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The fare hike announced last Thursday provides for more concessions to children, students and full-time national servicemen (NSFs), but the rest of the commuting public will have to bear it.迷你倉出租This cross-subsidy arrangement is business as usual, except that this time around, the Government has chosen to fund two other concessions for low-wage workers on Workfare and persons with disabilities, amounting to $50 million a year. Low-wage workers here refers to those earning a gross monthly income of $1,900 or less - a qualifying criterion for Workfare.However, these moves raise questions for the commuting public: What is the impact of the additional concessions to be borne by commuters who belong to the low-income bracket but do not qualify for Workfare, as well as the "sandwiched" lower-middle class? Should the Government also give them some help?The 2010 population census showed that they are a substantial group. At the lower end of the income scale, 363,107 resident working persons earning a gross monthly income of $1,999 or less take public transport. This corresponds to the 400,000 low-wage workers the Government expects to benefit from its new concession scheme.Just above this are another 200,322 working commuters earning $2,000 to $2,999, and 138,788 earning $3,000 to $3,999, or 339,110 in all.There are fewer working commuters in the upper income tiers - 244,347 earn $4,000 or more.Hence, nearly 1.4 times more commuters from the lower-middle and middle-income group than the higher-income group will bear the burden, assuming similar travel patterns across both groups.As for the amount they will bear, no overall cost figure was given in the latest announcement.But Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew said in 2012 that the estimated additional cost to give polytechnic students full student travel concessions is $28 mil迷你倉ion a year based on 2012 fares.A rough calculation based on 946,561 working persons from the 2010 census suggests that each working person will have to bear on average nearly $30 a year.Besides the 80,000 polytechnic students who are expected to benefit this time, another 350,000 or so commuters will be granted concessions.They include up to 150,000 children below seven years old who will travel free, 150,000 students who could benefit from cheaper bus/train monthly passes, unlimited train rides for some passes and the extension of eligibility to Singaporeans studying full-time in private schools, and 10,000 NSFs who will have cheaper monthly passes. Up to 40,000 senior citizens could also sign up for a monthly concession pass.Those lower-middle and middle-income workers whose dependants belong to these groups will get some relief. A new adult monthly travel pass at $120 for unlimited rides may also lighten their expenses.But there will be people who do not belong to these groups. To them, the official assurance given so far is that the affordability of fares is tracked even for their income group. Tracking should continue. The perception of being excluded from concessions also needs to be addressed. The Government has also addressed this point in other policies.GST vouchers, for instance, are given not just to the lower-income, but also the middle-income, in lesser amounts based on public housing type - including those living in five-room and executive flats.I agree with those who say that even if one does not qualify for travel concessions today, some day they will - if they grow old and/or have dependants.But coupled with fare increases, the situation of this group should be closely watched, and when necessary, the Government should step in.chinlian@sph.com.sgCheck out .singapolitics.sg for more views and newsmini storage