REACH 202 - Community support for low-wage workers (SK)

04 Mar 2021 (11am - 7pm)

REACH

[10:49 am, 04/03/2021] +REACH: Dear contributors,

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[11:00 am, 04/03/2021] +REACH: 📢 Topic 📢 

The Ministry of Manpower announced in Parliament on Wednesday (Mar 3) that an Alliance for Action (AfA) for Lower-Wage Workers will be formed to encourage community groups, corporates, workers, youths and more to play their part in uplifting lower-wage workers. 

💬 How can we as a community better support our lower-wage workers?

This group will bring together community stakeholders keen to start ground-up projects to uplift lower-wage workers, such as campaigns to appreciate low-wage workers and initiatives to improve their working environments. 

“We will launch the AfA soon and run co-creation workshops for AfA members over the next six months to start these ground-up initiatives,” Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad said. 

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

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[11:10 am, 04/03/2021] +Boon: Educate our social-conscious community to respect these groups of workers and their contributions to the society. One of the best thing that the community can give to them is NOT to give these workers attitude when they are doing their job eg/ cleaning up rubbish in hawker centres left by PMETs and students

[11:11 am, 04/03/2021] +Boon: It is not just about money. It is about dignity and mutual respect by the community and society, for the community and our society regardless of the rungs anyone is on.

[11:12 am, 04/03/2021] +Eunice Chia: Second that!

[11:14 am, 04/03/2021] +KS Foong: Agree!

[11:17 am, 04/03/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. To uplift low wages workers, need to provide training to upgrade their skillets to take on automation, digitalisation - to improve their productivity so that they can fetch higher salary.

2. Notice that elderly, low wages workers can pickup skills when they are given opportunity.

3. Only then they can live and work with dignity.

[11:26 am, 04/03/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. Government policy of redistribution of wealth - in the form of GST rebate, utility bill, town council rebate, CDC vouchers etc - given to low and middle income households - is a good social and income inequality measures.

2. Medical subsidies, education bursaries and other subsidies - given to low and middle income households - are good ways to help low wages households.

[11:28 am, 04/03/2021] ☸️  Danny 心: 

Ultimately, it is still skills upgrade to get higher pay jobs - the best and most dignified ways to uplift the low wages workers.

[11:37 am, 04/03/2021] +Suma pamu: I would like to mention something related to this...

Govt is doing Good job to uplift low wage workers of this generation.

Along with this bit more need to be done for future generations of these families.

I have limited Observation...

And I may be wrong ..

But I feel 

The foundation level Work need to be done.

(Watched The class difference from CNA Mr. Janil Special Programme few years before...and Felt this way ) 

I know all schools are good schools. 

But Some are popular ones.

Can govt do something.. like reserving few seats in Popular Schools in these popular schools... 

Instead of just giving seat as home to school  distance?!

Giving them Opportunity to equal resources ...

To achieve equity?! 

The Unprivileged families need Other support along with Financial Support..!

Starting from school level to achieve Equity will be the key to mitigate the class differences of Next generation. 

This is my View.

[11:58 am, 04/03/2021] +REACH: Singapore must tackle climate change while balancing trade-offs in manpower, land and alternative energy: SM Teo

Climate change poses an existential challenge for Singapore, but the country's unique constraints means the trade-offs it faces in cutting its emissions are much starker than what most other nations face, Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean said Thursday (March 4).

More: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-must-tackle-climate-change-while-balancing-trade-offs-in-manpower-land-and

[0:51 pm, 04/03/2021] +REACH: Budget debate: S'pore public sector aims to peak carbon emissions around 2025, five years before national target

The public sector wants to lead by example on the climate change front, with a target to start reducing the amount of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions it produces before the rest of the nation, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu on Thursday (March 4).

More: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/public-sector-aims-to-peak-carbon-emissions-around-2025-five-years-before-national-target

[1:45 pm, 04/03/2021] +REACH: Budget debate: Road tax for mass-market electric cars in S'pore to be lowered from next year

Road tax for mass-market electric cars will be lowered to be on par with equivalent models powered by combustion engines from next year, removing yet another hurdle to adoption of these cleaner vehicles.

More: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/road-tax-for-mass-market-electric-cars-to-be-lowered-from-next-year

[1:57 pm, 04/03/2021] +REACH: Budget debate: Electricity prices likely to go up, but efforts will be made to ensure a gradual rise

Electricity prices are likely to increase as Singapore's electricity overcapacity situation normalises and fuel prices rise, said Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng on Thursday (March 4).

More https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/electricity-prices-likely-to-go-up-but-efforts-will-be-made-to-ensure-a-gradual

[2:04 pm, 04/03/2021] +KS Foong: Do we hv a lesson to learn from the tariff surge in the US texas that caught everyone when they open up their electricity supply market.

[2:39 pm, 04/03/2021] +REACH: Budget debate: Refund-based recycling of bottles and cans to be legislated by 2022

Recycling drink bottles and cans will soon be more rewarding with a scheme that refunds people for their beverage containers set to be made into law next year.

More: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/refund-based-recycling-of-bottles-and-cans-to-be-legislated-by-2022

[2:41 pm, 04/03/2021] +Alvin: Agree on this as well

[2:45 pm, 04/03/2021] +Poh S. Lim: Yes, regulations are needed, and corrupt politicians must not be allowed to run wild. The American Texan politicians are one of the most corrupt that anyone can imagine.

[3:03 pm, 04/03/2021] +REACH: Hawker centres to become greener, starting with 3 new ones at Bukit Canberra, Fernvale and Senja 

Three new hawker centres will be opened in 2021 and early next year, adding vibrancy to Singapore's hawker culture.

The Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre in Canberra off Sembawang and the Fernvale Hawker Centre and Market in Sengkang are expected to open in the fourth quarter of this year as the construction of both centres were delayed by Covid-19.

More: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/hawker-centres-to-get-cleaner-and-greener-starting-with-3-new-ones-at-bukit-canberra

[3:09 pm, 04/03/2021] +REACH: Battle against unsanitary premises ramped up, starting with pre-schools, coffee shops, facilities for the elderly

A regime to clean up and disinfect public spaces will be rolled out progressively, targeting more than 2,000 high-risk premises such as pre-schools, schools, youth facilities and eldercare facilities from July, as part of Singapore's efforts to enhance public hygiene to ward off future outbreaks of infectious diseases.

More: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/battle-against-unsanitary-premises-ramped-up-starting-with-preschools-coffeeshops

[3:20 pm, 04/03/2021] +Charles Johnson: Great ... but What about the steps that can be rolled out in all Hawker centres like:

Actively encouraging patrons to bring own containers for take away

Using bio friendly / compostable packaging instead of plastic and styrofoam 

Doing away with straws (Malaysia started this more than a year ago .. small steps but sends a clear signal) 

Actively discouraging food wastage

[3:46 pm, 04/03/2021] +Valli: But with more online orders, there is overall wastage in all forms. 

crates, carton boxes, styrofoam boxes, paper bags

[3:50 pm, 04/03/2021] +REACH: Budget debate: '4Cs' plan for sustainability in all MOE schools; plan to cut school emissions by two-thirds by 2030

An "Eco-Stewardship Programme" will be launched in all schools, from primary to pre-university, under the Ministry of Education.

Announcing this in Parliament on Thursday (March 4), Education Minister Lawrence Wong said that through the programme, the ministry aims to reduce carbon emissions from schools by at least at two-thirds by the year 2030, in line with the Government's overall Singapore Green Plan 2030.

More: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/budget-debate-4cs-plan-for-sustainability-in-all-moe-schools-plan-to-cut-school-emissions

[4:10 pm, 04/03/2021] +REACH: Public Consultation on the Adoption of Children in Singapore

Adoption is a legal process that ceases the rights of birth parents in caring for a child, and transfers them to adoptive parents.

The MSF is seeking to hear your views on eliminating unethical behaviour in the adoption sector, finding a good home for every child put up for adoption and breaking cycles of abuse and neglect.

Share your opinions on this important issue.

👉 https://www.reach.gov.sg/participate/public-consultation/ministry-of-social-and-family-development/public-consultation-on-the-adoption-of-children-in-singapore

[4:18 pm, 04/03/2021] +Rama: I missed the chance long ago.

[4:18 pm, 04/03/2021] +Alvin: The readiness assessment is good but regular visit by MSF officers after adoption should help with checking on how the family is coping with their adoption, etc

[4:18 pm, 04/03/2021] +Rama: Unannounced

[4:23 pm, 04/03/2021] +Fulgrim: Was this a big issue ? Didn’t know that adoption numbers were really high in Singapore

[4:26 pm, 04/03/2021] +Leonard Lau: MSF conducts regular visits to the adopter-family to ensure that the adopted well-beings are monitored

[4:28 pm, 04/03/2021] +Alvin: I’m not sure what’s the procedure for now so if I’m suggesting something that’s already been done then can ignore. Haha

[4:28 pm, 04/03/2021] +Alvin: But yes MSF officers so regularly check on the well being of the adoptee

[4:28 pm, 04/03/2021] +Alvin: *should

[4:29 pm, 04/03/2021] +Leonard Lau: It’s has been the practice for many years ; I thought you might have something the authority might have overlooked

[6:24 pm, 04/03/2021] +XaniceAfcai: For me, i recycle. Meaning the supplier will take back thr boxes, syrofoam etc. Ig no taje, i will pass to my estate ppls who is thr fish supplier to reuse.

[6:47 pm, 04/03/2021] +REACH: Dear Contributors,

⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰

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

Goodnight!

Megan

[6:55 pm, 04/03/2021] +Alvin: Gdnite Megan

[7:00 pm, 04/03/2021] +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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