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Straits Times Forum Homes shouldn't undermine levy A HIGHER foreign worker levy was one key factor cited in the rise of charges in some nursing homes ("Some nursing home operators raising fees"; Monday). Yet, the reason that spurred the Ministry of Manpower to hike the levy was to encourage lesser dependence on foreign labour and to encourage employers to redesign jobs that will attract Singaporeans. It defeats the Government's dual aim if nursing homes pass the buck in the levy increase to their clients via stiffer fees. Instead of merely awarding subsidies to families based on income level, the Government could consider providing nursing homes some form of subsidy per resident to help them stay sustainable. These subsidies could come with caveats such as an increased number of Singaporeans taking up patient-care jobs at the homes over a specified period of time. The ministry and the National Trades Union Congress could also help nursing homes redesign patient-care jobs so as to attract more citizens, especially retired nurses, to consider working part time there. The ministry needs to ensure there are more teeth for its policies to work. Using a blunt and simplistic instrument like raising the levy lets employers off the hook by simply passing the buck to consumers. With an ageing population, more could be done to help the nursing-home sector as its role will only increase in importance in the years ahead. Edwin Lim