Pritam Singh Highlights WP Proposals in Budget 2024 and Calls for Greater Transparency from PAP

In his response to Budget 2024 on Feb. 26, Workers’ Party leader Pritam Singh announced WP’s support for the Budget, which he described as “not objectionable.” However, he urged the People’s Action Party (PAP)-led government to embrace greater transparency in achieving the goals set out in the Forward Singapore initiative.

Mr. Singh noted the PAP’s call for alternative proposals from Opposition members, to which the WP has responded with practical suggestions, some of which have now been adopted. He cited the temporary support scheme for unemployed workers and anti-discrimination legislation—both initially resisted by the PAP—as examples of WP-led proposals now in the Budget.

In his speech, he outlined five key areas of focus:

Openness in Policy Discussions: Mr. Singh emphasized the need for the PAP to be more transparent with information so that Singaporeans can engage actively in policy discussions.

Bridging Aspirations and Reality: Addressing the growing gap between citizens’ aspirations and real-world challenges, he noted that many Singaporeans struggle with high living costs and insufficient emergency savings.

Retirement Adequacy: Mr. Singh pointed out that a significant number of Singaporeans lack sufficient funds for retirement and called for targeted measures to address this issue.

Supporting Workers’ Skill Development: While acknowledging the $4,000 SkillsFuture credit announced in the Budget, Mr. Singh advocated for an interest-free SkillsFuture loan to help Singaporean workers access higher-cost training options, a proposal from WP’s 2020 manifesto.

Building National Unity: Mr. Singh highlighted the need to further strengthen unity in an uncertain global environment.

He ended by stressing the importance of a balanced parliamentary system: “A robust opposition presence promotes fairness and inclusivity, making us a better, more confident Singapore.”