Parliamentary speeches and more

Written answers provided to oral and written parliamentary questions submitted by Workers’ Party Members of Parliament

In his speech on the motion on supporting Singaporeans in starting and raising families, MP Louis Chua emphasised the need to move beyond incremental policy changes to address Singapore’s record-low fertility rate. Drawing from personal experience as a father, he called for enshrining into law the right to request flexible work arrangements, expanding childcare leave, and rethinking family support policies to champion parenthood.

Speaking on the family motion, MP Faisal Manap emphasised that families are the foundation of society and called for stronger support to address the challenges faced by vulnerable groups. He highlighted the struggles of individuals undergoing divorce who face housing uncertainties and urged for a more flexible HDB Public Rental Scheme (PRS) policy, in particular, granting “in-principle approvals” for a rental unit before divorce proceedings are finalised. He also raised concerns about Singaporeans with foreign spouses who face repeated rejections for Long-Term Visit Passes, advocating for a more compassionate, case-by-case assessment to ease their family hardships and strengthen family bonds.

Written answers provided to oral and written parliamentary questions submitted by Workers’ Party Members of Parliament

MP Sylvia Lim explains the Workers’ Party’s support for the wider objectives of managing race relations, and why we voted in support of the Maintenance of Racial Harmony Bill, notwithstanding the clarifications we raised. However, the WP cannot support the Constitution Amendment Bill, given that we are not supportive of the provisions dealing with the Elected President’s discretion.

During the Second Reading of the Maintenance of Racial Harmony Bill, MP Dennis Tan raised concerns about its impact on race-based clan and business associations. He asked about the extent of reporting requirements for foreign donations and affiliations, urging clarity on exemptions and potential administrative burdens, especially for smaller organizations. He sought assurance that foreign donations are not inherently discouraged and asked about joint project funding. While supporting leadership restrictions, he suggested that responsible officers should be Singapore citizens only, not permanent residents. Finally, he emphasised the need for balanced regulations that prevent foreign interference while ensuring the continued relevance of clan and business associations.

MP Gerald Giam expressed concerns that the Maintenance of Racial Harmony Bill could stifle race-related discussions. Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam responded that the scope of unacceptable conduct regarding race relations would remain substantively the same as today.

Written answers provided to oral and written parliamentary questions submitted by Workers’ Party Members of Parliament

MP Dennis Tan reaffirmed the importance of the '30 by 30' vision, supporting the Food Safety and Security Bill while calling for clearer implementation, greater support for local agri-businesses, and collective efforts for sustainable food resilience.

In her speech on the Food Safety and Security Bill second reading debate, MP He Ting Ru spoke about ensuring that we look at policies to enhance our food resilience beyond food security, and said that a holistic approach to resilience farming has to recognise the interplay between exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity. She also called for us to take a further step to ‘Champion Local’ by also recognising the strengths of our local produce, and not see them as just a cause to support. Finally, she expressed hope that we work to ensure that we have more equitable access to fresh healthy food for all.