Young professional getting stressed
Media today reported that more young professionals are getting stressed at work. It seems that the extra-long work hours have led to medical problems, including insomnia, depression and hypertension.
Price of beer going up, signs of profiteering?
Following the Budget 2014 announcement that taxes on alcohol will go up by 25%, there were fears that this will lead to a sudden increase in alcohol prices. The Ministry of Trade and Investment then followed-up with a warning for alcohol sellers not to engage in unfair profiteering. Media reports indicate that this warning has gone unheeded. Coffeeshops have continued to price their beers beyond the calculated excise duty of 41 cents – the price increase is 50 cents instead. It is unclear how the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) and the Competition Commission of Singapore plans to regulate this 9-cent difference, but media reports indicated that they are monitoring the market.
4,000 ideas received for Jubilee Baby gift pack
Singaporeans contributed more than 4,000 ideas on what should go into the Jubilee Baby gift pack, a special package that the government wants to give to those born in the 50th birth-year of the nation. The crown-sourcing effort, headed by the National Population and Talent Division, drew suggestions including gold items, diapers, soft toys and free education. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Grace Fu was quoted by media as saying, “We are not looking at, for example, free education and free childcare for the babies. That will always continue to be something we pursue under our normal policies to encourage marriage and parenthood.”