Overcoming inequality and the income gap

[MarrickG]

CLEANER P. Thanalakshmi, 40, and her husband illustrate a key issue that will again dominate this year's Budget: the growing income gap.

She was a housewife until two years ago, when she started work as a cleaner at the National University of Singapore to better support her family of five. She now makes $900 a month, and gets Workfare.

Her husband also works two jobs: as a lorry driver by day and a cleaner by night. He makes just above $1,700 a month.

The couple could do with enhancements to the Workfare Income Supplement scheme, such as a higher income ceiling.

They would also gain from greater financial support which MPs and others have called for to lift the lot of low-wage workers. This could take the form of subsidies such as rebates for conservancy and utilities.

But Madam Thanalakshmi's most fervent wish, beyond such handouts, is for bursaries and grants to help out with her three daughters' education expenses.