“EVEN DURING this campaign period, my team and I have not stopped working,” said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong as the GE2025 hustings began their final day (1 May). “We didn’t press ‘Pause’. We simply couldn’t afford to.”
This is because of two simple facts: The global storm is already here, with a trade war between America and China. Additionally, the PAP will never stop fighting for Singaporeans. Especially when times are bad.
“I have been speaking with other world leaders – strengthening partnerships and securing new opportunities,” continued PM Wong at the May Day Rally 2025, addressing 1,600 union leaders and guests during the NTUC May Day Rally 2025 at Downtown East.
“[Deputy Prime Minister] Gan Kim Yong, [Minister for Manpower] Tan See Leng and others have been on call with their counterparts. Keeping our economic ties strong and working out new frameworks for trade and investment,” he detailed.
PM Wong spoke with Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim earlier this week on the humanitarian situation in Myanmar, strengthening ASEAN regional unity.
DPM Gan is negotiating trade concessions from America for pharmaceuticals and artificial intelligence (AI) chips, even while contesting Punggol GRC. During these negotiations, the United States Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick has emphasised strongly that the US trusts Singapore.
This international trust in Brand Singapore took decades to cultivate. Generations of sound economic leadership from PAP governments built it; this generation of leaders stands ready to strengthen it even further.
Support for workers at every life stage
Singapore’s workers are also assured of PAP Government support through this global storm, particularly with skills upgrading.
This support is for workers at every stage of life.
New graduates will have more career counselling and job matching programmes. There will be more opportunities for apprenticeships and traineeships.
“For mid-career workers, we know the pace of change and innovation will be faster than ever,” said PM Wong. “That’s why we invested heavily in SkillsFuture – to give you a substantial injection of skills.”
All Singaporeans aged 40 years and above had a $4,000 SkillsFuture credits top-up in 2024; these credits are usable for over 7,000 skills upgrading courses.
Senior workers will enjoy increased CPF contributions from the PAP Government. The extended CPF Transition Offset also incentivises employers to employ seniors – making it a win-win situation whenever employing a senior.
Source: NTUC Singapore / YouTube
Budget 2025 earlier this year, in fact, was calibrated to uplift worker wages and boost their skills.
“If conditions worsen, we are ready to do more,” said PM Wong. “The key person in charge of this work is no stranger to you. He’s no stranger to the whole of Singapore. He’s none other than Gan Kim Yong. He’s heading the taskforce, together with other ministers, with NTUC Secretary-General [Ng Chee Meng] and our tripartite partners.”
“The Taskforce is hard at work. They are preparing and putting in place drawer plans to help businesses and workers,” he added. “Do not fear!”
A cavalier Opposition vs a PAP working at home and abroad
PM Wong additionally touched on the Opposition’s cavalier attitude to weakening the Government. This a marked contrast to how the PAP is essentially working 24/7 during this period to fight GE2025 at home as well as defend Singapore overseas.
“To navigate these [global] pressures, it will take experience and skill. It will take people in government who have built up trust and close relationships with their counterparts in both America and China,” said PM Wong. “These relationships take time to build. You can’t do this overnight.”
“So in this election, when Opposition Parties treat so lightly the loss of key ministers, I say ‘Please. Please have a care for our country and for the wellbeing and livelihoods of every Singaporean.”
This is particularly since the global storm is “not just a short-term blip”, said PM Wong. It will be us for some time, and Singapore “cannot rule out a full-blown recession”.
Here, a vote for the PAP, and for key ministers, will keep Team Singapore in good stead to weather this storm.
“Together, we have built this miracle called Singapore. Now, we must sustain it! We must renew it!” said PM Wong. “Let us stand tall. Stand together!”
Catch the NTUC May Day Rally 2025 here:
