In a commentaty, The Straits Times Editor-at-Large and Senior Fellow at RSIS Han Fook Kwang discussed the issue of minimum wage versus progressive wage in Singapore, which has been a topic of debate in parliament recently. Current schemes are limited he said, and low earnings affect not just present-day living standards but workers’ retirement security as well. One suggestion he has is to collect more through taxing the rich, and especially the super-rich. There is room to make them contribute more without driving them away, he opined, adding that it is good for their own long-term interest and they will feel even more welcome here.

…Han Fook Kwang is also Senior Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University.