On May 1, we opted to hang out at areas near enough the hotel where we could walk back. Say, within a practical radius of 5km. It's May Day. As long as we're not in Singapore during this day, we would be walking into protests by labor unions and political parties everywhere. It's the same in Seoul. We're not that ignorant. Our hotel is sited smack in the middle of a few venues of Labor Day rallies, and there would be traffic congestion everywhere. We would be mad to try to get a cab back or head out to dinner.
The police were out in full riot gear in the central Jongno district. Gwanghwamun Square swarmed with thousands of protestors all afternoon. They gathered to sing, wave flags and shout pro-worker slogans in criticism of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s conservative government and its anti-labor policies.
It's Korean domestic politics and labor polices. It's not in my place to comment. I most certainly would rather watch the marches from the safety of my hotel room window than to be caught up in rallies that's none of my business. But our day's itinerary saw us walk by the protestors and police buses. It was absolutely interesting for me to observe these government sanctioned protests, and the police officers supporting registered rallies and marches. Of course it wasn't an air of festivity. In fact, it was a tad sober, and of course, tense.
In Singapore, we see a lot more MNCs exiting our shores for a cheaper labor market and rental, and lower set-up costs. Retrenchment exercises are becoming the norm. We're not immune to global shifts and economic challenges, but we aren't modifying our labor laws fast enough to be more protective of our own. In PM Lee's final May Day rally before he steps down on 15 May, he zoomed in on tripartism and tripartite leadership. I hope our unions remain sane and gain a bit more clout to fight for the rights of our labor force. Our labor laws are scant. NTUC must do more to allay the average salaried employee's fears.
PM Lee pointed out three imperatives (social cohesion, long term planning, and political stability and trust) that the future leadership team will have to focus on and steer everyone towards these so that we could survive the next 50 years with no hinterland and no natural resources. We're a construct, and we must stay a relevant construct.
And we also have to be conscious of other potential divisions in our society: between the “haves” and the “have-nots”; the “Singaporean-born” and “naturalised” citizens; “conservatives” and “liberals”; “current” and “future” generations. All these differences can be exploited politically, to pit Singaporeans one against another, and divide and weaken us. Hence, we have got to continue to work hard to overcome social stresses and tensions, to enlarge our common space, and strengthen our shared Singaporean identity. It is not a static identity. It grows and evolves over time. We are not a specimen in the museum – like that 10 years ago, like that 20 years ago, like that 50 years from now. It will grow, it will evolve. The world changes, we adapt, we move forward. We have to guide that evolution, as best as we can, sensitively and thoughtfully. That is why we moved on the tudung issue, and repealed Section 377A of the Penal Code. These were controversial and difficult issues, but I decided to tackle them, and not to let them fester or to pass them along to my successors. So we prepared the ground carefully, worked out practical compromises, and moved to a more sustainable, long-term position, while fostering mutual understanding and acceptance. Always, when we are dealing with controversial issues, we accept that differences exist, but we will avoid accentuating them. Accept them, do not accentuate them. Instead we foster compromise, strive to enlarge a common space, establish the broadest consensus possible. We will always have fault lines to watch and mind. Never forget, whatever our differences, we are all Singaporeans, first and foremost. And only thus can we survive and thrive in a contested and fractured world.
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