Calling it a district that would be both “pro-worker and pro-business”, Mr Tiong said Singapore should spend the next three decades becoming a place where homegrown companies can thrive.
“We have spent 30 years making this country a good place for other people’s companies to succeed,” he said. “I am asking that we spend the next 30 making it a place where ours can.”
WP Non-Constituency MP Andre Low focused on what he described as a “broken bottom rung” of the career ladder, arguing that too many young Singaporeans struggle to make their first meaningful step into stable employment.
He proposed a “fair start promise” to the youth – a national commitment that Singaporeans under 30 transitioning from education or National Service should have access to either stable employment or a properly paid career-building pathway.
He suggested various ways for young people to get their fair start, including building a “national market” for paid apprenticeships.Â
While Singapore already has workplace programmes for young entrants, there needs to be a different route where an occupation requires “sustained, supervised practice”. This means a proper apprenticeship framework providing paid employment, full employee status, Central Provident Fund contributions, structured training and portable skills.
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