By Eric Tan, Treasurer, Workers’ Party
On Labour Day, we celebrate the contributions of working men and women. It is fitting that we should pay them tribute for it is by the sweat of their brow that workers have raised families, built enterprises and contributed to society. They have overcome great difficulties these past few years and done well. They had tried recommendations such as retraining and changing mindsets, to improve their relevance in the work place. On this day, we also want to remember the estimated 69,600 residents unemployed as of Dec 06. Their fates and those of their families must not be forgotten.
In Singapore this year, Labour Day falls about a year after the conduct of GE2006. As such, it is also fitting that we should take a moment to consider the government policies of the past year and their impact on the Singapore worker.
The year since GE2006 the workers have seen an increase in GST, an increase in public transport cost, and increases in hospital and polyclinic charges. The government appears to be considering means testing as a guide for payment at government hospitals, even though they indicated otherwise during GE2006.
The one comfort offered to workers was the Workfare scheme, which the Workers’ Party applauds. Unfortunately the government introduced an increase in GST to justify funding Workfare. The Workers’ Party is against this increase in GST because the government should have sufficient increase in revenue as projected in the Budget to fund Workfare.
Against this backdrop, the economy has registered good GDP growth, unemployment has fallen and the property market appears buoyant. However there are large segments of workers whose incomes are not keeping pace with the economic growth. The Workers’ Party is concerned with the growing income and value divide between the ruling elite and Singaporeans. The Workers’ Party has spoken against the Ministers’ proposed large pay increases in Parliament. While we constantly see glowing economic charts and indicators, the question is whether this economic growth trickles down to Singaporeans. Are Singaporeans indeed better off in their daily lives? How secure are our jobs and how secure are our children’s futures. Does Singapore still belong to Singaporeans, or have we all become guest workers whose only ties to the state are material?
During GE2006, the Workers’ Party urged the government to consider policies to improve the ability of workers to adapt to the vagaries of the world economy. These included revisions to the conduct of Trade Unions, the Employment Act and the management of CPF for better returns. We are happy to note that the government is reviewing the CPF investment schemes to achieve better returns. The Workers’ Party strongly believes that CPF should not be used as a tool to respond to economic downturns. The CPF should remain true to its original concept – as the retirement nest egg for workers. Workers have suffered reductions in CPF in contribution to the restructuring of our economy. The Workers’ Party noted that the CPF rates have not been restored to pre 2003 recession levels.
Despite all the challenges and constraints, Singaporean workers have not lost their work ethic and fighting spirit. The Workers’ Party will continue to be vigilant about workers’ rights and reflect their aspirations and concerns.
The Workers’ Party wishes all workers a Happy May Day.
ERIC TAN
TREASURER
