Workers at the heart of MPs' speeches on opening day of Budget debate
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/workers-opening-day-of-budget-debate-mps-speeches-11291372

By Jalelah Abu Baker @JalelahCNA

26 Feb 2019 10:57PM (Updated: 26 Feb 2019 11:59PM)

Ricky Lim

He said that some older workers need to continue working, as they are sole breadwinners of their families, supporting their children’s education in universities.

“It is not just a technical problem. There are profound social and financial consequences for the individual, the family, the economy and the country if a large and growing pool of middle-aged Singaporeans forms and is unable to earn for their immediate upkeep and retirement needs. It will fuel inequality and erode social cohesion,” he said.

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Posted on :- 10 Feb 2019 09:10AM (Updated: 10 Feb 2019 09:10AM)

Ricky Lim
Challenges face by some individual Singaporeans and some Singaporean household :-

(1) Jobs - Some household with sole breadwinner - may face the reality of retrenchment (due to reasons such as business restructuring or whatever reason --- lose their jobs).
--- This is the most disastrous impact to the affected household -- who rely on the sole breadwinner to bring in the income to feed the whole family.

---- If inflation badly affect household with job and income ---- what is more disastrous if a sole breadwinner lose his/her job ---- the whole family will be badly affected.

I feel that Government can do more to help this group of people - who seek help -- to help them tie over the predicarment (with some financial assistance) and eventually help them secure a good paying job.

(2) The cost of living - do pose problem with Singaporeans especially those at the middle-income (sandwich class) and lower income group - because Singapore cost of living is indeed quite high.
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Jayakumar Chitharasu

“The editorial hit the nail on the head by observing that if we do not control the total number of foreign workers, it will affect the employment outcomes of local workers and lead to socio-political problems in Singapore,” he said. “We have seen this happen in other countries.”

You mean our ministers did not carry out this study before bringing in FWs? And it took so long to realise this, esp ehen election is coming up?

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Paul Tan

If they don't employ Citizens , there isn't much citizens can do except cutting backback our consumption and don't patronize these businesses. Everyone must tighten they belt as every dollar spent may not be able to earn back .

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Shrio Tang

"Others find that even at 67 years old, their families’ medical and retirement funds are still inadequate, said Mr Arasu" These peeps are not solving the root of the problem. Raising the age solve nothing! solve the forever rising cost of medical expenses!

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Tommie Vale

Please don't raise the retirement age. There are some senior posts who don't even know how to clear their internet browser history. They are just useless dinosaurs sitting on their posts due to contacts and friendship with management. It's time for them to go.

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Christopher Bong

Workers at the heart of MPs speeches? No workers left behind? What utter rubbish and lip service is this? The worsening situation for workers is all because of the screw up of this government and now they are wanting to help the plight of the workers only on election year. Bunch of hypocrites. No minimum wage, CPF is all messed up, increased in prices for daily necessities are all created by the government. Now wants to pretend to be concern.

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Stanley Chee

Grab drivers all the way?

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Constance Oh

They is no need to define a retirement age. We have very advance medical environment to keep people alive. We have very highly educated people - who better be able to use What they learn to change the world. A mother do not retired, a unpaid - live time job. Many SME in Singapore are established by the older generation. If these old folks are still relevant to the Co. they should have the right to opt for early retirement - or stay on with the Co. to train the new people. It is not for someone in the political space to decide when & where a person should excersize his a her own right. For the fact uncles & aunty above 65 are still working in our countries. Changing the re-employment and/or retirement age is not helping. Anyone above 55 should not need to contribute to CPF anymore. It will relief the employers contribution to CPF and use these $$ to continue the hiring of their older worker. If Garman don't know how to solve the problem. Let the Co. who treasure their workers do it. Return their CPF at 55. Australia do not define retirement age. Korean is below 60, Japan is below 65, USA army 62, China Civil servant retirement age is 62 for man & 55 for woman. Original CPF is a saving for working citizen-contribution % by the employers is part of their hard-earn salary. It's not any party $$ to play around with.

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