Immediately after 2001 General Elections, the party leadership started planning for the future development of the party. In view of the unique electoral system of Group Representation Constituency in Singapore and the practice by the ruling party in redrawing electoral boundaries before every elections, the Workers' Party decided to re-strategise its approach in contesting future elections.

The first two Non-Constituency Specific Area Committees, GRC Area Committee and Nee Soon Area Committee were formed in 2002. Their task was to start grassroots activities on the ground targeted. The GRC Area Committee included Hougang SMC and Aljunied GRC. The Nee Soon Area Committee included Nee Soon East SMC and Yishun Central SMC. House to house visits were started and it became a good platform where our limited party resources can be focused on the constituencies that WP is interested to contest in future elections.

Subsequently, a reorganisation was carried out in 2004/05 to expand the area committees. The GRC Area Committee was renamed as North Eastern Area Committee, Nee Soon Area Committee into Northern Area Committee which was expanded to include Sembawang GRC into its area of operations. The Eastern Area Committee was formed in 2005 to expand WP's operational capabilities into the eastern part of Singapore.

Long term sustainable ground activities organised by the area committees allow WP to reach out to residents in the targeted areas prior to the general elections. They also provide a platform for party members to strengthen bonds and boost party morale.

In the 2006 General Elections, the area committee platform was put to the first battle test. Apart from the Ang Mo Kio GRC team which was not established as an area committee although WP conducted general outreach in the area regularly, all contested constituencies were included in the initial formation. The Area Committee platform has proven to be operationally effective during the election campaigning.