WP and PSP Welcome New Policies from NDR but Advocate for Further Reforms in Housing and Unemployment Support

SINGAPORE — The Workers’ Party (WP) and the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) have responded positively to the policy initiatives announced in Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s inaugural National Day Rally (NDR) speech on August 18. However, both opposition parties are calling for more substantial reforms in housing and unemployment support.

SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support Scheme
In a Facebook post reacting to the NDR speech, the WP expressed its approval of the newly introduced SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support Scheme. This initiative aims to provide up to S$6,000 a month in temporary financial support for lower and middle-income workers who have lost their jobs, subject to training and other criteria.

The WP emphasized the importance of job security, stating, “Losing a job can seriously destabilise workers and their families.” They reiterated their long-standing call for a redundancy insurance scheme, which would provide retrenched workers with up to S$1,200 a month for six months. The WP clarified that their proposed scheme would primarily be funded through premiums paid by workers rather than taxpayer money.

The National Trade Union Congress (NTUC) has similarly advocated for support for displaced workers, noting the rising trend of retrenchments in 2024. NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng highlighted the organization’s ongoing efforts to address this issue.

Progress Singapore Party Secretary-General Hazel Poa welcomed the announcement of benefits for the involuntarily unemployed, affirming that she had previously advocated for temporary financial support during her Budget speech. However, Poa noted that more can be done for lower and middle-income workers based on the current details of the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support Scheme.

Housing
The WP also addressed the announcement that singles will be prioritized in Build-to-Order (BTO) schemes beginning mid-2025. They reiterated their proposal from the 2020 Manifesto to lower the eligibility age for singles to apply for BTO flats from 35 to 28 years, urging the government to implement this reform promptly to alleviate housing concerns among singles.

The PSP expressed disappointment regarding the government’s housing policies, arguing that the root problems remain unaddressed. Poa criticized the approach of increasing housing grants, labeling it as “simply more of the same,” and urged the government to consider alternative proposals, such as the Affordable Home Scheme and Millennial Apartments Schemes, to ensure public housing remains accessible without jeopardizing retirement security.

Shared Parental Leave
Both parties welcomed the extension of shared parental leave, which will increase the total government-paid parental leave to 30 weeks by April 1, 2026. The WP emphasized that parents-to-be will appreciate the additional 10 weeks of leave, while Poa highlighted that this change promotes the sharing of parental duties, addressing the country’s low Total Fertility Rate.

Higher Mother Tongue Languages
WP MP Jamus Lim expressed satisfaction with the announcement regarding improved access to Higher Mother Tongue Language (HMTL) education for students. However, he cautioned that the current educational approach tends to prioritize academic achievement over functional literacy, suggesting that the system could benefit from refinement.