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Lee Bee Wah on foreign labour and transport
SINGAPORE: MP for Nee Soon GRC, Lee Bee Wah said in Parliament that the budget's call to improve productivity is a step in the right direction, but also asked the government to re-examine its policies.
She cited the building of the rail network and tenders for HDB, as examples of how Singapore has relied heavily on foreign labour.
She added that this would have an adverse long-term effect on the construction industry.
Dr Lee also touched on Singapore's public transportation system.
She called on the government to ask public transport operators hold bus fares for the next 10 years or more, and for concession fares for polytechnic students.
She also called for better salaries and working conditions for bus drivers.
"We have been building MRT projects for the last 20 to 30 years. Besides spending money on building the infrastructure, did we put in deliberate efforts to build up the local expertise? How many local constructors have gained experience and is there anyone who can go out to compete for jobs overseas? I would say there's none," she said.
- CNA/cc
SINGAPORE: MP for Nee Soon GRC, Lee Bee Wah said in Parliament that the budget's call to improve productivity is a step in the right direction, but also asked the government to re-examine its policies.
She cited the building of the rail network and tenders for HDB, as examples of how Singapore has relied heavily on foreign labour.
She added that this would have an adverse long-term effect on the construction industry.
Dr Lee also touched on Singapore's public transportation system.
She called on the government to ask public transport operators hold bus fares for the next 10 years or more, and for concession fares for polytechnic students.
She also called for better salaries and working conditions for bus drivers.
"We have been building MRT projects for the last 20 to 30 years. Besides spending money on building the infrastructure, did we put in deliberate efforts to build up the local expertise? How many local constructors have gained experience and is there anyone who can go out to compete for jobs overseas? I would say there's none," she said.
- CNA/cc
