‘Don’t put platform workers in the middle’: Indranee Rajah reminds Parliament that workers’ rights debate is turning political – Mothership.SG

On September 9, politicians from both parties debated the relationship between the government, the ruling party and the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) during a parliamentary debate on a new bill that would strengthen protections and give them better rights to platform workers.

Debate on the platform workers bill began around 4:30 p.m., with several MPs taking turns speaking on the issue, highlighting platform workers’ concerns and expressing their support.

However, three hours later the debate turned political, and House Speaker Indranee Rajah intervened and reminded Parliament:

“Political parties can fight it out among themselves, but don’t put platform workers in the middle of that fight.”

Don’t make them pawns or, you know, beaters for it. We have to pass a bill.

At the end of the day, it comes down to this: We need to pass a bill, and let’s pass this bill, so we can provide rights and protections to our platform workers.”

PAP’s relationship with NTUC raises concerns: Gerald Giam

The exchange between MPs from the ruling People’s Action Party and the Workers’ Party began after a speech by WP MP Gerald Giam, who expressed concern about the NTUC’s “symbiotic relationship” with the PAP.

Giam claimed: “If workers believe that their interests will be subordinated to the political interests of the PAP or the political goals of the PAP, unions may lose their ability to effectively mobilize and advocate for workers.”

Giam noted that many PAP MPs and branch chairmen also act as advisers to NTUC affiliate unions and also claimed that this could lead to “a potential conflict of interest”.

Speech “largely an attack on the NTUC”: Christopher de Souza

Midway through Giam’s speech, Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MP Christopher de Souza raised a point of order that Giam’s speech did not refer to the bill at hand but was “mainly an attack against the NTUC”.

“I think it is unfair, it is opportunistic and it goes beyond the agenda of what we are discussing today, which is specific legislation to promote the protection and future of platform workers,” de Souza said.

He added that MPs should not use parliament and legislation to “formulate political speeches” that “go far beyond the scope and scope of the legislation being debated”.

However, Giam replied that the first part of his speech was an introduction to the points he would make.

He later suggested that workers should be able to form alternative associations not affiliated with the NTUC in order to have representation that is “not beholden to any political party or the government”.

After Giam’s speech, Parliament Speaker Seah Kian Peng referred him to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, which state that MPs should limit their observations to the topic under discussion and not raise irrelevant matters.

PAP members should think about themselves: Pritam Singh

Moments later, Opposition Leader Pritam Singh took the podium and noted that Seah’s comments were “critical.”

He recalled a speech by de Souza on the 2022 budget in which he also advised the PAP government to decide on the 4G leadership.

“That’s why I think the wholesome message you gave at the end is important because it can’t just be accusations against the opposition, but I think some PAP members should think about themselves,” he said Singh turns to Seah.

de Souza clarified that the situation is different than when discussing a bill where there is an agenda to follow.

Conversely, he said that during a budget debate, members would be free to discuss other issues, such as “the goals, the values, the future that they want to see for Singapore”.

“Give respect to our union leaders”: Heng Chee How

Heng Chee How, Jalan Besar MP and NTUC deputy secretary-general, responded to Giam, urging him to “show our union leaders due respect”.

“They are not henchmen. Your heart is in the right place. They do all this for their colleagues,” Heng said.

“Be fair to our union leaders. Be fair to our unions. Be fair to the NTUC. NTUC doesn’t expect Labor to support us, but at least be fair.”

Other MPs from PAP and WP also took part in the debate, which lasted about half an hour.

“It is up to the NTUC to decide whether to support a political party”

Towards the end, Giam asked the PAP MPs whether, based on their statements, one could assume that NTUC would become “an instrument of opposition to the new government” if the PAP ever lost power.

Rajah then stood up and said that while she could not speak on behalf of the NTUC, it was up to the workers and the NTUC to decide whether to support a political party.

“What I can say is that the PAP would do its utmost not to have to give them any reason to believe that we would never support them or that we as a government would not do our best for the workers and the NTUC.” ” she said.

Concluding the debate on NTUC she said:

“We all know that there must be a general election by next year. It may be this year, it may be next year, but we all know there has to be one by next year.”

We also know that whenever there is or is a general election, the political rhetoric increases, that the political parties can fight among themselves, but do not put the platform workers in the middle of this matter.”

Debate on the Platform Workers Bill resumed at around 9:30 p.m. and was adjourned to allow debate to continue on September 10.

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