PM Wong acknowledges workers' concerns over jobs and costs, vows continued support

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has pledged to continue support for workers amid concerns about jobs and rising costs, he said on Sunday (Oct 25).

PM Wong was delivering a speech to 3,000 party activists at the People's Action Party (PAP) Awards and Conference 2026 at the Singapore Expo, where he highlighted how investments from across the globe have benefitted Singapore, creating jobs and increasing incomes.

However, he is also aware that these numbers are not representative of all sectors across the board.

While some sectors are performing well, others may be facing increased pressures, reflecting how some workers may be "struggling to keep up", even amid new opportunities.

In particular, lower-wage workers have expressed worries about keeping pace with rising costs, while some Singaporeans in their 40s or 50s who have lost their jobs may worry about whether they can find employment again.

"We understand these concerns and we will respond to them," PM Wong promised.

"Our task is not just to keep the economy growing. It is to make sure that growth translates into better lives for all Singaporeans."

'A mandate is not an entitlement'

Earlier in his speech, PM Wong noted that Singaporeans had given the PAP a strong mandate to govern for another term, and said the party was grateful for their trust.

"But we must always remember: a mandate is not an entitlement," he said.

At the General Election 2025, the PAP won 65.57 per cent of the vote share , up from 61.24 per cent in 2020.

However, the PAP must not rest on their laurels and must deliver on what the party has promised, to tackle issues Singapore faces and prepare for what lies ahead, PM Wong stressed.

"We must never take the trust of Singaporeans for granted," he said. "After all, no political party has a permanent claim on that trust.

"Every generation of PAP leaders and activists must earn it afresh."

The PAP must hold themselves to high standards, listening to the public and delivering on promises while putting Singapore and Singaporeans first, he emphasised.

"That is the responsibility we have been entrusted with. That is what Singaporeans expect of us. And we will not let them down."

He also stated that the road ahead may not be easy as challenges continue to surface in a "dangerous and troubled" world.

Singapore, however, has an advantage - it takes on these challenges from a position of strength, he said, as the country remains a trusted partner and an attractive place for businesses and investors.

khooyihang@asiaone.com

总理黄循财周日（10月25日）表示，尽管人们对就业和成本上涨感到担忧，但他承诺将继续支持工人。

黄英贤总理在新加坡博览中心举行的2026年人民行动党颁奖典礼暨大会上向3000名党员发表讲话，重点介绍了来自全球各地的投资如何使新加坡受益，创造就业机会并增加收入。

然而，他也意识到这些数字并不能代表所有行业的整体情况。

虽然有些行业表现良好，但其他行业可能面临越来越大的压力，这反映出一些劳动者即使在新机遇面前也可能“难以跟上”。

尤其是低收入工人担心收入难以跟上不断上涨的生活成本，而一些40多岁或50多岁失业的新加坡人则担心自己是否还能再次找到工作。

黄循财总理承诺：“我们理解这些担忧，我们会予以回应。”

“我们的任务不仅仅是保持经济增长，还要确保经济增长能够转化为所有新加坡人更美好的生活。”

“授权并非权利”

黄循财总理在之前的讲话中指出，新加坡人民赋予人民行动党强有力的授权，使其能够连任，并表示该党感谢人民的信任。

“但我们必须始终记住：授权不是一种权利，”他说。

在2025年大选中，人民行动党赢得了65.57%的选票份额，高于2020年的61.24%。

然而，黄循财总理强调，人民行动党不能固步自封，必须兑现党的承诺，解决新加坡面临的问题，并为未来做好准备。

他说：“我们绝不能把新加坡人民的信任视为理所当然。毕竟，没有任何政党能够永远拥有这份信任。”

“每一代人民行动党领导人和活动家都必须重新赢得这一荣誉。”

他强调，人民行动党必须坚持高标准，倾听民意，兑现承诺，并将新加坡和新加坡人民的利益放在首位。

“这是我们肩负的责任，也是新加坡人民对我们的期望。我们绝不会让他们失望。”

他还表示，未来的道路可能并不平坦，因为在一个“危险而动荡”的世界中，挑战不断涌现。

他表示，新加坡则拥有优势——它以强大的姿态应对这些挑战，因为新加坡仍然是值得信赖的合作伙伴，也是企业和投资者眼中极具吸引力的地方。

khooyihang@asiaone.com