Singapore’s political landscape is abuzz as the nation heads towards the General Election in 2025. Among the key contenders, the Workers’ Party (WP) is gearing up with a multi-pronged strategy centered on their theme of “Working for Singapore,” aiming to convince voters of the critical need for a stronger opposition presence in Parliament.
Constituencies Contested
At the heart of the WP’s GE2025 campaign is their manifesto, “Working for Singapore.” This comprehensive document outlines their policy proposals across five key pillars: affordability and cost of living, economic growth and opportunities, inclusion and equality, accountability and democracy, and security and geopolitics.
The Worker’s Party has been heavily campaigning on bread-and-butter issues that resonate deeply with Singaporeans.
Proposals to address the rising cost of living, including a re-examination of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) hike and measures to tackle healthcare and housing affordability, are likely to feature prominently in their rallies and outreach efforts.
Observing past rallies between the PAP and the Worker’s Party, there has been alot of mudslinging and low ball politics, however, the worker’s party rebuttal has been quite impressive and sometimes bombshelling.
Observations from the ground indicate the criticism of the party saying many populist statements like more money for NSFs and minimum wage stands true, a more comprehensive stance should be encouraged for the party to appear more robust as an organisation and a political party.
However, if your opponent keeps messing up and you do not take advantage of that, you would be doing yourself a disservice.
Their campaign and communications department has been a solid A+ with creation of memes on instagram, tiktok, facebook.
Their deployment of different strategies on different platforms shows their understanding of their audiences. Their communications and marketing have not been as cringe as the PAP’s with it being used tactfully.
Their website also has good design and usability which indicates the party’s investment into their campaign. Even if you do not agree with some of the policies they put out, you have to give it to them for putting it alot of effort. They are the alternative voice in Singapore.
WORKER’S PARTY MANIFESTO
- Affordability and Cost of Living:
- Proposals for alternative revenue channels to the Goods and Services Tax (GST), such as a net wealth tax and a minimum corporate tax rate.
- Exemption of essential items (like basic food) from GST.
- Tiering of utility bills to benefit lower consumption.
- Reducing healthcare costs for vulnerable groups, including lifting MediSave caps for those over 60 for certain expenses.
- Measures to improve housing affordability.
- Economic Growth and Opportunities:
- Prioritizing local over foreign talent.
- Improving competitiveness of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
- Better support for older workers, potentially including abolishing the statutory retirement age.
- Reforming the Central Provident Fund (CPF) system.
- Proposals for effective skills transfer from foreign to local workers.
- Implementation of a redundancy insurance scheme for local workers.
- Mandating retrenchment benefits through legislation.
- Inclusion and Equality:
- Enhancing support for parents and caregivers, such as providing paid family care leave.
- Addressing the needs of an ageing population with expanded assisted living options.
- Improving access to housing and the built environment.
- Developing and regulating the mental health industry.
- Introducing an optional 10-year through-train programme in education.
- Introducing anti-discrimination legislation in various areas, including the workplace.
- Proposals for better integration of Singaporeans’ foreign spouses and reducing over-reliance on foreign labour.
- Accountability and Democracy:
- Improving public accountability and enhancing the voice of the people.
- Enhancing judicial oversight and protecting judicial independence.
- Improvements to policing.
- Depoliticizing taxpayer-funded community organizations.
- Proposals aimed at increasing the transparency of immigration processes.
- Security and Geopolitics:
- Bolstering national defence and improving internal resilience.
- Exploring ways to better utilize security budgets.
- Enhancing food security through increased local sourcing.
- Reviewing the term “NS allowance” and setting it to at least a living wage with CPF contributions.
- Outlining stances on international relations and trade.
- Conserving the environment and stamping out discrimination.
The party’s campaign slogan, “Working for Singapore,” coupled with the call to “#StepUp with us,” signals a focus on their commitment to serving the nation and encourages citizens to play an active role in shaping its future by supporting the opposition.
This messaging aims to position the WP not just as a check on the ruling party, but as a constructive force contributing to national progress.
A significant aspect of the WP’s strategy for GE2025 is the introduction of a larger and arguably more diverse slate of candidates. The party has been actively unveiling new faces from various professional backgrounds, a move seen by political analysts as a deliberate effort to present a credible and capable alternative to the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).
This focus on refreshing their candidate line-up and increasing the number of contested seats (potentially exceeding their 2020 showing) indicates a clear ambition to expand their footprint in Parliament. By fielding more candidates, the WP hopes to offer voters a choice in a wider range of constituencies and demonstrate their growing strength and reach.
The WP’s campaign will likely emphasize their track record as elected Members of Parliament and their experience in managing town councils. They will point to their contributions in parliamentary debates, raising pertinent questions and proposing alternative policies, to underscore the value they bring to the political system. The narrative will likely be that a stronger WP presence leads to greater accountability and ultimately, better policies for Singaporeans.
While the party keeps some strategic cards close to its chest, as acknowledged by WP chief Pritam Singh who described the party as a “price-taker” in the current political landscape, their ground activities and public statements point to a targeted approach in constituencies where they believe they have a strong chance of winning or making significant inroads.
Areas like Aljunied GRC, Sengkang GRC, and Hougang SMC, which they currently hold, will undoubtedly be key battlegrounds, alongside others like East Coast GRC where they have a growing presence.
In essence, the Workers’ Party’s GE2025 campaign strategy is built on the foundation of addressing key citizen concerns through well-defined policy proposals, presenting a strong and renewed team of candidates, and advocating for the crucial role of a robust opposition in Singapore’s governance.
Their success hinges on their ability to effectively communicate their vision and convince voters that stepping up with the Workers’ Party is in the best interest of Singapore’s future.
