Trains piling up towards clementi station / Photo: Sharon Tan’s post on TATA SMRT Facebook

Last month (2 Nov), it was reported that the Government will be giving 300,000 lower-income households transport vouchers worth a total of $9 million, to help them cope with the latest fare increases by the Public Transport Council (PTC). This is the largest number of Public Transport Vouchers provided by the government to the low-income group in a single exercise.

Each Public Transport Voucher to be given out is worth only $30, and may be used to buy or top up fare cards, or buy monthly concession passes. Each eligible household applicant is entitled to only one voucher in general. Those that need more may apply for extra vouchers but subjected to the approvals from the grassroots leaders sitting in the Citizens’ Consultative Committees (CCCs).

In 2014, $7.5 million worth of Public Transport Vouchers were made available to 250,000 lower-income families, and again in 2015. In 2011, $4 million worth of vouchers were provided for 200,000 households.

Grateful needy households

Even though the needy households have about a year to apply (12 Nov 2018 to 31 Oct 2019) for these $30 vouchers at their neighbourhood community centres (CCs), the government announced in a statement yesterday (24 Dec) that in fact, more than 150,000 households of the 300,000 estimated lower-income households have already applied as at 12 Dec after the exercise began on 12 Nov.

The government specifically highlighted a Mdm Selina Goh, aged 58, in their press release. Mdm Goh is a part-time childcare relief teacher. She stays with her husband who works odd jobs, and takes trains or buses to her workplace or the wet market about five times a week.

She shared with the government that the vouchers “would be helpful in defraying part of her transportation cost”. The government quoted her saying, “I do not enjoy the benefits of the Senior Citizen Concession Card as I am not 60 yet. As such, these vouchers from the government will be useful and help lower the transport cost for me.”

The government further said:

“Eligible households who meet the same income criteria as that for the ComCare Fund (i.e. household income of $1,900 or below, or per capital income of not more than $650) may apply for the Public Transport Voucher throughout the exercise, which ends on 31 October 2019. Upon successful application, each household will receive one Public Transport Voucher.”

With regard to the $30 Public Transport Voucher, NUS sociologist Tan Ern Ser estimated that it can only absorb the fare increase for about eight months.

“While the financial impact is minimal, it may reinforce the perception that the cost of living is on the rise again,” he added.

Nearly a quarter of low-income households in Singapore

According to the latest figures from the Dept of Statistics of Singapore, there are about 1,289,900 resident households in Singapore with an average household size of 3.3 persons.

About 79% live in HDB flats with about one third (31.8%) live in 4-room flats.

Hence, out of the total 1,289,900 households, about 23% or 300,000 are now considered by the government to be lower-income households.

In other words, nearly a quarter of households in Singapore have a household income of $1,900 or below, or per capital income of not more than $650, which are deemed by the government to be eligible to receive the $30 Public Transport Vouchers.

Indeed, these households, like in the case of Mdm Selina Goh, would likely be grateful to the PAP government after receiving their $30 Public Transport Vouchers.

What do you think?

[divider style=”solid” top=”20″ bottom=”20″]

Editor’s note – On a side note, TOC understands that the upcoming General Election will be held at about end October or early November next year. One has to ask if it is coincidence that the vouchers end in Oct next year. Freebies end once the election is over?

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
You May Also Like

COVID-19: Netizens praise Malaysia for recording more recovered cases than new infected cases

On Thursday (9 April), Malaysia saw a sign of hope after it…

反诉总理申请被驳回 梁实轩被索讨支付2.1万诉讼费

代表总理李显龙,提告时评人梁实轩的文达星律师楼,致函要求梁必须在本月21日下午5点前,为两张法庭诉讼传票支付总额2万1000新元的费用。 有关信函誌期3月14日,告知梁实轩的代表律师林鼎,高庭法官已在3月12日,批准了SUM148(驳回梁实轩反诉总理)的诉讼申请。与此同时,驳回SUM428(反诉总理滥用司法程序)的申请。 信中指法官要求梁实轩为SUM148传票支付6000元,另一传票则需支付1万5000元。 梁实轩是在去年12月底反诉总理滥用法庭程序,并向总理索讨“名誉损害”的赔偿。 不过,法官Aedit Abdullah在上周裁决,驳回梁实轩的反诉,指后者“没有合理的诉讼理由”。 只因分享一则脸书贴文,梁实轩于去年11月遭总理提告诽谤,指出梁分享的贴文内容毫无根据,诋毁总理人格和声誉。 有关文章指《砂拉越报告》主编克莱尔,在接受访谈时指出在一马公司弊案中,新加坡和瑞士及美国,成了调查对象。但较后《砂》已澄清有关文章内容不实,要求STR纠正。 然而,梁实轩当时纯粹分享贴文,也未留下任何个人评述和留言。他已遵循资媒局指示撤下了贴文,但还是被总理以法律诉讼对付。

人力部称本地制造业 提供逾6300就业、实习机会

人力部今日(8月26日)发布第三份就业情况报告,指出本地制造业将提供逾6千300份工作或实习机会。 该部称制造业对国内生产总值贡献约两成、聘雇47万2000名雇员。“新心相连”就业与技能计划下,有近千家企业响应,提供3200份工作,以及3200份实习和培训机会。 其中有5100职缺,都是针对PMET(专业人士、经理、执行员与技师)。 求职网站MyCareersFuture.sg则显示,制造业首选职缺包括工程专才、行政专才、电子工程师等,薪资介于1500至4700元。 4至5月间,有超过730求职者在制造业获雇用,六成都是中途转业者;6月以来约60名大学毕业生加入制造业的实习计划。 早前,人力部长杨莉明声称,在三月至7月底,多达2万4千名求职者,在“新心相连”计划下寻得正职、短期或实习机会。

Drugs worth more than S$418,000 seized at Woodlands Checkpoint

Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) seized 3.1kg…