New Zealand is indeed a state that gives lots of benefits to the lower-income group. While some will says Singapore favor the rich and powerful, New Zealand take cares of it's poorer citizen. In my opinion, it's debatable if they both went into the extreme. I think a balance will be nicer. A bit of NZ, a bit of SG, right in the middle path, everyone benefits in the way they needed most.
But the world is not perfect, so never mind, we'll just do the best we can, ya? :)
Today is April the 1st, April fool's day, and this is not April Fool's joke.The adult minimum wage increases from $10.25 an hour to $11.25 starting from today. That's $450 a week for a 40-hour week. The minimum youth rate for 16 and 17-year-olds goes up to $9.00 an hour from $8.20. The Government had also delivered on its promise of a minimum of four weeks annual leave.
They (NZ Government) intends to raise the adult minimum wage to $12 an hour by the end of 2008.
Interest rates has just went up. Saving accounts gets around 7%, term deposit can be as high as 9%. *Slurp* But if we want to borrow money, the mortgage rate is around 8%. *Sob*So there you have it, all the important statistics to a Singaporean.
Happy April Fool's Day! (I'm not kidding about those numbers!)
with love from NZ,
J
2 comments:
Well, if they were both in the extreme, which would be preferred?
The rich, gets richer (& ever more powerful)? Or the poor (& normally the needy) gets the attention? I think the answer is clear.
Wow, while typing, we've just recieve the 'good' news that SG's PM had a raise of nearly 25% this year:
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/269330/1/.html
I wanna move to NZ too!!! In sg they increase GST so the minister can get increament... They NEVER even think about the poor. Our pay when got increase?
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