Extend day-off benefit to all workers in Singapore

We strongly support the suggestion by Madam Halimah and hope that the Ministry of Manpower will consider implementing a day off each week not just for foreign domestic helpers but for all workers in Singapore.

Victimised migrant workers - Protect, don't punish

The point of Home's letter was about a greater need to protect migrant workers who have been victims of scam agents and punish those who deliberately deceive them

Prosecute human traffickers and protect scam victims

Migrants who have been trafficked are treated here as immigration offenders, rather than persons who have been victims of scams and exploitation.

Academic freedom not on par with basic human freedom

Capital punishment: Is it justifiable?

It is a legitimate question which any concerned citizen is morally entitled to ponder and, in a free society, to voice.

Single, unwed parents need leave too

Why are Singaporeans who are single parents penalised? One could argue that such single parents are even more in need of leave than married couples.

Crime statistics: Ask and ye shall receive

I REFER to the comments last Saturday by Law Society president Michael Hwang ('How effective is punishment?') about the apparent lack of published statistics on crime in Singapore?

Human rights are universal

IN THE light of Ms Chua Lee Hoong's commentary last Saturday, 'Speak up and say what human rights mean to you', I wish to say that human rights are a universal standard of rights all societies must uphold.

Small pay rises won't stoke inflation

I AM baffled by what Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said in his address last Wednesday to some 500 unionists about being wary of wage-induced inflation

Close widening income gap; do more to help the poor

Singapore's poor turn to temples to fill bellies. Most are elderly or labourers, in a country that has the second highest GDP per capita in Asia after Japan but ranks alongside the Philippines and Guatemala for income disparity.

Govt's call for greater civic role has clear limits

The Government's calls for greater diversity and inclusiveness stop short of allowing genuine political debate and contestation.

Time to temper focus on monetary rewards

I REFER to the report, 'Govt must close pay gap to retain talent: PM Lee - Pay for staff Grade 1 has slipped to 55% of benchmark' (BT, March 23).

CPF is not social safety net

The problem facing Singapore is low wages for the lower-skilled and older workers.

How will the govt cushion impact of GST hike?

I REFER to media reports that there will be no government fee increases for one year after the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST) hike kicks in.

Salvage all lives, even if they weigh on family

I APPLAUD Dr Lee Wei Ling's call for more nursing homes to be built for the disabled whose ageing parents are unable to look after them ('Don't salvage lives that will weigh on family'; ST, Sept 15).

Singapore's reputation has taken a beating

I FIND Dr Andy Ho's article, 'Activists shooting themselves in the foot' (ST, Sept 18), rather biased in painting the civil-society organisations (CSOs) as groups that prefer disruption to engagement.

Ban on activists attending the IMF/WB meeting

Singapore had said there were security concerns about 27 of the hundreds of activists accredited by the World Bank.

Re: Race counts against new citizen when renting house

"I was happy to hear about welcoming talents, upholding the multicultural society and meritocracy, irrespective of race. ...When I asked my agent, he told me most Chinese landlords prefer tenants in this order: Ang mohs, Chinese. Malays, Indians. I was dumbfounded."

Bus and MRT Fares Hike

I refer to the article "SMRT, SBS apply to raise bus, train fares" by T Rajan(Straits Times, Aug 2).

Let Mr Brown speak

In Mr. Brown's case we did not see any evidence of an open society. Today suspended his column shortly after the MICA letter as though he has done something wrong.