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Throughout GE2020 and in its aftermath, the minimum wage and the Progressive Wage Model – or the PWM – have emerged as key policy proposals, even if the discourse is not new. At least five opposition parties have proposed a minimum wage or a living wage, and in response the ruling party promised to extend the PWM to more industries, beyond the cleaning, security, and landscape sectors. A central concern, nevertheless, is the persistence of poor wages for low-income Singaporeans.

Today, we speak to economist Professor Linda Lim of the University of Michigan, understanding and comparing the minimum wage and Singapore’s PWM (both described as “second-best policies”), addressing common objections to the minimum wage, as well as concluding on the challenge of low-wage labour. Prof. Lim’s research focuses on the political economy of multinational and local business in South East Asia. She is also one of the editors of Academia.SG, a website maintained by a group of Singaporean academics to promote Singapore studies and to encourage critical debate about the state of intellectual life in Singapore.

Climate and environmental issues as election issues (with Bertrand Seah) – socialservice.sg presents: "Before the Ballot"

1. Climate and environmental issues as election issues (with Bertrand Seah) 51:38
2. “Are unelected voices still necessary in parliament?” (with former NMP Anthea Ong) 56:34
3. Parliamentary vacancies and parliamentary representation (with PhD student Joel Yew) 32:37

Click here to listen to the episode. A transcript is also available on Academia.SG.