‘Dark clouds’ loom with possible recession in developed countries, but Singapore should be able to avoid same fate: PM Lee

On Jan 8, China reopened its borders to international travellers for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“On our end, we have to be prepared for all possibilities and do our best,” Mr Lee added.

At the interchange, Mr Lee spoke to transport workers, including bus captains and administrative staff to thank them for their service during the Chinese New Year period. 

He also took part in the tossing of yusheng (Mandarin for “raw fish”), a Chinese New Year tradition, with representatives from the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), National Transport Workers’ Union (NTWU), transport operator SMRT, as well as transport workers. 

Asked about what feedback he had received from the transport workers, Mr Lee said that salary was an issue raised. 

“Speaking to the bus drivers earlier, they said the economy is better, (but) maybe their pay should also increase,” he said.

“Of course, we wish to do that too, but we must also look at the economic situation.” 

In a press statement by NTUC on Saturday detailing Mr Lee’s visit, the labour movement said that it recognises “the need to improve career prospects by upskilling our public transport workers, especially our bus captains”. 

In 2012, NTUC worked with industry stakeholders and tripartite partners to introduce a progressive wage structure for the transport and logistics services cluster, covering bus captains amongst the worker groups. 

“Since then, close to 10,000 public transport workers from the four public transport operators in Singapore have benefitted, where the average starting basic salary is now S$2,150 as compared to S$1,375 prior to 2012,” said NTUC.

This story was originally published in TODAY.