In a stunning turn of events, the PAP has adopted a policy which has earlier been articulated by the Reform Party. The Reform Party has always advocated an increase in productivity to raise living standards instead of just increasing the size of the economy by increasing factor inputs (in this case increased labour). Below are but two early instances in which the party's stand was pronounced:"... despite Singapore’s high growth rates between 2003 and 2007 this boom largely passed ordinary Singaporeans by. Instead it was evidenced by the growing numbers of foreign workers (which put pressure on the incomes of lower-skilled Singaporeans and led to falling productivity)" - Kenneth Jeyaretnam, Reform party press release, May 18, 2009
"We all know the present economic model is not achieving prosperity for the majority of ordinary Singaporeans. Since 2008 Singapore has been in recession and GDP has been declining. Our productivity has also been declining for some time and without higher productivity we will not achieve higher living standards.” - Kenneth Jeyaretnam, Reform Party National Day Speech, August 9, 2009
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