PMET & GE 2025: How Each Party Plans to Address Mid-Career Employment Challenges in Singapore

Written by The Financial Coconut | Apr 24, 2025 12:43:48 PM

 

As Singapore grapples with technological disruptions, global competition, and demographic shifts, mid-career Professionals, Managers, Executives, and Technicians (PMETs) face mounting challenges.

Concerns over job security, wage stagnation, and the need for reskilling have become central to national discourse. Ahead of the 2025 General Election (GE2025), political parties are outlining their strategies to address these issues.

This article examines the approaches of the People's Action Party (PAP), the Workers' Party (WP), and the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) to tackle PMET employment challenges.

By comparing their policies and priorities, we aim to provide a clearer understanding of how each party plans to support this critical segment of the workforce.

Ministry of Manpower (Government/PAP): Comprehensive Policy Framework

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM), representing the incumbent PAP government, has introduced a multi-pronged strategy to empower PMETs:

Strategic Shifts

  • Empowering Workers: MOM is focusing on creating good job opportunities, fostering inclusive workplaces, and strengthening trust between employers and employees.
  • Adapting to Change: These efforts acknowledge the pressures of technological advancements and global competition, ensuring PMETs remain competitive in a dynamic economy.

Skills and Career Support

Addressing Foreign Competition

  • EP Salary Threshold Increase: Starting in 2025, the qualifying salary for new Employment Pass (EP) applicants will rise to S$5,600. This aims to moderate the inflow of foreign professionals and encourage companies to hire locals. However, concerns persist about potential business costs or relocation of roles.

Adapting to an Aging Workforce

  • Flexible Work Arrangements: With nearly one in four citizens projected to be 65 or older by 2030, MOM is promoting flexible work options and raising the retirement and re-employment ages to 65 and 70, respectively.

Tripartism

  • Collaborative Model: The government emphasises the tripartite model, which is a collaboration between unions, employers, and the government to maintain workforce competitiveness.

Workers’ Party (WP): Representation and Constructive Opposition

The Workers’ Party (WP) has launched its campaign for GE2025 with a focus on representation and constructive opposition:

Campaign Slogan and Goals

  • "Working for Singapore": The WP’s slogan underscores its commitment to representing the diverse population and striving for a "First World Parliament.
  • Constructive Opposition: The party highlights that its proposals between 2020 and 2025 have influenced government policies, though specific new PMET policies remain undisclosed.

Ambition for Parliament

  • One-Third of Seats: The WP aims to secure one-third of parliamentary seats and plans to field its largest slate of candidates yet, including many professionals.

Gaps in Specific PMET Policies

  • While the WP emphasises broader goals like representation and accountability, detailed policy proposals addressing PMET challenges are not yet available in the provided context.

Progress Singapore Party (PSP): Tighter Foreign Talent Controls

The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) appears to focus on stricter regulations for foreign talent, though specifics remain limited:

Potential Policy Focus

  • EP Salary Threshold: PSP proposals may involve significantly raising the EP qualifying salary, potentially to S$10,000 — to exclude foreign nationals from junior and mid-level PMET positions.
  • Protecting Local Jobs: Such measures aim to safeguard non-tech PMET roles from foreign competition.

Debate on Effectiveness

  • Pros: Advocates argue this could protect local PMETs from job displacement.
  • Cons: Critics warn it might hinder sectors facing talent shortages, such as technology, where companies struggle to hire locals for specialised roles.

Comparative Analysis: Key Takeaways

Aspect PAP WP PSP
Focus Areas Skills development, foreign competition, aging workforce, tripartism Representation, constructive opposition Stricter foreign talent controls
Specific PMET Policies SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support, EP threshold increase, flexible work arrangements Broad goals; no specific PMET policies disclosed Potential EP salary hike to S$10,000
Strengths Comprehensive, proactive, and aligned with current government initiatives Emphasizes representation and accountability Addresses concerns about foreign competition
Challenges Balancing foreign talent inflow with local hiring needs Lack of detailed PMET-specific policies Risk of hindering sectors with talent shortages

Charting a Path Forward for PMETs

The challenges faced by mid-career PMETs are multifaceted, requiring nuanced and targeted solutions.

The PAP government has introduced a robust framework of skills development, foreign competition management, and workplace adaptability.

Meanwhile, the WP focuses on representation and accountability, though specific PMET policies remain unclear.

The PSP, on the other hand, advocates for tighter foreign talent controls, which could protect local jobs but risks exacerbating talent shortages in key sectors.

As Singapore moves toward GE2025, voters must weigh these approaches carefully. Whether prioritising comprehensive programmes, constructive opposition, or stricter regulations, the ultimate goal remains the same: ensuring PMETs can thrive in an evolving economic landscape.

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