In many countries, the earnings of lower wage workers have stagnated. But in Singapore, they have seen their lives improve as the country progressed. The govt has helped upgrade their skills and made specific policies to raise their income.

The Workfare Income Supplement scheme (Workfare) is effectively a negative income tax. The government does not tax incomes of lower wage workers, but instead tops up their salaries in cash and CPF contributions.

The Progressive Wage Model (PWM) now covers lower wage workers in cleaning, security, landscaping and lift maintenance. It has raised their skills and productivity, and boosted incomes and job progression.

The Govt has accepted the 3 strategies recommended by the Tripartite Workgroup studying how to uplift lower wage workers:

1. Extend Progressive Wages to more LWWs
2. Require companies hiring foreign workers to pay all their local employees at least a Local Qualifying Salary
3. Accredit companies with a PW Mark

Of particular concern are delivery workers who work with online platforms like Foodpanda, Grab & Deliveroo. They lack the job protection that most employees have. MOM is studying this and will be doing consultations. We must address the issues and give these workers more secure futures.

The economic uncertainty caused by COVID-19 has intensified pressure on middle income Singaporeans. This can be seen in the growing restlessness over foreigners, particularly work pass holders.

Singaporean workers have valid questions about work pass holders that must be addressed. Singaporeans must be assured that EP and S-pass holders are of the right standard. All employees must also be assured of fair treatment at the workplace.

To deal with workplace discrimination more broadly, some of the TAFEP (Tripartite Alliance for Fair & Progressive Employment Practices) guidelines will be enshrined in law, to give them more teeth and expand the range of actions that can be taken.

We must not give the impression that Singapore is turning inwards, and becoming xenophobic and hostile to foreigners. It would be disastrous for us, and it is not who we aspire to be. Instead, we must make it clear to the world that Singapore is determined to stay open, to earn a living for ourselves.

Race relations have come under stress during COVID-19. There have been more racist incidents, which have specifically targeted Indians, both work pass holders & Singaporeans.

These racist incidents remind us how fragile our harmony is. Racial harmony took hard work, sacrifice & wisdom, after our founding fathers resolved to forge one nation from the different races.

Singapore has become one of the few countries in the world where people of different races and faiths live peacefully together. It is a precious and rare achievement, but it is also a delicate balance.

The govt intends to pass specific legislation on Racial Harmony. It will be called the Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act. It will collect together in one place all the Government’s powers to deal with racial issues, but will also incorporate some softer, gentler touches.

Our values and beliefs as a society shift over time – each new generation has its own perspective on racial issues. Therefore, from time to time, we must adjust our policies on race & religion. But we should adjust based on our own needs, not just because of trends abroad – and we should do so with caution.

Mulai November nanti, jururawat Muslim di sektor kesihatan awam akan dibenarkan untuk memakai tudung dengan pakaian seragam mereka, jika mereka mahu. Saya berharap ini akan diterima baik, dengan semangat yang betul oleh semua pihak.

As a country, we have many strengths to be proud of, but our greatest strength is our people. In this moment of crisis, Singaporeans have continued to look ahead, and to pour heart and soul into our hopes and dreams. In ordinary times, we may not realise how strong Singaporeans can be. Now, in the crisis of a generation, we have shown ourselves and the world what Singaporeans can do.

COVID-19 will not be our last crisis. We will be tested again, sometimes severely. Each generation will wonder: Will we survive? Will Singapore prevail? My answer: We’ve done it before, & we’ll do it again. Majulah Singapura!

NDR 2021 has come to an end.

The full recordings of the Malay, Chinese and English speeches with subtitles will be available on the PMO YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/pmosingapore) shortly.

Goodnight from the PMO team!

Got my COVID-19 vaccine booster jab at SGH this morning. If you are offered a booster, please take it. It will reduce your chances of getting seriously ill, or needing ICU care.