A CUT ABOVE THE REST...

Beloved Singapore announced officially that some social welfare that we are entitled be cut.

Well.. you will argue then why "A Cut Above The Rest"....the title sounds good but the contents not so...!

Of course I felt a pinch just like any other foreigners or so-called expats living here for a couple of years though no immediate impact on myself. I have no school-going children. No aged parent staying with me in Singapore at the moment.

And yes why I say a cut above the rest? Let me say this. I don't know how great the impact my other expats counterparts would have. But my fellow Burmese PRs would be feeling double whammy.. or even triple I would say.......so the cut is deep and the deepest above all other nationalities.

First of all, all Burmese nationalities working here are subjected to double tax though there is official tax treaty and exemption between the 2 nations.

Secondly, many Burmese PR do set up their home here and their children are attending local schools and institutions. Some of the 2nd generation are enjoying and serving national service. And their parents are here to help look after the kids while they are busy at works.

And Burmese in general are keeping themselves low profile and they are less-mentioned in the media. Never mind that every now and then, we are being scrutinized and bombarded by a long yard stick as foreigners breaking locals' rice bowls but we lay low.

We try to integrate and immense in our work places, communities and a number of us become Burmese Singaporean and sing "Marjulah Singapura" along with native Singaporeans. Just like any other Singaporean felt hard to give up Singapore Passports and shouting "dual Citizenship", we, too, need sometimes.

For many reasons, we like Singapore and we thank Singapore and live here. I don't want to say how much we gain, how much we contribute as we will never get a single voice and agreement on this matters. We will always have people who welcome us and likewise who felt we are just here for the steel rice bowl. And how long we live here and how we like it here, at some stage, we felt our home is in Singapore during our home-going breaks. But a las!!! sometimes I felt, we are being forced reminded and reckoned we are foreigners (we may think ourselves very much part of Singapore) and we are not welcome at any price..

I don't really want to write anything about the cut and the division between being Singaporean and Singapore PR. We just want to work primarily for our careers(rice bowls). Paying Income Tax ( hopefully one tax only in the sooner future). I don't really need the whatever packages, shares our landlord Singaporeans are enjoying because that is their right of being Singaporean.

I am thinking of trading my passport but so many distractions every now and then. Like we are from 3rd world and we are cheap labours who driving down wages. While our more fortunate western counterparts are more recognized with just some certificates with extremely over-the-top perks than that of our degrees.. and cutting here and there out 0f our not-so-deep pockets....

I just want to say... well fellow Burmese, better trade-in your passports sooner or just keep yourself healthy and maybe should consider sending your children back home to put them in International School there.. then you can save up some money for your rainy days....