May 11, 2023

Support for the disadvantaged and vulnerable segments of Singaporean society has long been an issue of great importance. In response to recent parliamentary debates on this issue, Associate Professor Irene Y H Ng (NUS Social Work & Social Service Research Centre (SSR)), Senior Lecturer Dr Ong Ee Cheng (NUS Economics, SSR), and their co-author Michael Lien (LEAP 201 Founder and Board Chairman) discuss the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) scheme in Singapore in ‘Reimagining Workfare to uplift low-wage families’ (Business Times, April 2023).

The WIS scheme aims to provide financial support to low-wage workers. While it has been largely effective in reducing income inequality and increasing the take-home pay of low-wage workers, A/P Ng and Dr Ong suggest that it can be improved further. The authors propose several recommendations to enhance the WIS scheme, including increasing the coverage of the scheme to more low-wage workers, increasing the amount of financial support provided to low-wage workers, and improving the flexibility of the scheme to better cater to the needs of a variety of low-wage workers. They also suggest that the WIS scheme could be complemented by additional measures to improve the lives of low-wage workers, such as providing affordable housing and healthcare, and improving the quality of jobs available to them.

Overall, the article highlights the importance of addressing the challenges faced by low-wage workers in Singapore, and argues that a comprehensive approach is needed to improve their financial security and well-being. By reimagining the WIS scheme and implementing additional measures to support low-wage workers, Singapore can achieve greater social and economic equality, and build a more inclusive society for all.

Read the article here: https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/opinion-features/reimagining-workfare-uplift-low-wage-families