COR160

Essential Academic Writing Skills

Tutor-Marked Assignment 01

January 2016 Semester

Submitted by

Pang Jun Jie (Z1610565)

Hearts, Giving Hope, 2012). That was the dire situation faced by Madam Pandithurai Parimela,

31. Moreover, her eldest child has hearing disability. Her burden eased when South West

Community Development Council (SW CDC) stepped in and provided her with financial aid

through ComCare. Not only did she receive vouchers and subsidies for her children’s childcare,

she also received valuable financial counselling and help in finding a job. Since then, Social

Security Offices (SSO) has taken over the responsibilities of CDC, including the handling of

ComCare applications and disbursing (Naidu, 2015). This essay examines the Singapore

government stance on welfare, issues surrounding the establishing of ComCare and the impact of

SSO.

The Singapore government has always made known its aversion of implementing a generous

European-style welfare system (The stingy nanny, 2010). It has more cons than pros in a natural

resources scare country like us, as it may promote an entitlement mentality, reduce our

workforce competitiveness and place unnecessary burden on taxpayers (Naidu, 2014). As such, a

retrench worker does not receive immediate unemployment payout from the state, but is given

the opportunity to upgrade himself (The stingy nanny, 2010). The island’s social spending is

more focus on education, public housing and personal upgrading (Lim, 2007). Citizens are

encouraged to save for their retirement, for example through the CPF scheme, or rely on their

families and community for support in times of need (Lim, 2007). However, government aid is

still available to those who genuinely need it, provided they meet the stringent criteria and are

willing to help themselves in the first place (Lim, 2007). Essentially the government’s
philosophy towards welfare is this: if you are willing to help yourself, we will provide you with

the means to do so (What is ComCare?, 2006).

While most people lead a comfortable life in Singapore, there are still those who are less

fortunate. The poor face issues such as “high income inequality, bottom wage stagnation, high

cost of living” (Toh, 2015). Our economy places pressure on low-skilled works, which leads to a

widening income gap and their children lacking the resources to develop and break out of the

poverty cycle (SPEECH BY PRIME MINISTER LEE, 2010). An aging population coupled with

lower birth rates means some have no families to fall back on and have to rely solely on social

assistance for their daily needs (Toh, 2015). Others may have met with unforeseen

circumstances, such as health problems that render them unable to work temporarily (Saad,

2015). These issues prompt the setting up of ComCare as a form of social net for those who have

fallen on hard times (What is ComCare?, 2006).

The aim of setting up SSO is “to bring social assistance closer to needy Singaporeans” and to

“enable the ministry to meet future needs” (Social Service Offices to be set up, 2013). After the

restructuring of the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) into the

Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), the latter was responsible for the

administration of ComCare (MCYS, MICA to be restructured, 2012). SSO was set up by MSF to

serve as a convenient one stop centre for residents seeking ComCare assistance, with all 24

offices located close to needy residents and easily accessible by public transport (Naidu, 2015).

The SSO is design with privacy and comfort in mind, to help lighten an applicant’s mood when

he is in the office (Naidu, 2015). Besides ComCare, most applicants also require additional
assistance of some sort, such as finding a job or emotional support. This is where the impact of

SSO is maximise as it helps to facilitate aid with other different agencies, such as the Workforce

Development Agency (WDA) (Mokhtar, 2015). This arrangement greatly benefits the needy. It

saves them precious time and from having to repeat their stories over and over again, which “can

be very humiliating sometimes” (Mokhtar, 2015). The establishment of SSO not only made

ComCare more accessible, but also enhance the overall effectiveness of our social services.

In conclusion, the government has taken a unique approach to welfare. Instead of giving a man a

fish, it teaches the man to fish and feed himself. While the country’s economy may have been

growing tremendously well since independence, there are those who did not benefit from this

and are struggling financially. To tackle this issue, ComCare was launch. And in order to

improve the accessibility of ComCare, SSO was set up all over the island. In the years ahead, it

is important for the authorities to periodical review and evolve its assistance so as to meet the

challenges of weaker economy numbers and rising elderly population. Without ComCare, life

might have turned out quite different for Madam Pandithurai Parimela.

References
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SPEECH BY PRIME MINISTER LEE HSIEN LOONG AT COMCARE APPRECIATION LUNCH 2010 AT THE
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