WP asks for 'updated growth model' that benefits workers; PAP says approach 'always built around Singaporeans'
WP MPs urged the government to consider minimum retrenchment benefits and unemployment insurance, while Minister of State Dinesh Vasu Dash said the government’s economic blueprint already makes similar recommendations.
On Aug 5, the Workers' Party (WP) called for an updated growth model that benefits Singapore workers, while the People's Action Party (PAP) government stated that its current approach has yielded positive results for generations of Singaporeans. Members of Parliament from both sides discussed a motion tabled by WP MPs Kenneth Tiong and Jamus Lim on an economy of the future that serves all Singaporeans.
Tiong advocated for a growth model that considers the structure of growth and holds workers, owners, and entrepreneurs accountable for their contributions to national income.
WP chief Pritam Singh reiterated the party's demand for retrenchment support, saying that current employment laws lack minimum retrenchment benefits, which is a stark contrast to the reality faced by workers. Responding to the WP's motion, Trade and Industry Minister Tan See Leng emphasized that financial support during unemployment or retraining should connect workers to a pathway forward for sustainable work, instead of merely making unemployment more tolerable.
The government will help workers by preparing them with relevant skills, finding credible next steps, and navigating change without being left alone. Tan stated that economic growth is a means to an end, aimed at creating better jobs, higher incomes, and improved lives for Singaporeans. Minister of State for Transport and Second Minister for Finance Jeffrey Siow affirmed that the government's economic strategy has always been built around Singaporeans, with growth creating better jobs, higher incomes, and better lives for its citizens.
MP Gerald Giam urged the elevation of skilled trades such as electricians, plumbers, lift engineers, and infrastructure technicians into high-value careers, citing their resilience against artificial intelligence and localization. He proposed promoting these vocations to students and mid-career switchers, regulating them, and emphasizing their importance in Singapore's infrastructure.
Dinesh Vasu Dash, co-chair of the ESR entrepreneurship committee, dismissed claims of an ailing economic structure amid changing times, highlighting Singapore's resilient labor market, rising real incomes, and falling income inequality.
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