SINGAPORE: In 2024, Singapore’s Gini coefficient, a statistical measure illustrating the gap between the richest and poorest in a country’s income distribution, fell to a record low of 0.364 ( after accounting for government transfers and taxes ). This marked a significant step in efforts to combat income inequality, especially those that included sustained plans that focused on enhancing social safety traps and redistributing resources to assist low-income households.
For example, homeowners in one- and two-room Housing and Development Board cottages received an average of S$ 16, 805 per family member from a range of state plans, more than twice the amount received by all native homes.  ,
But, while these transfers provide necessary economic relief and improve quick well-being, they alone do not cultivate long-term economic mobility. Green wage growth and the development of skills are still essential to uplifting employees.
To solve this, Budget 2025 has introduced various measures to enhance labor support. The expansion of the Workfare Skills Support ( WSS) scheme, which offers lower-wage employees aged 30 and above monthly training allowances when they enrol in selected part- or full-time courses, is a key initiative.  ,
Part-time employees will receive a fixed monthly income of S$ 300 under the revised plan, while full-time members can receive up to 50 % of their average earnings over the past 12 weeks.  ,
This policy makes a significant action toward providing lower-wage staff with the tools for higher freedom and long-term financial security by shifting the focus away from incentivising skill acquisition.