REACH 201 - National efforts to digitalise (SK)

03 Mar 2021 (11am - 7pm)

REACH

[10:03 am, 03/03/2021] +REACH: Safeguards for progressive wage model must be in place to stop vendors from profiteering: MPs

More is being done to help low-wage workers through the progressive wage model (PWM), but safeguards must be in place to avoid passing costs to others and stop unscrupulous vendors from profiteering under the guise of rising wages.

More: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/safeguards-for-progressive-wage-model-must-be-in-place-to-stop-vendors-from-profiteering

[11:24 am, 03/03/2021] +REACH: Digital wallets to overtake credit cards by 2024 amid e-commerce boom: Report

Digital wallets are poised to overtake credit cards to become the most popular online payment method in Singapore by 2024 amid the e-commerce boom fuelled by the pandemic.

More: https://www.straitstimes.com/business/banking/digital-wallets-to-overtake-credit-cards-by-2024-amid-e-commerce-boom-report

[0:07 pm, 03/03/2021] +REACH: Dear contributors,

Welcome back! 😊

⏰ We will be opening the chat from 12.10pm to 7pm today. ⏰

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The topic will be posted shortly.

Thank you

Megan 😊

[0:17 pm, 03/03/2021] +REACH: 📢 Topic 📢 

As part of the Government’s efforts to build a safe, inclusive and thriving digital future, where citizens and businesses can fully reap the benefits of digital technologies while keeping the associated risks at bay, the Government announced a slew of initiatives to transform our economy through digitalisation and innovation. 

💬 What are your views on some of these initiatives as part of national efforts to build an inclusive digital future? 

Among the initiatives to help Singapore businesses in their digitalisation journeys include a new Chief Technology Officer (CTO)-as-a-Service scheme that will include a one-stop, self-help tool for small-and-medium-enterprises (SMEs) to assess their digital needs and gaps, as well as a new Digital Leaders Programme, which will “equip firms with the capabilities and talent to accelerate their digital transformation journey”.

To build an inclusive digital society, one initiative that was earlier announced in February is the Digital for Life movement which will look to bring the whole of nation together in collective efforts to equip all Singaporeans with digital skills and help bridge the digital divide.

👉 https://www.mci.gov.sg/budget-workplan/cos2021

👉 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/new-initiatives-to-help-singapore-companies-go-digital-14314720

👉 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/cybersecurity-risk-singapore-critical-information-infrastructure-14314736

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[0:22 pm, 03/03/2021] +Stella Yip: China digital wallet comes with insurance.  Will/Does SG digital wallet offer the similar insurance?

[0:28 pm, 03/03/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. Credit card payment offer cash incentives on usage.

Consumer can earn cash.

2. Digital wallets don't seem to be earning cash upon usage.

3. Thus most of the time, I rather use credit card than digital wallets.

[0:31 pm, 03/03/2021] +An fan: Credit cards can be used with out a mobile phone. No need to worry about battery is flat or internet is down

[0:32 pm, 03/03/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Our SMEs must transform into digital business to survive and thrive.

CTO as a service is a good idea - as most SME has no idea how to digitalise and exploit IT to transform their business.

Only wonder who provide the CTO service?

1. Government agency?

2. Private sector?

3. Hybrid - Govt + Private sector?

[0:35 pm, 03/03/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

For retailers in the shopping malls, will govt work with shopping malls operators and developers - to jointly work with retailers to offer CTO as a service to their tenant retailers?

[0:39 pm, 03/03/2021] +Caleb: More resources is needed to help the 50s and above in the digital future.

[0:40 pm, 03/03/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Eg. If I spend every accumulated $10, digital wallet will give 10 cents incentive and keep it in my wallet balance.

Next time, I spend again using digital wallet, it deduct 10 cents from my payment - then I will consider using more digital wallets.

Credit card provide the above cash incentives and yearly can waive annual charges. 

So more incentives to use credit cards than digital wallets.

[0:46 pm, 03/03/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

If private sector is rope in to provide CTO as a service, any accreditation accorded by the government - to certify they are fit and qualify to provide the service?

Also cyber security is paramount in digitalisation.

How to ensure the private sector CTO as a service - ensure cyber security is sufficiently cater for as SME can't pay as much for cyber security.

[0:51 pm, 03/03/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Also noticed interestingly, CTO (Chief Technology Officer) is offer as a service not CIO (Chief Information Officer).

That means IT infrastructure technology expertise is provided and not digital business transformation expertise is provided.

[0:54 pm, 03/03/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

So for business transformation, than shopping mall operators and SME business owners as well as digital business consultant will have to play the CIO role while CTO as a service is use to supplement the CIO digital business transformation.

[1:00 pm, 03/03/2021] +Poh S Lim: Not exactly true. I came recently across a Subway shop where digital payment was not accepted including credit/debit card because their terminal was down. If large segment of internet is down, digital including credit/ debit card cannot transact. This means that the internet infrastructure has to be hardened from failure, either man-made intentionally or from natural disaster

[1:08 pm, 03/03/2021] +Rama: Yes

[1:08 pm, 03/03/2021] +Rama: Yet to know

[1:14 pm, 03/03/2021] +Alvin: It sounds good to the layman but feedback should be taken from the SMEs instead. They tend to be more conservative unless their business is threatened by new technology. My gut feel is SME bosses need to change their mindset and more capital expenses need to be spent for a meaningful transformation to occur. My 2.14 cents

[1:21 pm, 03/03/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Just curious, I thought the point of sale for credit cards and nets are using private link line and not internet?

Only digital wallets use 4g data - which is internet?

Based on my observation , I could be wrong.

[1:23 pm, 03/03/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

I think ATM also used private link line.

That's why Internet hackers cannot hack the ATM.

Digital wallets is exposé to internet.

Thus cyber security is paramount.

[1:42 pm, 03/03/2021] +REACH: More than 30,000 parents have attended Positive Parenting Programme: MSF

More than 30,000 parents have benefitted from the Positive Parenting Programme, which teaches them techniques to manage their children’s behaviour, said Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Social and Family Development Eric Chua on Wednesday (Mar 3).

More: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/positive-parenting-programme-youth-mental-health-awareness-14321032

[1:42 pm, 03/03/2021] +REACH: Dependant's pass holders who want to work have to apply for work passes from May

Dependant's pass (DP) holders will soon have to secure a work pass instead of a letter of consent if they want to work in Singapore, the Ministry of Manpower said on Wednesday (Mar 3).

More: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/dependant-pass-holders-have-to-apply-work-passes-may-14321444

[1:42 pm, 03/03/2021] +Caleb: First time see this Eric Chua

[1:43 pm, 03/03/2021] +CQ: If you want to digitalise, please make sure there's IT support help desk for the less tech savvy. The younger ones are getting bogged down with the daily "ah girl ah, this one how come cannot ah???", then have to spend time to troubleshoot. Don't call this "family bonding time" please, there are better ways to do it...

[1:44 pm, 03/03/2021] +Nat: @Alvin Do you wanna intro your charbor idea?

[1:49 pm, 03/03/2021] +Alvin: Ah you mean the advance Chatbot?

[1:54 pm, 03/03/2021] +Alvin: Ah Mah: Who is this Charboh you all saying ah?

Chatbot -> Chattybot -> Charbot -> Siao Charbot

Imagine the chatbot so advance that it scolds you in hokkien when you ask stupiak questions.

[1:54 pm, 03/03/2021] +Alvin: Would be funny if elder generation curious about chatbots

[2:09 pm, 03/03/2021] +Stella Yip: Will be good if this is made available online for free.  Not just for the parents who want to be good parents, also for dating adults to reach consensus on parenting directions to avoid arguments in the future. Also for us to share with neighbors with screaming kids (screaming for years liao) - think the parents definitely need help/educating.

[2:24 pm, 03/03/2021] +Sam: This may make dependent pass holder not competitive in looking for job as employer needs to pay work levy. Some of the dependent pass holders are spouses of low income or no income Singaporean. Hopefully exception can be made to allow them get a job easily.

[2:32 pm, 03/03/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/02/24/1017805/hyper-accurate-global-positioning-available-worldwide/

China rolling out hyper accurate satellite up to the last centimetres.

[2:34 pm, 03/03/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

China Beidou satellite GPS has leapfrog US GPS system.

China Beidou satellites global coverage also surpass US GPS system numerically.

[2:40 pm, 03/03/2021] +Bobby Tan: GPS??????

[2:41 pm, 03/03/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Global positioning system for flight guidance, maritime guidance, missiles guidance, map, car guidance, drone guidance, IT system.

[2:42 pm, 03/03/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

As well as for IT data communication and voice communication.

[2:43 pm, 03/03/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

That's China has become a formidable military superpower.

[2:49 pm, 03/03/2021] +REACH: MOM to pilot onboarding centres for newly arrived migrant workers

Newly arrived migrant workers will soon be housed in centres where they will complete their stay-home notice, medical examination and orientation programme all at once.

More: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/onboarding-centres-newly-arrived-migrant-foreign-workers-mom-14321370

[2:49 pm, 03/03/2021] +REACH: Tripartite workgroup agrees to extend progressive wage model to food services, retail sectors: Zaqy Mohamad

The Tripartite Workgroup on Lower-Wage Workers will develop recommendations for progressive wage models in the retail and food services sector, Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad said in Parliament on Wednesday (Mar 3).

More: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/progressive-wage-model-retail-food-services-low-wage-workers-14321780

[3:26 pm, 03/03/2021] +Lim Suang: Digital wallets such as Grabpay do allow the earning of rebates or points. These days i used digital wallet by default and only CC when such option is unavailable

[3:27 pm, 03/03/2021] +Caleb: I use CC first, if dont accept then I use digital wallets

[3:27 pm, 03/03/2021] +Caleb: cash is the last option

[3:28 pm, 03/03/2021] +Caleb: in fact, now I only use cash to buy herbal tea.. lol

[3:28 pm, 03/03/2021] +Caleb: so is a push factor for me to give digital red packet liao

[3:29 pm, 03/03/2021] +Lim Suang: Humm, what is the benefit of using CC over digital payments? Is it to satisfy min spending?

[3:29 pm, 03/03/2021] +Lim Suang: Else i don see much benefits

[3:31 pm, 03/03/2021] +Caleb: points or cash rebeat

[3:31 pm, 03/03/2021] +Caleb: rebate

[3:32 pm, 03/03/2021] +Lim Suang: 👍

[3:34 pm, 03/03/2021] +CQ: Personally I prefer cash over ewallets. It's easier to manage your budget and expenditure when you see the cash leaving your wallet. Vs different shops accepting different forms of epayment, which makes it harder for you to track. And it's not any faster tbh

[3:37 pm, 03/03/2021] +Lim Suang: Reminds me of the time when i went to China for business. The digital payment is so pervasive that one can leave house with a phone and a charger. Most cafes and restaurants even offer free power sockets for their customers. I wonder if we will go on the same path one day

[3:38 pm, 03/03/2021] +CQ: Exactly. And that's why they can do it cos it's a single platform which is very broadly used. For us we can, but you need so many separate apps cos you don't know what the shops will accept. Damn irritating.

[3:39 pm, 03/03/2021] +Lim Suang: Agree on the fragmented ecosystem right now 👍

[3:40 pm, 03/03/2021] +CQ: There was once I went downstairs from my office to buy a cup of coffee. I only had my phone, a credit card, a Nets Flashpay, and some cash. The coffee place only took Grabpay or cash, and I personally don't quite like Grab. So I ended up paying cash.

[3:43 pm, 03/03/2021] +CQ: So it's either they push everyone towards one common system, or they stop pushing. There's no point having a dozen different platforms that I have to sign up to just so that I can buy into this "digitalisation" concept. It's just technology for technology's sake, doesn't improve anything.

[3:43 pm, 03/03/2021] +Nat: It's difficult lah, everyone wants a piece of the cake

[3:44 pm, 03/03/2021] +Caleb: i think PayNow is the standard platform bah

[3:44 pm, 03/03/2021] +Caleb: can use any banking app

[3:45 pm, 03/03/2021] +Nat: And PayNow is good cuz it's kinda like the de facto local framework, without the need for fees when transferring locally

[3:45 pm, 03/03/2021] +CQ: Yeah, it's great for paying friends when you go out and eat. But not all merchants accept this mode of payment.

[3:46 pm, 03/03/2021] +Nat: Lol even last time my camp canteen got one stall accept PayNow 😂

[3:46 pm, 03/03/2021] +Caleb: now SAF is QR codes liao

[3:47 pm, 03/03/2021] +Caleb: it happen last year Jan

[3:47 pm, 03/03/2021] +Caleb: suddenly the whole camp got all types of QR codes

[3:48 pm, 03/03/2021] +Anne: I prefer credit card over cash / e-wallets due to the following advantages:

- incentives like bonus cash to offset spendings

- 0% 3-month to 24-month instalments for larger purchases 

- low interest rate balance transfer loans (for this I prefer to use line of credit accounts than credit cards)

[3:53 pm, 03/03/2021] +CQ: like i said lah, the coffee place i went to only took Cash or GrabPay. They don't accept PayNow or other forms of terminal payment. Another place i went to only took Fave and nothing else.

[3:53 pm, 03/03/2021] +Nat: Only take Fave? That's crazy

[3:54 pm, 03/03/2021] +Caleb: paylAh can pay to Fave liao

[3:54 pm, 03/03/2021] +Nat: It's about customer experience, who wants payment to be so confusing?

[3:54 pm, 03/03/2021] +CQ: but paylah is only DBS...

[3:55 pm, 03/03/2021] +Rama: There has to be in place a common digital wallet across all retailers and F& B outlets

[3:56 pm, 03/03/2021] +Nat: I personally use debit card for online purchase and NFC payments at those newer vending machines that accept that as a payment method 

I have PayLah and OCBC Pay Anyone installed but they basically fall back to the PayNow framework 

And of course I still use cash because I stand by my words, everyone becomes bankrupt when there is a blackout

[3:56 pm, 03/03/2021] +Caleb: Majority got dbs or posb ma

[3:58 pm, 03/03/2021] +CQ: I closed mine actually.... i find UOB more convenient

[4:34 pm, 03/03/2021] +REACH: 23 new Covid-19 cases in Singapore, including 2 in the community

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/23-new-covid-19-cases-in-singapore-including-2-in-the-community

[4:37 pm, 03/03/2021] +REACH: More help for companies to redesign jobs and transform: Josephine Teo

Close to $10 million will be set aside over the next two years to create blueprints for job transformation in companies, said Manpower Minister Josephine Teo on Wednesday (March 3).

More: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/jobs/more-help-for-companies-to-redesign-jobs-and-transform-josephine-teo

[4:40 pm, 03/03/2021] +Alvin: Nice and yes companies MUST transform internally with real changes to their process and using new automation tools. No point sending workers to upgrade and upskill but not put in use cos still using traditional methods to work.

[4:40 pm, 03/03/2021] +REACH: Progressive wage model to cover 218,000 workers, up from 80,000 currently

The Progressive Wage Model (PWM) will be expanded in the short term to cover up to nearly 218,000 workers - more than double the 85,000 currently.

More: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/budget-debate-progressive-wage-model-to-cover-218000-workers-up-from-80000

[5:28 pm, 03/03/2021] +REACH: Singapore's first university of the arts to be established in NAFA and LASALLE alliance

Singapore’s first arts university will be established in an alliance between the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) and LASALLE College of the Arts, Minister for Education Lawrence Wong announced on Wednesday (Mar 3). 

More: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/first-university-of-the-arts-singapore-nafa-lasalle-alliance-14322134

[5:28 pm, 03/03/2021] +REACH: All students to have avenues to progress and pursue their interests, says Lawrence Wong

The education system will press on with efforts to help students progress no matter their starting point, Education Minister Lawrence Wong said in Parliament on Wednesday (March 3).

More: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/parenting-education/all-students-to-have-avenues-to-progress-and-pursue-their-interests

[5:29 pm, 03/03/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Digitalisation of the business can be done in 2 steps :-

Step 1. Digitalise Payment - help business to start with ePayment first.

Step 2. Digitalise Business and process - help business to put merchandise and services into digital platform, digitalise process like accounting, finance, business process.

CTO as a Service can help most in Step 1.

And in Step 2, CTO as a Service need to work closely with CIO as a Service to help business to do Digital Business Transformation.

[5:45 pm, 03/03/2021] +CQ: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/mental-health-curriculum-polytechnics-ite-schools-moe-14322204?cid=FBcna&fbclid=IwAR2ClMMvMTcMUtqLS1bwpbXT_tHu1dl30uOEpciZcDakAlcoiNvN09bj4_s

This initiative is good, but consider the downstream repercussions re: insurance declarations. Insurance companies will take this opportunity to impose ridiculous loading on insurance premiums and put in all kinds of exclusions. You can't not declare, cos withholding such information is grounds for repudiating. So damned if you do, damned if you don't. Please deal with the insurance cos, thanks.

[5:48 pm, 03/03/2021] +Nat: In what way though? Like how will the insurance thing be related to this as a curriculum?

[5:48 pm, 03/03/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/australianz/sorry-steak-lovers-australias-running-out-of-cows                                                                                                                                                            Australia running out of cows for steak. Thus cell culture and tissue re-engineering meat or plant-based meat will be the future food source.

[5:51 pm, 03/03/2021] +CQ: i like that they're raising awareness about mental health and encouraging people to seek help. this is the right move and my issue is not with this. my issue is with insurance companies and more has to be done on that front so that they don't unnecessarily prejudice people for seeking help over mental health issues because there will be times that people need to seek that additional support.

[5:52 pm, 03/03/2021] +Nat: I still don't see the link leh

[5:52 pm, 03/03/2021] +CQ: take it as i derailed lor. :P

[5:53 pm, 03/03/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Thus Singapore food industry should take on more focus R&D on plant based food, cell culture and tissue re-engineering food.

Singapore could be the 1st mover alternative food hub - to produce alternative steak, chicken, pork, mutton, fish, duck meat - when traditional food source and livestock got depleted - when global climate turn for the worst.

[5:53 pm, 03/03/2021] +Nat: Not as worse as the one above you lol but I legit don't see the link though I know where you're coming from

[5:54 pm, 03/03/2021] +CQ: to me, i see the link as "if you want to raise awareness and want people to seek help, then make sure that they don't get prejudiced anywhere down the road. otherwise whatever initiative would become futile"

[5:55 pm, 03/03/2021] +Nat: This one not MOE responsibility liao, is more like how society is toxic lor and you have to fend for yourself

[5:55 pm, 03/03/2021] +Alvin: Very good. It’s high time we have a recognized Arts University

[5:59 pm, 03/03/2021] +Rama: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/jobs/spore-should-not-change-plans-to-raise-retirement-re-employment-ages-ntucs-heng-chee#:~:text=From%20July%20next%20year%2C%20the,age%20at%2070%20by%202030.

[6:02 pm, 03/03/2021] +CQ: not MOE lah, but it has to be a top down push. tbh I'm not even sure whether it's even possible, but i guess just float this here and see where it goes. because as individuals, it's impossible to negotiate the terms with insurers. or maybe a directive (not sure from MAS or MOE or what) that if a person declares a history, and the questionnaire completed by the psychiatrist confirms that there's no risk of suicide of self-harm as of this point, then the insurers cannot impose any premium loading/ exclusions. Not all cases of depression end up in suicide, or at least limit the exclusions to self-inflicted harm.

[6:02 pm, 03/03/2021] +Nat: No no cuz the thing mentioned is like MOE thing ma then your insurance thing like from another world one 

But I totally get your point, perhaps MSF can look into it

[6:04 pm, 03/03/2021] +REACH: Mental wellness curriculum launched at polytechnics and ITE colleges

Polytechnics and Institute of Technical Education (ITE) colleges have launched a new mental wellness curriculum for all Year 1 students to raise awareness of mental health and encourage people to seek help early.

More: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/mental-health-curriculum-polytechnics-ite-schools-moe-14322204

[6:05 pm, 03/03/2021] +REACH: Route to Higher Nitec to be shortened in effort to get all ITE students to reach the certification

Progression to a Higher Nitec qualification at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) will be shortened, Second Minister for Education Dr Maliki Osman told Parliament on Wednesday (March 3).

More: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/parenting-education/route-to-higher-nitec-to-be-shortened-in-effort-to-get-all-ite

[6:06 pm, 03/03/2021] +REACH: Over 60% of those hired under jobs incentive received same or higher pay than before

More than six out of 10 workers hired under the Jobs Growth Incentive (JGI), which encourages employers to bring forward the hiring of locals through wage subsidies, did not experience a drop in pay.

More: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/budget-debate-over-60-of-those-hired-under-jobs-incentive-received-same-or-higher

[6:06 pm, 03/03/2021] +CQ: i considered it related cos you cannot on the one hand roll out awareness and intervention programmes, but then on the other hand have this person exposed to the possibility of being uninsurable or too expensive to insure from the moment he/she seeks help. so i'm looking at it from a holistic longer-term thing for the individual. like i said, i'm not sure if it's even anything that any ministry can even look into.

[6:08 pm, 03/03/2021] +Nat: Cuz insurance is toxic culture, as someone who "benefits from" mental illness I would be pissed to be in the exact predicament that you were in

[6:16 pm, 03/03/2021] +REACH: 'Targeted intervention' for Primary 1 students with social, behavioural needs in all schools by 2026

Primary 1 students with social and behavioural needs will get "targeted intervention" in all schools by 2026, announced Minister of State for Education Sun Xueling on Wednesday (Mar 3).

More: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/transit-programme-p1-social-behavioural-needs-primary-schools-14322178

[6:59 pm, 03/03/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: https://www.straitstimes.com/multimedia/graphics/2021/02/covid-vaccine-rollout/index.html?shell

Covid-19: Tracking the global race to vaccinate

[7:22 pm, 03/03/2021] +Alvin: Wah so late liao haven’t pang kang ah?

[7:25 pm, 03/03/2021] +REACH: 📍Dear contributors. We will be extending the chats today ⏰

[7:51 pm, 03/03/2021] +Caleb: How come cook go become security sia

[7:51 pm, 03/03/2021] +Caleb: And then the topic above is food service sector on PWM 🤣

[7:55 pm, 03/03/2021] +REACH: Dear Contributors!

⏰ We will be closing the chat in 5 minutes ⏰

Thank you 🙇🏻‍♀️

Megan

[8:03 pm, 03/03/2021] +REACH: Dear Contributors,

We will be closing the chat for today.

Thank you very much for being part of our WhatsApp chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan

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