Low Youjin

Low Youjin

CORRESPONDENT

Low Youjin is a correspondent at The Business Times where he covers Singapore macroeconomics, labour, and manpower policies.

A 2025 Howden Singapore report found that 60 per cent of employees gain an average of 3 kg a year in their first job, linked in part to sedentary office routines.
BRUNCH

Obesity is ballooning – and office life can make it worse

Workplace routines can encourage unhealthy eating habits and sedentary behaviour

SRA president Ernie Koh said that without sustained support, “many local businesses risk being outpaced by well-funded foreign competitors”.
SINGAPORE BUDGET 2026

Retailers warn of being outpaced by foreign rivals as they lay out Budget 2026 proposals

These aim to strengthen local retailers’ competitiveness and ease manpower pressures in a tougher operating environment

Affected drivers are worried abiut losing rental deposits ranging between S$500 and S$1,000, said NTUC secretary general Ng Chee Meng.

Private-hire drivers hit by Autobahn repossessions may lose rental deposits

Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling says this is because the drivers are unsecured creditors

Generic photo for Budget 2025 for stories related to workforce, young working adults, young singaporeans

260 workers receive S$600,000 in salary relief after their firms were wound up

The short-term relief fund is meant for employers unable to pay salary arrears due to business failure

Manpower Minister Tan See Leng said the local qualifying salary and the Silver Support Scheme "are not in any way interlinked".

Local Qualifying Salary to be further refined, details to be announced in Budget

The LQS is put in place to ensure firms do not hire locals on ‘a token salary’, says Minister for Manpower Tan...

The revised food targets balance ambition with realism, by considering what can produced and scaled locally as well as the challenges Singapore's nascent agriculture sector faces, said Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Zaqy Mohamad.

Singapore’s revised food targets prioritise scalable, efficient production

Details on support schemes for farmers will be announced at MSE’s upcoming Committee of Supply debate

Greenphyto's launch ceremony was officiated (L


 by President Tharman ShanmugaratnamCMG20260107-RChiong01/张俊杰/蔡玮谦/Official Launch of Greenphyto [Greenphyto Innovation Centre 13 Tukang Innovation Drive, Singapore 619677 (Level 5)]

Founder and chief executive officer of Greenphyto Susan Chong guiding President Tharman Shanmugaratnam through the chamber on Jan 7, 2026.

Singapore food output gets S$80 million boost with opening of Greenphyto’s vertical farm, tallest in the world

With growing chambers at 23 metres tall, the facility has an output 45 times higher than traditional farming methods

The lynchpin electronics sector grew by 0.3 points to 50.9, marking the seventh consecutive month of expansion.

Singapore PMI edges higher in December on firmer orders and output

The overall purchasing managers’ index is up 0.1 point at 50.3, marking the fifth straight month of expansion

The Republic’s economy expanded 4.8 per cent year on year in 2025, while Q4 GDP growth came in at 5.7 per cent, according to advance estimates from MTI.

Economists hold 2026 Singapore growth forecasts despite strong 2025 finish

This year’s risks include trade policy uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and manufacturing normalisation

Generic image of Singapore economic skyline

Singapore’s economy up 4.8% in 2025; Q4 GDP comes in at 5.7%

On a seasonally adjusted, quarterly basis, economic growth is at 1.9%