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[TD="class: msgFname, width: 68%"] wack0 (wack00) <NOBR></NOBR>
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ntuc, hdb and pap mp/s r collobrating 2 kill killing lower income sgporean.
WITH D PAP GOVTMENT "PROFIT-BACK POLICY" ..... ALL LOWER INCOME SGPOREAN, WATEVER THEIR INCREASE WAGE IS, ALL WILL DIED
RAISING THEIR MTHLY $50 ..... HDB EARNS A % INCREASE IN THEIR RENT.... FM $26 TO $111
HOW MANY %AGE INCREASE ??
khaw bw shld look in2 tis "killer rental policy" ..... instead of merrily approved a $2200 foldable bicycle 4 their hdb staffs 2 go fun cycling by d beach
D HDB POLICY GOTTA BE CHANGE n REVIEW
--------------------------------------
Calls for gradual increase in rent
http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20120702-356618.html
SINGAPORE - Social workers told The New Paper that the fear of becoming ineligible for lower or subsidised rates or help schemes arising from a pay rise is not uncommon.
Economist Hui Weng Tat, from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, believes that Madam Tan is making a "rational choice".
He said the steep jump in rent when a low-wage worker crosses the $800 salary mark, "discourages those earning less than $800 from wanting to take on higher paying job or pay increases or skills upgrading".
He believes HDB should "revise its housing policy to have more gradual increases" as it would "encourage low-wage workers to take up better paying jobs".
Professor Hui suggested that a revised policy could have the rental going up by a fixed percentage of what the worker earns above $800
He suggested a base rent of $34 for those earning $800 and another $1.30 for every $10 pay increase above $800.
So Madam Tan would pay $40.50 instead of $111 when her income hits $850.
According to HDB's website, those earning between $801 and $1,500 pay rent of between $90 and $123. Those earning up to $800 pay rent of between $26 and $33.
The Government Parliamentary Committee chairman for National Development, Ms Lee Bee Wah, also agreed that Madam Tan was making a "logical choice" and hoped HDB "would look into revising the criteria for one-room rental flats".
"I don't think the choice is irrational. For residents earning $800 a month, every cent counts. My family went through that stage before," she said.
But Ms Lee also stressed that Singaporeans need to understand that the Government, in drawing up a policy, "has to take a wide perspective, and look at all the consequences of its policy".
She said: "(It) isn't as easy as just re-writing a policy to satisfy the needs of a group of people, which explains why sometimes, it takes a long while before a policy can be introduced and implemented.
"I can only surmise that other government agencies are looking at their policies to make adjustments on the knock-on effect."
Responding to queries from The New Paper on whether it would revise its rental rates, HDB said rental flats were "heavily subsidised, and rents (were) calibrated to provide more subsidy and support to the lower-income tenants".
Its spokesman said: "Households earning up to $800 in monthly income pay only $30 per month for a 1-room flat. Those earning more, up to $1,500, pay the next tier of about $110 each month."
However, it does take into account the "circumstances of each case and could exercise flexibility by not imposing the higher-tier rents" for tenants earning more than $800 per month but are in genuine financial hardship.
"HDB could also refer hardship cases to Community Development Councils or Family Service Centres for further help," the HDB spokesman said.
Mr Zaqy Mohamad, MP for Chua Chu Kang GRC, felt that low-wage workers should accept a wage rise even if it might put them slightly out of pocket.
"It helps because when you're changing jobs, people always look at your last drawn salary. A higher salary means a higher CPF contribution which a worker can use towards a mortgage," he said.
"If they need help, the government agencies are there, and there's also a lot of indirect help through charities."
Indeed, apart from subsidised rental, Madam Tan gets groceries from Thong Kheng Seniors Activities Centre (Tanglin-Cairnhill), free once-a-month breakfast from the Henderson Community Centre and monthly lunch vouchers from voluntary welfare organisations.
Workfare
She also qualified for the Workfare Income Supplement Scheme. She received a Workfare payment of $173 in cash, and $431 was credited to her CPF account on June 1.
To qualify for the scheme, a recipient must have worked at least two months out of any three-month period in 2012 and earn an average gross monthly income of not more than $1,700 for the work period, among other conditions.
Two weeks ago, NTUC said it hopes to help at least 10,000 cleaners to earn wages of at least $1,000 a month by 2015.
It will do this by subsidising the operating costs of employers in the hope that they will invest in technology and training to improve productivity.
The companies will then share the productivity savings by raising the pay of its cleaners. There are about 69,000 cleaners in Singapore.
Ms Lee and Mr Zaqy agree that the way forward is getting low-wage workers up the payscale through skills upgrading and helping their children receive as much education as they can.
But Prof Hui goes further, advocating an outright wage increase.
He said: "The cut-off for Workfare aid is $1,700, it's an implicit recognition that you need a lot more than $800 to survive. We can't talk about increasing productivity for them - we're underpaying them under the current conditions.
"For the old low-wage workers, there's not much we can do except to give them training. For younger low-wage workers, we need to give them skills upgrading."
This article was first published in The New Paper
============================
Why she would rather forego $50 pay raise
The New Paper
Wednesday, Jul 04, 2012
http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20120702-356622.html
SINGAPORE - When the National Wages Council accepted a proposal by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC)) to give a $50 pay hike to workers earning less than $1,000, many among these low-wage earners cheered.
But not this 66-year-old cleaner. Instead, the proposition worried her.
Madam Tan (not her real name) said she had actually turned down a pay increase offered by her company last year.
RELATED STORIES
Calls for gradual increase in rent
She earns $800 a month and lives in a one-room rental flat. She said the raise would have pushed her into a higher salary bracket, causing the rent of the flat to go up from $26 to $111.
According to HDB's website, those earning between $801 and $1,500 will pay rent of between $90 and $123, instead of the $26 to $33 that those earning below $801 pay.
"It's not that I don't want to earn more and pay higher rent, but maybe the (rent) increase could be smaller," Madam Tan said.
"I'm very thankful that the authorities are giving this increase, but I'll be $35 worse off."
The divorcee, who has been a cleaner for 10 years, lives alone. Her two children, who are in their 40s, are unable to support her, she told The New Paper.
Social workers told The New Paper that many others have fears similar to Madam Tan's.
Flexible
But responding to queries from TNP, HDB said that it exercises flexibility to make sure that those getting a pay increase don't end up worse off because of higher rent.
Madam Tan's current lease expires in January next year.
So what will her rent be if she renews her tenancy?
An HDB spokesman said: "Based on Madam (Tan's) last reported income in February 2011... Her rental fees will remain at the same rate of $26 per month, since her increased household income would still be below $800."
HDB declined to reveal her reported income because of confidentiality issues, but Madam Tan told TNP that she had earned $650 a month as a polyclinic cleaner for six years.
She started earning $800 when she joined her present employer, a global provider of facility services, in April last year.
If she renews her tenancy next year, HDB will re-evaluate how much rent she has to pay.
The HDB spokesman said that even if Madam Tan's household income exceeds $800, her rent may not go up to $111 (as Madam Tan claims).
Said the spokesman: "HDB does exercise flexibility to ensure that any rental increase will not result in a worse-off situation for the tenant."
Madam Tan also gets payment under the Workfare scheme and assistance from various organisations.
She gets groceries, free meals and vouchers from voluntary welfare organisations.
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[TD="class: msgFname, width: 68%"] wack0 (wack00) <NOBR></NOBR>
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ntuc, hdb and pap mp/s r collobrating 2 kill killing lower income sgporean.
WITH D PAP GOVTMENT "PROFIT-BACK POLICY" ..... ALL LOWER INCOME SGPOREAN, WATEVER THEIR INCREASE WAGE IS, ALL WILL DIED
RAISING THEIR MTHLY $50 ..... HDB EARNS A % INCREASE IN THEIR RENT.... FM $26 TO $111
HOW MANY %AGE INCREASE ??
... NOW, ISN'T IT OBVIOUS THEY IMPLEMENTING OLDER LOW-WAGE WORKERS R USELESS
....BUT ....IT IS SO EASY 2 REWRITING A POLICY FOR THE NEW HIGHER PRICE OF A BTO NEW FLATS SALES??
khaw bw shld look in2 tis "killer rental policy" ..... instead of merrily approved a $2200 foldable bicycle 4 their hdb staffs 2 go fun cycling by d beach
D HDB POLICY GOTTA BE CHANGE n REVIEW
--------------------------------------
Calls for gradual increase in rent
http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20120702-356618.html
SINGAPORE - Social workers told The New Paper that the fear of becoming ineligible for lower or subsidised rates or help schemes arising from a pay rise is not uncommon.
Economist Hui Weng Tat, from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, believes that Madam Tan is making a "rational choice".
He said the steep jump in rent when a low-wage worker crosses the $800 salary mark, "discourages those earning less than $800 from wanting to take on higher paying job or pay increases or skills upgrading".
He believes HDB should "revise its housing policy to have more gradual increases" as it would "encourage low-wage workers to take up better paying jobs".
Professor Hui suggested that a revised policy could have the rental going up by a fixed percentage of what the worker earns above $800
He suggested a base rent of $34 for those earning $800 and another $1.30 for every $10 pay increase above $800.
So Madam Tan would pay $40.50 instead of $111 when her income hits $850.
According to HDB's website, those earning between $801 and $1,500 pay rent of between $90 and $123. Those earning up to $800 pay rent of between $26 and $33.
The Government Parliamentary Committee chairman for National Development, Ms Lee Bee Wah, also agreed that Madam Tan was making a "logical choice" and hoped HDB "would look into revising the criteria for one-room rental flats".
"I don't think the choice is irrational. For residents earning $800 a month, every cent counts. My family went through that stage before," she said.
But Ms Lee also stressed that Singaporeans need to understand that the Government, in drawing up a policy, "has to take a wide perspective, and look at all the consequences of its policy".
She said: "(It) isn't as easy as just re-writing a policy to satisfy the needs of a group of people, which explains why sometimes, it takes a long while before a policy can be introduced and implemented.
"I can only surmise that other government agencies are looking at their policies to make adjustments on the knock-on effect."
Responding to queries from The New Paper on whether it would revise its rental rates, HDB said rental flats were "heavily subsidised, and rents (were) calibrated to provide more subsidy and support to the lower-income tenants".
Its spokesman said: "Households earning up to $800 in monthly income pay only $30 per month for a 1-room flat. Those earning more, up to $1,500, pay the next tier of about $110 each month."
However, it does take into account the "circumstances of each case and could exercise flexibility by not imposing the higher-tier rents" for tenants earning more than $800 per month but are in genuine financial hardship.
"HDB could also refer hardship cases to Community Development Councils or Family Service Centres for further help," the HDB spokesman said.
Mr Zaqy Mohamad, MP for Chua Chu Kang GRC, felt that low-wage workers should accept a wage rise even if it might put them slightly out of pocket.
"It helps because when you're changing jobs, people always look at your last drawn salary. A higher salary means a higher CPF contribution which a worker can use towards a mortgage," he said.
"If they need help, the government agencies are there, and there's also a lot of indirect help through charities."
Indeed, apart from subsidised rental, Madam Tan gets groceries from Thong Kheng Seniors Activities Centre (Tanglin-Cairnhill), free once-a-month breakfast from the Henderson Community Centre and monthly lunch vouchers from voluntary welfare organisations.
Workfare
She also qualified for the Workfare Income Supplement Scheme. She received a Workfare payment of $173 in cash, and $431 was credited to her CPF account on June 1.
To qualify for the scheme, a recipient must have worked at least two months out of any three-month period in 2012 and earn an average gross monthly income of not more than $1,700 for the work period, among other conditions.
Two weeks ago, NTUC said it hopes to help at least 10,000 cleaners to earn wages of at least $1,000 a month by 2015.
It will do this by subsidising the operating costs of employers in the hope that they will invest in technology and training to improve productivity.
The companies will then share the productivity savings by raising the pay of its cleaners. There are about 69,000 cleaners in Singapore.
Ms Lee and Mr Zaqy agree that the way forward is getting low-wage workers up the payscale through skills upgrading and helping their children receive as much education as they can.
But Prof Hui goes further, advocating an outright wage increase.
He said: "The cut-off for Workfare aid is $1,700, it's an implicit recognition that you need a lot more than $800 to survive. We can't talk about increasing productivity for them - we're underpaying them under the current conditions.
"For the old low-wage workers, there's not much we can do except to give them training. For younger low-wage workers, we need to give them skills upgrading."
This article was first published in The New Paper
============================
Why she would rather forego $50 pay raise
The New Paper
Wednesday, Jul 04, 2012
http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20120702-356622.html
SINGAPORE - When the National Wages Council accepted a proposal by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC)) to give a $50 pay hike to workers earning less than $1,000, many among these low-wage earners cheered.
But not this 66-year-old cleaner. Instead, the proposition worried her.
Madam Tan (not her real name) said she had actually turned down a pay increase offered by her company last year.
RELATED STORIES
Calls for gradual increase in rent
She earns $800 a month and lives in a one-room rental flat. She said the raise would have pushed her into a higher salary bracket, causing the rent of the flat to go up from $26 to $111.
According to HDB's website, those earning between $801 and $1,500 will pay rent of between $90 and $123, instead of the $26 to $33 that those earning below $801 pay.
"It's not that I don't want to earn more and pay higher rent, but maybe the (rent) increase could be smaller," Madam Tan said.
"I'm very thankful that the authorities are giving this increase, but I'll be $35 worse off."
The divorcee, who has been a cleaner for 10 years, lives alone. Her two children, who are in their 40s, are unable to support her, she told The New Paper.
Social workers told The New Paper that many others have fears similar to Madam Tan's.
Flexible
But responding to queries from TNP, HDB said that it exercises flexibility to make sure that those getting a pay increase don't end up worse off because of higher rent.
Madam Tan's current lease expires in January next year.
So what will her rent be if she renews her tenancy?
An HDB spokesman said: "Based on Madam (Tan's) last reported income in February 2011... Her rental fees will remain at the same rate of $26 per month, since her increased household income would still be below $800."
HDB declined to reveal her reported income because of confidentiality issues, but Madam Tan told TNP that she had earned $650 a month as a polyclinic cleaner for six years.
She started earning $800 when she joined her present employer, a global provider of facility services, in April last year.
If she renews her tenancy next year, HDB will re-evaluate how much rent she has to pay.
The HDB spokesman said that even if Madam Tan's household income exceeds $800, her rent may not go up to $111 (as Madam Tan claims).
Said the spokesman: "HDB does exercise flexibility to ensure that any rental increase will not result in a worse-off situation for the tenant."
Madam Tan also gets payment under the Workfare scheme and assistance from various organisations.
She gets groceries, free meals and vouchers from voluntary welfare organisations.
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