02-09-2021, 12:20 AM
Dear Friends,
The SDA was hoping that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong would announce long term measures during this year's National Day Rally that would address structural issues relating to social inequality and discrimination.
Instead, what we got were band-aid measures that will make lives worse for Common Singaporeans in the longer term.
(1) A Half-Hearted Minimum Wage Model
The Prime Minister announced that only companies which employ foreigners must pay local workers a minimum wage.
In the same vein, he warned Singaporeans to expect price hikes because of this minimum wage.
This is absurd.
Especially when it is so easy and cheap for firms to start subsidiary companies to circumvent paying locals this minimum wage.
And that is just one of the many games that big corporations can play.
Meanwhile average consumers will suffer price increases, including low-wage workers.
If the government was serious about raising livelihoods, it would mandate that this minimum wage should apply to all local companies, and not just those that employ foreigners.
Singaporeans are willing to pay the price, but only if the money truly goes towards improving the lives of those in extreme poverty and not further fattening the pockets of rich businessmen.
(2) A Potentially Dangerous New Racial Harmony Law
The Prime Minister announced a new law that will give the government even greater powers to handle what it defines as racial issues.
Apart from isolated racist incidents, no clear trend showing a rise in racial issues was given that should warrant the government a heavier hand.
And as the Prime Minister said, these isolated racist incidents arose from the stress of the Covid-19 pandemic, which is a black swan event.
Giving the ivory tower yet another blank cheque to dictate the social narrative and tighten its grip on Singaporeans is unwise at best.
Just look at how the POFMA law has been wielded.
A lot more at https://tinyurl.com/ea35v752
The SDA was hoping that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong would announce long term measures during this year's National Day Rally that would address structural issues relating to social inequality and discrimination.
Instead, what we got were band-aid measures that will make lives worse for Common Singaporeans in the longer term.
(1) A Half-Hearted Minimum Wage Model
The Prime Minister announced that only companies which employ foreigners must pay local workers a minimum wage.
In the same vein, he warned Singaporeans to expect price hikes because of this minimum wage.
This is absurd.
Especially when it is so easy and cheap for firms to start subsidiary companies to circumvent paying locals this minimum wage.
And that is just one of the many games that big corporations can play.
Meanwhile average consumers will suffer price increases, including low-wage workers.
If the government was serious about raising livelihoods, it would mandate that this minimum wage should apply to all local companies, and not just those that employ foreigners.
Singaporeans are willing to pay the price, but only if the money truly goes towards improving the lives of those in extreme poverty and not further fattening the pockets of rich businessmen.
(2) A Potentially Dangerous New Racial Harmony Law
The Prime Minister announced a new law that will give the government even greater powers to handle what it defines as racial issues.
Apart from isolated racist incidents, no clear trend showing a rise in racial issues was given that should warrant the government a heavier hand.
And as the Prime Minister said, these isolated racist incidents arose from the stress of the Covid-19 pandemic, which is a black swan event.
Giving the ivory tower yet another blank cheque to dictate the social narrative and tighten its grip on Singaporeans is unwise at best.
Just look at how the POFMA law has been wielded.
A lot more at https://tinyurl.com/ea35v752
![[Image: LHL-accepts-wage-model-to-increase-cost.png]](https://i.ibb.co/k2GMmV5/LHL-accepts-wage-model-to-increase-cost.png)