Public Awareness and Advocacy
ONE Singapore is dedicated to raising public awareness and taking concrete actions to Make Poverty History. You can’t do anything about a problem, if you don’t know it exists. Once you learn about it, you want to take action! Positive change begins with a better understanding of the nature and causes of poverty and inequalities, and how everyone can play a role to improve our communities.
Poverty in Singapore
Singapore does not have an official poverty line. However, researchers estimate that some 387,000 Singaporeans are unable to meet basic needs in the form of food, shelter, clothing and other essential expenditures. That means that more than 1 in 10 Singaporeans is living in poverty. At the same time, Singapore has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world. Inequality is a major issue.
Low-income workers account for approximately 60% of Singaporeans living in poverty. They simply do not earn enough to make ends meet. The unemployed/underemployed and the elderly, particularly older women, also face higher rates of poverty. These figures do not include migrant workers, who make up about 30% of the population. Foreign workers are more likely to be in poverty as a result of debts incurred to work in Singapore, low wages and exploitation.
Poverty Around the Globe
While you may not see it on the headlines every day, there is currently a global poverty crisis. “Almost half of the world’s population lives on less than two dollars a day, yet even this statistic fails to capture the humiliation, powerlessness and brutal hardship that is the daily lot of [people living in poverty],” notes former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
With little or no income, those living in poverty are denied access to basic rights including education, health, water, sanitation, food and a safe clean environment. At the same time, inequality — both within and between countries — is on the rise. The world's 85 richest people are worth as much as the poorest 3.5 billion. That's half of the world's population! Global leaders increasingly acknowledge that extreme inequality harms everyone in the society and must be addressed.
The resources and knowledge needed to eradicate poverty and inequalities exist, and with the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals, world leaders have committed to “end poverty in all its forms everywhere.” Now, governments and the private sector must be held accountable to ensure a just world for all.
Sustainable Development Goals
ONE Singapore’s work contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were endorsed by world leaders at a historic UN summit in September 2015. The SDGs call for an “end to poverty in all its forms everywhere.” They provide a framework for goals that affect People and Planet, both globally and here at home.
In Focus: Vaccine Equality
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted global inequalities. While Singapore secured vaccines and ensured access for all, the same has not been true for other countries around the region and marginalised communities across the globe, including many of the communities from which Singapore’s foreign workers hail. ONE Singapore supports the right to health of people everywhere and advocates for universal access to vaccines and Universal Health Coverage.
In Focus: Social Protection
Social protection systems are a proven, direct and fast-acting mechanism to end poverty and reduce inequalities. Social protection unleashes individual creativity and capacities and provides resilience in the face of ‘natural’ calamities, pandemics and economic crises. It is an investment in the long-term growth of countries and communities. Comprehensive social safety nets are a key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.