By G. Kalyan Kumar Singapore’s proposed hike of the goods and services tax (GST) from 7 to 9 percent after a surplus budget has baffled many. For the 2017 financial year, Singapore posted a net surplus of S$9.6 billion that was above the estimated S$1.9 billion. It was the biggest surplus in recent times. In
“We lost our dear son over seven years ago at the age of 26 after suffering for many years with manic depression,” Mr Chow Yen Lu shared at his TEDx Talk at St Joseph’s Institution in August 2017. “It was a very dark and difficult time for us, my wife and I. His passing on
If I can make a difference to others and help them, I would love to be part of it. – Sofia Subri, owner of CAZ Villa in Bali Many Singaporeans work to put food on the table and to achieve their goals in life, be it material well-being, wealth, fame, self-fulfilment or ideology. Sofia Subri
By Vibrant Dot Staff The Epoch Times interviewed 31 office workers around Singapore’s Central Business District (CBD) to find answers to this question: “Are Singaporeans working too hard?” 80 percent of the 31 respondents work more than eight hours a day, while half of them work more than 10 hours a day. 73 percent of
I’m not an expert, but if there’s one thing I know to be true, it’s this – the weekday blues involve myriad things: heavy traffic, early mornings, and difficult co-workers. I don’t have a solution to frustrating road congestion or becoming an early riser, but I do have a couple of pointers on working with
A workplace with work-life harmony is beneficial not only for employees but also for employers. According to reports by the Singapore Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the implementation of work-life balance measures at companies helps employees sustain their peak performance and increases the productivity of the companies. A study by the Singapore National Employers Federation in
For most people, a visit to the dental clinic in school invokes memories of bleeding gums, horrifying drills and pliers, and psychological if not physical pain. Many would grimace at the sheer sight of the fierce and intimidating dental nurse. Dr Wong Keng Mun, Managing Director of T32 Dental Centre Pte Ltd, felt the same
Fatigue, migraine, and depression are words commonly used by many frazzled working adults in Singapore. Are the majority of Singaporeans really achieving adequate work-life balance? To set the record straight, let’s start by seeing what we can learn from other countries. United Kingdom According to regulations given by the Ministry of Manpower, Singaporean workers are
Asian countries have long been known for putting in long hours at work as compared to their Western counterparts like the United States and Europe. Hence, it is not surprising to hear reports of people in Singapore working long hours each day, be it in the office or remotely. This is supported by surveys and
Tell Us About Your Retirement Life? Mr Onn, 71 I usually hang around here playing chess or chatting with my friends, watching television, reading the newspapers and eating. The worst is if I have no money in my pockets. I have grandchildren. I live with my son and grandchildren. I don’t have much savings but
On March 31 2016, a group of senior citizens from THK CREST @ Bedok Radiance arrived at Dignity Kitchen at 267 Serangoon Ave 3 for a special lunch treat – a complete meal of nasi lemak, hot beverages, and desserts. This is part of the vision of Mr Koh Seng Choon, the Executive Director of
Nowadays, many countries are facing the impact of an ageing population. In Singapore, a quarter of the population will be 65 years and older by 2030. With more people ageing, providing good health and elderly care is a challenge. Thankfully, both designers and technologists are prompted to develop new products that target our greying population.
By Vibrant Dot Staff 1) How can we help the elderly, especially home-alone elders, fight loneliness and age with dignity? Being alone is not necessarily a bad thing. Not all ‘home alone’ elders need our help and attention. We come across a lot of elders who live alone but are resilient and capable of independent
Do you know the types of senior care services available in Singapore? With the ‘Silver Tsunami’ coming in 2030, it is good for Singaporeans to keep abreast of the eldercare services available here. These services include a variety of day care centres, nursing homes, activity centres and even support on caregiving for the elderly. Eldercare
In Singapore, it is common to hear phrases such as “ageing population”, “eldercare” or even “narrowing tax base”, but what do these actually mean to you and me? Most of us are aware that Singapore is facing an ageing population, where the proportion of elderly people is increasing. In fact, the statistics can be quite
How do you cut a cake into eight slices with three cuts?” This seemingly impossible question was posed by Dr Günter Pfeiffer at the Switzerland – Slovakia Growing Through Innovations symposium, a forum about the value of innovation in society’s development. As trivial as Dr Pfeiffer’s mathematical problem sounds, he uses it in his innovative
Mr Hoong Hing Weng’s soft eyes gazed at a group of young children playing in the distance. “I love kids,” he said with a smile. Wearing a plain white T-shirt and brown shorts, Mr Hoong, 82, has been living in Chinatown most of his life – alone. He has no children. He divorced his wife
As our parents and grandparents get older, it’s time we repay them for the selfless devotion and care they have showered us over the years. In 2010, National Family Council (NFC) launched an educational television commercial about filial piety. Titled ‘Father And Son’, the advertisement was part of the “Filial Piety” campaign supported by the
By Vibrant Dot Staff Where can you find authentic yet affordable fish head curry in Singapore? Velu’s Curry is the answer. Also known as The Singapore Curry @ Velu’s, this Halal-certified Indian restaurant is located in Eunos Community Centre. It is reputed for its whole fish head curry, and its North and South Indian cuisines.
By Vibrant Dot Staff According to the United Nations World Population Prospects (UNWPP), Singapore’s senior population will grow to 1,258,441 in the next two decades. 23 percent of Singapore’s population or one in five Singaporeans will be 65 and older by 2030. This silver tsunami is exacerbated by the fact that there will be only
