IT IS heartening to read about help for middle-income earners in last Saturday's report, "More help for white-collar workers".
All workers in Singapore, including white-collar employees, are experiencing the pains of the global economic slowdown. The recession is made worse by fears about the Influenza A (H1N1) virus, which currently threatens corporate health as companies implement their business continuity plans.
Many companies have announced zero or meagre bonus payouts and salary increments for their staff. Income projections have been slashed to reflect the protracted recession. Actual business revenue has been drastically reduced.
Unfortunately, workers are expected to put in more to bring back the same level of production.
Yet local transport costs remain high. Executives and professionals incur transport expenses when entering the Central Business District. Couriers and delivery men continue to provide critical logistical support. Taxis continue to ferry executives. Fixed transport costs are incurred but compounded by the ailing economy. Sales professionals are worst hit as they pay transport costs directly.
I propose that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) stop Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) operations for one year and conduct a study of positive economic effects at the end of the period. The goal is to help thousands of white-collar workers cut down on ERP charges to ease their business losses.
Government revenue generated from ERP should be aligned with the corresponding reduction in private sector revenue. Individual office executives who drive to work pay $100 to $200 in ERP charges each month. Why should this key segment of the workforce be penalised by fixed ERP charges, even during bad times?
