As a student from China, I find it strange to see most cleaners in Singapore are old people. Some of them must be over sixty years old. Some are even older. Watching them wiping tables, collecting dirty trays or cleaning toilets, I often think of my grandparents, who exercise in the morning and dance at night with other old people. Like most elderly in China, they really enjoy their retirement.
However,cafes, canteens, hawker centers, washrooms in companies or schools… the aged in singapore can be seen doing cleaning work almost everywhere. They are supposed to live in comfort in their old ages, playing with grandchildren or raising flowers. Why are they still doing this kind of menial work with low incomes?
I believe these old people work so hard not just because they do not want to retire, but need to feed themselves and their families. Most aged workers are lowly skilled and their income has either stagnated or decreased in recent years, which made it difficult for them to save for retirement. In fact, only 27% of Singaporeans between 25 and 75 said that they had sufficient funds to retire, compared with 61% of Thais and 47% of Malaysians, according to an AIA survey.
Besides, the cost of living continues rising, not to mention the always high medical expenses. There is a common saying among Singaporeans – “One can afford to die, but not fall sick in Singapore.” For aged people, their poor health conditions require more medical care, which means huge amounts of money for them.
In addition, children in Singapore are busy with their own lives. They work, buy houses or cars, get married, have children…but just forget their parents. Some may visit parents and send them money sometimes, but there are others who still “borrow” money from the poor aged or even send their parents to Nursing Homes.
Last Tuesday, Feb 2nd, a 69 year old Singapore lady by the name of Li Mei Xiang committed suicide by jumping from the 13th level of her flat because of financial distress. It is not an uncommon case in Singapore. A 74 year old elderly lady jumped from her flat a few months ago due to worries about her medical expenses.
Singapore is the second richest nation in Asia, but compared to other countries, old people here are having much tougher times. Just consider how much they have contributed to the making of the current modern and first world Singapore, I think governments should provide more social welfare benefits to them. Moreover, the sons and daughters need to consider it a moral obligation to look after their parents. It is the duty of all people and the society to ensure the elderly can enjoy a dignified retirement, and thus we will be able to prevent tragedies above from happening.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I can't agree with you. I can never figure out why so many old people in Singapore live such a miserable life. It is extremely disgusting to let the old people be poor to death. They are old. They are different from the robust young people and they are easy to be ill. They are weak. For an old people, having no money should not be a reason for they to work. There are laws. But there should also be morality. How do they have the heart to see the old people even commit a suicide because of the expensive cost for remedy but still do nothing about it? We always claimed proudly that this is a civilized society built by us. But what is civilization. Is it being so crucial to old people? Some would say that everyone should work to get money. But the point is that they are old.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with you that senior citizens in Singapore live tougher lives, and I show the same sympathy to them. I think old people should get a easy, relaxed, happy life. It's more than the financial thing, but for the respect to them and their contribution when they were young.
ReplyDeleteTo this situation, I think the government should take the responsibility. Although I am not a professor in politics, or maybe the Singapore government think it is better for Singapore's economic, leaving those helpless seniors in though lives is not a government-should-do thing. Because it is not humane. Government should provide citizens a reassuring life, and make people feel safe. Despite of the benefits of compitition, the seniors need more peace in their rest of life.
However, Sally, I can't agree with that you think the hard situation is due to the cruelty of young people. I don't think so. I think Singaporean young people are really caring, and kind. In addition, I know that more and more Singaporean choose not to have baby, it also could be a reason for this hard situation for the seniors.
BY Kevin
I think one of the reasons why singapore's government allow the aged people to work is that singapore has an ageing population. There is a lack of labor resources in singapore. Furthermore, it seems to creat less society problems than to have more foreign workers. However,I think there are some solution to improve the situation we are faced with. First, give the senior citizen health check when they apply for jobs. Only those who are healthy and strong enough to sustain the job can be employ. One thing that need to be concern is the reasons why the unemployable ones want jobs. Is it they don't have children? Or their children are not able to or willing to support them?
ReplyDeleteSecond, don't let old people do the job alone. It is better to have several aged workers work together or to have one young worker accompany them. In this way,they can finish the jobs that is difficult to one old worker. Third, give subsidies to them accordingly.
I hope the senior citizen can enjoy a better life in the near future.
By Joey
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your comments. All your opinions do help me a lot with my following presentation. I think I explained some problems and phenomena unclearly. Hope your doubts will be removed after my presentation^_^
ReplyDelete