PSP manifesto calls for less reliance on foreign labour, stronger safety net for vulnerable groups

Singapore

A REDUCTION in dependence on foreign labour, more support for localbusinesses, and a stronger safety net for vulnerable groups are among the key priorities the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) wants to focus on in its election campaign.

Its manifesto, launched on Monday, bears the slogan "You Deserve Better", and is presented in three sections - economic, social, and political development.

On the economic front, the party wants to reduce the number of foreign Work Permit and S Pass holders companies can hire - currently a limited quota depending on the sector they operate in - as well as introduce a quota for Employment Passes.

The "liberal influx" of foreign labour has depressed real wages over time, said PSP vice-chairperson Hazel Poa, who presented the manifesto on behalf of her party at a two-hour virtual press conference.

The party is also calling on the authorities to give more support to local small and medium-sized enterprises in restructuring or venturing overseas, and give them an edge in public sector procurements.

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For employees, PSP wants to bump up the cash portion of the Workfare Income Supplement to 80 per cent.

Currently, individuals who are employed receive 40 per cent of the supplement in cash and 60 per cent in Central Provident Fund contributions. The self-employed get 10 per cent in cash and the remainder in their Medisave accounts.

"To PSP, wage is not just a business cost. It is the livelihood of Singaporeans. We will not be pursuing economic growth at the expense of wages," said Ms Poa.

Central executive committee member Francis Yuen also called on the government to cut down on unnecessary infrastructure spending. "We have a habit of wanting to build to impress the whole world," he said.

"We want pleasant, functional institutions. We don't need five-star decorations that cost a lot to maintain," he said.

On the social front, PSP wants to reduce inequality for Singaporeans in different income classes. Presenting a chart of how wages have changed for different groups over the past decade, Ms Poa said: "In terms of percentage, it doesn't look so bad. But because the base income is so different when you look at it in absolute dollar terms, there is really a huge disparity in the progress made by different segments of the population."

Among other things, the PSP is also proposing a living wage for low-wage Singaporeans in all sectors, when the economy stabilises.

The party also objected to the planned Goods and Services Tax (GST) hike to 9 per cent, which is expected to happen between 2021 and 2025. Instead, it is calling for a freeze on tax and fees for the next five years.

Finally, in terms of political development, PSP is calling for stronger alternative voices in Parliament and a review of the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act. It also wants to expand presidential oversight over more key public appointments, and eliminate any conflict of interest in these appointments.

Asked if the party thinks Singapore's current opposition makes for a formidable force, PSP chief Tan Cheng Bock said he thinks all the opposition parties have "positioned themselves rightly in the wards they want to contest".

"There will be a few places where we have differences, let's just hope we can iron (those) out and that at the end of the day, we will have no three-cornered fights," said Dr Tan. The 80-year-old served as a Member of Parliament for the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) between 1980 and 2006.

Calling on Singaporeans to give the opposition a chance, he said: "Singaporeans must not have this stereotyped thinking that only the PAP can be the government."

"The diversity (of voices) is important. Without this diversity in the House, there will be group thinking (and) Singaporeans will have to accept what is (proposed) in the House without much debate... You will be surprised to know that so many bills can be passed within one day."