Budget 2025 is a defining moment for Singapore’s workforce and economy. In his speech in Parliament, Patrick Tay, Assistant Secretary-General of NTUC and Member of Parliament for Pioneer SMC, emphasised that the Budget must be about protecting Singaporean workers, strengthening job security, and ensuring fairer opportunities. He outlined a framework of three key priorities—coping with the cost of living, caring for all, and catalysing company training and transformation.
Patrick has long been a strong advocate for workplace fairness, better career mobility, and greater job security. He highlighted that Singapore must remain proactive in addressing job displacement, wage stagnation, and employment competition while equipping workers with the skills and support they need. This Budget introduces real measures that Singaporeans must act on immediately to secure their financial future.
Coping with Rising Costs and Reducing Your Expenses
Singaporeans across all income levels are feeling the impact of inflation, rising food prices, and higher household expenses. To help families manage, the government is rolling out additional financial support. Patrick highlighted the importance of easing financial burdens for middle-income and lower-income families while ensuring that workers, especially those in vulnerable job sectors, receive adequate support.
The Budget provides additional Community Development Council vouchers to all Housing and Development Board households, helping them manage grocery, dining, and daily expenses. Parents will benefit from higher childcare subsidies, making preschool education more affordable. For lower-wage workers, increased Workfare payouts will ensure better take-home salaries, supporting those in essential services and lower-income jobs.
Imagine that your monthly grocery bill is five hundred dollars. With the additional Community Development Council vouchers, a significant portion of that expense can now be covered. If you have young children, the enhanced childcare subsidies will help reduce the cost of preschool fees. If you are in a lower-paying job, the boost in Workfare payouts means more money in your pocket each month, helping you manage your finances better.
Strengthening the Singaporean Core and Protecting Local Jobs
One of the biggest concerns raised by workers today is job security and competition from foreign hires. Patrick has spent over a decade advocating for policies that protect Singaporean professionals, managers, and executives from unfair employment practices. His work with the National Trades Union Congress and Singapore National Employers Federation taskforce has shaped major changes in the employment landscape.
The new Workplace Fairness Act will offer stronger protection against workplace discrimination, including unfair hiring based on age or nationality. The Complementarity Assessment Framework will ensure that foreign hires do not replace Singaporeans unfairly. At the same time, stricter retrenchment rules will be introduced, requiring companies to provide fairer compensation and earlier notice to affected employees.
A stronger Singaporean Core means a stronger economy for Singapore—one that is more competitive and less reliant on external labour. Beyond fair opportunities, it is also important to ensure quality opportunities for Singaporean workers. This means good wages, good welfare, good work prospects, workplaces free from discrimination and harassment, and more meaningful tasks at work so that every Singaporean worker can maximise their true potential. Supporting local employment must be a strategic priority for the Government to help Singaporean workers earn a better living and live a better life.
If you have been in the same job for years and suddenly face retrenchment, these new rules ensure that you will receive proper notice and financial compensation to help you transition. If you are currently employed, it is important to understand how these new job protection laws work so that you can safeguard your career.
Upskilling and Career Growth for Mid-Career Workers
The world of work is evolving rapidly, and those who fail to keep up risk falling behind. Patrick pointed out that mid-career workers, especially those in their forties and fifties, face a unique set of challenges. Many struggle with career stagnation, slow progression, or retrenchment, often taking a longer time to re-enter the workforce or accepting lower salaries when switching jobs.
To address this, the government is investing heavily in upskilling. The SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme now offers four thousand dollars in training credits for mid-career workers. A new Jobseeker Support Scheme will provide temporary financial aid for Singaporeans who are retrenched or struggling to find employment. The expansion of Career Conversion Programmes will help professionals move into high-growth industries such as technology, healthcare, and sustainability.
Imagine that you have spent twenty years in the same industry, but automation is replacing jobs in your sector. Instead of waiting for retrenchment, you can take up a SkillsFuture-funded course that equips you with skills for a new, in-demand role. If you are currently unemployed, the new Jobseeker Support Scheme can provide temporary financial aid while you go for training or apply for jobs. These initiatives help ensure that you remain relevant and employable.
Stronger Support for Older Workers to Stay Employed
Patrick has consistently fought for better employment policies for older workers, ensuring they remain valued in the workforce. Budget 2025 introduces stronger wage subsidies and CPF contributions to encourage companies to retain older employees.
The Senior Employment Credit has been extended to make it more attractive for companies to keep older workers on their payroll. Employers will also contribute more to older workers’ CPF accounts, increasing their retirement savings while keeping them employed.
Imagine your uncle, who is in his sixties, is worried that his company might replace him with a younger worker. With the wage subsidies provided under the Senior Employment Credit, his employer now has an incentive to keep him on, ensuring he remains employed. If you or a family member is an older worker, now is the time to discuss employment continuation with your employer while financial incentives are supporting older employees.
Fairer Hiring Practices & AI in Recruitment
With artificial intelligence increasingly being used in hiring, Patrick warned that bias in AI-driven recruitment could disadvantage certain jobseekers. To ensure fairness, the government is introducing new hiring standards for AI recruitment tools.
Companies must now ensure that AI screening does not automatically exclude candidates based on age, gender, or other demographic factors. Employers will be required to review their AI hiring processes and follow ethical hiring standards.
Imagine your aunt, who is in her fifties, has been applying for jobs but never gets shortlisted, despite having the right experience. With the new fair hiring regulations, companies must now ensure that AI recruitment does not unfairly exclude candidates based on age or other demographic factors. If you or someone you know has faced difficulty securing interviews due to unfair hiring practices, these new policies provide an opportunity for fairer recruitment.
Key Actions To Take Now
Patrick’s speech in Parliament made it clear that Singaporeans must take proactive steps to secure their financial future. Budget 2025 provides real financial and career opportunities, but these benefits only go to those who act.
Singaporeans should check their eligibility for CDC vouchers and childcare subsidies to reduce their monthly expenses. Employees should explore SkillsFuture credits and career conversion programmes to upgrade their skills before industry shifts make their current jobs obsolete. Older workers should discuss continued employment options with their companies while wage subsidies are in place to support their retention. Jobseekers should stay informed about the new Workplace Fairness Act and retrenchment protections to ensure they receive fair treatment.
This Budget is not just about government support – it is about how you use the opportunities available to secure your future. As Patrick emphasised in his speech, Singaporeans who plan ahead, upgrade their skills, and take advantage of available support will thrive in the evolving workforce.
