As Singapore works to reduce inequality, conversations about the kind of social compact its citizens want and how to fund that support have to continue, Second Minister for Education Maliki Osman said yesterday.
Joining the debate on the President’s Address, Dr Maliki noted that while Singapore has moved to narrow inequality, bridging the gap will become more difficult with time as globalisation and digitalisation threaten to leave behind those who cannot cope in the new economy.
The minister assured the House that the Government pays very close attention to narrowing social stratification, as he sets out areas it intends to focus on to tackle it.
Singaporeans, regardless of their income or background, must be able to meet their basic needs and achieve a reasonable standard of living, he said.
This includes giving children a good education and preparing them for adulthood, giving young people the assurance they can advance in the job market, and allowing adults to have job security and prepare well for retirement.
Investing in education is thus important, and the Government has set aside more resources for low-income families, he said, citing subsidies they can receive for childcare and school fees, as well as enhanced bursaries.
He added that public healthcare and home ownership are heavily subsidised, allowing all to meet their fundamental needs.
But there has to be social mobility for all to reduce inequality in a sustainable way, said Dr Maliki, who is also Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Singapore has to continue building a strong economy that can give its citizens good jobs, reasonable wages and sustained pay rises with improvements in workers’ productivity and skills, he said.
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Source: The Straits Times, 4 September 2020