Labour Day Message 2015 / 劳动节致词

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of our country. Ever since 1961, the old union was dissolved by the new government, the pro-PAP government's labor movement together with her party set up a new National Trade Union Congress (or NTUC as we know it). It was registered with the Registry of Societies on 17 August and incorporated on 6th September 1961.

Since then, our labour and political parties have moved as one. During the uncertain times of old, she has proven to play an important role in bringing a stable investment environment with ample employment opportunities. Because of the common interests of both the labour and political parties, they could propel Singapore forward together and meet their long-term productivity and development goals. In those days, the labour and political parties stood together for the people and protected the public interest. 

Today, things have changed. In the name of GDP growth, Singapore has opened its doors widely to allow an influx of foreign immigrant workers. The labour-political partnership, instead of working for the people’s interest, are now beginning to become a tool against the people. Instead of fighting for people’s rights; these organizations have compromised that purpose and tagged along with the political and financial sector for the pursuit of economic growth.

Clearly, this has shown that the leaders of the National Trade Union Congress, Minister, and the Members of Parliament of the ruling party represent the interest of the employers. While this is of course for the long term, the macroeconomic growth of Singapore, this represents a clear conflict of interest.  

The question comes – when there is a commercial and industrial labour dispute, in which capacity should the leaders represent? If they fight on the behalf of labour welfare, they may contradict government policy or cause harm to the interest of the employers. If they fight on behalf of the employees, then they’ll violating the spirit of the union, which is to fight for the people.

One may say that the leaders can fight for both the employers AND the employees. That is an ideal situation, but we find that reality is seldom the case. Eventually, there comes a point where they have to choose a side. The union leaders either have to abide by the mission of their political parties and employers and thus unable to represent the workers fairly.

After all, in the end, what is a labour union, but one for the voice of the people? A voice doesn’t have to be rational; it doesn’t have to be huge in scope; it simply must voice the sentiment of the people. It must give voice to those who cannot be heard. That is the essence of a labour union. 

So we see now in reality that the dream of shared prosperity has been shattered. The citizens of our country whom we laboured for must now bear the high costs of living in a First World country, yet earn the wages of a Third World employee. On top of that, our Singaporean brothers and sisters live with the constant fear that one day their jobs will be replaced by the influx of immigrants that are coming in droves.

To ensure that the interest and the welfare of our people, we must sever the ties between the labour, political and financial sectors. The union MUST be a union of the people! She must be independent so that she can play her original function of protecting the interest of our Singapore brothers. 

Instead of placing their party members in the leadership of the union to set their policy, the government must separate these two functions, and instead attempt to maintain harmony with the independent trade union leaders. This will ensure that the interests of our employees are not compromised, and trade union leaders can fight to attain First World salaries to meet the costs of First World living standards. 

As Singapore moves on to a new phase of her life, she needs constant change to keep up with the rest of the world. Whatever that has stopped working must be evolved, changed and even overhauled. Now this is the time when the voice of the people must be heard again; let us change what does not work anymore, and build a model that is ready for the future. 

Happy Labour Day!

Thank you!

With Best Regards

Lim Bak Chuan Desmond
Chairman of Singapore Democratic Alliance

Photosource:  http://festoworld.com/labour-day-1st-may-2015-whatsapp-statusdpsmsphotovideo.html

今年是我国建国50周年, 自1961年时旧的工会被新政府解散之后,亲行动党政府的工运人士，和她的党员成立了新的全国职工总会，并在八月十七日向社团注册局注册。

从此 劳、政的关系就像连体婴儿一样分割不开。 在动乱的时代她确实可以扮演重要的角色,也的确带给了我们一个稳定的投资环境和充足就业机会。因为是连体,所以 劳、政双方顺利拥有共同的利益，一起把新加坡推向前并且达到生产力目标。当时劳、政领袖，也有处处为民众争取福利，提供保护伞，和保护民众利益。

 

今日,国门大开,外来移民和劳工的大量涌入, 使这个连体婴儿，产生了变化,成为劳、资、政为一体的怪兽,  劳、资、政成为一体之后;一切职工运动就必须配合政府执政方针，和资方的利益。全国职工总会的领袖，不只是由政府指定的部长,执政党的国会议员，同时他们也代表了资方的利益,他们担任工会领导也就难免有利益冲突之嫌。

 

现在矛盾出现了,一旦出现了有工商业劳资纠纷,这些领导到底要以什么身份去代表工人，跟政府和资方谈判呢?如果代表劳工争取福利,就抵触了政府方针,或是损害到资方利益。这样的工会领袖如何能确保员工得到他们应得的利益。

 

在这个条件下的工会领导最终还是得配合自己政党和资方继续做不符合自己作为劳方代表身份的事。包括想尽办法借低薪的外劳来压低自己国民的薪金。

 

这使我们与领导共享繁荣进步的愿望都幻灭成了南柯一梦。

 

因为民众却必须面对第一世界高消费而领取第三世界国家的薪水,甚至担心雇主会随时以外国人来取代我们,增加了我们的生活压力。

所以为了确保民众的利益和福利能得到真正的保维护。我们必须认真考虑请"外科医生"(送更多不同政党的党员进入国会),把这只劳、资、政的连体怪兽给宰了。让工会能够真正独立的发挥她的本来功能,真实的维护劳工的利益。

 政府必须继续跟独立工会领袖保持和谐合作关系，而不是安插自己党员来操控工会和压抑工人。

独立工会能确保我们的员工的利益和福利不会被出卖,工会领导可以在无压抑的情况下,去争取资方支付给员工第一世界薪金，以应付第一世界生活水准的开销。

我国所吸引的投资家，必须是真正制造就业机会给新加坡人的投资,而引进新加坡的外国人，只能从事本地人不做的工作，或是本地人欠缺这方面的经验或是知识的工作。

祝大家劳动节快乐!

林睦荃


新加坡民主联盟主席

[Recap from a year ago] Elderly who sell tissue for livelihood

可能因为残疾或年老而找不到工作,为了生活没有法子才去卖纸巾,每天的利润微博确要交年费$120。如果除以三百六五天来算,的确是一个很微小的数字,但是在人道与人情上确说不过来,希望政府可以即刻废除收费。

 

至今我们年老低收入者,为了三餐 (有些只赚够一餐糊口) 每天还是需要日晒雨淋,我建议政府加多一项,给那些合格者每个月,每人500元的生活费。

 

 

 

Till date, our lower incomes senior citizens still have to struggling to meet the end needs. Can the government reconsider to add in one more item in the pioneer generation package, I suggest paying each qualified individual $500 monthly allowance, aside the medical benefits.

Enough is enough

House Visit on 25 April 2015 (Elias Road)

This week, the SDA Team, consisting of members William and Aloysius, shadow town councillors Kim Soon and Derrick, as well as members from the DLs' Caring Community, Thomas, were present for the blocks visit session. The targeted block was 614, Elias Road, and visiting commenced at 10.00am sharp.

 As standard protocol, the group combed the block from the highest floor (18th) in descending order, touching base and reaching out with familiar faces as well as new residents here.

While some of the doors remained shut (should be no one at home), most of the residents were very polite and welcoming towards the friendly approach of the SDA team in their signature lime green polo shirts.

 

 

The SDA members reached out by re-introducing themselves and the purpose of the visit, before gathering feedback from the residents and also sharing their joys and grievances of living in this area. Some of them were so comfortable with the members and shadow town councillors that they even began to feedback about issues at their relatives' estates in the nearby vicinity, hoping that these warm-hearted gentlemen could be of assistance over at more areas.

Other residents who were rather reticent at first felt themselves warming up to the members and shadow town councillors gradually, and ended up chatting them up for more than 15 minutes, engaging in discussions on general issues and sharing their own views. There were also those who expressed keenness to see more of the SDA team and offered suggestions on what they would like to see SDA do for them.

Besides feedback about the lack of amenities and dining choices here, some of the residents also touched on issues such as unlevelled employment opportunities between local and foreign applicants.

"The foreign applicants may have the academic qualifications, but do they really understand the nature of the jobs they are applying for, and what it entails?" quips a concerned *Mrs Wong (name changed to protect privacy). "Our company interviewed some of them and all we got were blank faces when we described the jobscope! How are they able to do the job like that?"

Another resident, *Mr. Tham, shared something rather valuable as well. "While we do not condone those who keep shouting 'return our CPF monies' with no better strategies in mind, we appreciate that you guys (SDA) have come up with the idea of reverting CPF back to its original purpose of pure retirement funding!"

In the meantime, the members of DLs' Caring Community, Thomas and Elle, came to understand the deeper and more pressing concerns of other families who'd shared their problems in confidence. They also managed to identify the needs of some other individuals through the chit-chat session, such as neglected elderly citizens and (illegally) harassed units. The DLs' Caring Community will be taking these cases under their caring wings because this is what they were set out to do.

Finally, the visits concluded at 12.14pm, where the members sincerely thanked the residents for their welcome, their feedback and suggestions. This sums up another meaningful session for the SDA members, shadow town councillors as well as DLs' Caring Community members, who not only got to connect with the people they'll potentially serve, but also, learn a lot from these interactive sessions.

Today's block visit is covered by SDA's field journalist, Elle Chen.




If you have any feedback, suggestions or would like to be a part of SDA or DLs' Caring Community, please feel free to get in touch via email or our Facebook page here or leave your comments on this blog itself. If you would like to be a part of this meaningful initiative, please feel free to get in touch too.

Singapore for Singaporeans!

Unlimited Belief

Systematic Singapore

林睦荃:我们的制度建设了今天的新加坡,同一个制度制也造了今天我们所面对的问题,我们要走出去这圈圈,我们就要大斧破舟改革制度,要改革制度就要去除障碍,这需要有很大的空间和环境使我们放弃旧思维再以新思维来替代,让再次创造新加坡奇迹。

Lim Bak Chuan Desmond: Our system built the Singapore of today, the same system has also created the problems we faced today. If we were to walk out of this vicious cycle, we have to make drastic amendments to the system; fear should not deter us from changing, this requires us to be open minded to new ideologies that will be relevant to the present and not be afraid of changes.

Future : for better or for worse?

当人民的恐惧化为愤怒再转变为希望时，政权就会因此垮台。至今人民转去支持在野党，是因为人民开始担心他们的前途可能会更糟糕。

When people's fear turns to anger and then transform into hope, people are choosing the alternative parties because they are getting worried that their future will be worse.

Hard-earned Certificates are the real mccoy!

其他国家的孩子中途要来我国上课就得做降两级的插班生,因为我们的教育文凭比更较受国际承认。

一些聪敏的外国人就会选择继续留在他们自己的国家读完大学或是以其他途径打印一张"大学文凭",再来我国找工作。他们知道他们的大学文凭是符合政府就业准证条件又不用降两级,一些雇主为了降低营业成本也不肯不花费请人验证就聘请他们。

可怜的父母们辛苦以劳力换取微博的薪金来栽培自己的孩子, 如今却看到其他国家的人凭一张从打印机打出来的一张彩色证书,就把咱们的孩子老老实实靠实力埋头苦读最少15年得到的大学文凭给压下来。

怪不得最近我们老是听到一些部长们一直在高喊"文凭不重要"。不知道到底执政党是为国人的将来发展这个国家,还是要把我们的国土变成其他国家的公民提供"欢乐园"有以巩固他们自己的政权呢?

你们的看法又如何?

For foreign students to come to Singapore to continue with their studies, they are required to downgrade by two grades because our educational standard is more recognized on an international level.

The smarter foreign kids would choose to remain in their hometown to complete their studies and obtain degrees in their local universities; some would seek out alternative means to attain the "Bachelor's Degree", and then come to Singapore to find employment. They know that their local university degrees are able to fulfill the requirements for the relevant employment passes, and they needn't undergo two levels of downgrade. Some employers would hire these foreign applicants so as to save costs.

The most sorry cases are the parents who have spent so much time and efforts working hard to groom and nurture their own children, just to see 15 years of their diiligent efforts being defeated by a colorfully-printed certificate produced by those who hail from overseas.

No wonder lately, we keep hearing certain ministers saying that "certifications are not important". I wonder if the ruling party is developing this country because of the citizens, or are turning our lands into the foreigners' "playgrounds" in consolidation of their regime?

Presidential treatment for Mr. Ong!

还他尊严,让他享有总统最高的葬礼,把他的遗骸重新葬在克兰芝国家坟场。

Return him his dignity, let him have the highest Presidential funereal services , shift his remains to Kranji’s National Cemetery!

House Visit on 18 April 2015 (Elias Road)

This morning at 10.00am sharp, the SDA team led by Desmond Lim and anchored by Aloysius Chan arrived promptly at their designated Block 613, Elias Road, to kickstart another meaningful morning of interacting with the residents.  Desmond educated and shared information with the Members and Shadow Town Councillors about certain structural providence of necessities around the estates, and what to keep a lookout for, such as the correct locations to place the incense burners, why certain blocks have more CCTVs etc.

Having been briefed, the Members, together with Shadow Town Councillors Lim Kim Soon and Derrick Tan as well as DLs' Caring Community members Thomas Tan etc took the elevator up to level 18, the highest floor of this HDB block where the house visits began.

The team approached each and every individual household to re-introduce themselves, explained the purpose of the visits, pass the residents copies of the SDA pamphlets, to gather feedback and find out if they are currently facing any issues at all.

Other than that, the members of DLs' Caring Community, which is a registered charity organisation, were on standby to identify families that required assistance. The DLs' members then undertook to chat with the families in-depth on their problems and offered assistance in any way possible. Reaching out to the elderly members, especially those residing alone, has been the forte of the DLs' Caring Community, but on this visit they also undertook other tasks targeted at helping a couple of individual families addressing their concerns directly.

Residents of the block, regardless of race or religion, from those residing in 5-room flats to those residing in 4-room flats, spanning across very varied demographics, were relatively receptive in receiving the visits of the friendly SDA team. Many of them came over to offer their handshakes, halting their meals to do so; others opened their doors in wide welcome so that they could chat more comfortably with the Members and Shadow Town Councillors. Even the families or individuals who had reservations initially began to warm up and open up to the interaction session once they saw that it was the familiar SDA team.

Besides addressing their issues, the residents were also happy to share their thoughts and feelings on certain policies being implemented recently. A general concern from most of the residents centred around the influx of non-locals into the country, posing threats against them or their children in terms of career opportunities, education opportunities etc.

"Sometimes it is important to just do one's best and not over-promise," quips a *Mr. Andrew (name changed to protect privacy), "Otherwise, it would be like a toothpaste commercial, where everything is 100% shiny perfect!"

Some residents have also expressed displeasure that they were not informed when there were changes or additions of amenities around the estates. As residents here, they feel that they have a right to know, for instance, why there were suddenly so many CCTVs around the blocks, etc.

By 12noon the SDA team and DLs' Caring Community members have accomplished their tasks and touched base with all 18 floors of residents, offering warm-hearted listening ears as well as a hand or shoulder to the residents, and noted down all their concerns.

They continued their mission towards Elias Mall, about 7 minutes' walk from Blk 613 Elias Road, where they continued to spread the care by chatting the people up, understanding their concerns and disseminating more copies of the informative pamphlets.

A debrief and brain-storming session over tea concluded yet another meaningful interaction / outreach program by the SDA today.

The event is covered by SDA's field reporter Elle Chen.


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