Category Archives: News

The Singapore Democratic Party notes and welcomes the recent discussion around minimum wage. However, there are several misperceptions that need to be cleared up as they act as resistance to the adoption of a minimum wage in Singapore. Some common misperceptions to minimum wage are, “Minimum wage does not affect me, as I earn aboveContinue reading “Minimum Wage Misperceptions Need Correcting”

The Singapore Democratic Party welcomes the call for public consultation on the proposed amendments to Medishield Life proposed by the Medishield Life Council.  First, we would like to commend the council for recognizing some of the most glaring gaps in the current Medishield Life most notably the high deductibles. With the current deductible of $3,000,Continue reading “The SDP’s response to the public consultation on Medishield Life”

Chinese translation   Retrenchment insurance will provide retrenched workers with support while they look for reemployment. SDP will fight for retrenchment benefits to be paid to workers retrenched as a result of Covid-19. Under the SDP RESTART (Re-Employment Scheme and Temporary Assistance for the ReTrenched) programme, if a worker is retrenched, the government pays 75%Continue reading “Caring for our workers”

Chinese translation   FAQ for RISE (Retirement Income Scheme for the Elderly) SDP will push to provide retirees over 65 with a monthly income of $500. Under the SDP Retirement Income Scheme for the Elderly (RISE), the bottom 80% of retirees, many of whom depend on their working children for financial support and especially those who doContinue reading “Caring for our elderly in a real way”

ESM Goh CT’s announcement of his retirement from politics was in the headlines this evening. This is an opportunity to take a look at his legacy and what better place to look than his biography, Tall Order, by Peh Shing Huei. In addition to the usual historical information about Mr Goh and his progress through theContinue reading “Tall Order – a Review”

The SDP is deeply concerned about the job situation in Singapore. We are also disappointed with the PAP’s proposed plans in this area which is more fluff than substance. As such the SDP is proposing a measure that will help create jobs while opening up a path for Singaporeans to become more enterprising and innovative.Continue reading “SDP proposes scheme to help in job creation in post-Covid Singapore”

The announcement today by the Elections Department that campaigning guidelines will have to wait, possibly until parliament is dissolved, signals the PAP’s intent to tilt the GE in its favour as much as it can. The fact that it cannot even release the rules for campaigning because they may be “overtaken by events” is clear demonstrationContinue reading “Singaporeans will question PAP’s mandate if GE is tilted further in its favour”

There is speculation that the General Election will be called in July. The country is just emerging from an unprecedented two-month lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The government is still trying to figure out how to handle this period.   As Mr Chan Chun Sing has admitted, the Elections Department cannot even come upContinue reading “July GE is reckless, SDP cautions PAP against making the same mistake again”

DPM Heng Swee Keat says that the sooner the General Election is held, the quicker Singapore can deal with the Covid-19 situation. It is unfortunate and even dangerous for the elections to be seen as an inconvenience to be gotten over with rather than a critical moment for the nation to come together to decide onContinue reading “SDP outlines fair access to electorate in coming crucial GE”

For the longest time, the PAP has accused the opposition of not coming up with alternative ideas to take Singapore forward. Then the SDP drew up a series of policy positions (see here) some of which the PAP has even adopted (see here). Deprived of this platform of criticism, the ruling party’s refrain has morphed into “WhereContinue reading “SDP: Here’s how we fund our programmes to help our vulnerable”