Why Singapore should do more to help poorest among us

Current schemes are limited. Low earnings affect not just present-day living standards but workers' retirement security as well.

The progressive wage model, introduced in 2012, is a sectoral minimum wage scheme tied to productivity improvements and has been implemented in the cleaning, security and landscape businesses. It now covers 80,000 workers or 15 per cent of those at t
The progressive wage model, introduced in 2012, is a sectoral minimum wage scheme tied to productivity improvements and has been implemented in the cleaning, security and landscape businesses. It now covers 80,000 workers or 15 per cent of those at the bottom of the workforce. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
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The debate over whether the Government should introduce a minimum wage for workers is good for Singapore.

It will focus minds on how best to help the poorest-paid workers earn more to improve their living standards.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on October 31, 2020, with the headline Why Singapore should do more to help poorest among us. Subscribe