MPs focus on support for workers, businesses and caregivers

They also suggest ways to encourage firms to decarbonise on day two of Budget debate

- Tham Yuen-C, Anjali Raguraman, and Tay Hong Yi

As the House sat for a second day to debate the Government's Budget, MPs turned their attention to support for workers, businesses and caregivers.

Many spoke about the link between creating a good environment for local companies and boosting wages for Singaporeans, while others asked if more could be done to help businesses tap artificial intelligence (AI).

Amid Singapore's green transition, MPs also suggested ways to encourage businesses to decarbonise.

In all, 26 parliamentarians spoke. The House sits again today, with Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong wrapping up the debate.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE

Businesses can tap AI to transform and help workers upskill, several MPs suggested on both days of the Budget debate.

The topic was also raised by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, who chairs the National Research Foundation. He unveiled an initiative to study how AI technologies can be put to practical use.

Called Applied AI, it will focus on healthcare, education, finance, advanced manufacturing, connectivity, logistics and transport, among other sectors.

The Government will also spend more to develop researchers who can bridge AI technologies and domain expertise, DPM Heng said on Feb 27, as he spoke about investments in research, innovation and enterprise.

Mr Edward Chia (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) and Mr Henry Kwek (Kebun Baru) were among the MPs who urged greater adoption of AI.

Mr Chia asked if the $150 million Enterprise Compute Initiative to arm businesses with AI tools and cloud computing resources recently announced in the Budget can be scaled up so more businesses can benefit, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).