WP's GE2025 manifesto: It's a plan for a fairer, more secure Singapore, says Gerald Giam

Proposals cover affordability, GDP growth, social equality, accountability and security

- Aqil Hamzah

The WP on April 17 unveiled its manifesto for the upcoming general election, covering 125 policy proposals in five sections.

Titled Working For Singapore, it covers affordability and cost of living concerns, economic growth and opportunities, inclusion and equality in society, accountability and democracy, and security and geopolitics.

Speaking at the party headquarters in Geylang, incumbent Aljunied GRC MP Gerald Giam said the WP manifesto is a refined and enhanced version of the one for the previous general election in 2020.

Following that election, with the increase in the number of its MPs, the WP was able to bring the proposals in that manifesto to Parliament and have them "tested through the fire of debate," he said.

Mr Giam added that some of the proposals from the 2020 manifesto remain in the latest one, as they have not been implemented yet.

"We are not just dropping them just because they weren't implemented by the Government," he said, adding that the plan is to "bring forward these proposals in Parliament if we have an opportunity to".

He said: "This is our plan for a fairer, more secure Singapore, one that works better for everyone."

Here is a summary of the key areas that the manifesto addresses:

AFFORDABILITY AND COST OF LIVING

Proposals in this section cover topics such as the goods and services tax, retrenchment benefits, tiering utility bills to benefit those who consume less, reducing healthcare costs for vulnerable groups, and housing affordability.

One proposal is redundancy insurance for all local workers, which both employers and employees contribute to.

Incumbent Sengkang GRC MP Jamus Lim said there are important nuances that separate the WP's proposed scheme and the Government's SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme.

The WP's proposal would provide a retrenched worker with up to $2,000, for up to six months, on certain conditions.