Ruling party will ensure better future for workers: Swee Say
By Cai Haoxiang
LABOUR chief Lim Swee Say yesterday set out for workers what lies behind the People's Action Party (PAP) slogan for the coming elections.
Going into each word of 'Securing Our Future Together', Mr Lim envisioned his party actively making sure Singaporeans will have jobs as well as enjoy higher real wages in the next 10 years.
The PAP will 'go on the offensive' to do it, he said, amid a world of economic uncertainties and rising food prices.
Worse, the world is just 'one shock away from another global crisis', he added, quoting the World Bank.
But the endeavour needs employers and workers to work with the Government in a collective effort, he said, speaking on the sidelines of a Manpower Ministry event.
Addressing criticism that the manifesto was not detailed enough, Mr Lim said it was akin to a compass but setting the direction very clearly for the long-term future of the country.
'Along the way, there will be uncertainties.
'If we have to jump over the wall, we'll jump over the wall; if we have to go around the wall, we will go around the wall... but in the long term, over the next three to five years, the direction must be very clear.
'So if you look at our manifesto, it is a clear commitment that for the long term the lives of Singaporeans have gotten better.'
Mr Lim also said it was good the PAP and some opposition manifestos share a common vision for Singapore. The difference lies in how they want to achieve it, he added, citing the case of low-wage workers.
The opposition wants to help them with a minimum wage policy, while the PAP believes in improving their lot with the Workfare income supplement and by upgrading their skills.
The skills approach finds favour with unionist G. Muthukumar, whose Amalgamated Union of Public Daily Rated Workers represents road-sweepers, and incinerator plant and vector control workers.
'We need to increase their wages to pay for their flats, medical costs and rising cost of living.
'So we need to give them new skills and use technology to increase their job scope,' he said.
By Cai Haoxiang
LABOUR chief Lim Swee Say yesterday set out for workers what lies behind the People's Action Party (PAP) slogan for the coming elections.
Going into each word of 'Securing Our Future Together', Mr Lim envisioned his party actively making sure Singaporeans will have jobs as well as enjoy higher real wages in the next 10 years.
The PAP will 'go on the offensive' to do it, he said, amid a world of economic uncertainties and rising food prices.
Worse, the world is just 'one shock away from another global crisis', he added, quoting the World Bank.
But the endeavour needs employers and workers to work with the Government in a collective effort, he said, speaking on the sidelines of a Manpower Ministry event.
Addressing criticism that the manifesto was not detailed enough, Mr Lim said it was akin to a compass but setting the direction very clearly for the long-term future of the country.
'Along the way, there will be uncertainties.
'If we have to jump over the wall, we'll jump over the wall; if we have to go around the wall, we will go around the wall... but in the long term, over the next three to five years, the direction must be very clear.
'So if you look at our manifesto, it is a clear commitment that for the long term the lives of Singaporeans have gotten better.'
Mr Lim also said it was good the PAP and some opposition manifestos share a common vision for Singapore. The difference lies in how they want to achieve it, he added, citing the case of low-wage workers.
The opposition wants to help them with a minimum wage policy, while the PAP believes in improving their lot with the Workfare income supplement and by upgrading their skills.
The skills approach finds favour with unionist G. Muthukumar, whose Amalgamated Union of Public Daily Rated Workers represents road-sweepers, and incinerator plant and vector control workers.
'We need to increase their wages to pay for their flats, medical costs and rising cost of living.
'So we need to give them new skills and use technology to increase their job scope,' he said.
