1954) is a politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he is currently the country's Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Home Affairs, Co-ordinating Minister for National Security and Minister-in-charge of the Civil Service. He has previously served as the Minister for Defence (2003–11), Minister for Education (1997–2003) and Minister for the Environment (1996–97). He has been a Member of Parliament (MP) since 1992.

Prior to entering politics, Teo was a Rear Admiral in the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), and served as Singapore's Chief of Navy from 1991-92.

Teo enlisted in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in 1972 and received his commission as a naval officer at the Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute in 1973. He went on to hold various command and staff appointments in the RSN and the Joint Staff.

Teo assumed command of the Republic of Singapore Navy as Chief of Navy in 1991 and was promoted to the rank of Commodore (later re-designated as Rear Admiral) in July 1991.

Han Dongfang (born 1963) has been an advocate for workers' rights in China for more than two decades during which time he has won numerous international awards including the 1993 Democracy Award from the U.S. National Endowment for Democracy.

Born in the impoverished village of Nanweiquan in Shanxi, Han first came to international prominence when, as a railway worker in Beijing, he helped set up the Beijing Workers’ Autonomous Federation (BWAF) during the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. The BWAF was the People's Republic of China's first independent trade union, established as an alternative to the Party-controlled All-China Federation of Trade Unions.

The BWAF was disbanded after the June 4 crackdown, and Han was placed at the top of the Chinese government’s most wanted list. Han turned himself into the police and was imprisoned for 22 months without trial until he contacted tuberculosis in prison and was released in April 1991. He spent a year in the U.S. undergoing medical treatment before returning to China in August 1993. On his return, he was arrested in Guangzhou and expelled to Hong Kong, where he still lives today.