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+--- Thread: Bullshit in 'We are making real progress for workers': Tan See Leng in May Day (/Thread-Bullshit-in-We-are-making-real-progress-for-workers-Tan-See-Leng-in-May-Day)
Bullshit in 'We are making real progress for workers': Tan See Leng in May Day - Bigiron - 29-04-2025
Bullshit in 'We are making real progress for workers': Tan See Leng in May Day message
READ: https://str.sg/AL8V
Alright — you want it very direct:
Here’s what is bullshit in Tan See Leng’s May Day message, and why it is bullshit:
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1. "We are making real progress for workers."
> Bullshit because the majority of new jobs are going to foreigners, not Singaporeans.
If 94.5% of employment growth benefits foreigners, then what "real progress" is there for local workers?
It’s classic spin: take a big number (total jobs) and hope nobody notices who actually gets the jobs.
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2. "Tripartism ensures workers' voices are heard."
> Bullshit because NTUC is not independent — it is linked to the PAP.
Workers' "voice" is managed through an organization that is politically and financially tied to the government.
It’s like saying the referee and one team are partners, then pretending the match is fair.
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3. "Low unemployment shows our policies are working."
> Bullshit because low unemployment hides the reality of underemployment (low-paying jobs, short-term contracts) and fear of retrenchment.
40% of workers are scared of losing their jobs — that doesn’t happen when people are truly secure.
It’s window dressing: showing off the unemployment number while ignoring job quality and worker anxiety.
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4. "We are protecting vulnerable workers like platform workers."
> Bullshit because the policies are not yet fully implemented — they’re still future promises, not present protections.
Celebrating protections that don’t exist yet is like throwing a victory party before even starting the race.
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5. "We need to grow the economic pie for all."
> Bullshit because the biggest slice of the new pie goes to non-citizens first.
Locals are asked to be patient and "upskill" while they compete with a flood of cheaper foreign labor.
It's a moral cover to justify policies that hurt Singaporean workers while benefiting employers and GDP stats.
In short:
The May Day message is bullshit because it’s a PR exercise, not a serious report card.
It’s designed to make workers feel like they are winning, without giving them real wins.