Debate on President’s Address: Raj Joshua Thomas on tackling unintended consequences of meritocracy
Meritocracy is part of the Singapore ethos and one of the key contributors to the country’s success, and it should be maintained as Singapore’s key societal organising principle. However, Singapore’s form of meritocracy has led to unintended consequences. Professions of the mind have been over-prioritised over professions of the hands, leading to significant differences in remuneration. Inter-generational transfers of wealth also threaten to create a permanent over-class, giving rise to inequity in access to opportunities. NMP Raj Joshua Thomas made these points in Parliament on Monday (Apr 17). He offered several suggestions on tackling these challenges. First, he said the value of practical professions, or work done with the hands, must be better recognised. He called for wage increases and job redesign to be accelerated under the Progressive Wage Model. A change in mindset can also be fostered by being careful about nomenclature, such as referring to low-wage workers as “emerging-wage workers” instead. Mr Thomas also proposed creating opportunities in the education system for students to be exposed to the practical professions so that they can experience and learn to appreciate the work done in these sectors. Finally, Mr Thomas suggested that the Government consider introducing a limited inheritance tax by way of a stamp duty or tax on inherited real property. At the same time, he noted that wealth taxes should not diminish the value of merit - such as by discouraging people from working hard and aspiring to grow their wealth - or affect Singapore’s attractiveness as a business hub.
Meritocracy is part of the Singapore ethos and one of the key contributors to the country’s success, and it should be maintained as Singapore’s key societal organising principle. However, Singapore’s form of meritocracy has led to unintended consequences. Professions of the mind have been over-prioritised over professions of the hands, leading to significant differences in remuneration. Inter-generational transfers of wealth also threaten to create a permanent over-class, giving rise to inequity in access to opportunities. NMP Raj Joshua Thomas made these points in Parliament on Monday (Apr 17). He offered several suggestions on tackling these challenges. First, he said the value of practical professions, or work done with the hands, must be better recognised. He called for wage increases and job redesign to be accelerated under the Progressive Wage Model. A change in mindset can also be fostered by being careful about nomenclature, such as referring to low-wage workers as “emerging-wage workers” instead. Mr Thomas also proposed creating opportunities in the education system for students to be exposed to the practical professions so that they can experience and learn to appreciate the work done in these sectors. Finally, Mr Thomas suggested that the Government consider introducing a limited inheritance tax by way of a stamp duty or tax on inherited real property. At the same time, he noted that wealth taxes should not diminish the value of merit - such as by discouraging people from working hard and aspiring to grow their wealth - or affect Singapore’s attractiveness as a business hub.
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