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01-05-2025, 01:01 PM
Bullshit in Tripartite system has achieved so much in S'pore, the worker at the heart of all we do: PM Wong's May Day speech - Mothership.SG - News from Singapore, Asia and around the world
https://mothership.sg/2025/05/tripartite...t-pm-wong/
Here’s a list of bullshit or misleading claims from PM Lawrence Wong’s May Day speech (as reported by Mothership.sg), with reasons why they don’t hold up under scrutiny:
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1. “The worker is at the heart of all we do.”
Why it's bullshit:
In reality, policies often prioritize business interests (e.g., reliance on cheap foreign labor, limited union independence).
NTUC leaders are PAP MPs or affiliated with the ruling party, raising conflict-of-interest concerns.
Workers have limited channels to push back independently without risking job security.
---
2. “Our tripartite model is a unique advantage.”
Why it's bullshit:
The so-called “tripartite” system is top-down: unions don’t challenge employers or government policy meaningfully.
“Harmony” is enforced through suppression of real labor activism, not mutual consensus.
There’s no independent labor movement; it's more corporatist than collaborative.
---
3. “Real wages have been rising.”
Why it's bullshit:
Any rise in real wages has been uneven and often eroded by inflation and housing costs.
The bottom 20–30% of workers still rely on Workfare or Progressive Wage Supplements.
Many in gig work or contract roles see stagnant or declining real income over time.
---
4. “Unemployment is low.”
Why it's bullshit:
“Low unemployment” masks underemployment (e.g., part-time jobs, gig work with no CPF).
Many older workers do not exit the workforce by choice but are forced into low-paying jobs.
Youths face contract roles and unstable employment in exchange for headline job numbers.
---
5. “We’ve built a system based on trust and cooperation.”
Why it's bullshit:
There’s little transparency in how wage decisions are made—tripartite agreements are often top-down and not debated publicly.
Workers have no legal right to strike in most sectors, and unions are not democratically independent.
The “trust” is enforced through fear of instability or job loss, not empowered negotiation.
---
6. “We’ve protected jobs and provided strong support.”
Why it's bullshit:
The Jobs Support Scheme (JSS) during COVID mainly benefited employers, not workers.
Many who lost jobs during crises struggled to get adequate retraining or found new jobs with poorer t
erms.
Job protection is weak: many retrenchments are disguised or not reported.
-
https://mothership.sg/2025/05/tripartite...t-pm-wong/
Here’s a list of bullshit or misleading claims from PM Lawrence Wong’s May Day speech (as reported by Mothership.sg), with reasons why they don’t hold up under scrutiny:
---
1. “The worker is at the heart of all we do.”
Why it's bullshit:
In reality, policies often prioritize business interests (e.g., reliance on cheap foreign labor, limited union independence).
NTUC leaders are PAP MPs or affiliated with the ruling party, raising conflict-of-interest concerns.
Workers have limited channels to push back independently without risking job security.
---
2. “Our tripartite model is a unique advantage.”
Why it's bullshit:
The so-called “tripartite” system is top-down: unions don’t challenge employers or government policy meaningfully.
“Harmony” is enforced through suppression of real labor activism, not mutual consensus.
There’s no independent labor movement; it's more corporatist than collaborative.
---
3. “Real wages have been rising.”
Why it's bullshit:
Any rise in real wages has been uneven and often eroded by inflation and housing costs.
The bottom 20–30% of workers still rely on Workfare or Progressive Wage Supplements.
Many in gig work or contract roles see stagnant or declining real income over time.
---
4. “Unemployment is low.”
Why it's bullshit:
“Low unemployment” masks underemployment (e.g., part-time jobs, gig work with no CPF).
Many older workers do not exit the workforce by choice but are forced into low-paying jobs.
Youths face contract roles and unstable employment in exchange for headline job numbers.
---
5. “We’ve built a system based on trust and cooperation.”
Why it's bullshit:
There’s little transparency in how wage decisions are made—tripartite agreements are often top-down and not debated publicly.
Workers have no legal right to strike in most sectors, and unions are not democratically independent.
The “trust” is enforced through fear of instability or job loss, not empowered negotiation.
---
6. “We’ve protected jobs and provided strong support.”
Why it's bullshit:
The Jobs Support Scheme (JSS) during COVID mainly benefited employers, not workers.
Many who lost jobs during crises struggled to get adequate retraining or found new jobs with poorer t
erms.
Job protection is weak: many retrenchments are disguised or not reported.
-
