SINGAPORE: A man has found himself in an unexpected dispute after his ex-fiancée insisted he reimburse her S$15,000 in cash for the CPF downpayment she lost when their BTO application was cancelled.

Hoping to find some guidance, he posted on the r/asksg subreddit on Tuesday (Apr 28). 

In his post, he explained that he had been in a relationship with his ex-fiancée for five years before they called off their wedding plans. He also noted that he had already returned her share of the wedding banquet and vendor expenses.

Matters, however, became complicated when his ex-fiancée said she expected him to refund her for the BTO downpayment as well.

“When it comes to the forfeit for the BTO, she felt that I am responsible to pay her back in cash. Approximately S$15k from the loss from CPF. Do you think I should be paying her back the money?” he asked others.

The man said they both paid “50/50 for the BTO deposit.”

“Legally, I am not obliged to pay her anything, but she and her family are determined to have the money back and have been pursuing me constantly on this issue. This led to a number of harassment messages from them. Is it a must to pay her back? I just don’t find it justifiable to pay her back entirely. I have borne a substantial amount of money with the loss of the wedding and now another round for the CPF money,” he continued. “I have already paid her back the banquet/vendor cost even before I was able to get a refund from the shops, and now they are coming for more.”

The man also clarified that neither party had been unfaithful during the relationship. The decision to call off the wedding, he said, was his, after he concluded that an unresolved “internal problem” between them would eventually lead to divorce.

“I initiated the cancellation…It was a last-minute decision to back off,” he said. “I woke up from it.”

“She’s just using this to her advantage.”

The post quickly gained traction on the forum, with many Singaporeans jumping in to share their thoughts on the issue.

One individual wrote that the post author should not give in to the demand because it “was a mutual loss,” adding, “Just ignore them and block if necessary.”

Another user said, “Pay her back in cash? At the end of the day, it was a 50/50 CPF payment. If you have to pay her back in cash for her share, why not also claim it back from her in cash as well? Lastly, it’s CPF, not cash. There is no such thing as converting CPF payments to cash. She’s just using this to her advantage.”

A third commented, “If you really don’t have money, then no point, bro. You already did good by paying her share for the wedding banquet. I don’t think you need to pay for her CPF too.”

Several others, however, disagreed and said that he should at least compensate her in some way since he “initiated” the cancellation.

“You’re the cause of the breakup,” one user argued. “You ‘foresaw’ an issue and initiated it. Instead of resolving the issue, you decided on the breakup. You’re the reason for the monetary loss.”

Another added, “My 2 cents would be, although you are very gentlemanly and gave back the wedding expenses that she forked out already, CPF-wise it does sound slightly unfair to her because of how last-minute your cancellation of BTO comes in.” 

“Paying back the entire S$15k can be too much of a burden and might even place you in debt. Maybe offer to pay back 50%? Generally, anywhere from 30 to 70%, whichever you feel comfortable enough with.”

In other news, a Singaporean took to Reddit to open up about how being laid off has deeply affected the way they see themselves.

In their post, they shared that they have been carrying a persistent sense of being “useless,” describing it as a feeling that refuses to go away, no matter how hard they try to stay occupied or push forward.

Read more: Laid-off Singaporean says he feels ‘useless’ as relentless job search yields no results

This article (Man says ex-fiancée demanded S$15k after BTO cancellation: ‘She wants the downpayment back’) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A Singapore worker who had nearly a year to prepare for retrenchment still found herself unready when the final day arrived. Her story shows that job loss affects more than just income for some, as they link their career loss to a loss of identity, routine, and a sense of place in society.

She was given 10 months’ notice as her company moved operations overseas. During that time, she trained a replacement team and kept work running. On paper, it looked like a smooth transition, but in reality, it became a slow, drawn-out goodbye, Channel NewsAsia (CNA) reports (April 27).

A grief that stayed buried in silence

Instead of processing the loss, she focused on staying productive. Work became her shield. The grief stayed buried.

Colleagues left one by one. The office shrank. By her final day, only two people remained from what was once an 18-member team.

The ending didn’t come with a dramatic send-off. There were no meetings, no speeches. Just a silent return of her laptop and access card. That silence hit harder than expected.

She left the office and cried in a cinema, alone

She tried to stay composed. That image held for months… but then it collapsed in minutes.

A simple exchange with a colleague triggered it. Then another brief conversation. Words became difficult. Emotions surfaced all at once. She left the office and cried in a cinema, alone, during a weekday screening.

From the outside, retrenchment can look clean. Severance is paid. Work ends. Life moves on. But what disappears is harder to measure. It is the daily rhythm. The sense of usefulness. The quiet pride in doing something well.

Her identity had become tied to her job role

Over time, she realised her identity had become tied to her role. For two decades, her value was linked to output and performance. Without that title, there was a void.

She tried to stay busy at first, updating her resume, planning next steps, and filling time, but it didn’t help. The emotional impact came in waves. Some days were productive. Others were slow and heavy.

Friends who had gone through layoffs told her the same thing. The feeling doesn’t vanish overnight.

Mindset shift: Seeking internal value instead of chasing external validation

With space to think, harder questions surfaced. Was she chasing senior roles out of interest, or validation? Would she accept less pay for more time with her family?

These weren’t urgent questions before, but they became painfully unavoidable after her job ended, so she decided to pause job seeking for a few months. Not to delay, but to reset.

That reset led to small mindset changes, such as writing for herself. Spending free time without guilt. Trying new things without a work outcome attached to it.

Eventually, one of those efforts led to a children’s book deal. It then changed how she saw her own value. Different didn’t mean any less.

Giving people more time to prepare doesn’t make retrenchment easier

Layoffs have now become more common across sectors as Singapore’s cost-of-living pressures and restructuring also continue across the region.

The Singaporean worker’s story stands out because it challenges a common belief: that giving people more time to prepare makes retrenchment easier. It certainly doesn’t.

A longer lead-up to ending someone’s career can stretch the emotional strain, delay closure, and keep people stuck in a space between, where they are still working while they’re on their way out. This tension builds silently within.

For many, work isn’t just a job. It is their identity, so when it disappears, people are forced to ask questions they may have avoided for years.

You are more than just your job role

Eight months on, the worker’s grief over the job loss has softened, even though it hasn’t entirely disappeared. She now sees herself as more than just her previous job role: a writer, a parent, a partner, and an individual outside of work.

That change of heart and spirit didn’t come easily. It came through with much emotional and mental discomfort. And that might be the real takeaway: losing a job hurts even when expected. Even when prepared. Ignoring that feeling only delays the inevitable.

A more practical approach is to acknowledge a job loss early. Give yourself time and space to process it. Let it run its course, because a job may end in a day or some day, but the pain and meaning attached to it takes longer to heal and untangle.

Read related: ‘The most useful thing a senior told me at work’ — Workers share the advice that ‘stuck with them until today’

This article (‘Who am I without my work?’ — Singapore worker grieves after losing her job and the identity it gave her) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A report on artificial intelligence (AI) adoption among firms in Singapore by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) released on Thursday (April 30) found that there is no indication of significant job displacement due to AI “at this point,” adding that it is “augmenting but not replacing” jobs.

MOM said only 6.2% of firms in the city-state reported reduced headcount after adopting AI, while more are redesigning roles (18.9%) and creating new AI-related jobs (13.9%), suggesting the technology is “primarily transforming tasks rather than replacing roles”.

In fact, AI adoption remains limited in the little red dot. About seven in 10 firms have yet to adopt AI, while among those that have (28.5%), only a small share (3.8%) have started integrating it into their core processes, while the rest are still at the planning (7.4%) or piloting (6.0%) stages.

In smaller firms, where there are fewer than 25 employees, adoption is still at 23.9%, compared with 76.4% among larger firms. Those with more than 500 employees also show deeper integration, pointing to stronger digital capabilities and resources.

Still, 70.7% of firms using the technology have already reported productivity gains, alongside improved decision-making (13.3%) and innovation (11.9%).

AI adoption remains challenging due to high implementation costs (44.9%) and lack of in-house expertise (42.4%) according to firms. Smaller firms also cited lack of strategy (32.4%) and low trust in AI (30.8%), while larger firms pointed to integration complexity (56.1%) and data security concerns (55.4%).

Currently, smaller firms are focused on training their teams (46.6%) and providing AI tools such as ChatGPT, DeepSeek and IBM Cognos Analytics (41.1%), while larger firms are moving towards governance frameworks (37.5%) and workflow redesign (22.5%). /TISG

Read also: AI is taking the blame for layoffs — but analysts say it’s really tariffs, overhiring, and cost-cutting

This article (MOM: AI is ‘augmenting but not replacing’ jobs; no indication of significant job displacement due to AI ‘at this point’) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Chee Soon Juan invited Singaporeans earlier this week to join a Labour Day Rally in Hong Lim Park this Friday from 3:00 p.m to 7:00 p.m. at Hong Lim Park.

Dr Chee, the Secretary-General of the Singapore Democratic Party, posted a photo on social media of one of the posters of the rally, which reads, “It’s time to take back our lives! Labour Day Rally 2026 Calls to Action.” 

He cited a CNA report from October 2024 that said “Singapore has some of the highest burnout rates globally,” and another from Mashable Southeast Asia from 2022 titled “New survey shows Singaporeans drowning in stress, with money among the biggest concerns.”

More pointedly, he wrote, “We cannot sleepwalk into such a future – a future designed for billionaires while the rest of us struggle with housing, cost of living, and opportunity.

Singaporeans must pay attention — and take urgent action — before the path becomes irreversible.

Don’t sit back and expect things to magically change. They won’t — not if we stay silent and passive.

We need to wake up. And we need to rise — together. Now,” urging Singaporeans to join the rally at Hong Lim Park.

Workers’ and Climate Action Rally

This year’s event is organised by the workers’ rights group Workers Made Possible together with SG Climate Rally. According to an Instagram post, there will be other workers’ organisations joining as well, including SG Delivery Riders, Makan Minum, and Migrant Workers Singapore.

According to a campaign paper released by the organisers, the full theme of the rally is “Running out of time: Take back your life! Burnt-out workers on a burning planet,” and a line-up of the event’s young hosts and speakers may be found here.

They have also published their main calls, which are as follows:

1. 888—no more than 8 hours for work, 8 hours for rest, and 8 hours for living life

2. A maximum 5-day work week for all

3. The right to disconnect, to not answer calls and texts after hours 

4. At least 15 days of paid annual leave for all

5. Basic amount of sick leave without needing a medical certificate (MC)

6. Dependent care leave and other leave entitlements for all 

7. Raise basic wages for all so that we can reduce work hours  (OT, etc)

More information about the rally may be found here. /TISG

Read also: WP Team attends People’s Labour Day Rally 2025 at Hong Lim Park

This article (‘We cannot sleepwalk into a future designed for billionaires’: Chee Soon Juan urges Singaporeans to ‘rise together’ at Labour Day rally) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Mixed reactions have emerged online after the Workers’ Party (WP) revealed yesterday (April 30) that it has formally reprimanded its secretary-general, Pritam Singh, following an internal disciplinary process linked to his conviction for lying to a parliamentary committee but most supporters remain loyal and steadfast.

The party said in a statement that its Central Executive Committee (CEC) convened over two days this week to review a report submitted by its disciplinary panel. Mr Singh did not take part in the deliberations, having recused himself alongside party chair Sylvia Lim and vice-chair Faisal Manap.

The panel concluded that Mr Singh had breached provisions under Articles 20(1) and 30 of the party constitution, which govern members’ conduct and discipline. These findings were based on the court’s earlier judgment, and the CEC said it accepted the panel’s conclusions.

Despite this, the party leadership determined that Mr Singh’s actions were not driven by any intent to undermine the party’s principles or interests. It said, “The CEC separately considered that, at all material times, Mr Singh did not have any intention to act in a manner contrary to the principles, aims, or objects of the party, or prejudicial to the welfare of the party, and his actions ultimately reflected judgment calls that he had to make.”

After weighing the circumstances, the CEC decided to issue a formal letter of reprimand. “We continue the work of building a more balanced political system for Singapore,” the party added.

The disciplinary action has split netizens, with some expressing disappointment and others saying it’s time to move on. One Facebook user asked, “This is really disappointing. If WP leaders want to hold the government accountable, they must hold themselves to the same standard of integrity. Otherwise, how can the public have confidence in their role as a check and balance?”

Another commenter wrote, “While the conclusion may be valid, the lack of transparency around how the assessment was conducted could undermine public confidence. Anyway is Wayang Party.”

One netizen commented, “Wah, reprimand only ah? Very strong action indeed,” while another jibed, “Don’t scold Pritam la.. he take mrt you know.”

Staunch opposition supporters, on the other hand, had a different take. Some commended the party for “doing a proper internal investigation”, while others urged the WP and its chief to “continue fighting.”

One commenter said simply, “Whatever! My family will continue to vote for the WP Punggol.”

The WP disciplinary panel was formed in January this year following the High Court’s decision in December 2025 to uphold Mr Singh’s conviction on two charges of lying under oath to a parliamentary committee.

Mr Singh had been found guilty in February 2025 in a case tied to his handling of a false statement made in Parliament in 2021 by former WP MP Raeesah Khan. He was subsequently fined S$7,000 for each charge, the maximum penalty.

In January 2026, Parliament passed a motion expressing regret over Mr Singh’s conduct and declaring him unfit to continue as Leader of the Opposition. Ten WP MPs and one Non-Constituency MP from the party voted against the motion.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong later removed Mr Singh from the role and invited the WP to nominate a replacement. The party declined, maintaining that the position should remain with the leader of the largest opposition party in Parliament.

This article (Supporters stay loyal despite WP reprimand of Pritam Singh) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

MALAYSIA: Malaysia’s Finance Ministry has proposed RM5.4 billion (S$1.74 billion) in operating cuts for the health and higher education ministries amid the Iran war’s fiscal impact. A Treasury directive outlined RM10 billion in savings across agencies, including RM3.06 billion from health and RM2.39 billion from higher education. Ministries must submit revised budgets by May 15 to the National Budget Office.

Many believe the strain comes from rising petrol prices, making subsidies essential for ordinary Malaysians. The prospect of budget cuts has sparked discontent, particularly in the health sector, which is already understaffed and overworked. Similar concerns are voiced about the higher education sector, where reductions could further weaken resources. 

On X, one user voiced strong frustration over the proposed health ministry budget cuts, warning that Malaysians could lose their lives if the plan proceeds, sharing multiple criticisms of the suggestion and arguing that the health sector is already overstretched. Some echoed his view, insisting that reductions should instead target other ministries to avoid jeopardising essential services.

Another user stated that the services provided by the government hospitals in Malaysia will always be inadequate. Currently, the fees can be as low as RM5 and RM10. He suggested that the fees should increase slightly to RM10 and RM15, respectively, adding that he constantly sees patients in flashy cars coming for treatment in these government hospitals. 

Others accused the government of continuing crony contracts while essential services face potential cuts, stressing that the Malaysian people matter most during this difficult period. However, there is no concrete evidence to support claims of crony contracts being awarded, making the criticism more reflective of public frustration than a verified fact.

The opposition party PSM, via its X account @PSMGombak, criticised the government for proposing 5% of GDP spending on healthcare while instead signalling cuts. The party urged higher taxes on the wealthy to protect essential services. 

For now, Malaysians may face rapid inflation, worsened by soaring petrol prices. Netizens widely agree that rising fuel costs inevitably drive up the price of essentials like rice and eggs due to the transportation cost. 

This article (Malaysian treasury suggests cutting health and education budgets to sustain fuel subsidy) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A domestic helper took to social media to air her grievances over a new employer, claiming she was made to sleep on a yoga mat, not paid for several days of work, and later blocked when she tried to follow up.

According to the helper, she had been working in Singapore since 2008 and had just completed her contract with a previous Indian employer, whom she said was “very kind and good.”

After her employer relocated overseas, she began searching for a new job and was referred to a direct employer by a friend.

The new employer, a British-Indian family who had recently moved to Singapore, asked her to start work on April 5, even though her previous employer had only officially released her on March 31.

She claimed that from her first day, she already felt “uncomfortable but chose to continue working.” She alleged that she was given a very small room and had to sleep on a yoga mat.

“I was okay with that because they are new in Singapore,” she said, adding that she tried to be understanding despite the conditions. 

However, problems soon surfaced regarding her work permit. “I was working for them for a few days [when] my previous employer texted me why my work permit was still under her name.”

When she raised this with her new employer, she was told that the paperwork would be processed. But after checking later on her own, she found that nothing had been done. 

The helper noted that under Singapore regulations, domestic workers are not allowed to start work with a new employer until their work permit transfer is officially approved.

Concerned about the situation, she decided to leave after working for four days.

She further alleged that the employer did not pay her for the four days she had worked and subsequently blocked her from contacting them.

The helper said she has since found a new employer but expressed frustration over the incident, adding that she hopes action will be taken against such practices.

“Wish God would punish that employer in Upper Thomson. The British-Indian family just moved to Singapore from the Philippines. I feel very bad about them, such a very not good heart.”

“Fight for your right.”

In the comments section, many netizens urged her to report the matter to the Ministry of Manpower.

One commenter, identifying as an employer, said, “I support you reporting them to MOM ASAP. They have money to stay in Upper Thomson but no money to pay a helper?” 

Another encouraged her to stand up for her rights, stating, “You can report them to MOM. Fight for your right. Or else that kind of employer will abuse more helpers more. Don’t be afraid.”

A third added, “If you have worked for them, they should pay you for the working days. For sleeping arrangements, we should be thankful that we have even had a private, small room unless the employer is very rich to stay in a big house, as Singapore houses are small and expensive,” a third added.

Direct transfers

According to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), new employers must coordinate with the current employer to arrange the direct transfer of a helper.

They need to confirm that the helper has completed her required six-month medical examination and that her work permit remains valid for more than 30 days.

They must also submit a request for the current employer’s consent for the transfer via MOM’s FDW eService, apply for the helper’s work permit, complete the steps indicated in the in-principle approval (IPA), purchase a security bond, medical insurance, and personal accident insurance, and ensure that they sign the declaration form together with the helper.

Finally, on the agreed transfer date, new employers must have the new work permit issued, upload the signed declaration form via the eService, and print the temporary work permit.

They must then hand over the temporary work permit to the helper so she can start working.

Read also: Maid allegedly survives on limited meals while working from 5 am to 9:30 pm daily

This article (Maid says she was made to sleep on yoga mat, unpaid for 4 days, then blocked by employer) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s most prominent opposition party, the Workers’ Party (WP), issued its yearly Labour Day message at midday on Apr 30 (Thursday) titled Strengthening Social Solidarity in the Age of AI. The statement from Secretary-General Pritam Singh expressed appreciation for workers amid concerns for the future of jobs in Singapore as technology, specifically Artificial Intelligence, rapidly develops.

He pointed out the value of the contribution of every worker, from the Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians (PMETs) who drive Singapore’s innovation, to skilled tradespersons, care workers, and public servants.

“The progress of our nation is built on the collective effort of all workers, and we owe a profound debt of gratitude to those who continue to serve across all sectors of our society,” he wrote.

Transformation of work due to AI

The WP noted how AI is no longer a novelty but is redefining work and, moreover, will play an ever-increasing role in people’s work and everyday lives. However, the party underscored that “uniquely human capabilities—empathy, physical presence, critical thinking and creativity—are becoming more valuable than ever.”

When Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced the national Budget in February, he emphasised Singapore’s push toward AI, with a new AI Council to be set up with himself as chairman. The message from the WP referred to this, but called at the same time for more proactive policies to support all workers.

More support for new graduates

The WP has expressed much concern over the dilemma new graduates face, as some entry-level professional roles are being replaced by AI-driven solutions. This could cause young professionals to miss out on the long-term development of skills vital for them to grow as future leaders, the WP warned, which is why stronger support for them is needed “to get past the taxiway and onto the runway.”

The party called for temporary wage subsidies to encourage companies to hire graduates in apprenticeship-style roles, which would help young workers gain essential experience while reducing hiring risks for employers. 

A call for redundancy insurance

As it has many times in the past, the WP again called for a redundancy insurance scheme to protect workers amid the risk of displacement in today’s global economy. This scheme should be given to workers of all income levels as it would provide protection against financial pressure.

“True security comes from a clear pathway: from redundancy to reskilling and finally to employment. We believe that retraining must be coupled with an assurance that such efforts will translate directly into new, stable jobs,” Mr Singh wrote.

The WP noted that a lack of a strong safety net for people’s basic needs would cause workers to shy from the qualities needed at this time of transformation, innovativeness and risk-taking.

The WP Chief ended the message by affirming the party’s commitment to continue to bring rational and constructive proposals in Parliament that would bring society forward.

“We envision a Singapore where every contribution is valued, and all workers are protected. #WeContinue forward—together, and with no one left behind. I wish all workers in Singapore a Happy Labour Day.” /TISG

Read also: WP MP Louis Chua: Now is the time to do more for Singapore’s fresh graduates

This article (WP’s Labour Day Message: We continue forward together, with no one left behind) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: In an Instagram (IG) video posted on April 20, women’s strength and identity coach Jen Balute shared her thoughts after leaving Singapore for the Philippines.

“It’s been 20 days since I left Singapore, and it feels like I left ages ago,” she said, adding that while she is unsure what comes next in her life in the Philippines, she knows the kind of life she wants, which she said, “Sadly, I didn’t see it in Singapore,” expressing her disappointment.

Jen, however, made it clear she wasn’t criticising the country outright. “Singapore is a lovely place, a great place to be,” she explained. “You can make a lot of money. You can have the lifestyle you want,” but “You’re just grinding there,” she shared her perspective that comes from living there as a foreigner and solo entrepreneur for two decades.

“You will have a lifestyle, but you will never have a life in Singapore…”

Jen then described her last 10 years in Singapore as intense and isolating, saying, “You will have a lifestyle, but you will never have a life in Singapore,” because according to her, “Everyone is fighting for power. Everyone is hustling.”

She added that many people seem stuck in “survival mode,” driven by competition and ego, and even “competing for no reason,” leading to a cycle in which they chase success yet feel burnt out.

“You constantly believe you need to hustle and go on holiday to glamorise your lifestyle,” she added further, describing what she sees as a constant pattern of burnout in the people of Singapore.

“You will never have a genuine connection in Singapore…”

A major part of her message focused on relationships among Singaporeans. She opined that “You will never have genuine support, a genuine connection in Singapore. You’re constantly looking for a connection somewhere else.”

She elaborated more that families she knows tend to fill their schedules with activities rather than spend time together. “Even couples or families in Singapore that I know choose to add more activities to their lives rather than spend time with their own families,” she said.

“As a solo person in Singapore, grinding alone, you wonder, where are the genuine connections here?” she pondered, adding that this environment can change people over time: “You become numb in Singapore. You become the kind of person you wouldn’t want to be when you actually observe the people around you in Singapore, people around you in your industry.”

“Everything is just fake…”

She also spoke about how people’s true selves are revealed during difficult times. “You’ll never know who your true friends are and who genuinely cares about you until you go through these three [hardship] phases in your life:

Not when you’re making a lot of money, not when you’re glamorising your life on social media, [but] when you go flat broke, when you become fully honest with yourself, and when you choose to keep going and not give up,” Jen shared her Singapore experience.

“Aside from that, everything else is just fake,” she concluded.

Burnout, cost of living, and work-life balance

Within days of posting her IG video, reactions from netizens poured in. Some agreed with her take on burnout and social pressure. Others pushed back, saying her view was too narrow and shaped by her own circle.

The clip has since also drawn attention among Singaporeans, especially those working long hours or running solo businesses.

Jen’s comments land at a time when conversations about burnout, cost of living, and work-life balance are becoming more common in Singapore.

Many professionals recognise the pressure to perform and keep up. At the same time, others say Singapore offers stability, safety, and opportunity that are hard to match.

Jen’s personal experience in Singapore reflects one side of that equation, especially for those working alone without a strong support system.

Her message is shaped by her own life’s path. It doesn’t necessarily capture the full picture of Singapore, but it does mirror a feeling that some people silently experience.

Nevertheless, as in any other country in the world, including the Philippines, there is no single way to live in Singapore. Some thrive in its pace. Others step away to find something slower and more connected.

The real way of life is to build one that fits you, not one that only looks and feels good from the outside.

This article (‘You will never have a life in Singapore’ — Former SG resident of 20 years says, ‘Everything is just fake’) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) secretary-general Chee Soon Juan has made a dig at recent comments Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong made, as he expressed concerns online about the rate of deforestation in the country.

The party chief is presently on a trip to the US and has been invited to give talks to a number of groups, including students at top American schools. He wrote in a social media post that he took a drive to a state park to see the famed California redwood trees and was left amazed at the sight of the giant trees.

He wrote, “It didn’t disappoint. Its magnificence is truly breathtaking. Some of them are more than 2,000-years old.”

Reflecting on the state of forests at home, Dr Chee added, “Meanwhile, in Singapore, we are clearing more forests for development, including more data centres. But no worries, the government says they are ‘green’ data centres. And to compensate for the immense heat generated, not to mention the enormous amounts of power and water needed, we just have to use more fans and less air-con.”

His tongue-in-cheek comment about using less air-conditioning is a reference to the DPM’s controversial energy-saving tips that recently went viral.

Mr Gan had advised in Parliament earlier this month that Singaporeans should take public transport instead of driving and use fans instead of air-conditioning units to do their part in conserving energy.

Netizens on social media, online forums, and messaging groups were quick to ask whether the DPM and his fellow ministers would lead by example and take buses and trains, and turn off the air-con in Parliament, to do their part.

Others described the remarks as “tone-deaf” and “out of touch,” with some suggesting they reflected a disconnect between policymakers and ordinary citizens.

This article (Chee Soon Juan mocks Gan Kim Yong’s controversial energy saving tips) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A study from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) published mid-month concerned the issue of Singaporeans being overqualified for their jobs. Last year’s overqualification rate is substantial, at nearly one in five. However, a large majority of the overqualified workers are those who chose their jobs voluntarily.

According to the Occasional Paper on Overqualification in Singapore 2025, overqualification in Singapore is not a major structural problem but is, in large part, a condition that is mostly voluntary, often temporary or transitional and is on the increase because of more tertiary-level graduates. Moreover, the biggest challenge for Singapore’s job market is ensuring that workers are not just qualified, but have the right and up-to-date skills for today’s needs.

The report points to the overall strength and efficiency of the city-state’s labour market. While Singapore’s overqualification rate last year stood at 19.4%, this is lower than in other high-income countries, including the United States, Belgium, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates. The global average of overqualification in high-income countries is 21.6%.

Moreover, 64% of Singapore’s workforce is highly educated, reaching the tertiary level. Despite this, again, its job matching is relatively good by global standards.

Voluntarily overqualified 

From 2015 to 2025, Singapore’s overqualification rate rose from 16.3% to 19.4%. MOM noted that people’s choices to take roles they are more than qualified for are connected to their preferences for job stability, flexibility, or opportunities to gain experience. 

Last year, about nine out of 10 overqualified workers, or 17.7% of the workforce, were voluntarily overqualified. Only 1.7% of the workforce, meanwhile, were involuntarily overqualified.

In the last 10 years, the number of involuntarily overqualified workers has remained low and stable, which suggests that there is a limited mismatch in the job market.

A skills problem, not overqualification

The study also showed that when it comes to hiring workers, employers do not put the highest premium on degrees. Instead, for almost 80% of jobs, the top priorities are experience (~48%) and skills (~20%). 

This shows that hiring has become more about certain skills, as opposed to the level of education. The report cited the examples of data scientists, engineers, and trainers as hard-to-fill roles, with PMET vacancies unfilled for more than six months, rising to 16% last year.

A problem for young workers

Nevertheless, similar to what the latest Graduate Employment Survey showed last March, overqualification is the biggest problem for young workers, with the highest rates for employees under the age of 30.

Fortunately, this appears to be a temporary problem. Young workers may take on entry-level positions they are overqualified for, and then take on roles for which they are better matched later on.

Interestingly, diploma holders are slightly more affected than degree holders, and the fields with the highest number of overqualified workers are in the humanities, arts, and mass communication. Those who graduate from law and health courses have a lower number, mainly due to strict qualification requirements.

Across different industries, higher numbers of overqualification are found in the sectors of food and beverage, administrative and support services, and transport, such as ride-hailing, while professional services and tech sectors have lower overqualification rates. Also, overqualification is more common in smaller and locally owned companies. /TISG

Read also: WP MP Louis Chua: Now is the time to do more for Singapore’s fresh graduates

This article (In Singapore, the problem with jobs is not overqualification but skills) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A family’s living room turned into a disaster zone when a built-in wardrobe suddenly collapsed, raising safety concerns. On Facebook, a user named Jaye Yeo shared their unfortunate experience, stating: “This wasn’t just furniture falling. It was a heavy structure installed inside a living space where our child plays every day. We were extremely lucky no one was injured.” 

As seen in the photos posted, household items, including their child’s toys and several clothes, were scattered in the living room, and with this incident, the family realised that it is really important to properly check if house installations are really completed to avoid injury in the future.

“If you are a homeowner or parent, please take 2 minutes to check this in your home: Are your wardrobes and wall units properly anchored? Do they feel stable when lightly tested? Did anyone ever show you proper installation checks? We never thought something already “installed and completed” could become a safety risk — until this happened,” they post encouraged.  

With this, netizens shared their thoughts and opinions in the comments section. One netizen observed: “Looks like the cabinets were not bolted properly to the wall….. didn’t see a proper mounting bracket either!” 

“This is a pole system. Not built-in wardrobes. cheap and flimsy. In every trade, workmanship and safety is top priority, price should be secondary, not primary concern,” another netizen remarked. 

Some believe that the cause of this is the humidity in Singapore, while others blame the workers, stating, “Now most of the jobs are done by low common sense workers. Best daily go check during renovation.” 

However, one netizen confirmed that what has been shared was not to blame the contractors of the house and emphasised that the furniture was installed by the family themselves. 

“This post is a self-reflection and a lesson learnt for those that are planning to do the same. Just learn from their mistakes,” the post declared. 

This article (No warning: Family’s heavy wardrobe suddenly fell in a HDB home) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.