Editorial: Control debt, but fix the system behind it

Debt seeps into every corner of life, tightening its grip long before it shows up on a statement. It dictates what people eat, where they live and how they plan for tomorrow. For many workers, salaries no longer stretch far enough, and borrowing has become a means of survival rather than choice.

Each deduction chips away at already limited income, forcing people back into the same cycle – one loan paying off another. The result is not just financial strain but a life lived in quiet fear. Yes, a system that guarantees repayment at source makes it easier to extend credit.

That imbalance has fuelled indebtedness and left many exposed. Bringing control into the system is a step in the right direction. Yet control on its own will fall short. Without serious investment in financial education, many borrowers will remain vulnerable, navigating complex credit decisions without the tools to understand them.

More importantly, the issue runs deeper than credit. It speaks to the condition of workers themselves. When incomes cannot meet the cost of living, debt becomes inevitable. Any real solution must address not only how people borrow but also how they live.