I refer to the articles “Is there a ‘massive compassion deficit’ in Singapore?” and “PM Lee on BBC article about compassion: Good reminder to be more gracious, kind” (Straits Times, Mar 17).
The former states that “One Singaporean friend told her it was because “we measure everything in dollar bills – personal identity, self-respect, happiness, your sense of worth”.
Reasons for “massive compassion deficit”?
I spoke to some friends and they said “What do you expect? When a lot of people work very long hours, get paid very little that never increase for years, are struggling to make ends meet with the rising cost of living, so many foreigners taking their jobs and depressing their wages, all the way from the top – all wayang – nobody seems to care, so unhappy lah!”.
The “statistics” to the “reasons”?
On of my friends then asked me if I could try to put the statistics to what they said.
So, here goes …
Longest work hours in the world?
The average total paid hours worked weekly was 46.2 hours, which I understand is the longest in the world.
As this is the average – a lot of people may be working even longer hours.
So many earn so little?
According to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) – gross monthly income from work (excluding employer CPF contribution) – there were 44.300, 162,800, 209,800 and 210,900 residents earning under $500, $500 – 999, $1,000 – 1,499 and $1,500 to 1,999, respectively.
So, there were 207,100 residents earning below $1,000, 416,900 below $1,500 and 627,800 below $2,000.
Since the total workforce was 2,004,600 – about 1 in 10 earn below $1,000, 1 in 5 earn below $1,500 and 3 in 10 earn below $2,000.
Real median income growth only 1% p.a.?
The real median income change from 2008 to 2013 was only 1.0 per cent per annum.
Real 20th percentile income growth only 0.3% p.a.?
Negative real total wage change last 5 years?
According to the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) web site
– Income – Annual Wage Changes – Total wage Change (%)
– the real annual total wage change (excluding employer CPF) from 2008 to 2012, was -2.4, -1.0, 2.7, 0.1 and -0.8, respectively.
This works out to a cumulative real decrease in wage change of about -1.5% or -0.29 per annum, from 2008 to 2012.
There were also 1,067,100 economically inactive residents.
260,800 increase in jobs, but 451,934 new citizens and PRs?
The whole world comes as tourists to look for jobs?
Foreign professionals can apply for jobs while visiting Singapore. But their visit passes may not be extended by the authorities if the job prospects are unclear, according to the Ministry of manpower (MOM) website.
Are there any countries in the world that allows practically every Tom, Dick and Harry, to come as tourists to look for jobs?
Bottom 30% households spend more than they earn?
A study by an economist from NUS, found that Singapore’s bottom 30 per cent of households spend more than they earn.
Increase S & CC despite huge accumulated surpluses?
S & CC increased despite $58 million of accumulated surpluses and $126 million of accumulated surpluses transferred on 18.4.2011 (issue of election writ) to the sinking funds of the town councils under section 34 of the town council act.
S’pore drops 13 places in retirement index?
Singapore slides from 28th to 41st on retirement index (“S’pore no longer one of best 30 places for retirees” (Straits Times, Mar 2)) .
Dropped to 125th for income equality?
Singapore ranked a poor 125th spot for income equality, worse than the previous year’s 117th place”
Quality of life dropped to 75th?
Singapore’s quality of life index, which measures the level of happiness and fulfilment in society as well as environment factors, dropped to 75th place from 39th last year.
Health index dropped to 59th?
It also dipped in the health index, from 56th spot last year to 59th this year … high levels of out-of-pocket health expenditure
Highest share – private healthcare expenditure?
At about 67% – our private health expenditure is the highest among developed countries.
Level of happiness?
According to the Mercer’s 2012 Cost of Living Survey, Singapore is the 6th most expensive city out of 143 cities in the world – Singaporeans earn the lowest wages among the high-income countries – we also work the longest hours in world – Singapore has been ranked as having the 2nd highest work stress in Asia – among the the lowest fertility in the world – out of 224 countries– have been ranked the 2nd lowest libido as compared to over 40 countries.
Surveys such as the Gallup rank Singaporeans as having the least positive emotions, most emotionless and least optimistic, – the Happy Planet Index ranks Singapore at 90th – most unhappy, and the World Happiness Report 2013 ranks singapore as the 126th (most unhappy) and 144th (most emotionless) – Singaporeans are second least likely to help a stranger, out of 135 countries.
Donations dropped 28%?
In real terms after adjusting for inflation of about 16 per cent the last five years – donations to the Community Chest have declined by about 28 per cent.
Tote Board accumulated surplus $3.8b?
According to the Tote Board’s annual report 2013 – it had a surplus for the year and accumulated surplus of $577 million and $3.8 billion, respectively.
Why does it need to accumulate so much surpluses?
Donated only $395m?
In contrast, the actual donations paid out (not donation commitments in future years) for the year was only $395 million.
Taxes to Government $1.5b?
Also, its annual contribution to Government (betting duties, income tax and contribution to the consolidated fund) was over $1.5 billion last year.
Total hospital beds decreased 10% against 1.2m increase in population?
The total number of hospital beds decreased by about 10% against a 1.2 million increase in the population, from 2001 to 2012.
Not spending a single cent on healthcare and CPF?
The recently published CPF statistics by the CPF Board and the Budget expenditure (revised for FY2013) indicate that the Government continues – from a cashflow perspective – to be not spending a single cent on healthcare and CPF.
Leong Sze Hian
