REACH (Telegram) 66 - What are your views on the plans to strengthen Singapore’s workforce and enhance healthcare services as outlined by Dr Tan and Mr Ong respectively? Which aspects of their speeches resonated the most with you?
(SK)
10 Mar 2025 (10am - 7pm)
REACH (Telegram)
REACH Singapore, [10/3/2025 9:45 AM]
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REACH Singapore, [10/3/2025 10:03 AM]
📢 Topic 📢
Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng and Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung delivered their Committee of Supply (COS) speeches last week on March 6 and March 7 respectively.
Dr Tan outlined plans to build an adaptable workforce, support businesses, manage needs for foreign labour, and foster fair and inclusive workplaces. Mr Ong announced enhancements to healthcare subsidies, capacity expansion plans, and quality improvements, while balancing the objectives of affordability, availability, and quality.
💬 What are your views on the plans to strengthen Singapore’s workforce and enhance healthcare services as outlined by Dr Tan and Mr Ong respectively? Which aspects of their speeches resonated the most with you?
MOM COS Speech
Dr Tan shared that Singapore has introduced initiatives like the SkillsFuture Workforce Development Grant, enhanced NTUC Company Training Committee (CTC) Grants, and redesigned the SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit to support workforce transformation.
These efforts contributed to Singapore’s post-pandemic recovery. From 2020 to 2024, resident unemployment dropped from 4.8% to 2.8%, with real wages outpacing inflation. Dr Tan added that efforts to drive business productivity and innovation, alongside support for workers and vulnerable groups, helped the economy recover, though challenges like an ageing population and global competition remain.
📌 Strengthening Workforce Resilience
Dr Tan mentioned that the Government is empowering Singaporeans to build resilient careers through the Career Health SG programme, which supports workers through skills upgrading, job matching, and transition support, such as with the Career Conversion Programmes in emerging sectors like green technology. In addition, the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme offers financial help to those involuntarily unemployed.
To groom corporate leaders, the Government is expanding overseas development opportunities through programs by Enterprise Singapore, MAS, and IMDA. The Singapore Leaders Network (SGLN) will also enhance networking and mentorship for senior professionals.
For senior workers, the Government is raising CPF contribution rates in 2026, extending the Senior Employment Credit, and offering the CPF Transition Offset to support employers. The Majulah Package and Earn and Save Bonus provide ongoing support to working seniors, strengthening their retirement savings and productive longevity.
📌 Supporting Business Transformation
Dr Tan shared that the Government will inject a total of $600 million into business transformation, combining a $400 million Enterprise Workforce Transformation Package with a $200 million NTUC CTC Grant. Companies will benefit from enhanced job redesign funding through the SkillsFuture Workforce Development Grant, simplified access to SkillsFuture grants, and $10,000 in credits through the newly redesigned SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit scheme. These initiatives will help businesses tackle AI disruption and upgrade their workforce capabilities with more streamlined, accessible support.
📌 Managing Foreign Labour
Dr Tan highlighted that Singapore faces two key workforce trends: a projected halt in resident workforce growth next decade and an increasing elderly population. The declining old-age support ratio requires foreign workers to help sustain Singapore's economy. Global cities now compete intensely for talent, particularly in AI and biotechnology sectors. Singapore addresses these challenges through a dual approach: protecting local employment through raising EP qualifying salaries and the COMPASS framework, while maintaining access to foreign talent where needed through frameworks such as the ONE Pass and S Pass This approach keeps unemployment low and strengthens Singapore's position as a global hub while ensuring locals remain core to the workforce.
📌 Fostering Inclusive and Safe Workspaces
REACH Singapore, [10/3/2025 10:03 AM]
Dr Tan emphasised that the Government is committed to fostering fair and inclusive workspaces through the Workfare Skills Support and Progressive Wage Credit Scheme which help uplift lower-wage workers. Support for persons with disabilities includes the expansion of the Matched Retirement Savings Scheme. There are also continued initiatives to promote the employment of ex-offenders.
🔗https://www.mom.gov.sg/newsroom/speeches/2025/0306-minister-speech-for-cos-2025
🔗https://www.mom.gov.sg/about-us/cos2025
🔗https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singapore-foreign-workers-safeguards-local-jobs-tan-see-leng-4888481
REACH Singapore, [10/3/2025 10:03 AM]
MOH COS Speech
Mr Ong highlighted the sharp rise in Singapore’s healthcare budget from $9 billion in 2015 to an estimated $30 billion by 2030. He emphasized the need for additional GST revenue to sustain universal and affordable healthcare. While acknowledging the challenge of timing tax increases, he warned that delaying revenue growth could lead to severe fiscal deficits. He also stressed the importance of controlling escalating healthcare costs, as they ultimately impact taxpayers, patients, and insurance policyholders.
Mr Ong also shared that Singapore faces a healthcare "trilemma" between making care affordable, available, and high-quality. Rather than maximising any one aspect, Singapore adopts a balanced approach to achieve reasonable levels of all three objectives. This is a contrast to countries like the UK (which prioritises affordability but struggles with availability) or Switzerland (which excels in quality but faces affordability challenges).
📌 Enhancement to Financial Subsidies
Mr Ong shared that no one will be denied appropriate medical care because they cannot afford it. The Government has implemented various measures to ensure healthcare affordability, including the "S+3Ms" framework. People will be able to use more of their MediSave for medical scans and treatments. Dental care will become more affordable with new subsidies. A major support package will help seniors with their long-term care needs over the next five years. Nursing homes and community care services will also receive more funding support. The changes will take effect from mid-2025 to 2026, with interim rebates to ease costs until then.
📌 Expansion of Healthcare Capacity
Mr Ong highlighted that healthcare infrastructure are being expanded across Singapore to address availability concerns. More hospital beds will be added at several hospitals, and redeveloped and new hospitals. New initiatives like Mobile Inpatient Care@Home and the opening of Woodlands Health have helped ease capacity constraints. Many new nursing home spaces will also be created. These changes will happen gradually from now until 2030.
Singapore is growing its healthcare workforce alongside its facilities. This includes recruiting more healthcare workers, enhancing salaries, and increasing medical school places. These initiatives aim to address the increasing healthcare demands of an aging population while maintaining service quality.
📌 Prevention as the Long-term Solution
The Healthier SG initiative leads Singapore’s shift towards preventive healthcare, with 1.2 million Singaporeans already enrolled. New technologies, include AI, enhance healthcare delivery and support this transformation. This programme aims to extend Singaporeans’ healthy years, closing the gap between Singapore's average lifespan (84 years) and healthspan (74 years). Mr Ong emphasised that prevention reduces healthcare system strain and balances the healthcare "trilemma” of affordability, availability, and quality.
🔗 https://www.moh.gov.sg/newsroom/speech-by-mr-ong-ye-kung--minister-for-health--at-the-ministry-of-health-committee-of-supply-debate-2025--on-friday-7-march-2025
🔗 https://www.instagram.com/reel/DG5XYgVqRUQ/?igsh=aTVxd3B6bGlyMnAx
🔗 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/more-subsidies-for-singaporeans-amid-rising-medical-costs-ong-ye-kung
----
REACH Singapore, [10/3/2025 11:00 AM]
[ Poll : 1. I agree with the Government’s approach to grow local employment opportunities while balancing our need for foreign workers. ]
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
REACH Singapore, [10/3/2025 11:00 AM]
[ Poll : 2. I agree that the Government’s healthcare initiatives will allow healthcare to be affordable, available and of high quality. ]
- Strongly Agree
- Agree
- Neutral
- Disagree
- Strongly Disagree
REACH Singapore, [10/3/2025 11:03 AM]
Dear Contributors,
We want to HEAR from you!
💬 What are your views on the plans to strengthen Singapore’s workforce and enhance healthcare services as outlined by Dr Tan and Mr Ong respectively? Which aspects of their speeches resonated the most with you?
We have had good feedback from this group, and we hope that we can keep the discussion robust and active!
Do also share your opinion by participating in our polls! The poll questions are pinned for easy reference, and your vote is anonymous.
Thank you!
Megan 😊
G, [10/3/2025 11:47 AM]
A request for more GST revenue again 😡
How many more stat boards / govt agencies does he want to create and fill with expensive overheads?
REACH Singapore, [10/3/2025 1:25 PM]
Dear Contributors,
We want to HEAR from you!
💬 What are your views on the plans to strengthen Singapore’s workforce and enhance healthcare services as outlined by Dr Tan and Mr Ong respectively? Which aspects of their speeches resonated the most with you?
We have had good feedback from this group, and we hope that we can keep the discussion robust and active!
Do also share your opinion by participating in our polls! The poll questions are pinned for easy reference, and your vote is anonymous.
Thank you!
Megan 😊
Jun Ming, [10/3/2025 1:30 PM]
Any plans for improving elder care home
Jun Ming, [10/3/2025 1:34 PM]
As one reach elder age with no family members is there a plan for a more hybrid elder care where there is more flexibility for the elders. Such as taking a walk with the nurse, doing intelligent activities to exercise mentally, instead of lying down there for whole day with minimum movement
Jun Ming, [10/3/2025 1:34 PM]
Like staying in jail
365, [10/3/2025 1:44 PM]
Need more details on the funding support for financial subsidies, ideally would want to look more into chronic and other long-term diseases where there's a constant need for costly healthcare.
Sometimes, even though patients can afford the cost of healthcare, but it may cause a major shift in their standard of living and sense of financial security, so would appreciate if more assurance can be given on this end.
Joomua Tng, [10/3/2025 1:54 PM]
there is a thin line of balance for funding and subsidizing health care and others.
Singaporean in general will take it for granted. It may have a long term negative effect for Singapore and Singaporean as a whole.
升米恩，斗米仇
别人在危难的时候你给他很小的帮助，他会感激你。 可如果给人的帮助太多，让其形成了依赖，一旦停止帮助，反而会让人忌恨。
A little help will turn into a grudge
If you give someone a little help in times of trouble, he will be grateful to you. But if you give too much help to someone and make him dependent, he will be resentful once you stop helping him.
REACH Singapore, [10/3/2025 2:02 PM]
📢 Topic 📢
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 2:52 PM]
*Manpower*
1. 2 aspect of Manpower policies resonate with me.
a. COMPASS - the policy that ensure Employers prioritise local employment and only bring in foreign talents that value add to our Economy and boost local employment.
b, Various manpower support policies such as systematically improving wage increases (for lower income PWM - Progressive Wage Model, and wage increases for other income groups), ensuring senior continue employment, career conversion and upskilling to help workers in skill restructuring and find new jobs, close to full employment.
Jun Ming, [10/3/2025 3:11 PM]
Will gov plan to build an elder city that include all inclusive care for single no direct family elder?
Joomua Tng, [10/3/2025 3:12 PM]
how practical is it? will it be abused by Singaporean? abandoning their elderly parents, and maybe migrate to other countries?
Jun Ming, [10/3/2025 3:15 PM]
Criteria single elderly with no direct family. So for people who have no family because they have no child or their children died before them. Their spouse are also more or less half dead or dead. I mean we need to find an alternative to nursing home
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 3:15 PM]
*Healthcare*
1. Singapore healthcare overall are of high standard - and population benefitted from the medical care provided by the public polyclinic and public hospital healthcare.
2. Healthcare cost are generally affordable - as it is heavily subsidise by the Government.
Jun Ming, [10/3/2025 3:17 PM]
A place where the elderly form a community where they roam freely
Jun Ming, [10/3/2025 3:18 PM]
Instead just lying on bed doing nothing waiting for death
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 3:18 PM]
*Summary*
When benchmark our Government performance to other Countries, we are doing relatively well :-
1. Our workforce are close to full employment.
2. Wages are improving every year.
3. Inflation rate are going lower, and despite elevated groceries and food prices - Government has provided inflation cushioning measures such as CDC voucher, SG60 and other inflation counter measure Government grants.
Budget meal $3, $3.50 initiatives are going around everywhere. South West community are benefitting from the vending machine $3 budget meal.
4. Healthcare services are of high standard - and we geniunely benefitted from the high medical care that treat our illness.
5. And the best thing is, government achieve a budget surplus for this year and it's 5 year terms of governance.
A feat not achieved by foreign countries in the world as most government fiscal budget are in deficit almost every year since COVID.
365, [10/3/2025 3:18 PM]
Honestly I feel those who are in this category, the availability of facilities don't really affect or push them towards it.
Who's to say that without such facility, they will be providing quality care for their elderly parents?
Much rather there's an alternative so at least the elderly parent can receive quality care.
365, [10/3/2025 3:20 PM]
I'm wondering how their initiative on preventive healthcare works, and what is available for those who are already past the stage of preventive healthcare.
Joomua Tng, [10/3/2025 3:20 PM]
....people will abuses the policies with evey means available...
the practicalities of it is one issue. cost. sustainability. abusement of the policies, however creative and innovative it can be.
365, [10/3/2025 3:23 PM]
I forsee logistics and sustainability to be the main issue. As for abuse, I don't think putting someone in a healthcare facility constitutes as abuse.
We should be past the era of 养二防老, which is having children for the sake of retirement or aged living.
My viewpoint is being able to receive the best care, regardless of who is the provider. Someone who will "abandon their parents" in a facility is not going to be providing quality care in the first place.
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 3:26 PM]
1. I think there are elderly nursing homes around, many run by private social enterprise.
2. They charge a monthly fees and subsidies by the government.
3. There are also palliative care centre for the elderly that are bed bound operating on the same model.
365, [10/3/2025 3:28 PM]
The ones that I know of are pretty pricey right now, honestly the current situation, elder care facilities don't seem sustainable on the average non-active income
Joomua Tng, [10/3/2025 3:28 PM]
people will abuse it. it is almost a certainty.
so long there is loop holes.... people will abuse it.
.......
the core issue is still
practicality, cost and sustainability
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 3:28 PM]
I think 1 month $1,200 are available.
Jun Ming, [10/3/2025 3:28 PM]
But I feel that the model can change. Cause from what I see it's mainly like hospital settings
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 3:29 PM]
Yes it is a hospital setting because most elderly need medical attention.
Jun Ming, [10/3/2025 3:29 PM]
Imagine staying in such settings for 10-20 years
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 3:29 PM]
They're staying there long term.
365, [10/3/2025 3:31 PM]
Elder care facility doesn't have to be hospital setting, maybe there are medical apparatus or equipment, but the room doesn't have to be modeled to be hospital-like.
I've seen a few in Malaysia, I think importantly there's activities for them to do, be it a walk in the garden or events for them to participate in.
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 3:32 PM]
I know of one elderly that initially is taken care by her daughter.
But daughter taking part time job has problem taking care of her and she fell at home.
Then putting her in elderly nursing home solve the problem.
Jun Ming, [10/3/2025 3:32 PM]
Same to my uncle. He does not have kids and stays alone.
Jun Ming, [10/3/2025 3:33 PM]
No one sees him and fall down
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 3:33 PM]
I think such setting is possible.
The elderly stay in place something like that.
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 3:33 PM]
Elderly at home will have such a problem.
Caregiver very tough.
Jun Ming, [10/3/2025 3:34 PM]
I mean changing the facilities to be like a home with nurse rather like hospital type of management will be better
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 3:34 PM]
Nurse very scarce in high demand.
365, [10/3/2025 3:34 PM]
It actually seems nice, and because of the currency exchange, it becomes affordable. It's even to the extent that me and my mum are looking at it together and considering choices.
Due to manpower cost and land cost, I don't forsee the same affordability any time soon, but just holding on to the tiny hope that maybe it's achievable in Singapore.
365, [10/3/2025 3:35 PM]
The stigma against elder care facilities or home should have been reduced comparatively to the past
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 3:36 PM]
I think our government is setting up a HDB blocks for senior in community settings double up with healthcare.
All facilities are senior enabled plus daily activities.
I think is on trial in one of the block, I read in news.
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 3:37 PM]
Elderly can sell their flat and apply for such a flat there.
Joomua Tng, [10/3/2025 3:39 PM]
ratio of health caretaker to how many elderly?
do we have the manpower to fill in the position and do the job?
salaries? how many Singaporean and how many foreign caretakers?
back too salaries....too low Singaporean may not take up the job.
Jun Ming, [10/3/2025 3:40 PM]
More activities can be outsource to activities vendors such as musical performance, sensory activities, healing garden activities which I seldom see this happening in eldercare home.
Eldercare home can incorporate with organisation(schools) to do story telling competition making it the venue hype.
Jun Ming, [10/3/2025 3:40 PM]
With the help of technology to help and supervision between the elderly
365, [10/3/2025 3:40 PM]
I think that's a nice foundation to work on, and model after foreign private elder care facilities.
What I like about the elder care facilities is the provision of regular health checks, with food and nutrition provided together in a package.
To alleviate space cost, it can be built like hdb, but with more built-in mobility assistance.
To alleviate manpower cost, there can be a central space for regular checkups or place to dine in with meals provided.
Economies of scale should help bring down the cost per elder.
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 3:41 PM]
I think the elderly senior community HDB blocks are organised something like that if I read the news correctly.
Jun Ming, [10/3/2025 3:41 PM]
Should expand to elder homes
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 3:42 PM]
Yes I think the senior community flats are build in tune to such settings.
Let see whether I can find this news article or not.
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 3:43 PM]
Elderly home is one building run by private social enterprise.
The community senior flats is one community.
Different settings.
365, [10/3/2025 3:43 PM]
Many newer hdbs now come with a rooftop garden, and sometimes even multiple. It may not be large, but it's something for elders to go out to be at instead of lying in bed the whole day.
For those with better mobility, most places have a nearby park connector already
Jun Ming, [10/3/2025 3:43 PM]
I have no issue with community as I know a lot of activities by the pa cater to them
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 3:44 PM]
Singapore is indeed building senior community HDB flats, specifically designed to meet the housing needs of seniors. These flats are part of the Community Care Apartments initiative, a joint effort by the Ministry of National Development (MND), Ministry of Health (MOH), and Housing & Development Board (HDB) ¹.
*Key Features:*
- *Senior-friendly design*: Each unit has an open layout with a floor area of 32 square meters, featuring senior-friendly design elements.
- *Care services*: Residents can access care services, including a community manager, basic health checks, and 24-hour emergency response.
- *Optional services*: Residents can opt for additional services like shared caregiving, social day care, housekeeping, meal delivery, and laundry services.
*Eligibility and Priority:*
- *Age*: Applicants must be at least 65 years old.
- *Priority*: Seniors who require permanent assistance with daily living activities will receive priority allocation.
- *Income ceiling*: The monthly household income ceiling is $14,000.
These Community Care Apartments aim to provide a supportive community for seniors, allowing them to age independently while having access to necessary care services ¹.
Source :- Meta AI
Jun Ming, [10/3/2025 3:45 PM]
I am only worried for people staying in elder homes
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 3:46 PM]
HDB | Community Care Apartments
https://www.hdb.gov.sg/residential/buying-a-flat/finding-a-flat/types-of-flats/community-care-apartments
365, [10/3/2025 3:46 PM]
I think the activities should not be mandatory for private run elder homes.
Instead, government alternatives should show that it can do it and can be better than private run ones, so private ones have to improve.
Personally not a fan of hard-handed solutions if there are alternatives to explore.
365, [10/3/2025 3:54 PM]
Actually it seems like most of the suggestions are implemented, but I can't find the exact cost for the optional services.
Would like to see a breakdown on the expected cost for the services, and is the price controlled for inflation.
A lot of elder living concerns need the assurance that the plans won't be disrupted.
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 3:55 PM]
Don't know about the breakdown cost.
Probably HDB can provide a breakdown.
But I think this is a good project for elderly in retirement.
Joomua Tng, [10/3/2025 3:56 PM]
technology is not the solution in healthcare.
manpower is still the core of healthcare, including elderly healthcare.
..........
technology helps in other area.
when it comes to healthcare...there are certain things technology cannot replace human manpower.
.........
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 3:57 PM]
Most important all these projects are self sustainable.
Not imposing too high a burden on taxpayer money.
365, [10/3/2025 3:57 PM]
I agree, just thinking would want the additional assurance for elders. Continuity is an important aspect, don't want half way through then need increase price due to inflation and suddenly you can no longer afford it.
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 4:01 PM]
I think elderly got to buy the senior flat.
And then subscribe to the services to join the activities or meals.
If don't want can don't pay.
Just stay in the flat.
But caregiver will always look out for such elderly staying in their flat.
365, [10/3/2025 4:02 PM]
There's a basic service component which all must subscribe to. And if it's me, I would like to know I can continue paying for the optional service instead of having to give them up halfway and re-adapt to a new lifestyle.
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 4:03 PM]
Yes I think something like that.
I think HDB can give more details.
Joomua Tng, [10/3/2025 4:04 PM]
sorry... didn't read on it...have to read through and watch the parliamentary video..to understand more.
.............
off hand...i understand government is doing its best on workplace fairness
and a portion of employers are never fair in their policies...
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 4:19 PM]
335. I post in REACH Portal Saturday, February 22, 2025 :-
2. I am thinking of under the void deck of "no-frill HDB flat", vending machines that dispense "Budget Meal" such as those $3, $3.50 type of neighborhood coffeeshops and hawker centres be sold. Eg. Fancai, Bee Hoon, nasi lemak etc.
3. Coffee and tea sold at 80 cents can also be dispense by the vending machines.
4. This will help residents in "no-frill HDB flat" to enjoy low cost budget meal to tackle high inflation.
5. In addition, this will help neighborhood coffeeshops and hawker centres to sell more of their budget meal through another avenue and boost their business.
6. A vending machine aggregator can be tender to collect such Budget Meal from the food stall. But food safety must be ensured.
7. This will be a good political response to tackle the hot potato issues of high food prices in addition to high housing prices.
This is to take the bull by the horns and tackle the biting price vexation head-on - to prevent any political fallout by these 2 housing prices and food prices pain points.
----
CNA news 09 Mar 2025 04:06PM
To help with living costs, the South West Community Development Council (CDC) on Sunday (Mar 9) launched a Value Meals programme that will let residents redeem meals from vending machines located in their neighbourhoods.
Food and beverage (F&B) group Select is providing the vending machines and sponsoring vulnerable residents with S$600,000 in credits to purchase the meals from 80 vending machines, most of which will be located under Housing and Development Board flats.
The meals, ranging from sandwiches to reheatable dishes like fried bee hoon and curry chicken with rice, each cost S$3 or less.
Ms Low also said that food safety is a "top priority", in response to queries from reporters about food hygiene, given recent gastroenteritis cases arising from ready-to-eat meals distributed as part of Singapore's Food Resilience Preparedness Programme.
"That's why we work with Select group that has more than 30 years of experience, and they have a very robust workflow, SOP (standard operating procedures) at their central kitchen," she said.
Khai Mun L., [10/3/2025 5:13 PM]
The vending machine concept would not lower prices too much.
The quoted news article mention the food is sponsored by a company. 'Sponsor' does not mean long term. The high prices now is mainly due to cooking and raw material costs.
There are already vending machines that offer premade food, along with prepackaged food sold in supermarkets, which sell comparable or slight cheaper compared to outside . But the public response/business not super fantastic.
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 5:15 PM]
I think $3 or $3.50.
Better than $4, $5, $6 or more in coffeeshop or food court.
It is a pre covid food prices.
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 5:15 PM]
Actually good idea in REACH, government will adopt.
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 5:18 PM]
Some budget meal also $3 or $3.50.
My neighbourhood coffeeshop some stall already offering such budget meal.
Back to pre-covid prices.
Khai Mun L., [10/3/2025 5:22 PM]
Vending machines could snatch business from existing food stall owners, who could be low income themselves. Esp when the machine vendors are big group companies.
I would think giving food vouchers or budget meal option as currently might be better
Khai Mun L., [10/3/2025 5:23 PM]
Prepackaged meals might be deemed as less healthy.
I recall past discussion here about school canteens and put vending machines there.
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 5:23 PM]
I think vending machine are place far away from coffeeshop or eateries.
Cater mainly to low income families.
Will not snatch away business from the food stalls.
Khai Mun L., [10/3/2025 5:24 PM]
Hmm, your assumption is low income stay far from coffeeeshop. Might not be universal though
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 5:25 PM]
Hmm...
I know of a low income families only go for such pre package low price food.
I was told that nutritionists say these pre package food nutrition are ok and healthy.
Taste like air flight meal.
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 5:25 PM]
True agree.
But definitely some low income families will benefit.
365, [10/3/2025 5:25 PM]
I don't think this is a concern, given the impression of quality on prepackaged/vending machine meals, most would still go for hawker.
As much as you hear a lot of noise complaining about food prices, many people still order delivery at marked up prices rather than walk 2 blocks for their meals. Most consumers are not as price-conscious as what might be portrayed on social media.
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 5:31 PM]
In fact every weekend, I will patronize and buy the budget meal $3.50 nasi lemak.
Very tasty and cheap.
Good value for money.
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 5:36 PM]
But not everytime people will go for pre package vending machine meal because variety selection are limited.
Occasionally, people will also go for coffeeshop or food stalls.
So not too worry about vending machine cannabalising coffeeshop business.
365, [10/3/2025 5:39 PM]
There'll always be demand for meals freshly cooked by a human, most Singaporeans can be quite picky about the food they eat, so the budget ones won't heavily affect hawker side.
LCL (Danny 心), [10/3/2025 5:39 PM]
Yes.
True.
REACH Singapore, [10/3/2025 6:01 PM]
📢 Topic 📢
REACH Singapore, [10/3/2025 6:45 PM]
Dear Contributors,
⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰
Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan 😊
REACH Singapore, [10/3/2025 7:01 PM]
Dear Contributors
We will be closing the chat for today.
Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan 😊
====
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