Isn’t SMRT among the world’s most consistently profitable rail operators?

Leong Sze Hian delves into SMRT’s unique balancing act between rail reliability, cost-effectiveness, and profitability in the global public transit landscape.

A reality check on equality of professions for Singapore’s new social compact

Leong Sze Hian: Despite Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s aspirational speech on equality of professions for Singapore’s new social compact, the reality remains harsh: 6 out of 8 occupational categories in Singapore’s resident workforce have seen hardly any real wage growth in 21 years.

Evolving Singapore: Nostalgia for the simpler 80s amid current-day struggles

Over the past four decades, Singapore has evolved from a burgeoning Asian nation into a dynamic global hub, with a dramatic influx of non-residents reshaping its social and economic landscapes. Despite the resulting diversified demographic profile, Singaporeans are grappling with increased job competition and shifting family dynamics due to escalating living costs. Anecdotal evidence and stark contrasts in cost of living, like the affordability of an HDB flat and income growth rates, indicate an underlying inequality. Today, many citizens are dealing with “moderately unaffordable” housing costs and job growth favoring foreign workers.

A reality check on Lawrence Wong’s claims: Are today’s HDB flats as affordable as those in the 1980s and 1990s?

Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s assertion that today’s HDB flats remain as affordable as those in the past seems challenged by historical data and price-to-income ratio analysis. With incomes increasing only about 3.3 times against a 5.8-fold rise in BTO prices, are public housing truly in tandem with incomes as claimed?

NTU students’ struggle with financial aid: One in three in distress amid $238M expenditure on foreign students and 4.1% real tuition fee increase

NTU student group ‘Financial Aid Friends’ demand transparency and adequacy in financial aid disbursement, citing late disbursements and lesser aid compared to other universities. Amid rising tuition fees and increasing financial struggles among students, concerns are raised about government support and benefits offered to foreign students. This initiative seeks a broader conversation about accessible and inclusive education in Singapore amidst criticisms about disproportionate foreign student composition in the university.

No or low-income patient in AV $13,001 house: Subsidy reduced from 80 to 30%?

In an opinion piece by Leong Sze Hian, he points out that Singapore’s Ministry of Health recently introduced changes to the healthcare subsidy framework, replacing the individual income means test with a per capita household income (PCHI) means test and considering dwelling type. While the goal is to better target subsidies, it may result in higher costs for patients with higher PCHI or dwelling type. Leong argues that the government must ensure the new framework does not overburden struggling individuals and address the broader issue of Singapore’s high healthcare costs, seeking fairness for all income levels.

Dark side of Singapore’s obsession with economic growth at the expense of its citizens

The opinion piece talks about Singapore’s heavy reliance on foreign workers comes at a cost of high cost of living, and stagnating wages for many Singaporeans, despite the government’s emphasis on economic growth. Six out of eight occupational categories in Singapore have hardly seen any real increase in pay over the last 21 years. More innovative and sustainable approaches should be taken towards economic development that prioritize education, training, entrepreneurship, and social welfare.

At least 88.5% of employment growth for 2022 in Singapore went to foreigners

Singapore Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) latest labour market report for 2022 would suggest that at least 88.5% of the employment growth last year, went to foreigners.

Increasing Wage Disparities: Women in STEM fields face disappointing gains, men fare even worse

Despite Singapore’s push for gender equality in STEM, recent data reveals disappointing wage growth for women, with men in these fields experiencing even worse outcomes.

Straits Times opinion piece suggesting measures for employees fails to address root cause of job insecurity

The Straits Times published an opinion piece on Tuesday which urges Singaporean workers to manage their career health proactively. However, Leong Sze Hian points out that it fails to address the fundamental issue of job insecurity caused by employers’ preference for foreign workers.