80-Year-Old Cleaner Chooses Work Over Government Welfare, Shares Perspective with Gilbert Goh

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80-Year-Old Cleaner Chooses Work Over Government Welfare, Shares Perspective with Gilbert Goh

An inspiring story highlighting the challenges faced by elderly workers amidst rising living costs.

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Activist Gilbert Goh recently shared on Instagram the compelling story of an 80-year-old man still working as a cleaner, despite his age. The cheerful

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Activist Gilbert Goh recently shared on Instagram the compelling story of an 80-year-old man still working as a cleaner, despite his age. The cheerful uncle, originally from Malaysia, told Mr. Goh and his team that he “prefers to work as a cleaner earning $900 a month than receive government welfare of $600 a month, as it’s insufficient.”

Though his name was not disclosed, the elderly gentleman engaged in lengthy conversations with Mr. Goh and a volunteer who regularly assists needy seniors by providing food and other essentials.

During his post, Mr. Goh noted that he encountered the uncle while participating in a weekly charity meal distribution. He emphasized that “many elderly” individuals are left with “no choice but to work” to secure a simple living.

Mr. Goh expressed concern that the assistance available to the elderly may be inadequate, particularly given current inflation rates, although he acknowledged the need for data from relevant agencies to confirm this.

Additionally, he commented on the upcoming Goods and Services Tax (GST) hike, which is scheduled to increase by one percentage point next year and another by early 2024, bringing the total to 9 percent. Mr. Goh stated that this tax increase “will further burden the poor, even though there is a generous government relief of an average of $700 to be paid out next month.”

In Parliament on November 7, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that the government would allocate an additional $1.4 billion to support Singaporean households facing increased costs due to the GST hike. However, Mr. Goh critiqued the GST as a “regressive tax system” that will inevitably impact the underprivileged. He believes that “hawkers and shops will raise prices by ten cents or more—sometimes by 10 percent or more compared to the original price.”

Mr. Goh further pointed out that in Singapore, all goods will see price increases due to the GST hike, unlike in Australia, where basic necessities like milk, rice, and bread are exempt from GST.

He concluded his post with a poignant note: “We met many people who are struggling to make ends meet, and like this elderly uncle, they resort to eating bread or Maggi noodles just to fill their hungry stomachs. This unhealthy diet, combined with a lack of nutrition, may contribute to the rising rates of diabetes among our aging population, with one in three eventually facing this dreadful illness. We must do something good for Singapore—a charitable movement to alleviate the hardships of displaced elderly Singaporeans.”

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