SeaPRwire

PSP files motion to debate jobs, foreign workforce policy and Ceca in Parliament

aseanpr
3 minutes

SINGAPORE - The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) has filed a private member's motion in Parliament on issues about jobs and foreign workforce policy, the party's Non-Constituency MP Leong Mun Wai said on Tuesday (Aug 31). In a Facebook post, he said he expects the debate to take place on either the Sept 13 or Sept 14 sitting of Parliament. The motion, which will allow all MPs to take part in the ensuing debate, states: "That this Parliament calls upon the Government to take urgent and concrete action to address the widespread anxiety among Singaporeans on jobs and livelihood caused by the Foreign Talent Policy and the 'movement of natural persons' provisions in some free trade agreements like Ceca." Mr Leong said the main focus of the debate would be on how to improve the jobs and livelihoods of Singaporeans. "Ceca is not our main concern and has been thrust upon us by the Government," he added, referring to the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement with India. The PSP first announced its intention to debate employment policies and Ceca in June. The following month, Manpower Minister Tan See Leng and Health Minister Ong Ye Kung delivered ministerial statements in Parliament on...

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FTAs and Ceca made ‘political scapegoats’, falsehoods need to be corrected: Ong Ye Kung

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3 minutes

SINGAPORE - The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) has repeatedly made false statements that the Singapore-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (Ceca) gives Indian professionals "a free hand" to come and work in Singapore, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung. In a social media post in June, PSP Non-Constituency MP Leong Mun Wai had also claimed that foreign professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) and free trade agreements (FTA)s have affected the jobs and livelihoods of Singaporeans, Mr Ong noted in Parliament on Tuesday (July 6). "These statements are false. They have been repeated for too long," he said, adding that FTAs and Ceca have been made "political scapegoats" to discredit the government's policies. As a former trade negotiator, the minister said he felt duty-bound to correct the falsehoods surrounding Ceca and FTAs. He acknowledged that Singaporean professionals, managers and executives (PMEs) are facing challenges, like those in other advanced economies. [LIVE] Ministers Ong Ye Kung, Tan See Leng address Parliament on FTAs, Ceca The Government has been taking steps to address their concerns, he added. "But our FTAs in general, and Ceca in parti...

SeaPRwire

PSP takes up Shanmugam’s challenge to debate Ceca and foreign employment policies

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3 minutes

SINGAPORE - The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) has accepted the challenge to debate employment policies and the Singapore-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (Ceca), said Non-Constituency MP Leong Mun Wai on Tuesday (June 22). Writing on Facebook, he added that the opposition party would seek further information from the Government at the parliamentary sitting in July to prepare for the debate which was first mooted by Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam in May. "Subsequently, the PSP will decide on a suitable time to file a motion," said Mr Leong. "It will be then up to the Speaker's discretion to confirm the date of the debate." He told The Straits Times that the party would be asking questions related to the number of employment passes, S passes and work passes issued from 2005 to 2020. "It is in public interest that all data and information regarding our employment situation is revealed. We are concerned about the lack of opportunities for our local workforce due to unfair hiring practices in some sectors," said Mr Leong. Other draft parliamentary questions by the PSP, seen by ST, include a request for a breakdown of industries and commonly-held jobs for n...