in her speech At the opening of the second session of the 14th Congress last Monday (10 April 2023), President Halimah Yacoub spoke of the need to strengthen Singapore’s social fabric.
“No one should feel left out,” she said.
“We want all people to be treated equally with dignity and respect. We want everyone to belong and every citizen to reach their full potential.” We want a Singapore of opportunities.We want a society that values and supports families.We care for each other, help each other, and strive to make a difference in our communities. .”
She went on to list some of the key priorities for the rest of the government’s parliamentary term. One of them, she said, is to strengthen social safety her net “so that Singaporeans can better deal with uncertainty and move forward with confidence at all stages of life.” is.
“We will help Singaporeans live a more secure golden age by enhancing their retirement and expanding their care and living options. It allows me to age in the comfort of my own home but with family and friends nearby,” she added.
86 year old works as HDB block cleaner
Sadly, many seniors are unable to “enjoy old age” in peace simply because they do not have enough funds to retire comfortably.
For example, last Thursday (April 13, 2023), netizens took to Facebook to express their shock when they discovered that an 86-year-old man was still working as an HDB block cleaner. TOC reported.
Netizen Fahrurazi Degil shared the photo on Facebook. This picture shows the HDB block cleaning schedule, including the cleaner responsible for the block.
“Hello! I’ve been working at your estate for almost 15 years. I’m a big football fan and I like bird watching with my friends.
The cleaning schedule has been published by the Marshalling Utility Town Council to residents of one of the blocks on the property. Of course, the Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC is led by Singapore’s future prime minister-designate, Lawrence Wong.
Fakhrraj commented, “An 86-year-old man who should enjoy retirement instead of cleaning the estate… what will our future look like when we reach his age?”
According to a 2019 Reuters report, many older Singaporeans are looking for work after retirement because Singapore’s CPF retirement savings scheme does not provide enough money to live on.
“Where does your income come from if you don’t work?” asked 71-year-old Mdm Mary Lim, who was interviewed. She is one of many elderly cleaners earning a meager wage where she cleans up to 400 plates a day at a stall in Chinatown, Singapore. “How can I live if I stop working?” she asked.
The Singapore government recently announced in its 2023 Budget that it will raise the minimum monthly payment for the Retirement Scholarship Scheme (RSS) from S$250 to S$350 from 1 June 2023 as part of its efforts to increase retiree adequacy. bottom.
However, the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) released a study in 2019 that found that older Singaporeans aged 65 and over need S$1,379 a month to meet their basic needs. and announced that he needed to live a decent life in Singapore. .
Netizens criticize government
Not surprisingly, netizens took to Facebook to denounce the government after news broke that the 86-year-old was still working as an HDB block cleaner.
Many expressed disappointment at the current situation faced by the elderly in Singapore.
A netizen pointed out that an 86-year-old cleaning worker has been doing this job for nearly 15 years. Another shared his experience, “I’m turning 70 this year and it doesn’t get any easier.”
Some cited past remarks by PAP ministers accused of being out of touch with reality on the ground. Ministers argued that the elderly will continue to work in old age because they want to stay healthy.
Speaker of the National Assembly Tan Chuan Jin said in 2015: They do this to maintain their independence so they don’t have to ask their family for help and can maintain their dignity. “
Some say that the vicious cycle of the elderly unable to retire will continue as long as the current administration continues. They inspire others to take action through voting to make a difference.
