Lowering the social gap between the rich and the poor

last SG · 2010-09-09T14:56:56+00:00

But the gap between the rich and the poor can be bridged.Already the rich have no qualms about driving their Mercedes to go and grab free text books. The po...

dare82 SG

Among the hottest topic in Singapore nowadays is the rising income gap in Singapore.

Our Gini coefficient is one of the highest in the world.

Earlier this year, Finance Minister rebutted to Sylvia Lim's concerns about the high income gap in Singapore in Parliament by saying, "That's a good question but it can't be helped. Do you want to increase jobs first to improve the economy?"

I'm pushing for an egalitarian society between social classes as a high income or social gap will lead to disunity in our society. The rich and elites will become too powerful so that they can hire and fire employees at their own discretion, causing high turnoverrates, therefore decreasing productivity.

So offer your views on how we can decrease the income gap in Singapore?

Do the Thaksin way by imposing a debt moratorium on the lower income group in Singapore? This was what he did to the rural areas of Thailand as he encouraged rural enterprises to spring up at better advantages. He improved GDP, yet also improved Gini coefficient. Praise to him!

parn SG

I'm happy being poor, at least happier than the rich.

Fallen-Angel SG

Set a minimium wages for workers does help a bit i guess.

Phantomnite SG

Actually as much as I hate to say. I feel that by lowering income gap, its really something that can't be help. If a Singaporean working as a cleaner, are you going to pay him almost near to someone who is a CEO? Then it does not reflect the meritocracy in our society.

I would rather the government lower the standard of living, so that everyone, including the people who are struggling to live a stable life.

Fallen-Angel said setting a minimum wage. By setting a minimum wage, you really would drive away investors or anyone who wants to set up a company. If company is not able to keep costs low, it eats into their profit margin, why would they take the trouble to set up a company?

And by introducing minimum wage, I believe lower productivity would incur. After all, no matter how much effort is placed into, at the end of the day, the worker would still get that minimum amount, why then would he want to work hard? There isn't any motivation. Worse still, it could lead to a higher rate of unemployment. Companies would not want to hire these un-motivated individuals.

sgdiehard SG

I would rather the government lower the standard of living, so that everyone, including the people who are struggling to live a stable life.

lower the cost of living, not the standard of living.

Keep the cost of basic necessities low, for all to live a decent life.

Phantomnite SG

lower the cost of living, not the standard of living.

Keep the cost of basic necessities low, for all to live a decent life.

Sorry Sorry. Type wrongly.

troublemaker2005 SG

define rich? what piangz i drive car on the road very rich. but every month end i have to servuce my car i poor no one knows...shhh must hide my poorness and let people think i rich on the road i so haborad

eagle SG

So if you spend 1.5 times the amount of time as your peers to earn double of that of your peers?

Coupled with you spending less $$ due to lesser time and motivation to do so...

E.g. your peers start earning at $3k working 40 hours week, but you do OT and earn $6k working 60 hours week. They spend $2k and save $1k, but you spend $1.5k and save $4.5k monthly. Or perhaps earn $8k monthly working 80 hours week, and spend $1.5k too, saving $6.5k a month.

Are you considered rich or poor?

To me, how much you earn depends on how much effort you put in life, all the way from the time you were in school till adult. I'm not counting those born with silver spoons in their mouths, and excluding those with born defects and really need help.

So what exactly are pple talking about poor and rich? Being compensated more for working harder and smarter and knowing how to play the system better... is that fair on unfair?

sgdiehard SG

smart people hide their wealth, stupid people x c borad, hao lian.

smart people work and save, stupid people spend before they earn.

smart people spend on what is necessary, stupid people spend on what they want.

who is rich and who is poor?

likeyou SG

lower the cost of living, not the standard of living.

Keep the cost of basic necessities low, for all to live a decent life.

I agreed with you.

Keep cost low...fare low, bills low....

If pple happy with it, there will have impact on others factors such as babies population increases too.

likeyou SG

smart people hide their wealth, stupid people x c borad, hao lian.

smart people work and save, stupid people spend before they earn.

smart people spend on what is necessary, stupid people spend on what they want.

who is rich and who is poor?

Smart pple always say they no money.

Stupid pple always show off, but pocket empty.

Smart pple dress down, stupid pple wear branded clothing.

angel7030 SG

tho Singapore had a social income gap disparity, as in many countries, our govt know how to bridge those gap by bringing the lower income in contact with what the rich can enjoy or even better. In socialogy, the alienation of poor leading to the uprising of revolt from them is usually due to a complete neglection and slavery treatment given by the rulers and the richs. How MM lay the foundation that prevent poor from alienation is really a Master Mind that most govt admired.

1. By providing Jobs, which is the most basic need of every man

2. By allowing the lower income to enjoy what the rich do, maybe in a lower scale

3. By creating a living environment that is close to the rich and yet no far in qualities and facilities, eg private house alongside HDB and shopping areas.

troublemaker2005 SG

with so many floor traps and ppe ars where got job anymore. i want to sweep floor they also won;t fire me/ because tehy can get even cheaper floor trps.

the lower income alot buying expensive handphones, some cannoot afford even buying condo.

singapore so small, walk a few steps can see police station already.

did m&ms did that or did you just made thaem up?

Asromanista2001 SG

in S'pore, PAP is already elitist so forget about them helping the poor.................there's no social welfare even for people that really need them !

in any case, in a capitalist society...........only those that have capital have the advantage !

parn SG

Alot of people don't know that Minimum Wages is actually Maximum Wages in Employers Market.

Did I just crushed alot of dreams?

Phantomnite SG

Why so many people over here want to live a life of communist living? Very nice to see those people who didn't work as hard as you to be bringing home the same amount of money meh? Very nice to see everyone living just the same?

Phantomnite SG

Alot of people don't know that Minimum Wages is actually Maximum Wages in Employers Market.

Did I just crushed alot of dreams?

Correct. I can even save money on those people who wants to argue about increasing their pay. Afterall I already gave the minimum.

dare82 SG

Fuck those employers who r nast yto their employees.

Tell them not to make use of illegal union strikes to anyhow fuck employees!

By this way, the income gap can be reduced!

Dun always say increase productivity when they dunno how to listen to feedbacks n constructive criticisms!

At the end of e day, if they still do their own micromanagements, well, no chance of improving productivity!

I dun wanna see elitism in our society anymore!

Genie99a SG

Alot of people don't know that Minimum Wages is actually Maximum Wages in Employers Market.

Did I just crushed alot of dreams?

Singapore got minimum wage meh? Blur liao...

In Ozzie, the asian companies use the philosophy "Min wage = maximum wage" to maximise profit for the owner.

The non-asian companies prefer staff retention and so pay above/equal market rates (which is alot higher than min wage lar) to reduce turnover and not have to retrain staff.

In Singapore I not sure..... but if its generally "min wage = max wage" that means the employers are abusing cheap labor lor lol.

Basically I would support Sylvia Lim. Whats the point in improving the economy and make more crappy jobs lol. At the end also import FT to do the crappy jobs cos no SG want to do lol. Then say o because SG ppl dun want to do the job thats why forced to import FT. Then in the first place make the jobs for what? if you noe SG ppl wont do de. Lemme guess u want better economy bcos yer pay tagged to gdp? Tio toto bo?

Concentrate on closing the income disparity lar and stop letting the rich abuse the system.

Like my father said(lol) .... so much $ also no use... at my age now what am I going to do with the $? Want to eat the good food also must watch health.... want to travel also difficult.

Kind Regards

Genie

I chanced upon some SG hater on oppositions website... his sig was Matilah Singapura HAHA wanna pengz.

sgdiehard SG

Singapore got minimum wage meh? Blur liao...

In Ozzie, the asian companies use the philosophy "Min wage = maximum wage" to maximise profit for the owner.

The non-asian companies prefer staff retention and so pay above/equal market rates (which is alot higher than min wage lar) to reduce turnover and not have to retrain staff.

In Singapore I not sure..... but if its generally "min wage = max wage" that means the employers are abusing cheap labor lor lol.

Concentrate on closing the income disparity lar and stop letting the rich abuse the system.

Like my father said(lol) .... so much $ also no use... at my age now what am I going to do with the $? Want to eat the good food also must watch health.... want to travel also difficult.

Kind Regards

Genie

I chanced upon some SG hater on oppositions website... his sig was Matilah Singapura HAHA wanna pengz.

No minimum wage in Singapore.

Diff to say what is market rate. Many western MNC pay you $4500 but every night work in the office till 10 pm, no OT. Japanese companies pay you $4000 and every night drink with customers till 12 mid nite. Singaporean companies pay $3500 and you go home by 7. What is the market rate?

In Singapore, many many non Asian companies. The american companies would pay you high salaries, work your guts out, and you may be out in the next restructuring, reorganizing, merging.....or simply to cut headcounts. The european companies won't pay you so much but are kinder when it comes to retrenchment. don't know about the oz coy.

As for Asian companies. The jap never pay top of the range, but they take long term view, very few retrenchment, you can work there for life if you can tahan. Working for Taiwanese companies are like working for a family, boss is lao peh, he happy you get very high bonus, basic is often low. Ever work for the PRC or the korean?

One thing in common, all companies, the top jobs are meant for their own nationals, that is why many people here only complaining about the pay for the low end job, minimum wage, hmmm.....singapore companies are probably an exception, next time our pm could be an FT.

jobs and pays are up to the companies, good or bad depends on individuals. But when the companies make money, they should be taxed significantly for the people of their host country, not remit the money back home. when the economy is good, the government should use the money to keep the costs of living low for the benefit of the people who elected them, elite or no elite.