Forum Replies

We would like to thank Mr Mohd Ikhlash Abdullah for his feedback on the Government's outreach in explaining various schemes to help Singaporeans ('Cara bantuan perlu sentiasa disemak', Berita Harian, Mar 31)

The Government uses multiple channels of communication to reach different segments of the population.

For major assistance schemes, wide and sustained publicity is done through the mass media (including radio and TV programmes) and government websites, supplemented by posters and banners at prominent places such as void decks, community centres and hawker centres. In addition, mailers and personalised letters are sent to individual households. Hotlines are available for the public to call in if clarifications are needed.

We complement these with a targeted approach to reach out to more vulnerable Singaporeans. Roadshows and briefings are organised for grassroots leaders and resident groups, who will in turn make house visits and help the help low-income and elderly Singaporeans in their neighbourhood sign up for their GST Credits/Senior Citizens' Bonus. Similarly, for the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS), roadshows were organised at community centres and heartland locations to better reach out to residents and help them sign up. This outreach is also extended to other vulnerable groups such as residents in welfare, disability, sheltered and nursing homes, as well as prison inmates.

To ensure that low wage workers have access to training and upgrading opportunities, the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) reaches out to them as well as their employers through different publicity channels, including the mass media, advertisements at HDB estates and brochures distributed through branches of the National Library.  WDA also works with the Community Development Councils, unions and employer groups, including organizing outreach activities such as training and job fairs to bring opportunities to the door-step of our workers

For those who do not know where to go to for help, they can approach their nearest Community Development Council (CDC), Citizens' Consultative Committee (CCC) or a Family Service Centre (FSC). They can also call the toll-free 24-hour ComCare Call line on 1800-222-0000. The ComCare Call is a call service that aims to connect needy individuals and families to the appropriate social assistance agencies. The ComCare Call number is on posters put up at HDB void decks and banners placed in community centres and schools. Periodic publicity of this number is also done through radio talks.

We would like to assure Mr Ikhlash that the Government is committed to enhancing our outreach efforts and will continue to work with the grassroots in making information on Government schemes easily accessible, especially to those in greatest need.

LIM BEE KHIM (MS)
DIRECTOR (CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS)
MINISTRY OF FINANCE

CHOO LEE SEE (MS)
DIRECTOR (COMCARE AND SOCIAL SUPPORT DIVISION)
MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, YOUTH AND SPORTS

FARAH ABDUL RAHIM (MS)
DIRECTOR (CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS)
MINISTRY OF MANPOWER