Bukit Batok by-election: Chee reiterates need for retrenchment insurance scheme
Chee Soon Juan during a walkabout on Thursday morning. Photo: Erin Kimbrell/Yahoo Singapore
Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) chief Chee Soon Juan has reiterated a need for a retrenchment insurance scheme to help Singaporeans who have lost their jobs.
Speaking to reporters at Bukit Batok after a morning walkabout on Thursday 5 May, Chee said he believed many would have been affected by the recent relocation of oil companies such as McDermott, Technip and Subsea to Kuala Lumpur. “It’s so crucial at this stage that the government starts thinking about helping out retrenched workers”, he said.
This proposal comes after the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) rebutted Chee for misunderstanding employment data he used in a speech on Tuesday (3 May) at an SDP rally.
In the rally on Tuesday, Chee highlighted that the government had not done enough to help citizens and permanent residents who were retrenched. “If you create only 100 jobs a year and thousands are retrenched, then no matter how you upgrade yourselves, what are the chances of you finding re-employment?” he asked.
MOM clarified on Wednesday (4 May) that the increase in the number of jobs that Chee cited was actually that difference between the total number of locals entering and leaving jobs, for example due to retirement.
The ministry also added that the ‘net’ number of new jobs taken up by locals last year was actually 700.
Chee has denied painting “an alarmist picture of the job market for Singaporeans”.
“I know they (the PAP) are going to say: let’s get them (retrenched workers) re-employed,” he said. “If it’s so easy then we wouldn’t have to worry about it. The PAP MPs wouldn’t have to bring it up. This is where I think it’s going to be very important if and when I’m elected, for me to go in and ensure that you continue to put this whole idea of a retrenchment insurance scheme on the front run and then the government needs to respond and think about it,” he said.
The party will hold its final rally on Thursday night (5 May) at the field near Bukit Batok Industrial Park A. Residents go to the polls on 7 May. Chee is up against People’s Action Party candidate lawyer Murali Pillai, who is also holding a rally on Thursday night at Bukit Gombak stadium.
