Abstract .....Tharman was splitting hairs. Juliet would have admonished him : Whats in a name? that which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet (From Shakepeares Romeo and Juliet). .....he and his PAP tribe are truly in retreat in this debate over the minimum wage. PAP in retreat... For some time now, PAP has resisted the call of opposition parties for a national minimum wage, accusing them of being populist and irresponsible that would frighten investors away. But as evidence mounts in favour of a minimum wage regime with more and more countries adopting it, the PAPs position has become increasingly untenable.........PAP cannot admit that it is wrong and the opposition is right or that the opposition has a better idea! So PAPs minimum wage is a progressive wage, not a minimum wage! .....Blinded by greed ..................Why does the PAP government go about in this convoluted way instead of introducing a straight minimum wage? The answer is obvious. It is more interested in maintaining and enhancing the profits of companies than in safeguarding the welfare of Singaporean workers. And these profits lead to bigger bonuses and higher salaries which will in turn raise the benchmark for ministers salaries. Intellectual dishonesty Why does Tharman insist that his targeted progressive wage is not a minimum wage? His denial and squirming remind me of what the late Dr Goh Keng Swee described as intellectual dishonesty in the early years. Those of us who had worked for Dr Goh knew that he did not suffer fools gladly. We are sure that Dr Goh would be turning in his grave.
Posted on: Sat, 01 Feb 2014 09:56:44 +0000