In contrast to traditional notions of poverty, the concept of social inclusion stresses the causes, experiences and consequences of persistent, overlapping disadvantages. Social inclusion envisions the opposite of a socially exclusive society. In this vision, people are able to take part in social activities that are considered customary in that time and place; they have capacity for economic production and consumption; they also get to shape the decisions that directly affect them.
Public policies are central to building a socially inclusive society. The design of policies affects who has access to public services and resources, and whether these are timely and adequate. Policy practices and narratives determine how people experience what it means to be members of a society. Opportunities to participate in policymaking can create fairer representation, greater public engagement and give people more control over their lives.
In recent months, the government announced plans to develop new public housing in prime locations, introduce workplace anti-discrimination laws and expand the Progressive Wage Model to more sectors and occupations. These initiatives fall in several critical domains of social policy – housing, income and work. Will they deepen social, economic and spatial fairness? Can they pave the way to a more inclusive society? What do they reveal about where we are and what more needs to be done? Ng Kok Hoe (LKYSPP) and Shailey Hingorani (AWARE) discuss these questions in a conversation on social inclusion, research and advocacy.
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