If Singaporeans will not or cannot defend Singapore, there is no backstop: Ng Eng Hen
Defence is a long term business, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said in Parliament (28 Feb 2024) during the Committee of Supply debate. You cannot decide that you are going to have your defences up. “Steady long-term defence spending enables platforms and capabilities to mature over the necessary timelines to enhance synergy and reap efficiencies,” […]
Singapore is the only non-oil producing country to benefit from our reserves for our annual budget
The most unique thing about Singapore’s finances is that we get a significant amount of money each year from our reserves, that can be spent for the good of Singaporeans, President Tharman said in a Facebook post (8 Jan 2024) This is an outstanding fact, he said. It is outstanding because we are the only country […]
Little did I know that this solo wave would be a sad goodbye: Tharman Shanmugaratnam
The decision to leave politics and put himself forward as a candidate in the forthcoming Presidential Election was a difficult one, Tharman said in his letter to PM Lee. It was a decision made after he had consulted his family, and given careful thought to how he could best serve the country in the years […]
Debunking 3 common myths about the People’s Association
The People’s Association (PA) – you know them as the people who handle your community spaces in your HDB estates, those who do community events – but who are they really? We debunk 3 common misconceptions (or ahem, conspiracy theories as sometimes conjured up by opposition parties) about these unsung heroes. Myth 1: The People’s […]
Singapore goes from third place to top spot in the Chandler Good Government Index
Singapore has moved from third place to top spot in the Chandler Good Government Index. In second place is Switzerland. Finland, which has topped the index since it was first published in 2021, is in third place. This is the third edition of the index. Singapore’s top rank is helped by its strong performance in […]
Pritam Singh warns of ‘Two Singapores’, then proceeds to create ‘Two Singapores’ with the English language divide
Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh warned in Parliament of the possibility of Two Singapores emerging. Ironically, he made divisive suggestions leading to the Two Singapores he warned of. The WP leader suggested that applicants for PR and citizenship be made to take an English proficiency test. Second Minister for Home Affairs Josephine Teo responded with […]
Less discrimination of ex-offenders in the workplace but more can be done
Through the findings from three dialogues with ex-offenders and inmates, discrimination at the workplace has lessen but more can be done to cultivate a more inclusive work environment. The dialogue sessions were organised as part of the #EveryWorkersMatters Conversations. National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), together with co-hosts Yellow Ribbon Singapore (YRSG) and Singapore Prison Service […]
National Wages Council recommends a 5.5% to 7.5% wage increment for lower-wage workers in new guidelines
TL;DR: Lower-wage workers earning up to S$2,200 a month should receive salary increments of 5.5% to 7.5% for the period from Dec1, 2022 to Nov 30, 2023. Amid an uneven recovery for business in different sectors, the National Wages Council (NWC) remains steadfast in fairly and sustainably raising the wages of workers to foster Singapore’s social and […]
PME Taskforce call for stronger support for PMEs who become involuntarily unemployed
It’s been a full year since nine recommendations were made by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC)-Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) PME Taskforce (PME TF) to strengthen PMEs’ employment and employability and enable them to compete fairly and more effectively in the labour market. Since the release of the recommendations, NTUC-SNEF has been working closely with the Ministry […]
All surpluses are given back to Singaporeans in different forms: Lawrence Wong
When WP Jamus Lim wrote in a Facebook post that ‘the government must not make money while citizens suffer’ he was just doing what an Opposition MP usually does, using emotive language to paint the government in a negative light even when it is not true. Thus he looks with glee upon the surpluses the […]