Budget 2025: Here's what 6 MPs said about improving work-life balance, upskilling & supporting workers with disabilities

Various Members of Parliament (MP) spoke in support of the Budget during a parliament hearing on Feb. 26.

Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong delivered his 2025 Budget speech on Feb. 18, 2025.

This year’s Budget announcement included several initiatives aimed at improving the employability of Singaporeans in various sectors.

Several MPs highlighted key areas for enhancing Singapore's workforce, including further efforts to upskill workers, support for workers with disabilities, and improvements in work-life balance.

Liang Eng Hwa

MP for Bukit Panjang SMC Liang Eng Hwa noted that the Budget 2025 shows the government's effort to support workers’ employability.

"There is also no let up in our efforts to upskill our workers," he said, highlighting the various new measures put forth to upskills workers such as the addition of part-time allowance in the SkillsFuture Level Up programme.

A new SkillsFuture Workforce Development Grant and a redesigned SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit have been introduced to provide funding support to companies for job redesign activities, he added.

"These are again over and above the comprehensive set of schemes introduced to support workers in earlier budgets," he said.

Hazel Poa

Non-constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Hazel Poa addressed the issue of Singaporeans’ work-life balance.

While she acknowledged the newly introduced Large Family Scheme, designed to support married couples who have or aspire to have three or more children, Poa emphasized the need for further changes to give Singaporeans more time to find life partners and raise children.

She argued that structural changes are necessary to incentivize employers to be more family-friendly and to create a better work-life balance, allowing Singaporeans more time for family life.

"What we need is to move the needle for those who want children but do not currently feel ready or that they have sufficient resources to have children," she said.

To improve Singaporeans’ work-life balance, she proposed two ideas: Increasing the number of public holidays and enacting the right of workers to disconnect.

Saktiandi Supaat

Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MP Saktiandi Supaat discussed the importance of attracting investments and quality jobs to Singapore.

Among other points, he emphasized that continued focus on worker upskilling and reskilling would enhance Singapore's appeal as a business hub.

He referenced the OECD’s Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), which showed a significant decline in literacy among Singaporean citizens and permanent residents over the age of 35.

Based on this, he said redesigning the SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit to function like an online wallet is a "good idea".

This allows companies to use the credits immediately to offset staff training costs, rather than relying on a reimbursement process.

He also proposed making it easier for individual Singaporeans to use their SkillsFuture credits in a similar way.

Darryl David

Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Darryl David praised the government’s efforts to support local companies in innovation and the various schemes put in place to assist the workforce.

While implementing these schemes, he expressed hope that the government could consolidate efforts to nurture Singaporeans into becoming global leaders.

"Singapore’s future success, in my opinion, depends on a bifurcate workforce strategy comprising renewing the skills of our local workforce so that we are the most competitive, the most educated, well-skilled, and productive workforce in the region," he said

He suggested that the government consider adopting a more programmatic approach, both nationally and internationally, to provide Singaporeans with the exposure and training needed to rise as global leaders.

Dennis Tan

Workers' Party MP Dennis Tan of Hougang SMC addressed the importance of supporting persons with disabilities (PWD) and improving their employment experiences.

While transiting persons with disabilities and encouraging employers to be PWD-ready is important, he emphasised that creating a suitable working environment for disabled individuals also requires understanding, empathy, and support from their colleagues.

"The sticking issue is the lack of understanding from colleagues of their condition and their needs at work, there is even fear of discrimination, of affecting promotion or job security, preventing one from sharing about one's own condition or challenges," he said.

Tan expressed hope that SG Enable, Singapore’s focal agency for disability, can consider how to continue enhancing public education and understanding of disabled individuals in the workplace.

He believes that this will help employers, colleagues, and all Singaporeans gain greater knowledge, understanding, and empathy for colleagues with disabilities or special needs.

Lim Biow Chuan

Mountbatten SMC MP Lim Biow Chuan addressed Singapore's work culture and long working hours, which he suggest may be one reason why couples are not choosing to have children.

"Is the reluctance of having more children due to a lifestyle preference? Or is it because many couples don’t want their children to be stressed due to the education system? Or is it being of work stress that makes it difficult for couples to plan for children?" he asked.

Lim suggested that Singaporeans lead overly stressful lives and called for a reset in how we define success.

"Many of us work long hours with reduced family time. Even in Parliament, our clerks and other staff work such long hours because MPs work such long hours debating bills until late in the evening and sometimes until late at night."

In contrast, he noted that people in countries like Australia or those in Europe enjoy a better work-life balance, often seen "enjoying the weather and parks from 5pm onwards."

He urged the government to reconsider the culture of long, stressful working hours.

Top photos from MDDI/YouTube