SALARY INCREASES IN 2017 WILL NOT OFFSET PRICE INCREASES EVERYWHERE ELSE

Dear A.S.S. Editor

There were some reports that despite Singapore’s gloomy economic outlook for 2017, Singaporean employers are still expecting to award their staff with salary increases, although the increases are negligible. In the survey, most of the companies indicated that salary increases of between 3-6 % are expected.

As have been said countless times before, these negligible pay increases, although are very welcome indeed, will not help most people facing tougher financial challenges. How to? Water price already slated to go up by 30%! That is not counting into effect the other fare increases, like the town councils service charges, transport fares, and even food prices, due to the water price hike.

True, while we will get a pay increase, compared to the other fare increase, maybe we will end up with lesser money than what we currently have. Times are really tough. Even when you expect a salary increase, you can be sure that you will save even lesser than before.

Brie Lam

A.S.S. Contributor