Initiative to recognise low-wage workers, S'pore and Indonesia to find ways to mend affected ties

Mothership Memo: Analysing the important news for you daily.

Jonathan Lim| April 21, 11:50 AM

Mothership Memo is Mothership’s daily brief on the important headlines of the day. We will also contribute our views on the issues at hand.

 

U Appreciate Movement launched on 19 April to raise profile of low-wage workers

The new initiative is spearheaded by the NTUC U Care Centre and has the Singapore Labour Foundation backing it with $2 million for two years. The U Appreciate Movement wants to garner more care and respect for low-wage workers from employers as well as the public. It aims to recognise the efforts of 30,000 low-wage workers in the cleaning, security and landscape sectors.

It is good that low-wage workers are placed more in the spotlight now. With cost-of-living on the rise, we must not forget that low-wage workers and their jobs are essential for Singapore. A rising tide lifts all boats and the bigger goal will of course be to include low-wage workers in the fruits of our economic success. Hopefully the spotlight stays on this issue long enough to be a concern for all Singaporeans.

 

Singapore and Indonesia have to move beyond controversial naming of warships: Ng Eng Hen

Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen said that he would be taking Commander-in-Chief of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) General Moeldoko's words at 'face value'. This came after Gen. Moeldoko clarified that he was not apologising for the naming of the warships but was expressing regret that the naming was a final decision and would not be changed. When asked whether he accepted that clarification, Dr Ng noted that it was not productive for Singapore to be involved in Indonesia's domestic politics. He said that Singapore and Indonesia must find ways to mend affected ties.

What an interesting turn of events. When Singapore first responded that it will resume bilateral cooperation between SAF and TNI, it was in response from the goodwill gesture of Gen. Moeldoko and his 'apology'. Now that Gen. Moeldoko has clarified that he was expressing regret that the warships' names cannot be changed, the ball's in Singapore's court to see how they would like to proceed to navigate this issue without Singapore looking like it has just been taken for a ride.

 

Top photo from Ross Polack

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