- Joined
- Oct 13, 2013
- Messages
- 864
- Points
- 63
Is it because of the recent gay pride march in Taiwan that's why he is so supportive? Perhaps he should just relocate there permanently already.
"People ask, is Singapore better than Taiwan?
Well, you put the poorest 25% to 35% of Singaporeans in Taiwan, and their lives will be better immediately.
Why?
- Taiwan has free healthcare (S$4.50 to see a doctor vs average of S$35 in Singapore - 2013 Singapore study).
- Childcare is free for low- to middle-income families in Taiwan.
- University fees are only about S$2,000 a year in Taiwan (less than a quarter that of Singapore's fees which start above S$8,000).
- Public transport in Taipei is half the price of Singapore (transport pass in Taipei less than S$60 vs S$120 in Singapore). It is free to take the bus on most trips on Taichung.
- Average rent in Taipei is S$445 for a unit with your own toilet, but can be cheap as S$220 in New/Taipei - and this is for private housing. For public housing, it is as cheap as S$550 to rent a two-bedroom apartment. (In Singapore, it is S$2,000 or more.)
- And oh, unlimited broadband is as cheap as S$9 to S$17 in Taiwan.
And Taiwan has minimum wage. It will be S$1,030 next year. Singapore's cleaners earn S$1,060. (compare this with their cost of living.)
Taiwan also has unemployment benefits - 60% of last drawn salary. Pension payments are guaranteed and can be more than 60% of last drawn salary if the person worked for 40 years. People can also start withdrawing from age 60 - in lump sum too.
And all these, the low-income are not forced to apply for them because these social protections are already built into the system and available for everyone. (Unlike in Singapore where the poor have to apply, otherwise they drop out.)
Swimming pools are more expensive though. They are S$4.50. But all the swimming pools come equipped with a sauna, steam room and jacuzzi - a big one, for many people. I stay there for 3 hours at one go.
And Taiwan manufactures its own products, so you can get many good quality substitute products at half the price of international brands.
If you are in the middle in both countries, the standard of living would be pretty much the same locally. But you would get to save more in Singapore, which would allow you to travel further. (But note that the Taiwanese get their money back in pension payouts, and they will actually be able to retire. The same cannot be same for Singaporeans.)
And for the rich, well people tell me if you are rich, it is the same no matter where you are. I don't know what that's like. Maybe a natural aristocrat can tell me?
Because you know why? The wages that the poorest 25% to 35% are earning in Singapore aren't meant to be suited for the cost of living in Singapore. They are meant for the cost of living in a country half the cost of Singapore - like Taiwan.
Which is why it has been estimated that the poverty rate in Singapore is as high as 25% (Tommy Koh's estimate) to 35% (estimate in SMU report).
Now do you know why the average purchasing power in Taiwan is higher than in Singapore?
In the other countries with a similar GDP capita and cost of living as Singapore, their minimum wages range from S$2,500 to S$5,000 (in Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the Nordic countries, and our favourite - Switzerland). But in Singapore, 67.5% of the residents still earn less than S$5,000 while there is still no minimum wage and unemployment benefits in Singapore. Singapore is one of less than 10% of the countries in the world which still does not have minimum wage.
Meanwhile, the prime minister earns S$2.7 million, or more. In fact, the poor in Singapore earn less than the poor in Taiwan. And the rich in Singapore earn more than the rich in Taiwan - which is no wonder why Singapore also has one of the highest income inequalities among the developed countries.
It is not all rosy in Taiwan, of course, but at least you are protected socially. And it is a democracy where you can speak up and protest. And there is greater accountability, because otherwise you sack the government."
"People ask, is Singapore better than Taiwan?
Well, you put the poorest 25% to 35% of Singaporeans in Taiwan, and their lives will be better immediately.
Why?
- Taiwan has free healthcare (S$4.50 to see a doctor vs average of S$35 in Singapore - 2013 Singapore study).
- Childcare is free for low- to middle-income families in Taiwan.
- University fees are only about S$2,000 a year in Taiwan (less than a quarter that of Singapore's fees which start above S$8,000).
- Public transport in Taipei is half the price of Singapore (transport pass in Taipei less than S$60 vs S$120 in Singapore). It is free to take the bus on most trips on Taichung.
- Average rent in Taipei is S$445 for a unit with your own toilet, but can be cheap as S$220 in New/Taipei - and this is for private housing. For public housing, it is as cheap as S$550 to rent a two-bedroom apartment. (In Singapore, it is S$2,000 or more.)
- And oh, unlimited broadband is as cheap as S$9 to S$17 in Taiwan.
And Taiwan has minimum wage. It will be S$1,030 next year. Singapore's cleaners earn S$1,060. (compare this with their cost of living.)
Taiwan also has unemployment benefits - 60% of last drawn salary. Pension payments are guaranteed and can be more than 60% of last drawn salary if the person worked for 40 years. People can also start withdrawing from age 60 - in lump sum too.
And all these, the low-income are not forced to apply for them because these social protections are already built into the system and available for everyone. (Unlike in Singapore where the poor have to apply, otherwise they drop out.)
Swimming pools are more expensive though. They are S$4.50. But all the swimming pools come equipped with a sauna, steam room and jacuzzi - a big one, for many people. I stay there for 3 hours at one go.
And Taiwan manufactures its own products, so you can get many good quality substitute products at half the price of international brands.
If you are in the middle in both countries, the standard of living would be pretty much the same locally. But you would get to save more in Singapore, which would allow you to travel further. (But note that the Taiwanese get their money back in pension payouts, and they will actually be able to retire. The same cannot be same for Singaporeans.)
And for the rich, well people tell me if you are rich, it is the same no matter where you are. I don't know what that's like. Maybe a natural aristocrat can tell me?
Because you know why? The wages that the poorest 25% to 35% are earning in Singapore aren't meant to be suited for the cost of living in Singapore. They are meant for the cost of living in a country half the cost of Singapore - like Taiwan.
Which is why it has been estimated that the poverty rate in Singapore is as high as 25% (Tommy Koh's estimate) to 35% (estimate in SMU report).
Now do you know why the average purchasing power in Taiwan is higher than in Singapore?
In the other countries with a similar GDP capita and cost of living as Singapore, their minimum wages range from S$2,500 to S$5,000 (in Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the Nordic countries, and our favourite - Switzerland). But in Singapore, 67.5% of the residents still earn less than S$5,000 while there is still no minimum wage and unemployment benefits in Singapore. Singapore is one of less than 10% of the countries in the world which still does not have minimum wage.
Meanwhile, the prime minister earns S$2.7 million, or more. In fact, the poor in Singapore earn less than the poor in Taiwan. And the rich in Singapore earn more than the rich in Taiwan - which is no wonder why Singapore also has one of the highest income inequalities among the developed countries.
It is not all rosy in Taiwan, of course, but at least you are protected socially. And it is a democracy where you can speak up and protest. And there is greater accountability, because otherwise you sack the government."
