PM Wong says Workers' Party shifts positions on housing and foreign manpower
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Prime Minister Lawrence Wong told PAP members that the opposition has changed its stance on housing and foreign labour policies over time, while the governing party must take a longer-term view.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the Workers' Party has not maintained a consistent policy line, noting that its positions on housing and foreign manpower have varied according to prevailing public concerns. Speaking to PAP cadres at the party's biennial conference, Wong contrasted the opposition's approach with the governing party's need to consider longer-term trade-offs.
He cited housing as an example, recalling that the Workers' Party in 2019 called for fewer new flats, later criticised the government for insufficient supply during the pandemic, and more recently urged greater construction to meet demand. Wong said the government must balance the need for new homes with preserving green spaces, adding that decisions on sites such as Sunset Way and Gillman Barracks involve difficult choices.
On foreign manpower, Wong noted that the party opposed tighter worker rules in 2012, later advocated zero growth in the foreign workforce amid population-projection debates, and most recently called for easing quotas to help small and medium-sized enterprises. > "You can see how their position seems to shift with the political winds," he said, stressing that policy cannot be altered solely in response to short-term pressures.
Wong argued that governing requires taking responsibility for outcomes, whereas opposition politics can focus on individual issues without reconciling competing demands. He warned against populist promises and emphasized the need for decisions that stand the test of time. The prime minister also referenced recent updates to political salaries, describing the move as a necessary, albeit unpopular, step to maintain strong political leadership.
Concluding, Wong said the PAP's approach across housing, manpower and political salaries is guided by careful listening, transparent explanation of trade-offs, and accountability for consequences.