I read that Mr Leong Mun Wai has filed a Motion calling on the Government to address the anxieties on jobs and livelihoods caused by competition from foreign workers.
The Government has been receiving a lot of feedback on these issues. We understand these anxieties, and are continually working to address them.
Hence, this past Sunday at the National Day Rally, PM spoke about this matter and announced various concrete policies to address the challenges faced by our workers, building on measures we have put in place over the years.
However, I was also quite puzzled by the PSP’s motion. Mr Leong has persisted in linking this issue falsely with FTAs and CECA despite us having a full debate in July.
Dr Tan See Leng and I had explained how Singapore needs to be open to the world to survive, and to earn a living. I went to great lengths to explain how FTAs, CECA and the chapter on Movement of Natural Persons work. I explained how they were not the cause of the anxieties felt by workers. I asked the PSP to withdraw their false allegations about CECA.
Mr Leong himself had seemed to acknowledge these points. He said that the PSP was not against FTAs. On FTA provisions, including the movement of natural persons, he acknowledged that Singaporeans’ interests are taken care of when the FTAs are negotiated, but said that the PSP needed more time to assess if CECA is beneficial to Singapore workers overall.
Unfortunately, the PSP appears intent on carrying on its campaign against CECA. As PM cautioned at NDR, this campaign carries a strong racist undertone, and has impacted not only Indian nationals here, but our own local-born Indians.
The Government will consider how to address the PSP’s motion during the upcoming Parliament sitting.