Public sector can set the benchmark

7 June 2013

Editor

Forum Page

Straits Times

I am encouraged by the lead taken by the Government to give an 

increase of $70 a month for low wage workers employed in the

public sector.

I suggest that they should reverse the practice of outsourcing

 such as cleaning and security, and employ the workers directly

in the public sector. They pay, terms of employment and practices

in the public sector can set a benchmark for similar jobs in the

private sector.

If the public sector have to outsource some jobs due to 

difficulty in managing the workers, they should insist that the

pay and working conditions meet the same standards that are

provided in the public sector.

It is important to adopt a more holistic approach to 

raise the pay of low wage workers and reduce the income

gap in Singapore.

Tan Kin Lian