PSP's minimum wage idea is ‘easy way out', says PAP's Gan Siow Huang

Straits Times

26-04-2025

PAP candidate for Marymount SMC Gan Siow Huang greets residents at Bishan Park and along Bishan Street 22 on April 26. ST PHOTO: TARYN NG
Follow our live coverage here.
SINGAPORE - The PSP's proposal for a minimum monthly wage in Singapore 'sounds simple' and is an 'easy way out', said PAP's Gan Siow Huang, who is defending her Marymount seat in the general election.
In an interview with The Sunday Times on April 26, she noted that the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) by the PAP's Government offers a more comprehensive and sustainable solution for lower-wage workers.
'I do not assume that a single wage, minimum wage, will be sufficient for all... The more difficult thing is how to have a more targeted minimum wage for each sector, and that takes a lot of hard work,' said Ms Gan, who is the Minister of State for Education and Manpower.
'Because in each sector, we have to get both the employers and unions to come together to a common landing on what is a reasonable, sustainable minimum wage for that sector.'
Ms Gan, 50, spoke to ST after a walkabout in Bishan on April 26, when she was asked about the comments made by her opponent, Mr Jeffrey Khoo, during a PSP rally two days ago.
PAP candidate for Marymount SMC Gan Siow Huang greets residents at Bishan Park and along Bishan Street 22 on April 26, 2025.
ST PHOTO: TARYN NG
Mr Khoo, the chief executive of a regional risk consulting firm, had called for a $2,250 minimum monthly wage and policies to prioritise Singaporeans in the workforce.
The PWM, said Ms Gan, links wage increases to skills upgrading and productivity, and it is a more calibrated approach that takes into account industry needs.
The Workfare Income Supplement scheme, a government initiative that provides cash and CPF top-ups for lower-wage workers, is another way to help workers, she added.
Mr Khoo had also suggested implementing stronger 'Singaporean-first' policies in relation to the Government's Fair Consideration Framework, which sets out requirements for employers here to consider the workforce fairly for job opportunities.
In response, Ms Gan said such comments do not take into account Singapore's size and lack of natural resources.
Likening it to United States President Donald Trump's political slogan, she said: 'You look at the US' 'Make America great again'. Are they?
'Our market is very small... So if you want to compete for businesses, if you want to bring in investments, you must make sure we have talent and be humble. While we have very good talent here, we don't have enough.'
PAP candidate for Marymount SMC Gan Siow Huang greets residents at Bishan Park and at a coffee shop along Bishan Street 22 on April 26.
ST PHOTO: TARYN NG
Instead of shutting others out, she added that Singapore should aim to build a strong and diverse workforce that includes local and global talent.
The battle in the single-seat ward will see Ms Gan, who won 55.04 per cent of the vote against PSP's Ang Yong Guan's (44.96 per cent) in her first contest in 2020, facing a PSP opponent again.
Mr Khoo was part of the PSP's best performing team at the last polls, which took 48.32 per cent of the vote in West Coast GRC.
On her opponent, Ms Gan noted that though Mr Khoo has experience contesting in elections, his experience is in West Coast, not Marymount, where the needs of residents are different.
'For the last five years, I've been very active on the ground, and I am confident that by now most residents will know what I stand for, who I am, and I think I'm in a better position,' she added.
In her time as Marymount MP, said Ms Gan, she brought several projects to fruition, including a new bus stop and bus service 162 along Sin Ming Road, sheltered linkways, and the redevelopment of Thomson Community Club.
The club is expected to be completed in a few weeks after a delay – it was originally estimated to be completed by late 2021, but work stopped when the previous contractor encountered unforseen business challenges during the pandemic and could not continue.
She added that plans are underway for three more Active Ageing Centres in the area and a new covered linkway across Bishan Street 22 which connects to Bishan North Shopping Mall.
She said: 'This is a high demand, high-interest item by the residents. The last five years, many residents have been asking me to have this built so that it will be more convenient, rain or shine, for them to access the neighbourhood town.'
Elisha Tushara is a correspondent at The Straits Times specialising in Singapore's education landscape.
Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.