section_path: Campaign/Party campaigns/Workers' Party
section_name: Workers' Party
paragraph_text: Workers' Party
  
  Following the dissolution of parliament, Pritam Singh thanked the residents of Aljunied, Hougang, and Sengkang for the "privilege of serving" them. Shortly after, the WP launched its campaign slogan "Working for Singapore", alongside a teaser video emphasising the need for political balance. Singh had also called for donations for its campaign, noting that costs for running a campaign had "risen considerably". On 16 April, the WP claimed that 15 policy proposals, which it had previously advocated for, were adopted "in some form" by the government, covering areas like housing, transport, and employment. SMU's associate professor Eugene Tan noted this move signals WP's campaign strategy – positioning itself as an effective, constructive opposition and suggesting it could achieve more with greater parliamentary presence. The PAP rejected WP claims, asserting that the ideas originated from its own MPs, and accused the WP of aligning itself with the ruling party's successes.
  
  On 17 April, the WP launched their manifesto which included 125 policy proposals. To address the cost of living, the WP called for Goods and Services Tax (GST) exemptions on essential items and the introduction of a minimum wage of S$1,600 (US$ 1194.03). Regarding economic concerns, the WP proposed recognising and valuing unpaid household labour to correct the perception that only paid work is meaningful. They also called for stronger leadership support in SMEs to improve talent attraction, the abolition of the statutory retirement age to give older workers more choice, and refinements to CPF policies, including allowing members to co-invest savings with GIC. On housing, the WP proposes using first-time buyers' median income to assess affordability, offering lower-priced 70-year Build-To-Order (BTO) flats with a 29-year lease extension option, a universal buy-back scheme for ageing flats, and greater transparency in land valuation processes. Other proposals include the repeal of the Internal Security Act, the enactment of Freedom of Information Act, and formal recognition of the State of Palestine.
  
  Singh also confirmed on 17 April that WP would field candidates for less than a third of parliamentary seats, 14 of which were new. On Nomination Day, the WP fielded its candidates to contest 26 seats in the GRCs of Punggol, Sengkang, Aljunied, Tampines, and East Coast, and the SMCs of Jalan Kayu, Tampines Changkat, and Hougang. Chairwoman Sylvia Lim described the slate as the "most promising" group of candidates the party has fielded to date. Wong Pei Ting of The Straits Times noted the WP mounted a "considerably larger campaign" for 2025 compared to its 2020 campaign efforts.
  
  However, the WP decided not to contest in Marine Parade–Braddell Heights GRC, which resulted in a walkover for the PAP. Singh explained that the party has to make the "difficult decision" due to its lack of resources and the extensive boundary changes of the constituency. The move was widely criticised by various opposition parties. PPP's chief Goh Meng Seng (who was formerly from WP) criticized Workers' Party as a " spoiler party " for contesting against the PPP and the NSP in Tampines GRC, while chairman Derrick Sim was "dumbfounded" by WP's "lame excuse". Sim claimed that WP had never contested Tampines GRC since the ward's creation in 1988. NSP chief Spencer Ng also criticised WP for the lack of opposition unity, mentioning it was now "close to impossible". SPP chief Steve Chia expressed disappointment for the Marine Parade voters, saying that "every constituency benefits from active competition, since it fosters greater accountability". On the other hand, SDP chairman Paul Tambyah and PSP chief Leong Mun Wai each respected their decision into putting their resources, given that WP had previously contested Marine Parade GRC in the past two elections; it also added that the opposition will have to work onto strategies in the future election. Singh defended the criticisms on the following day, insisting that their lineup were being planned all along.
  
  According to Ang Qing and Kok Yufeng, the first WP rally on 24 April emphasised the importance of political competition and diverse perspectives, with former NCMP Yee Jenn Jong warning that the PAP sought to preserve its political dominance. Singh also urged voters to support WP despite global uncertainties, arguing that the WP has proven itself as a "force for good" during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasised that a stronger WP presence in Parliament would contribute to a more rational and responsive political landscape. In response to Wong's statement that there is already a sizeable opposition in Parliament, Singh emphasised WP's differing view – that one-third of Parliament should consist of opposition MPs – and argued that voters should compare PAP and WP backbenchers fairly. On his first PBB on 25 April, Singh said the WP winning more constituencies is vital for the future of Singapore's democracy. He explained that having more WP-held constituencies increases the likelihood of maintaining a fully elected opposition presence in Parliament over the long term, which would strengthen the stability and sustainability of Singapore's political system. On 27 April, Singh said if the PAP requires a supermajority to govern properly, it signals a "serious problem" in both the party's processes and Singapore's political system. On 1 May, Singh also said that even if all WP candidates were elected, the PAP would still hold a significant majority, undermining PAP's concerns about weakened governance.
  
  At their second rally on 26 April, WP reiterated its call for GST exemptions on essential items like cooking oil and rice, and proposed drawing more from Singapore's investment returns to address the rising cost of living. Singh also criticised PAP's manifesto for being "short on substance and specifics" and "loaded with motherhood statements". At their third rally on 28 April, the WP targeted DPM Gan Kim Yong and Janil Puthucheary as they criticised the ruling party on issues such as the scrapped Income–Allianz deal and the "parachuting" of candidates into GRCs, particularly Punggol. At the fourth rally, Singh pushed back against Wong's accusation that the WP engaged in "negative politics", asserting instead that the party had been denied access to community clubs for its events. Meanwhile, the WP East Coast candidates criticised the constituency's repeated gerrymandering and called on voters to counter it by electing the WP.
  
  On 30 April, leaked screenshots of Telegram messages from WP Jalan Kayu candidate Andre Low showed him using profanities while criticising the civil service and various Singaporean brands including Singtel and SecretLab, and celebrities such as Pornsak and Mark Lee; Low later apologised for the incident which he regarded as a "humbling experience". At their last rally on 1 May held at Anderson Serangoon Junior College, WP candidates urged voters to base their decisions "on hope" instead of fear, with Sylvia Lim emphasizing the need for "conviction and hope" for a better future. Singh also criticised the GRC system for giving PAP candidates a "free pass" and stressed the importance of fighting for every vote, citing their narrow victory in Aljunied during the 2015 elections. Former chief Low Thia Khiang made a special appearance at the end of the rally before the recitation of the national pledge.
  
  Jaipragas described the PAP–WP rivalry as a "clear arc", which began steadily and calmly before coming to "a decisive sharpening at the midpoint". Nevertheless, he noted that the sharpened rhetoric, absence of racial politics, fearmongering, or intimidation, marked a healthy step forward in Singapore's democratic development. Political analysts on The Straits Times characterised the WP campaign strategy as both ambitious yet conservative, which yielded mixed outcomes. While the WP consolidated its grip on its existing seats, it still saw a decline in its vote share in constituencies it contested.