In parliamentary debates on Budget 2019 last week, MP Cheryl Chan used an important phrase when speaking of low-income families' needs: a "decent living wage" (Parliament: MP Cheryl Chan urges Govt to consider wealth and inheritance taxes on super-rich individuals, published in The Straits Times on Feb 27).

Inadequate wages are a crucial component of inequality in Singapore. The unemployment rate is relatively low, which means that many people living with low income are already in wage work, but their wages do not pay enough to meet their needs.