The CMIO classification affirms multiracialism and matters more for minorities

In a significantly Chinese-majority Singapore, the CMIO classification matters more for the minority. The model affirms multiracialism as the foundation of our identity and ensures official recognition of each community..

Removing it could lead to the potential erasure of the distinctive identities of each community, the end point of which is 'assimilation into the majority community', Assoc Prof Eugene Tan said. It would also cast doubt on Article 152 of the Constitution on the special position of the Malays and the interests of minority.



Read More
Chee Hong Tat

“You wrote in your CV that you spent two years with the SAF, what is SAF?” A foreign HR manager unfamiliar with Singapore and our culture. “What is SAF?” One can only imagine the hurt this interviewee felt.

SMS Chee, who is also NTUC Deputy Secretary-General promised that NTUC will continue to push for Government and employers alike to do more to ensure fair consideration for Singaporeans when it comes to hiring and career progression, as well as to look closely at all the various options to strengthen support for Singaporeans in the workforce – including but not limited to anti-discrimination legislation.

Come Parliament sitting on 26th July, Labour MP Patrick Tay, who has been lobbying for a stronger Singaporean Core for the past 10 years, will speak at the adjournment motion, and will be bringing up for discussion how existing laws, regulations and policies can be strengthened.



Read More

All the isolation and separation has resulted in a mental health risk to our migrant workers. We can all do our part, by befriending our migrant workers and showing them some kindness and care.

Over the June holidays, more than 150 children banded together to bake cupcakes and cookies for some 7,000 migrant workers, to thank them for helping to build Singapore. This goes to show that you are never too young to contribute or show that you care!



Read More

Yong Wei made the switch from a desk-bound job to be a food deliverer. “To me it’s like a business, making people happy is my business. And I get to apply business knowledge – like customer retention and good service.”

He is also the pro tem President of the newly formed National Delivery Champions Association (NDCA). The NDCA represents all freelancers whose main income comes from delivery and will cover some 2,000 riders. Supported by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), both groups will work closely with stakeholders to address issues faced by freelancers, enhance support frameworks and uplift work prospects. 



Read More
Jurong Fishery Port

The return to Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) is a setback for many but the good news is that vaccination is gathering pace for Singapore! For the past few weeks, we have vaccinated up to 80,000 a day, and according to Minister Ong, we have crossed the milestone of having half our population vaccinated!

Have faith that Singapore will overcome. Meanwhile if you haven’t and are eligible, please do join in the national effort to keep all of us safe, and get yourself vaccinated.



Read More
Heartfelt gesture on racial harmony day brings light in our nation's hour of darkness: Chan Chun Sing

Today is Racial Harmony Day.

The heartfelt gestures of solidarity from different religious group coming to pray for the bereaved and students in the light of the recent tragic event at River Valley High School, has brought light in our nation’s hour of darkness, Mr Chan said. "They embody the inherent understanding that before all else -- we are fellow Singaporeans."

This multi-racial Singaporean identity that we have today is a legacy that each and everyone of us must safeguard in our daily words and deeds, and through mutual respect and care for one another, Mr Chan said.



Read More
Prudence in Past Reserves- We have to manage our finance in a responsible way

In 1959, Singapore's first Finance Minister Dr Goh drafted the budget for a PAP government that was almost broke, and turned in a small surplus of $1million at the end of the year. He set the tone for the PAP government, which ever since has steadfastly upheld budget discipline and fiscal prudence.

In many countries, COVID-19 has led to massive increases in debt levels, which have not been seen since the end of the Second World War. 𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐝𝐞𝐛𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝. 𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬.

It is 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐮𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬.



Read More
Labour MP Patrick Tay pushes for more to be done to strengthen the Singaporean Core

Since 2011, Labour MP Patrick Tay has been pushing for stronger enforcement against employers who discriminate against or unfairly treat Singaporean PMEs. The Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) and the National Jobs Bank came out of his efforts. In Parliament on 6 July, he put forth proposals for more to be done.

Patrick emphasized that 'the principle of complementarity and not direct competition is an important concept which we need to continue to embrace and strengthen'. We should not allow the import of non-specialised and non-highly skilled foreign manpower to compete against Singaporeans for well paying jobs which many Singaporeans can do.



Read More

'Change' is accelerating and we have to adapt to change. Is Geography still Destiny? This assumption is being challenged. The modern economy rests on digital connectivity which transcends geographical distances. "Where COVID-19 has created physical separation, it has also deepened digital connectedness," Mr Chan said. This the non-physical dimension of connectivity of rules and regulations even more important.

ASEAN and China should adopt a "Prosper thy neighbours" policy, rather than those who extract or exact the maximum short-term interests for themselves.



Read More