--- title: "‘Are we doing enough for struggling S’poreans?’ Stomper asks after seeing people rummage through trash" url: "/stomping-ground/are-we-doing-enough-struggling-sporeans-stomper-asks-after-seeing-people-rummage-through-trash" published: "2026-10-22T09:10:56.000Z" updated: "2026-10-22T09:10:56.000Z" section: "Stomping Ground" authors: ["Fayyadhah Zainalabiden"] tags: ["Singapore","Cost of living","middle income","trash","RECYCLING","LOW-WAGE WORKERS","SIngaporeans","Stomping Ground"] --- # ‘Are we doing enough for struggling S’poreans?’ Stomper asks after seeing people rummage through trash Welcome to Stomping Ground — a space where Stompers share reflections, personal essays and social commentaries that spark conversation and insight. “Is enough being done? The rich will get richer and the poor, poorer. The middle-income group, which drives most of the economy, will eventually suffer the most.” This thought struck Stomper Kash after he spotted two individuals he had never seen before rummaging through the trash at the waste disposal area in his estate. The sightings occurred on separate occasions, when not many people were around. “These individuals were able-bodied — just like me,” noted Kash. He shared that since leaving his full-time job in 2023, he has been working for less salary and longer hours, less family time, or taking freelancing projects in between. “That’s the reality in today’s market,” quipped the Stomper. While he claimed that getting a job that pays between $2,500 and $3,500 a month is “easy”, earning that salary while having a house, three children, a dog and a helper is barely enough to get by. Kash, 42, does freelance digital marketing and takes home about $3,500 monthly. His wife works at a hospital and has a gross monthly salary of about $4,300. Even with their combined income, Kash said the couple could feel the rising living costs over the past 10 years of their marriage. He explained: “Marketing alone takes a huge chunk of our expenses. We don’t own a car and don’t live a luxurious life. Like the average Singaporean, we do go out for dinners, but the frequency has lessened.” ## People rummaging through trash are working hard too Addressing the individuals rummaging through the trash, Kash said: “I realised they are not so different from all of us. They don’t steal, and if others are not interested in scraps or refunds from cans and bottles, why should we stop them? “They are also making an honest living like us. I can imagine it’s quite a lot of work for them too, just to get enough for perhaps a meal and a drink.” Nevertheless, he wonders about what drives people to carry out such activities and questions the systems in place. For example, Kash pointed to Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu’s recent reply to a parliamentary question on public hygiene surrounding the Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS). Fu had written: “Rummaging through public refuse bins, removing items from them, and leaving or spilling waste on the ground are against the law.” Noting that this could affect people who may depend on collecting recyclables for some money, Kash suggested a rebuttal: “If someone is collecting discarded items to earn a few dollars, should our first concern be how this reflects on Singapore, or what circumstances might have led that person to do so? “Perhaps both deserve attention, but the human being should never be an afterthought.” ## What more can we do? Sharing his own struggles, Kash added: “Living day to day, paycheck to paycheck, is tiring. Anyone who’s been through this will be able to resonate with what I’m saying.” The Stomper acknowledged the various Government assistance schemes available, such as cash payouts, CDC vouchers, utility rebates and healthcare subsidies for many households. To suggest that nothing has been done would thus be unfair. However, he argued that the question should be whether existing measures adequately address the financial pressures faced by different groups of Singaporeans. Among the factors considered are: - Could more be done to help lower-income households meet their basic needs? - Could we provide better protection for middle-income families who may not qualify for substantial assistance but are struggling with rising expenses? - Could we make healthcare, childcare, housing and essential services more affordable in the long term, rather than relying predominantly on periodic financial assistance? With these challenges in mind, Kash’s ultimate question is: “Are we doing enough for struggling Singaporeans?” ## Many people face struggles we may never see As a middle-income earner, Kash knows too well the dilemma families face. They do not qualify for assistance targeted at lower-income households, yet may not have enough to comfortably afford housing, childcare, education and healthcare while maintaining a reasonable quality of life. Having to pay taxes and contribute to CPF while caring for young children and ageing parents, their financial responsibilities can be substantial, even when their income appears reasonable on paper. This is why he feels assistance should not be assessed solely by gross household income. “Helping families manage these pressures is not simply about distributing more money. It is also about designing policies that recognise how people actually live,” he said. He also clarified that he is not “advocating for handouts without accountability”, but believes there should be a balance between individual responsibility, sustainable public spending and collective responsibility towards those who need help. “Sometimes, people do everything they are supposed to do and still find themselves struggling. That reality deserves our attention.” ## ‘Success should not be measured solely by economic growth’ Conundrums aside, Kash emphasised that he wants Singapore to continue succeeding and our economy to remain competitive. “But I also want Singaporeans to be able to enjoy the fruits of that progress,” he stressed. The Stomper believes success shouldn’t just be measured by economic growth, but by whether ordinary people can live with dignity, families have time for each other, the elderly can age without fear, and hard work leads to real financial security. “There is a difference between surviving and truly living,” Kash pointed out. “Perhaps it is time we gave more thought to how we can help more Singaporeans move from the former to the latter.” Have your say on Stomping Ground! Write to us at stomp@sph.com.sg or WhatsApp 9384 3761.