During debate on the Population White Paper in February, Labour Members of Parliament (MPs) brought up several issues, perspectives and suggestions.
Labour MP Zainal Sapari asserted that the narrative for Singaporean low-wage workers must be changed now if we want them to believe in the vision for 2030.
He said the government needs to be more aggressive in its measures to ensure a more systemic impact to improve wages of these workers. He called for the government to make it mandatory now for all companies to adopt the National Wages Council’s recommendations, specifically to those pertaining to low- wage workers.
Government should also recognise industry-wide agreement, incorporating Progressive Wage Model, especially for those industries dominated by low-wage workers, to ensure a fair and good employment terms and conditions.
The Employment Act should also be reviewed to make it more favourable to low-wage workers, given the changing employment environment.
