SINGAPORE: When a local Reddit user asked if Singaporeans disapprove of giving money to the poor as it sends the wrong message, it sparked a lively discussion, with many commenters bringing up important points for and against such a scheme.
In a post on r/askSingapore on Thursday (June 19), u/AjaxCooperwater wrote, “Generally, do Singaporeans think it is a bad idea to give money to the poor because it encourages laziness and de-incentivises job hunting?”
They added that they personally do not believe that giving money to the poor “encourages any form of stereotype behaviour,” but genuinely wanted to know the reason behind such perspectives, asking also if anyone has personally seen such a case occurring.
“If you see a very old lady or an old man who is handicapped with one leg or one arm, do you think that even if they try hard looking for a job, any boss would want them? So, try to give them some money whenever you come across them. Sometimes, due to dignity, they refuse to accept your money without you taking something from them, such as a packet of tissues or a lottery ticket. Just take it, and say thank you,” one wrote.
“Just help if you want and in a position of being able to afford to.. most importantly, from the heart. Even one word of kindness is a type of charity,” commented another.
A Reddit user outlined the reasons why a person may be hesitant to give money to the poor, which have nothing to do with being encouraged to be lazy. People are afraid of getting scammed, or are concerned that the money they give will end up in the pockets of crime syndicates. Another reason is that people from neighbouring countries might end up coming to Singapore to beg.
This is why they prefer for social workers to reach out to people in need instead.
“Meritocracy can drive us to be unkind and elitist. When we work hard and land a good education and job, we believe it’s our hard work that led us to be successful, and those who are poor are poor because they did not work as hard as us. But reality is never as simple as that. Success requires connections, hard work, and luck. If you’re born well off, it’s easier to focus on your studies, easier to build good connections,” another observed. /TISG
Photo: From Freepik (for illustration purpose only)
FIFA has recently announced that the Club World Cup has sold close to 1.5 million tickets so far for the games. Spectators, however, are starting to notice that numerous stadiums had empty seats in some of the matches.
This issue sparked a conversation on Reddit as one user asked if the Club World Cup is becoming a flop. The user wondered whether the competition is a ‘good idea’, given the half-empty stadiums and lack of fan interest — or if it might actually be ‘bad publicity’ for football.
The user said, “The Club World Cup may flop… Is soccer even popular in North America? The Club World Cup is compounded by political controversies surrounding the event. It seems disengaged audiences will diminish the competition’s global appeal, failing to capture the excitement of football fans around the world and FIFA slashing Club World Cup ticket prices and offering free tickets to students and city workers due to low demand, just aiming at filling stadiums for tournaments, especially for television broadcasting.”
Other Redditors commented on the post and expressed their opinions about this subject matter. One stated that the event should not have taken place in the United States, saying, “America should not be hosting any football competitions. It would get more support if a South American country, a European country or even an African country. Americans aren’t interested in football, and fans certainly don’t want to travel to Trump’s America. Too risky”
Another commented about the location of the event. “America is not exactly a top travel destination for foreigners anymore. Especially not from South America… Even if you aren’t an immigrant, it’s not exactly a safe travel destination.”
Some commenters chimed in with their thoughts. One wrote, “It’s going to flop because it’s another competition that nobody asked for. The previous format made it a lot more prestigious, but people are finally getting tired of FIFA’s greed ruining the sport… It’s no different to a preseason tour. Nobody cares about the results, and most of the fans are neutral.” Another added, “I must say that I like the idea of a club World Cup but 32 teams is too many and the timing sucks.”
Another Redditor argued that the Club World Cup won’t flop—not because of sporting merit, but due to its financial appeal. “It won’t flop because you’ve misjudged what it’s designed to do. It’s not designed to bring together the world’s best teams. It’s not designed to decide the best team in the world. It’s not designed to bring a love of football to the USA. It’s not designed to help America figure out how to run big sporting events,” they wrote.
They added, “Teams are taking part because there’s a load of money in it. It might, potentially, knacker their pre-season preparations, but these clubs exist to make money rather than win trophies; winning trophies is simply a way of making money.”
Despite these, FIFA declared that fans from over 130 countries have purchased Club World Cup tickets, and they are expecting more than 50,000 fans to attend the next couple of matches as the Cup continues.
SINGAPORE: Family offices (FOs) worldwide, including those based in Singapore, are set to diversify their investment portfolios. This is according to the 2025 Global Family Office Survey by US multinational investment firm BlackRock, which responds to rising tariff tensions and a potential US economic slowdown.
This will drive further investment in non-US developed market stocks. The survey, which included FOs that oversee Singapore’s estimated S$5.4 trillion in assets under management (AUM), indicates a clear shift away from traditional US-focused investments.
The spectre of US tariffs on the horizon, plus indications of a possible economic downturn, have led 62% of FOs to focus their attention on European and Japanese equities and away from the traditional focus on US equities, bonds, and cash assets.They are seen as a strong hedge, due to generating stable returns amid uncertainties and US market volatility.
The move by FOs worldwide comes amid growth in Singapore’s FO sector. The city-state saw over 2,000 single-family offices (SFOs) operating there at end-2024, up from 400 SFOs in 2020.
Singapore’s central bank is promoting a diversification push. Incentives like the Section 13O and 13U tax schemes are meant to foster an environment where FOs can explore alternative assets.
Beyond equities, FOs surveyed are also looking to channel investments into fixed-income securities and private markets, such as private equity and real estate. 51% of FOs are optimistic about private credit — non-banking debt that is privately traded, while 75% are bullish on infrastructure.
Lili Forouraghi, Head of Family Office, Healthcare, Endowment and Foundations for BlackRock in the US, commented: “The sustained demand and interest in private credit and infrastructure from family offices is a testament to the illiquidity premia and differentiated return opportunity in the current investment landscape.”
“Access to opportunities and the right strategies continue to rise in importance as these asset classes evolve from niche strategies to the cornerstone of client portfolios,” he added.
However, analysts caution there are risks ahead. Europe has to contend with energy price volatility and geopolitical tensions, which 84% of FOs consider critical. Meanwhile, the long-term growth prospects for Japan are limited by ageing demographics.
Overall, the trend benefits Singapore due to its safe-haven status. The US-China trade tensions and their impact mean Singapore’s neutrality, stability and governance framework position it as a destination for reallocating capital.
Working from home (WFH) was seen as a pivotal job incentive for many people over the past few years. No shuttling back and forth, one can wear anything in the mornings, and the choice to take Zoom calls from any part of the house with a reliable Wi-Fi connection. Lately, however, an interesting shift is happening: an increasing number of workers under 30 are willingly heading back into the office. Yes, they do it of their own accord.
So, what’s behind this movement?
Loneliness isn’t just a buzzword. For many young professionals today, work isn’t just about income; it’s about community, meeting people, and building relationships. Pursuing a career from a bedroom desk can be very alienating, particularly when one is trying to make friends or build up contacts in a new city, or grow professionally without organic exchanges.
Going back to the office, even on a part-time basis, gives people something like identity affirmation, social comfort, and emotional security.
Out of sight, out of mind. Realistically speaking, when the manager only sees you in little squares during Zoom calls, it is hard to stand out.
Today’s professionals are specifically mindful of the importance of visibility at work. Since many of these individuals are usually in the early phases of their professions, they are excited to learn, eager to network, and keen on proving themselves in what they’re capable of. Being in the office enables them to spur-of-the-moment mentorship, try their hand at leadership roles, not to mention those coffee time chats that may turn into huge prospects in the future.
Remote work may be effective, but it’s not always exciting and inspiring. For those rushing for growth, inspiration matters a lot.
Space matters, and not everyone has it. Not everyone has the indulgence of a home office with ergonomic furniture and speedy internet. Many under-30s live in joint apartments, tiny studios, or with co-tenants and family. Wanting to have a fruitful day of work next to a roommate on a gaming headset or a yapping dog can be a formula for weariness and tension.
On the other hand, the office, for all its flaws, provides a physical space intended for work. For many, that alone is worth the travel from home to office and back.
Structure and separation. WFH can easily fuzz the lines between work and life, particularly for younger professionals who are still trying to figure out procedures, practices, and restrictions. Being always “on” is one thing when you’re busy trying to prove yourself, and it quickly becomes untenable.
With the office environment, natural boundaries are created. The day has a start and an end. The couch at home is back to being a place for Netflix, not spreadsheets.
Company culture is back in style. Workers at present aren’t just clocking in and out; they pursue purpose and a sense of belonging. For them, company culture is a lot more than pizza get-togethers or ping pong tables; it’s about teamwork, relationships, synergy, and collective goals.
And for many, culture is difficult to feel through a small Zoom screen.
Hybrid isn’t dead—it’s evolving
This is not saying that the work-from-home era is over and done with. Hybrid work models are still flourishing, and flexibility is still a top priority for many young professionals. What is shifting is the perception that remote work is equal to what is “ideal.” More and more, the under-30 horde has recognised that now and then, “being in the room matters more than being on the call.”
Thus, if you see more bikes at parking spaces outside the office, or hear more conversation around the coffee machine, you’re not imagining it. Young professionals in today’s workforce are reminding all that work is actually more than just everyday jobs; it’s also about people, places, and possibilities.
In a world that’s still unravelling the future of work, Gen Zs just want the best of both worlds, and aren’t frightened to go out and get it.
SINGAPORE: Jobseeker interest in Singapore’s hospitality and tourism sector has more than doubled in four years amid the sector’s recovery, according to new data from global hiring and matching platform Indeed. The number of clicks on hospitality and tourism job ads per million users rose by 130.3% from 2021 to 2025.
Indeed said the increased interest could be linked to better perception of the sector’s job security, pay, and working conditions. Skilled talent, including those returning to the workforce, and new graduates are also likely contributing to this demand.
Job opportunities in the sector also increased by 48.7% from 2021 to 2025. From April 2024 to April 2025 alone, job postings grew 14.6%, likely driven by higher travel demand, major concerts and sporting events in Singapore, and new investments in building the local tourism workforce.
Indeed’s spokesperson Shannon Peter Pang said the strong interest from jobseekers is a good sign of the sector’s recovery, but employers must ensure these workers are placed in roles that match their skills and support the industry’s long-term growth.
“Employers are encouraged to invest in upskilling programmes to build a sustainable workforce pipeline to meet evolving service expectations and demands. Better employee retention strategies, such as competitive benefits and clear career development pathways, could help keep talent motivated and committed to building the industry,” he said.
“Singapore’s smooth recovery as a premier travel destination in the Asia Pacific spells an exciting time for the country. As demand surges, the sector’s businesses must ensure they’re not just filling roles, but building meaningful career pathways,” he added. /TISG
SINGAPORE: A 27-year-old Singaporean woman took to Reddit to express how painful it is to feel overlooked in her family simply because she gives her mother less money than her siblings.
“I know my mum doesn’t favour me because I can’t give her more or as much money as my siblings does. I have student loans to pay from when I studied in uni and also savings,” the woman wrote on the r/askSingapore forum on Thursday (Jun 19).
“To her, I have a higher pay so I should be able to give more but I’m not giving her more. She doesn’t want to understand that I have financial responsibilities because she doesn’t understand the concept and value of money after not working for 20 years. All she knows is that she’ll get money if she asks for it and she better get it when she asks for it.”
Still, the woman said she makes it a point to show up for the family whenever she can. She shared that she’s usually the one footing the bill for family celebrations.
“I’ve always been the one who paid for everyone’s birthday when we eat out. I paid for the bill for father’s day, everyone’s birthdays and sometimes even mine, and my parents’ anniversary. I bought the cake and gifts,” she said.
“For mother’s day, I split the bill with my younger brother to treat my entire family of 6 to dinner at Arab Street eating Mediterranean food. It costed us well over $350. ”
“I didn’t mind paying first, but one of my brothers transferred me half, saying that we should at least split the bill because it was a lot. My mum didn’t notice or cared that I paid first and eventually forked out half of the bill. She kept on bragging to her siblings and bringing up how thankful she was that my brother paid for mother’s day. Just my brother and not me.”
What cut even deeper was how her own birthday was handled. Initially, she had suggested a day trip to Johor Bahru, but changed her plans when she realised her youngest brother couldn’t join due to a CCA camp. Wanting everyone to be involved, she chose to have a small celebration at home instead.
Her only request was simple: to have three of her favourite dishes—chilli crab, prawn fritters, and mee soto—prepared for the occasion.
But even that, she said, was met with dismissal. “On the day of my birthday, my mother sent a message in the family group chat saying that she’ll be making changes to the menu. She’ll only be cooking chilli crab and the prawn fritters but not the mee soto even though I offered to help her cook and clean when it’s my birthday.”
“She eventually said that she was lazy because it’s just another day. I was in my room doing a bit of WFH (took half day off on my birthday which fell on a weekday) and just started crying because I felt so hurt for some reason.”
At the end of her post, the woman shared that she had long accepted she was not the favourite child in the family. It was something she had gradually made peace with over the years.
Even so, she admitted that moments like these still hurt more than she would like to admit. “Sometimes it sucks,” she wrote. “I’m 27 but I’m still her child and I have feelings too.”
“I hope you will have a wonderful 28th birthday next year.”
Local users quickly flooded the comments with support, telling her she’s not alone and that her feelings are completely valid.
Some also tried to cheer her up. One user said, “You matter too, and if there’s no one that knows how to treat you like you matter, then let’s start making yourself matter to yourself first. Great things will come to you. Please, please, please don’t ever put yourself down just for another person’s comfort.”
Another wrote, “Happy belated birthday. I am so sorry that you went through a sad 27th birthday. We can’t choose our family, but we can choose how we feel.
“I am not my mum’s favourite child either, so I don’t focus on her. I focus on those that love me. Yes, she is your mum and your immediate family. You need to love her, but you also need to love yourself first. I hope one day you will be able to come to peace with this and not feel upset if such a situation happens again. I hope you will have a wonderful 28th birthday next year.”
A third added, “Things will get better, don’t worry. You are a good daughter in the family. Unfortunately, you can’t choose your mother. Try to talk things out between you two, if that doesn’t work. Consider moving out and finding a partner. In time, your mum will appreciate you more when you are not living with her.”
In other news, a man in his late 20s recently turned to social media to ask how much money someone should be making before they feel ready to start dating.
Posting on the r/askSingapore subreddit, he shared that he had just landed a short traineeship in data analytics within the finance sector. However, he revealed that his current pay is only in the mid-S$2,000 range.
SINGAPORE: A 30-year-old man recently shared in a Reddit post that he is approaching the one-year mark since he last held a job, and that his ongoing struggle with unemployment has become an increasingly difficult chapter in his life.
Writing on the r/askSingapore forum on Friday (Jun 20), he revealed that he has been out of work since August 2024. Prior to that, he was earning a five-figure monthly salary at a well-known bulge bracket firm.
He initially left his job to pursue a Master’s degree, believing that further education would give him an edge in his career and open up more opportunities. Unfortunately, halfway through the programme, he was forced to withdraw due to unexpected financial difficulties, leaving him jobless and without the postgraduate degree.
He also shared that he regretted turning down two job offers last year. “I rejected 2 offers last year to wait for this company, which showed huge interest in me, which turned out to be disastrous,” he said.
“I also met up with a way smaller EU company that verbally offered me a job and needed me to wait till 2025 and suddenly ghosted me. Had to double text to ask what the progress is and was insulted by being offered an internship despite me being way qualified.”
Seeking advice from fellow users, he asked, “What should I do? It feels like it’s taking forever. I try to keep myself positive, but things just aren’t happening.”
“What to do? Keep looking.”
In the comments, several users encouraged the man not to lose hope and to keep on looking. One wrote, “Just keep applying lor. Sounds like you are in huge demand.”
Another commented, “What to do? Keep looking.” A third suggested, “Do part time first while searching unless you are rich and can search job for 8 hours. From grab delivery/driver to retail etc. Good luck.”
In other news, a local worker took to social media on Wednesday (June 18) to share that he’s stuck in a “broken” company where he’s overworked, underpaid, and mentally exhausted.
Posting on the r/askSingapore forum, he wrote that even though it’s already 2025, his company still insists everyone show up at the office five days a week, with zero flexibility for remote work. He also mentioned that the most draining part isn’t the workload itself but the fact that he spends more time “managing upwards” than doing the job he was hired to do.
He said, “I have to remind my bosses about their own meetings, teach them how to convert a PDF (no joke), copy our own client feedback into decks because they forgot, and clarify client concerns that were literally caused by said bosses.”
SINGAPORE: A single, incredibly fortunate bettor has walked away with more than $12.32 million in Thursday night’s (19 June) Toto draw, setting a new record for the highest first-prize payout in the history of Singapore Pools’ Toto lottery.
The winning numbers drawn on 19 June were 1, 10, 37, 40, 45, 47, with the bonus number 19.
According to Singapore Pools, the jackpot prize — a staggering $12,323,051 — was the result of four consecutive draws where no winner had emerged for the top prize.
Under Toto’s updated rules, if the Group 1 (jackpot) prize is not won for three straight draws, it snowballs and must be paid out in the fourth draw, regardless of whether anyone matches all six winning numbers. This payout mechanism drove the prize pool to historic heights.
The winning ticket was placed at Value Supermarket in Yew Tee Point, using the QuickPick System 7 Entry method, where the system generates a set of numbers for the player and increases the odds by selecting seven numbers instead of the usual six.
In addition to the record-breaking jackpot winner, 13 other tickets matched five numbers and the bonus number, each earning a second-prize payout of $108,637.
With queues at Toto outlets expected to lengthen once again following this headline-making win, Singapore Pools continues to urge players to play responsibly.
SINGAPORE: A recent survey conducted by Randstad, the world’s largest human resources company, has revealed that more than 40% of employees in Singapore have either changed jobs or plan to do so within a 12-month period.
The findings, based on responses from approximately 2,500 individuals, highlight a growing sense of restlessness in the workforce—particularly among professionals in the financial and technology sectors.
The key driver behind this trend, according to the survey, is a lack of flexibility in work arrangements. Despite widespread adoption of hybrid work models in recent years, many employees are now being asked to return to the office more frequently—a move that appears to be sparking dissatisfaction.
Randstad noted that while many employers have implemented flexible work policies, there remains significant room for improvement.
In addition to the demand for flexible working arrangements, financial pressures are also motivating employees to seek new opportunities. The survey cited higher living costs and the desire for better salaries as secondary factors fueling job-switching activity.
“Beyond salary and benefits, companies and HR professionals in Singapore have other options to enhance employees’ sense of belonging and address the talent retention challenges they face,” a spokesperson for Randstad Singapore said, emphasizing the importance of workplace culture and employee engagement in today’s competitive labor market.
While the desire to move is high, not all sectors are seeing a smooth path to re-employment—particularly in the information technology field. According to the survey, only 11% of IT job seekers managed to secure new positions in the second half of 2024, pointing to a tightening labor market. This comes amid the rapid development of artificial intelligence, which has reshaped hiring priorities across the industry.
Experts point to a notable shift in recruitment trends within the tech sector. Voluntary turnover remains high at 15.1%, while involuntary turnover—such as layoffs or contract terminations—has remained relatively stable at around 4%.
Analysts suggest that this disparity could indicate an oversupply of talent or a mismatch between available skills and the requirements of current roles.
As Singapore’s job market continues to evolve, both employers and employees may need to recalibrate their expectations. For companies, this could mean rethinking talent strategies to align with employee values. For workers, especially those in tech, it may involve upskilling or re-skilling to stay competitive in a rapidly changing landscape.
Singapore’s last home match before the start of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Asian Cup was halted due to heavy rains. Despite the unfortunate cancellation, Singapore’s national team, the Lionesses, showed their determination as they fought against Hong Kong, which is ranked 59 places higher.
The Singaporean team had a great start at the friendly match, which was held at Choa Chu Kang Stadium. It was, however, called off four minutes into the second half with Hong Kong leading 1-0 at that point.
Highlights of the match
Winger Farah Nurzahirah made two early chances, but the play was stopped after 17 minutes due to a lightning warning, causing a one-hour delay.
When the match resumed, Hong Kong increased their game, but 18-year-old goalkeeper Izairida Shakira made several key saves. A defensive mistake gave Hong Kong’s Leung Hong Liu Anke an opportunity to score. Hong Kong nearly scored again before halftime.
The second half saw the return of veteran midfielder Lim Li Xian, adding more experience to the match. Singapore kept pressing, but the worsening weather led to the match being cancelled.
With this, Lionesses’ Head Coach, Karim Bencherifa, remained optimistic and shared encouraging aspects from the game. “I think the players worked really hard under difficult conditions. We were looking to continue, but it’s still a positive outcome. A lot of work remains, but game after game, we’re progressing,” he said.
“Kudos to Hong Kong – gave us two good games. Even though today’s game didn’t finish, I was very happy with what I saw,” he added.
Furthermore, the Lionesses’ team captain, Rosnani Azman, reflected on the team’s performance and shared her thoughts. In a video shared on social media, she said, “I think we did quite well… I mean, of course, playing against Hong Kong, who’s like 80th ranking – it was a strong opponent.”
The athlete added, “I actually believe that it was a balanced fight. You can see that both teams are attacking, and we also create chances. It’s just that we couldn’t convert it into a goal… But I think it was a good fight, leading to the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.”
Some netizens disagreed with the post, questioning the fairness of the match. One remarked bluntly, “A loss is not balanced.”
The Lionesses are now preparing for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers. They will leave and go to Amman, the capital of Jordan, which will host all the Group A matches.
