Tharman on keeping joblessness down, pay up

[SINGAPORE] A thriving and vibrant economy, quality growth and social policies that forge an inclusive society - these are the three strategies Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam has mapped out to keep Singapore's unemployment down and income up, especially for low-income workers.

And the three strategies are intertwined and must be executed hand-in-hand, he said yesterday in a keynote address at the opening of the National Trades Union Congress' three-day Ordinary Delegates Conference at the Orchid Country Club.

Thus while Singapore strives for higher productivity in pursuit of quality growth, it must also be mindful of promoting jobs through skills upgrading to ensure that unemployment stays low, Mr Tharman explained.