Manpower Minister and Members of Parliament give their reactions to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s National Day Rally speech on August 29, 2021 about enhanced support for our lower-wage workers
It was a very reassuring and encouraging speech which reminds all of us about our collective aspirations to support our lower-wage workers and to bring more of them into our growth story. It is more encompassing and seeks to reach out to the vast majority of our lower-wage workers and uplift them. The Progressive Wage Model, Local Qualifying Salary and Progressive Wage Mark alongside with Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) scheme will in the next few years uplift up to 8 in 10 of all lower-wage workers. The gradient of the progression will also be considered carefully with consultations from our tripartite partners and to ensure that it is sustainable over the medium to long term. My predecessor, Minister Josephine Teo has worked with the tripartite partners as adviser and provided support and guidance over the last 10 months to lay this foundation. Kudos to her, Senior Minister of State (Manpower) Zaqy Mohamad, NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng and Singapore National Employers Federation President Robert Yap for this very meaningful initiative and my deepest gratitude to members of the task force who have laboured tirelessly over the past 10 months, often into the wee hours of the morning to lay the foundation for uplifting lower-wage workers. The PAP’s fundamental policy is to provide and protect the livelihoods and create meaningful jobs for all Singaporeans.
Dr Tan See Leng, Manpower Minister and MP for Marine Parade GRC
The PAP GPC for Manpower has and will be gathering input from stakeholders to ensure we cover the blind spots for smoother policy implementation. We must study transitory support for businesses ― many of which are still suffering from Covid-19 loss of demand. The impact on the Singaporean consumer must also be top of our minds. But I am confident that this is the correct and equitable direction for the Singapore workforce and economy. When every worker is paid a decent wage for a decent day of work, where every worker plays on an even playing field and workplace, when every Singaporean enjoys an equitable share of economic growth, these are goals that we can work towards in spite of any difficult challenge.
Desmond Choo, MP for Tampines GRC and Chair of Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Manpower
Saktiandi (Supaat, MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC), Louis (Ng, MP for Nee Soon GRC), myself and other PAP Members of Parliament have been calling for and lobbying these past years for tougher measures to weed out workplace discrimination by egregious companies out to exploit the system. I am glad to hear that we will expect tougher laws as a stronger deterrence against discriminatory practices by errant employers.”
Patrick Tay, MP for Pioneer SMC
It is crucial that we continuously uplift the wages of our lower-wage workers. Every worker makes a meaningful contribution to our economy and society. I believe the key task ahead is to ensure wage increases are sustained. It is imperative that wage increases are sustainable. As employers and employees are two sides of the same coin, we must support employers to remain viable and grow collectively with their employees.
Edward Chia, MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, deputy Chair of GPC for Manpower
Retail workers will be next in line to be included in the Progressive Wage Model, after those in the cleaning, security, landscape and lift maintenance industries.
As the gig economy gains momentum and evolves, we have seen different work arrangements between platforms and their workers. Those that delivery riders have with platforms are employee-like but they lack the job protection that most employees have. The Labour Movement has been pushing for more protection and safety nets for our platform workers and we have called for better workplaces, balanced terms and conditions and enhanced medical and injury coverage. I am heartened the Government recognises that our platform workers need to be better represented and protected. Let us continue to build an inclusive society, with dignity and grace for all our fellow Singaporeans.
Yeo Wan Ling, MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC and Member of GPC for Manpower
The pandemic has shown that lower-wage workers are essential to our society. Our expansion of the Progressive Wage Model to almost 8 in 10 lower-wage workers shows that we value them and will not leave them behind.
Mohd Fahmi Aliman, MP for Marine Parade GRC and Member, Tripartite Workgroup on Lower-Wage Workers
