PAP MP Inderjit Singh calls for a minimum wage

MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, Inderjit Singh, has called on the government to adopt a government assisted minimum wage system to speed up the reform of wages for locals. 

Speaking in parliament today, Mr Singh suggested a minimum wage of 1,500 dollars. 

He said the amount will allow Singaporeans to have a decent quality of life based on the current cost structures.

Mr Singh said the government should be confident that the system will not deter employers from setting up business here. 

This, given that Singapore has a stable government, low taxes, and a hardworking workforce. 

Mr Singh said if Singaporeans are paid a reasonable salary, they would be willing to take up jobs that are typically shunned by the locals. 

He added that this is the case in countries all over the world, such as Australia and Japan. 

Mr Inderjit also argued that the current year's budget did not adequately address the cost of doing business. 

He feels the problems are multifaceted. 

So he stressed that Budget 2013 could have focused on cost competitiveness. 

Mr Inderjit noted that the government had placed all its bets on productivity improvements, and feels this is something which would take a little longer to be achieved and that too, not easily. 

Mr Inderjit also asked if the current schemes like the Productivity and Innovation Credit or PIC and the intended Wage credit schemes were going to change behaviour of companies and employees. 

He has urged the government to recalibrate the whole process and timing for restructuring to allow companies to survive first before going for aggressive restructuring.