Forum: Put unused voucher balances to better use
Recently, I came across a discarded supermarket receipt where a customer had used a $20 CDC or SG60 voucher but forfeited $3.20 in change. This is because supermarkets do not provide change for voucher transactions.
It made me wonder why someone would willingly forgo such an amount. More importantly, this raises a broader question: How much unclaimed change is being accumulated across all supermarkets from such voucher redemptions?
If these small amounts add up significantly, could they be pooled and directed towards a more meaningful purpose, such as donations to charity or community support programmes?
These vouchers were introduced by the Government to help Singaporeans cope with the rising cost of living. It would be a missed opportunity if the unused portions simply became extra revenue for large retailers, instead of continuing to serve the public good.
Perhaps agencies or retailers could consider a system where customers are given the option to donate any unredeemed balance to a designated charitable fund. This would allow even small amounts to be put to constructive use – reflecting the spirit in which the vouchers were issued.
Kamaruzaman Mohamad Shariff
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