How Singapore's Workers' Party transformed from a fringe movement into a parliamentary powerhouse.

Cultures · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Founded in 1957 by Singapore's first Chief Minister, the Workers' Party spent decades as a political underdog. Today, it stands as the nation's largest opposition force, having pioneered the Group Representation Constituency victory and consistently positioning itself as a vital check-and-balance against the dominant People's Action Party.

Established by David Marshall in 1957, the Workers' Party (WP) initially struggled to gain traction in a political landscape dominated by the People's Action Party (PAP). For much of the 1960s and 1970s, the party remained on the periphery. Its fortunes shifted in 1981 when J. B. Jeyaretnam secured a historic by-election victory in Anson, becoming the first opposition Member of Parliament since independence. This era was marked by intense legal and political friction, including Jeyaretnam's eventual loss of his seat following a conviction for falsely accounting party funds—a charge he maintained was politically motivated.

The party's modern identity began to take shape under the leadership of Low Thia Khiang, who captured the Hougang Single Member Constituency in 1991. Low's tenure saw a strategic shift toward centrist policies and a focus on professionalizing the party's ranks. By 2011, this approach culminated in a landmark achievement: the WP became the first opposition party to win a Group Representation Constituency (GRC) in Aljunied. This success was built upon a platform advocating for progressive civic nationalism, including a universal minimum wage and increased flexibility for the Central Provident Fund.

In 2020, the party further cemented its influence by winning multiple GRCs in a single election, including the newly created Sengkang GRC. Now led by Pritam Singh, the WP continues to navigate the complexities of Singaporean governance, including managing town councils and maintaining its role as a parliamentary check. Despite facing various legal challenges and internal leadership transitions over the decades, the party has evolved from a small, often isolated group into a sophisticated political entity that remains the only opposition party with elected MPs since 2011.

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