I’m sorry that it happened – that Singaporeans are too choosy and not willing to serve the country, not even for the million dollar salaries being dangled. On second thought, I’m even more concerned that they serve because of the million dollar salary…

Kin Lian,

I have a question for you. Is Singapore classified as a free economy state?

Unless Singaorean resort to protectionism, FT is not the main cause of the problem. You should compare our nearest competitor HK (more realistic as both do not have natural resources and only human resources except Hong Kong has the backing of Greater China). Thus making Singapore harder to compete for FDI that help spur the economic growth and sustain the employment situtation. Have you ever heard a lot of disgruntle about FT in HK? The HK government has constantly do public advertisement to encourage its citizens to upgrade their skillset to be competitive. They have also provided a lot of subsidies for skillset upgrading education. I think Singapore has more (correct me if I am wrong). There are a lot of influx of FT in HK as well. Oh, by the way, there are no minimum wage law in HK (it is still tabled as a legislative debate without any results). No defined maximum work week in a broad spectrum. Live goes on.

So, in Singapore, It’s our very own fellow citizens who needs to reflect as well. There are no shortage of available job vaccancies. In fact the unemployment rate is higher in HK compared to Singapore. Likewise the living standards and operational cost are higher in HK compared to Singapore. The HKer take it in stride and work it out as they strive for improvement and government aide concurrently. No nannying.

Be fair, it is ugly to hear but the competitive landscape has changed. It is not just the government’s responsibilities. Yes, the government can do more but the citizens too have to play their role. You are of the idea that the top earners should shed their salaries to compensate the low-wage worker, so why the need of a merit system? Why not adopt like old China used to be. Why not compare to Vietnam, Thailand, Phillipines, Indonesia or even Malaysia. This is reality of life.

You know better as you have been in a CEO position. Being compassionate is one thing. In the ugly business competitive landscape, compassion is low in priority. If the country has adopted a capitalist type of business environment, it needs to maintain its free economy status and invariably you will face a higher degree of competitiveness in every aspect of business. Yes, the lower income wage earner is at the bottom ladder, wages is important but upgrading skillset will have more effect to move them up the bottom ladder and make them more competitive to survive in reality. Again, the lower income wage earner has to play a role as well.

Singapore is not the only country facing the current inflation issue. The whole world is scrambling to tackle this issue as well. As a matter of fact as I see it now, Singapore Gov is doing much more compared to Hong Kong to help its citizen to combat this current inflationary issues. I lived and worked in HK for 9 odd years now and this is what I am experiencing as I pen my comment.

No intent of questioning your compassion to aide the needy people. I think most if not all of us share this sentiment. However, in reality of life and its current comeptitive landscape,we have to learn how to face it and take it in stride. The higher the wage, the higher the operational cost and so on. It is a vicious cycle. If the lower income earner skillset is stagnated, it will certainly be replaced without a doubt. There are no shortage of lower income workers outside of Singapore. Likewise this is also happening to the other higher paid professionals.

Let’s face it, If Singapore adopt a confined closed market strategy, we will die much faster. Skillset upgrading is key to survival and to climb that laddle. But I do not believe in the blame game.

On the topic, isn’t the WIS the scheme the goverment has put in place to tackle this problem? It’s less economically disruptive than minimum wages or subsidies, but it fulfills the same role of ensuring wages are at a decent level. I’m not sure about the details, but it sounds like it would work in principle, and so the problems should emerge at a level of implementation? Maybe we should focus on that.

Hi Observer

Perhap, you should tell us about your identity and background. I find this approach to be fair, if you raise the issue of my past work position.

I am not too familiar with the situation in Hong Kong. If I remember correctly, they do provide some unemployment benefit to people who are not able to find suitable job. Maybe, you can confirm this situation.

I have observed that many FDI (foreign direct investments) come into Singapore and have to depend on a supply of low cost workers from other countrie, to make the business viable. This helps to make good profit for the investors and high salarie for the top managers. I am not clear how this type of FDI benefit the citizens as a whole. They make life more congested in Singapore.

I hope that someone can help me to identify the countries that have a minimum wage, besides Europe and America.

We must also bear in mind that the cost of living in some of the less developed countries are much lower than in Singapore.

Observer on June 25th, 2008 11.22 am

“I think most if not all of us share this sentiment. However, in reality of life and its current comeptitive landscape,we have to learn how to face it and take it in stride. The higher the wage, the higher the operational cost and so on. It is a vicious cycle.”

Hong Kong has their own unique environment & the accompanying inherent cost structure. Likewise for Singapore. The level of freer market practice in Hong Kong is higher than Singapore in which case our govt has a hand in a lot of so-called commercial enterprises (e.g GLC) and on top of it the level of official direct / indrect taxation.

While I do not have the benefits of working in Hong Kong, crude simple deduction will tell you that Hong Kong has to pay a much higher commercial private costs than official governement taxation (either directly / indirectly) while in Singapore the proportion is skewed towards the latter.

What say you in your statement “It’s our very own fellow citizens who needs to reflect as well.”. I believe that a lot of good decent Singaporeans know how to reflect and know where to deflect our unhappiness when necessary.

Let’s face it. The poor folks must learn how to face it and take it in stride. Learn to see things in [government's] perspective. Do not believe in the blame game. It’s not the government’s fault.

Hi Kin Lian,

Just wondering: Do you think that an independent workers’ union would make any difference in terms of helping the low income up their wages?

Hi Andrew,

Are u suggesting something like what the airline pilots have as comparison? If it drags MM into the meetings, I would say that it would make a difference.

Observer on June 25th, 2008 11.22 am

“The higher the wage, the higher the operational cost and so on. It is a vicious cycle.”

The poor need to have low pay to stay competitive.
The rich (especially our fat cats) need to have high pay in order to stay talented & to contribute.

No prize for being able to spot the dichotomy.

Just like how the Govt will ask how much is an adequate payout for something like the CPF Life payout,

the question will eventually come down to what exactly is an adequate wage.

I am in favour of a minimum wage but the Govt will point to the workfare to highlight that a minimum wage is not necessary.

The Govt has already implemented workfare supplements which would provide top-ups for those with lower wages (below $1.5k pm) so I think the focus should be on whether such top-ups are sufficient or whether the criteria is too restrictive that people fall through the cracks.

I have 2 suggestions/concerns:

(i) That the Govt pay out an additional amount for older low wage workers with no dependents (they probably need more money).
(ii) how long will the existing WIS scheme continue… it doesn’t help if it gets terminated after a few years….

IMO, the problem is not the influx of foreign workers. It’s the nature of job they are in. How many locals prefer to work as a construction worker or maid or for that matter as bus drivers (recently hearing about bus drivers taking wrong routes)?

Gov policy encourages the FDI and the companies need cheap labor for manufacturing industries, cheap knowledge workers. If not what is the USP of Singapore as a business destination?

For the people who commented that our country is getting crowded, what if we sent back all the maids, workers and immigrants back to their states? Yes it’ll reduce the population and we can have free MRT’s, Buses and walkways. but wait can we guarantee MRT will run the same no of services, they will go and reduce the number to be profitable

Also, I think job-seekers (those unemployed) should be educated to take into account Workfare payments when considering wages. Although wages may be lower than expected, workfare supplements may make such jobs more worthwhile.

Perhaps the Government/WDA should also hold seminars for the unemployed on workfare so that they have a better idea….

Mun Kit,

Ya, maybe something like the pilots union. Thing is, this so-called tri-partite relationship between the unions, govt and employers are viewed with suspicions. I mean, I don’t see NTUC doing much except to keep repeating skills-upgrade. If we’re expected to work till 82, or as Lim Boon Heng once said, we shouldn’t even think about retirement, how the hell do you expect our elderly to keep upgrading their skills?

Even someone with resources such as MM Lee has said so often that he himself cannot do day to day job anymore and that he is more of a ‘data bank’. If he can’t do it – with all his resources – why do they expect the ordinary people to be able to?

Kin Lian,

I love this statement you made in the article:

The worker should not be expected to work for 12 hours a day, and still not earn enough for the family.

I think this is the gist of it. Why is it that with S’pore being the most competitive economy in the world, with best business practices, highest savings rate and so on, why is it that there are people who still struggle?

I am not talking of people who may be lazybums, but people who put in 12, 15 hours, even do two jobs! Why are they still not able to live a decent life void of worries?

Perhaps what needs to be seriously considered is minimum wage.

The govt has put scorn on this but really, if we do not even give S’poreans the dignity of a minimum wage, the problem will never go away. But at least with a minimum wage, the basic level of decent living can be had by all.

Observer says,

I have a question for you. Is Singapore classified as a free economy state?

Here is my answer. Singapore is a free economy, like America.

Why does America have a minimum wage? The Americans are compassionate people. They know that the low wage workers have weak bargaining power, and can be exploited by employers. Their politicians decide that a minimum wage policy is necessary to ensure that these workers get an adequate wage to have a decent standard of living.

The Americans are proud of their country. I hope that Singaporeans, at all levels, can also be proud of our country.

I met a traiinng counsultant. He worked with Government organisations.

He told me that the Tovernment employees at the lower levels are disengaged. They are not interested in their work. They are forced to meet higher KPIs (key performance indicators) but are not recognised or rewarded for their effort. Their seniors take the credit.

This disengaged attitude is the reason for the lapses seen in the Mas Selamat case, and other high profile incidents. If people are proud of their work, they will be more diligent.

He is quite worred about this unhealthy trend. I hope that the actual situation is much better than he had described to me.

Observer said that Hong Kong does not have a minimum wage, so Singapore should continue our policy of “no minimum wage” to remain competitive.

I recall that Hong Kong provide some unemployment benefits, but I am technically wrong. It is not called unemployment benefit, but by another name – social security assistance. And it is quite adequate.

There is no need for someone in Hong Kong to accept a job with long hours and inadequate wage, as they can get a reasonable amount of social security assurance.

Here are some details taken from a paper posted in the Internet. The paper was written in the year 2000. I hope that the facts are still valid today. Perhaps Observer, who lives in Hong Kong for nine years, can help to verify the latest facts.

————————————————————————————–

1. Hong Kong does not have an unemployment insurance system or an
unemployment assistance system. The reason why the Administration does
not support the establishment of an unemployment assistance system is that in
its opinion, what the unemployed need is a job rather than a cash hand-out.
Even if the unemployed cannot find a job for some time, they may still resort to
Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) for relieving the financial
hardship brought about by unemployment.

2. The types of assistance offered under the CSSA Scheme include standard rates, supplements and special grants. An unemployed person may receive an
assistance comprising standard rates and special grants. The maximum and
minimum monthly standard rates payable are $1,965 and $1,290 respectively.
Special grants include payments to cover rent, water charges, school fees, child
care centre fees and burial expenses. The total amount of payment under these
two items is estimated to be about $2,520. If the unemployed person is a
member of a four-member CSSA household, it is estimated that his family can
receive a monthly payment of $9,450. This figure is equivalent to 55.6% of
the median monthly domestic household income and is slightly lower than the
average monthly expenditure of non-CSSA households in the lowest 25%
expenditure group.

3. To qualify for assistance, an unemployed person must have been a Hong Kong resident for at least one year, have resided in Hong Kong for at least 44 weeks, have passed the means test and have been actively seeking employment. Under normal circumstance, the Administration will complete the verification and authorization procedures within four weeks and CSSA payments will be given out within two working days. For urgent cases where there is a genuine need while authorization procedures are still underway, the Administration may provide cash assistance on the same day when the application is received.

4. The entitlement to CSSA is not subject to any time limit. Recipients may
continue to make applications if their financial difficulties persist.

5. In addition to providing a safety net through the CSSA Scheme for persons who
are financially vulnerable due to unemployment, the Administration has
launched the Support for Self-reliance Scheme since 1 June 1999 to assist
unemployed CSSA recipients to regain employment.

6. Through 52 training bodies, the Employees Retraining Board (ERB) provides
retraining and employment services to the unemployed. Unemployed persons
can enrol in full-time retraining courses provided by ERB. All full-time
courses are free of charge. Retrainees attending full-time courses with
duration above one week can receive a retraining allowance amounting to a
maximum of $4,000 per month.

Hi Kin Lian

Singapore has unemployment assistance called work support…

http://www.mcys.gov.sg/web/serv_E_WS.html

Its not normally advertised for reasons one can guess…

For those who are long-term unemployed due to disability, old age etc, then the PA scheme applies.

http://www.mcys.gov.sg/web/serv_E_PA.html

I like to think we Singaporeans do have a heart and its not a total “no safety net” policy as some people like to create the impression…. The issue of low payouts under the PA scheme has been highlighted several times though…. The rates under the PA is abysmal…

Best Regards

Kin Lian,

You were a public servant in a prominent position and your profile is featured in your ex-company and in TOC. You have done good deeds during your tenure and you are not foreign to posters here. Don’t worry a bit, I am not your enemy out to get you. neither am I a PAP supporter or Opposition supporter as I had candidly pen my comments in other article. If you need more, does “Rxx Daring” strike a core with you? So we are not that far apart in terms of age. Let’s not go down to that route. I also do not mind telling you that I had the privilege to work and live in the US for over 5 years and spent a couple of years working and living in Thailand as well. Used to travel extensively in the Greater China, Europe and Asia region due to my job nature as a Business Consultant.

I am no politician. Just an ordinary Joe. I do not support welfare state even at my senile age where I stand to benefit most as I find it is subject to abuse and even will sprout more social problems in the long run. Its effect is already widely known and surfacing in Hong Kong. Who’s paying all this? The Tax Payer. And to HongKong good, you are mistaken, you pay higher income tax and higher corporate tax in HK. Basically, I am trying to be a realist and pragmatic about situational issues. My comments are just looking it from my perspective and based on what I had experience elsewhere. You can disagree or agree. It is perfectly alright. That is what I hope most our Government someday will finally release its grip on. Allowing us Singaporean to freely agree and disagree and respect each others view without the fine prints.

Yes, the lower-income earners needed help, no doubt about it and there are better ways other than handouts. Honestly, I need help too if factor in my entire household income. I even have problem securing my retirement but hey, I just have to face it and work it out. For one good reason, shake off that stigma of being labeled living in a nanny state. Isn’t what most Singaporeans wanted and yearning to have all this while? This is way before even internet and TOC existed.

But is setting minimum wage really effective in Singapore? I rather the government channel its energy to combat and contain the inflation and provide better affordable public transportation and housing which are the very basic necessities. Provide more affordable avenues for people to upgrade their skill-sets.

You need to look at the competitive landscape around you. Can Singapore afford to be selective? What really is sustaining Singapore economy? It is not just crude simple deduction as what HongKong good deduced it to be. We are not Hong Kong where there is a Greater China to back them up when really needed. Even with that, Hong Kong is facing stiff competition up north for a big slice of the pie. If it wasn’t China’s generosity, Hong Kong would never have recovered from the SARs period and they knew it well. That is why the debate yielded no results on minimum wage setting in Hong Kong. Not even a law to stipulate an employee cannot work more than a certain hours.

This is one comment that my foreign friends particularly those in US and HK always tease Singaporeans. “You people are living in a nanny state. I don’t think majority of you can survive when you leave your cocoon”. How bad does that hurt? A great deal might I say albeit I knew they do not consider me a Singaporean.

We can unleash our suppressed anger in all sorts of direction and demand change. Yet, just take a look at all the articles and comments posted. Majority of them will fall back to wanting the government to regulate this, control that. Come on.

My personal yard stick test to gauge the maturity state of people in common. Call it arrogant but you can’t deny the fact. Just take the Human Rights issues that were so hotly debated. So any sane mind would expect a bit of a sharing within and outside of this blog and certainly will expect a bigger turn out of votes in the poll on the importance of Human Rights, courtesy of TOC. Right? No? The end result of the poll was a pittance 163 total votes. How pathetic can that be? How on earth are we going to make a point when there is no sense of unity? Real reflective of common Singaporean mindset? Sad is the word.

I am by no means a critique nor do I hope to create any influence of anything. But I can honestly say that I tend to look at things in an impartial manner as this is required in my professional trade. Yes, it is cruelty to see the ugly side of the issues, but it is real. It is a reality that you can’t run away from. So, we just have to face it on our own. That is why I admire Hong Kong people in general. They are fighters. We can be better.

Hi Lim

I hope that our workfare income supplement and public assistance scheme can be improved to match the level in Hong Kong and that they are made easier for the recipients to understand how to qualify for the assistance.

I find that many of our help schemes are so complicated that it needs a highly paid specialist to explain how to claim a small sum of money.

reflectionist on June 25th, 2008 2.21 pm

Who are you trying to kid boy (or girl).

Who is complaining about traditional sources of foreign workers (construction workers & maids). They have been here all along.

The economic structure has changed – manufacturing firms are slowly relocating. Plus our building industry has matured also (whyelse the so called Integrated Resorts). Please do not tell me that it was in the pipeline long before that.

Imagine the numbers of workers that are left around floating when the above happened plus the influx of other groups of FWs, not those real FTs who are here to create actual incremental jobs for everyone including our own Singaporeans.

On the one hand, you want cheap labour for FDI. On the other hand, people need to pay high minimum basic personal costs / expenses (e.g high rental, food prices, transportation cost, utilities, want people to give birth and the inherent cost of bringing up a kid, tuition that cannot be done without for those slow learners to bridge our so called teach-less-learn-more concept, and whatever rubbish) in order to survive.

While our fat cats know how to design a “perfect” system to take care of themselves, they will explain nicely to us on how much we must be independent and not hold this clutch mentality – so that they can enjoy their juicy fruits without any disturbance.

I don’t think Singaporeans are choosy. In fact, in our own country doing the same job as the foreigners nevertheless we still deserve higher wages simply because we’re Singaporeans. Govt represent Singaporeans, do they?

Kin Lian,

I agree that some schemes may be too complicated and I noted you said before in a public forum (although the exact wordings may differ) that if one intends to help, then one shouldn’t set pre-conditions.

I think to be fair, social security assistance schemes in many countries aren’t that easy to navigate either. Even HK can be cited as an example…

http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/housing/socialservices/index.htm

HK’s numbers should also be cited with care since the exchange rate is HK$5 : S$1. Their numbers look big but when considering cost of living vs SG, I’m not so sure they’re giving as much as we think they are.

Workfare at least is an automated system (for those with CPF contributions) so issues about claims isn’t as much of a problem.

Best Regards

As I know, Hong Kong has min. wage for some sectors.
I first learn it from my Filipino maid, I verify it from internet,
and find she is right:
According to this official website, maid min. wage is HK$3480,
(about S$680)
http://www.asiawell.com.hk/employer/asiawell_faq.htm

I do not know much about Hong Kong, as I have only been
there a few days as a tourist.

But I think Hong Kong is not a perfect role model for Singapore
to follow, bear in mind Hong Kong is not a fully democractic
society. Among the 60 MPs, only 24 are elected, 36 are appointed
by the Beijing, most of these are very rich businessmen,
that’s why Hong Kong has so many pro-business policies.

Brian, you are right. HK has a minimum wage for foreign domestic workers (and no one else). They have been trying to extend this to the rest of the workers for many many years and it has not happened yet.

Ironically, the min wage for maids has actually been gradually cut since a few years back and maids have been protesting in HK over this. At one time, Philippines even threatened to pull out its maids from HK due to this issue.

Interestingly, rather than a minimum wage, HK is now looking at implementing a workfare system instead (singapore style).

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/programguide/stories/200806/s2273232.htm

@Brian,

You are right. It does not applies to Hong Kong people. Maids are FT. They are nicer to their maids here. The maid get a day off each week its a mandate. You are right again on pro-business policies. High value property is one of their key strategy. You should go further and look at their public housing policies.

Kin Lian is right too on Social Security handouts (some HK1.74K per person something around there, lost count already). But its a pittance amount and it has been abused (not by real locals but immigrants from China). It goes by head-count. Get it? They also have senior citizens aiding package (now fighting to get it up to HK3K a month each). Their Public Primary to Secondary schools’ tuitions are completely free to Citizens. However, the textbook are not free (and that’s where publishing companies reap their profit from ~ one trick is make small amendments to newly approved published text book ). Oh, there are jobs that pay HK3K a month or less. Hourly pay working in McD, Supermarkets goes as low as HK17 an hour and you have to compete for that too. Your avg breakfast in HK is HK20. Your avg rent for a board room (worst kind) HK1.7~2.5K a month excluding utilities. Boardroom here means a single aprtment segmented into multiple compartments and rented out. Your avg working hours for a professional 10-12 hours daily and they do work on Saturdays (most locally own companies practice that) and Sundays for some. Some jobs avg work week is 80hours. I can go on and on.

“But I think Hong Kong is not a perfect role model for Singapore
to follow, bear in mind Hong Kong is not a fully democractic
society. Among the 60 MPs, only 24 are elected, 36 are appointed
by the Beijing, most of these are very rich businessmen,
that’s why Hong Kong has so many pro-business policies.”

But i think Hong Kong is democratic for the following things:

1) Popular pressure which finally pushed the inept former Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa out of office even though he was backed by Beijing.

2) Factual mistake on the Legislative Council make-up.The number being elected directly is 30, none is appointed by Beijing. The other 30 elected by interest groups in functional constituencies. Certainly don’t have things like GRCs.

3) Inept ministers are showed the door: Regina Ip. Yeoh Eng Kiong, Anthony Leung

4) Relatively free press which covered a wide enough range of different views on various issues.

5) Election of Anson Chan as Legco member, a renegade retired civil servant despite facing off pro-government Regina Ip. The seat contested was formerly held by the pro-Beijing Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong.

Read up more.

Observer,

There are many folks who aren’t that fortunate to get a decent education, enough to know that such a thing called TOC exist and there’s actually a Universal Declaration of Human Rights, whose main concerns are to get by everyday so as to see the next day.

Fair to say to them to ‘get real’?

Right. If you can’t make it in one job, take 2 jobs, if you can’t make it in 2, make it 3. Of course the kids are your responsibility, if anything happens you ought to know.

If there’s anything you are not happy with, of course there’s the public feedback forum.

Yes, I think it is a time for a reminder of article 23 of the UDHR…

(1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.

(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.

(3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.

(4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

@laserpoint,

Reading out of context, I cannot blame you for feeling that I am a cold blooded soulless uncompassionate person. It’s okay. However, I would like to insert here an extract of my posted comments way back in E-Jay’s article on Human Rights. Here it is.

“What is really needed to achieve the aforesaid as a good start (if I may suggest) is; within Singapore legal frame work (i.e. we do not want to be accused of inciting a revolt, we did it mainly for the goodness of Singapore as a whole) for the kind law-trained professionals volunteering to disseminate the massive amount of law jargons with its associated fine print into layman term to enable the online commoners (ordinary citizens who are not trained in law profession) to understand our basic rights and in turn we spread the words to those who are less privilege or those who do have no access to the internet or are less fluent with English language…etc. This arduous task has to at least reach 80% of the public.”

You think there are really public feedback forum? How does it work? Or is it working? Honestly, how often do we greed our fellow citizens, neighbors in the lift? Or how often you see people giving way to older people taking the sardine packed MRT? Certainly, I will be happy for those low-income earners if someone of weight can really see their problems and come to a resolution. Reality can be ugly.

If you have time, you too can read other comments I had posted in Kum Hong’s piece as well.

@laserpoint,

Oh one more point. I only have a useless college degree and this is way after I decided that I should help myself.

You want to know the real cause why low-income earners are the way they are now? Here’s my take on Singaporean Employer’s mindset. What do you first look at when you interview a person for a position? Or worse, what was written in that Job Ad? What was the interviewee attitude when interviewing low-income earner’s job? For god sake, they are people as well. Treat them with dignity.

Lower educated or uneducated does not necessary mean they cannot perform that job that requires a graduate degree. I have seen many of them during my working life in Singapore to attest that. Some graduates are no better than these labeled low-income earners people. How many employees are willing to take that risk to give them a chance to prove it? It is that crazy paper chase mentality that mold this kind of mindset that stiffle the possible hidden pontential of a person. It is this mindset that diminish and suppress the confidence and courage of the lower-income people who wanted to better themself. Are they given a real chance? What is the percentage of these group of people are met with genuine caring employees who are compassionate enough to give them this opportunity. I applaud the Singapore film “小孩不笨” for bringing this societal stigma to the big screen. Until this kind of mindset is no longer the social norm, they “low-income earners” will remain as is until they help themself out of this dump. They have dignity too. Give them a little respect that they can better themself by offering more avenue for them to upgrade or prove their skill and accord them with the right wages. This is what we should be championing to the employers.

I apologize for letting part of my EQ rule over my head. I said it as is as I am one of the bottom ladder people decades back.

HK has free public hospitals side by side with private hospitals.

Sorry typo error. Greed= Greet.

Gees the EQ is really getting me. I meant Interviewer’s attitude.

any job for me? i’m 49yrs. marriage with two kids. asking between 1200 to 1400..
prefer plenty of overtime……chinese,speak simple english ,mandrine and few dialect. with class 3/4 driving lic.

maybe because we have learn too much in school and we forgot to learn or no chance to learn at home.
Hence, we grew up to be (没有家教).
Else how would good men or women pay an 60yr old ah ma to wash toilet.

The Australian Government rendered all sorts of helps to their people and yet they don’t have the reputation as a nanny state. Their governments are genuine in helping their people and not tie these assistances to political supports. Any attempt to do so will be severly criticised and usually backfired. The political culture in Singapore sucks. The Singapore mass medias have been abused and failed to set the right tone and character for the whole society to follow. When ruler justified increasing GST as a means to help the poor, you know the value system of the society has turned topsy turvy. Where is the loyalty to each other let alone to the state? When the state count pennies with its’ citizens, you don’t expect the business to do any charity.

First is the mindset of employers
with cost of doing business being very high in Singapore
what will they do

1) Employ foreign talent – why cheaper than Singaporeans and they are willing to do the job cheaper than Singaporeans.
2) Abuse comes in – why would they hire older twirks when they can get a foreign turk who can work cheaper and faster
3) Here comes the cheaper foreigner who would replace the aunties and uncles
even in coffeshop – the china mei mei is fast outpacing the local girl beer promoter in looks and charm and costs
4) The building construction industry echos the same – my Master in Engrg friend
is being threaten that he be replace by China and Indian engineers his pay can engage 3 to 4 foreign engineers – Boss can’t wait to get rid of him
5) Who is encouraging all this – Our disengaged over paid ministers who do not know the grounds as their are aloof in their office with their overzealous ideas.
Who hiring the sixties and severties or eighties – the mcdonalds, toilet operators.
Is this the swiss standard of living that one politician once envisage – work till u drop dead.
6) Be realistic – the cracks are showing even in the public service
This is no complacent – would u work to yr dead bone for the same pay
The Mas Selamat Escape – save cost on the window grill
The Great Escape from the Subordinate Courts not once but TWICE
Complacency – or Overwork The grills and locsk were there
The Gurkas fight over pay – Pay too little or what not enough to feed their families because cost of living has drastically risen in Singapore – They were suppose to be a disciplined lot
THE GREAT PASSPORT BLUNDER – Read about the father who mistakenly went through the check in counter (1st Check) thru the departure terminal (2nd check) Immigration (3rd Check) and Boarding Gate (4rd Check)
What a Laugh
The imminent disaster is near when u have a lopside administration is believing
u have to pay too much to sustain good people – rots starts . U have a structure of the coconut tree where there are too much coconuts – nuts for the tree to hold
what happens the cracks and falls . Ngiam Tong Dow has forwarned in his speech – whose listening when aloofness and arrogance sets in.

Harry,

“Singapore political culture sucks!” You nailed the issue with such good diction. For it to take change, the mentality of the voting citizens indeed need overhaul. If those affluent and we the average better off citizens exercise a little more care and giving towards our less fortunate comrades, it is indeed some consolation. Treat them with dignity and due respect to boost their confidence. It is not necessary always in monetary terms. Likewise, a miracle is needed for the people at the top to really see the sufferings at eyeball level and proactively reach out to the needy. This is not forth coming anytime soon and the vicious cycle will simply rail its way. God only knows when we will see the light of the day. All we can do is just hope that somehow there are indeed Samaritan-like employers who are kind enough to offer their hand to save a few lucky ones and somehow turn this into an infectious virus. It is a sad picture played out in almost every capitalist state, more so in developed country. The gap between the rich and poor is ever widening. The poor unable to change its course because they are simply deprived of or are too weak to even engage in the battle in the name of profitability and progress.

Right on sue, the Straits Times seems to be laying the blame on Singaporeans – again. First, it was “Singaporeans are complacent about security”. Now, “Singaporeans are a negligent lot”.

To save you the trouble of going to the ST website, allow me to paste the article here:

Passport blunders leave S’poreans stranded

By Jessica Lim

SINGAPOREANS are a negligent lot when it comes to passports, travel agents told The Straits Times on Wednesday.

It is not common for travellers to make a mad dash to the airport with the wrong passport, some said, but added that,more often, they show up at the airport with expired passports or without the required visas.

Some forget their passports altogether.

Travel agencies contacted by The Straits Times say they make it a practice to call travellers before their flights with reminders to pack their passports and check that everything is in order.

Despite this, one in 10 will goof up every month.

At least one travel agency, Hong Thai Travel, has briefed its employees to be more vigilant about passports following an incident on Monday in which a 61-year-old retiree cleared all checks at Changi Airport’s Budget Terminal after having mistakenly taken his son’s passport.

He realised the error during his flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

Upon arrival and informing the Vietnamese authorities, he was immediately put on a return flight here.

Agents said passengers without travel papers in order inconvenience others. Some cause flight delays; a number miss their flights altogether.

I agree with some comments by Seeking Salvation. I had privilege of not working for 4 mths; no thanks to reorganisation and restructuring happening in most organisations. During this period, I (aged 49 and holding strings of credentials n extensive regional experiences) diligently sought assistance of headhunters and applied to all known advertisements. The conclusion obtained from the few interviews I attended was that quality of the interviewers in both private and public sector employers have to change their mindset!! Above all, they must value local talent with experiences, and be willing to pay adequately. They appear to have this suspicion that those earning more previously are unlikely to stay or do a good job with lower pay packet. Despite assurances that I do not need a higher pay with all large amt commitments already settled, no offers were received from those Singaporean interviewers. The few offers that came were from those foreigners who interviewed me and see the value and commitment I can give. Whose fault? The mindset of distrust in certain Singaporeans just need to change!!!!

On behaf of Kew Kah Fatt

Tuesday, 4 September 2007
Workfare
Singapore time 7.55 am 4th September 2007

My wife reported a monthly income of S$500 and got about S$563 for Workfare. Now she received a letter from CPF to top up her CPF fmedisave for WIS on her 6 months salary this year for government top up in medisave for her. Another top up will be next year for the balance 6 months in 2007 to be top up by government medisave later.

The 1st top up is about S$85 and the 2nd top up is about S$170. Total is S$255. After this her Workfare will be just S$308. Is this how PAP government helping the poor ?

Many poor work to supplement home income. How can you expect the poor to come up with cash to top up medisave after sometime when most poor people have used up the Workfare bonus to buy things. It will be much better that the next Workfare can be deducted for the medisave top. What is the point to give people cash and later want cash back from them ?

These government thinkers are real idiots !
Posted by Kew Kah Fatt at 07:55

All these little Token Acts from the government are mostly ‘half-cooked’ or ‘undercooked’ (because it is for the records), and we can all expect more of such ‘half-baked’ initiatives and or ideas from them. Because in the first place, they are NOT WILLING to provide ANY help for the citizens who are in need, hence you will find a string attached to every cent given, which will eventually be ‘pulled’ back into their coffers.

The only solution I see so far, is in all future General Elections.
If we all play and do our parts, they can be voted out.
Change is never without pain, right now, we are not without pain either – it is a constant and growing pain with them in charge.
Lets remove our source of pain.

A few months ago, I saw a booklet showing the amounts of workfare grant payable to low income workers.

The table is quite complicated. It shows the different amounts of grants according to age, income level and category of worker (i.e. employee or self-employed).

Someone asked me why is the amount of grant higher in some categories, compared to other categories? In some cases, it is clear that the older or lower income people should get a higher grant, but in some other situations, the results seem to be perverse.

I could not explain the rationale. I asked this person not to try to ask “why”. Just accept the figures as they are presented in the table.

I try to locate this booklet on the internet, but failed to find it.

I recall that the amount of supplement is quite low, and is likely to be around $100 a month in most categories. I hope that the amounts can be improved to a more adequate level, and that the system is simpler to understand.

Well, Sir, Mr Tan Kin Lian,

All I can understand (and it is quite apparent), they are NOT whole heartedly willing to ‘help’ in any way financially. That’s why it all looked so perverse, as you have pointed out.

They are just doing it for the records, to show they are ‘helping’ – in an LPPL way.

Yup, I think it would be nice if workfare payouts were higher. But let’s look at the numbers. The current system costs ~$500m-$1b annually to implement. That’s equivalent to 0.5-1.5% GST which partly explains the 2% GST increase.

Are Singaporeans willing to bear another GST rate increase just to fund a higher workfare payout? I think most are not. Perhaps another funding source is needed.

@Observer

The point I’m raising is not why or what are the reasons for the low income earners or the families to be in the state that they are in, granted that employers mentality are important.

The issue I’m trying to make is are we all born equal in this state, or some more equal than others? The same reason why there is housing for everyone, why can’t it be extended to employment, likewise the reason for a minimum wage.

[...] Discourse – TOC: Give adequate wages to low income workers – Ian on the Red Dot: Huh? We Absolutely Should Not Cancel Our National Day Parade. – The Extra [...]

Some people say that if we pay higher wages, we will be uncompetitive internationally.

This argument may apply to some businesses. It does not apply to many other businesses, including the following:

> public services
> domestic oriented businesses

By giving higher wages to workers in these sectors, we give them a better standard of living. The customers may have to pay a higher cost for these services, but it is only fairer to these low income workers. We should not enjoy low cost at their expense.

I am not advocating the high cost that is prevalent in western socieities. We can pay a slightly higher cost than now (but not to the extent of the high cost countries), to give fairer treatment to workers at the lower skill levels.

Some people argued that these people should upgrade their skills to enjoy higher wages. We must not be distracted by these arguments. There are many jobs where the current skill level is adequate. There is nothing much to be added through higher skills. The need for “skill upgrading” should not be used as an excuse for continuing to depress the wages of our low income workers.

I look at the people collecting rubbish. They come from low income countries. Some people argued that Singaporeans will not take these jobs. I believe that if the pay is $2,000, there will be sufficient number of Singapoerans willing to take these jobs. However, if the pay is less than $1,000, many Singaporeans are likely to shun these jobs. It is a question of adequate pay.

I just took a $7 taxi for a short trip back to my home. I find this fare to be expensive. But I have to accept it as being the cost of taxis. I know that the taxi driver has to pay high rental for the taxi and for the petrol. He needs this level of fare to earn enough to pay his expenses and make $1,500 a month (working 12 hours a day).

@laserpoint

“are we all born equal in this state, or some more equal than others?”

Thanks for the reminder. In a nutshell, the answer is starring right at you in your question.

It is a fairytale made believe not only by this state that “we all born equal”. A phrase I have heard 50 years ago. We are all given the equal rights, equal access and so on. Really? Welcome to the real world.

A simple test to this in anything abstract say ‘happiness’: “What are your values say versus your closest kin?” Go further and ask the same question with your surrounding friends, colleagues and so on. You will probably end up with so many variations that at the end your very own values may be distorted.

Wishes and Reality does not always go hand in hand. In this state, your wishes are tightly held in the hands of people at the top who had either buried their conscience or are staunched believers in “Survival of the Fittest”. Circumstances driven? Environmental driven? Or is it just that animal instinct that we still carry in our genes? Cruelty? No, it is the natural selection process. But they may have forgotten or being ignorance, when they have stricken off all food sources, they will battle each other out and at the end, they all perish. Meanwhile, it is made believe that the source is endless, just like our planet earth resources, some still think it is so.

Nevertheless, it is laudable to at least HOPE and DREAM. Most dire strait situation clings on and may survive through purely from HOPE and DREAM. HOPE that someday, their situation will change. DREAM that tomorrow will be a brighter day. Yes, it is always good to continue to search for that illusive RAINBOW and hopefully we will find a pot of gold at the end of it. But where’s the end? It depends on the environment you are in.

All said, inside the heart of those low-income earners who are really trying, the personal battle will move on with or without change or help. They knew it too well that they are their only hope. Try talking to them when you get a chance to meet one.

Kid, if I may address you. You have good heart and conscience. Keep it up and go infect others. You have a nice day and remember to extend your greetings to your neighbors and the likes. A simple gesture sometimes will brighten a person’s day and it goes a long way.

Kin Lian,

No intent of insult just purely on differing views.

“Some people argued that these people should upgrade their skills to enjoy higher wages. We must not be distracted by these arguments. There are many jobs where the current skill level is adequate. There is nothing much to be added through higher skills”

I just want to extract this portion only for the sake of argument.

In its context, you have already made the notion that the skill upgrading must be relevant to what they are doing. This is exactly the mindset of the Top people (including some employers) as well. You would have already condemn that person and deprive him/her of a chance to do any other better paying job. Whoever says that the skill upgrading must be related to what they are doing now?

Example; I am a rubbish collector now that pays me a pittance S$500 or If I am a prison inmate (another topic that TOC can consider to spin off). Are there any avenues for me to up that scale? Yes, if I am willing to put up hours of hard work to upgrade to a skill set where it will pay me better or triple and so on. Because this is what the current environment is. A REALITY we are in.

Please, think out of the box. Are there such agencies around to council and help people – proactively. Please do not set criteria for enrollment. This is also an example the HK government has done for their low skill workers here. And you know what, it is free of charge. As for your salary scale analogy, does it really make economic sense? Please. It is exactly what the governing party will trounce and happy to make it a mockery if such are the suggestions.

My apology if my comments are blunt. But it is what the situation is in uniquely Singapore. Isn’t it? Please correct me if I am wrong. I stand corrected.

@Observer,

You have missed the Orwellian statement by a mile. What I meant was that shouldn’t there be some form of guarantee in the social contract that we all are signing, and that includes a right to a fair wage?

I like the way natural selection explains a lot of stuff, but I don’t see how if there can’t be a minimum wage to make at least a guarantee for exchanging my labour. I like the idea on how you are going to give me a reality check too, but I don’t see why the reality of the low income earners should be the reality that you are talking about. I don’t see too, when I am like them, that if there’s a possibili/ty of me earning 8/hr like in Michigan, that I as a citizen of the state should be subjected to market forces so that we can be competitive and progress as a nation.

There’s one thing called reality, and another thing called change.

And oh yes, I happened to converse with them often.

@laserpoint,

“What I meant was that shouldn’t there be some form of guarantee in the social contract that we all are signing, and that includes a right to a fair wage?”

Really? Is there one exist? In our constitution? If there is, there are also quite a few things guaranteed and in reality it seemed to have been twisted. Don’t you think so?

“I don’t see too, when I am like them, that if there’s a possibili/ty of me earning 8/hr like in Michigan, that I as a citizen of the state should be subjected to market forces so that we can be competitive and progress as a nation. ”

Welcome to the real world of “Free Economy”. Singapore definition?

Good to hear that you converse with these people often. Please continue to do so. So you pretty much have in idea of their thoughts in general. May be it will be good if you can unload some of that so that we can help to find a way out for them. A practical way that we can do without the bureaucrat.

Not too wild of an idea. If you really want to help the low-income earners, we do not have to wait for the government to interfere. Some one in the legal profession will have to check how to do it without infringing our tight rules and regulations.

Let’s put it in this way. I am sure if some Samaritan is kind enough to organize a citizen self help group. You can drum up better programs whether in cash handouts or otherwise to aide the less fortunate people with dignity (you know the Chinese saying, “死要面子”). Cultural thing?
In turn, we the better off citizen offer to donate a percentage of our pay to sustain and grow it in whatever possible manner within our country’s legal frame work. And during our off time and do something (anything) that will help generate more funds. Or share our skill set with these people and so on.

Feasible? Not feasible?
If feasible, question is how many of us will participate? How many will be willing to put time to search out the people needing help?

Or again, must it necessary be an intervention from our government to make it work. Knowingly this is not going to happen any time soon. Have you read what was commented just hot from the stove on Today online?

laserpointer on June 26th, 2008 3.03 pm

“I like the way natural selection explains a lot of stuff. but I don’t see how if there can’t be a minimum wage to make at least a guarantee for exchanging my labour.”

In short, you have to fight for yourself (protest, make noise and do whatever you can, human rights, etc) because other people (including the gahmen) will help themselves more than they will help you. All other explanation is a mere euphemistic approach to whitewash any responsibility.

Hi Observer (June 26th, 2008 1.04 pm)

We need rubbish collectors. We should not condemned this person to a low pay of $500 a month. The rubbish collectors should be paid a decent wage, maybe $1,500 a month. We should be prepared to pay more for our rubbish to be collected.

Maybe, if we have to pay more for these services, we will have less money to buy cars or buy expensive property or spend on extensive vacations.

In some countries, rubbish collectors and other manual workers earn more than office workers. If we pay adequately, more Singaporeans will be willing to do manual work.

Kin Lian,

No denial about it, we need garbage collector, we need public janitor, we need grass cutter to maintain that greenery look and so on. Just on public services. Lots more. And don’t forget about the ever important “maid” for some Singaporeans who refuses to initiate that one day off a week unless the gov mandates it, they are humans too. They should also work until they are dead and put it more hours than the low-income earners.

You have better knowledge of our think tank up there and you know this is not going to work. I will be more than happy for the garbage collector if ever you see the miser willing to foot that amount. Let’s not kid ourselves. You know they will have 101 excuses. One very good metaphor, if that is the wish of the majority citizens, so be it. let’s do it. And you know what, suddenly, your conservancy charges will rocket and unless our majority citizens are that receptive (which we know very well ~ right?). Then next, janitor, next grass-cutter related services and so on. Then we move to defense, recruits, private…etc, then we move on to all other government department…etc.

Now, at the end, citizens not working in the public sector suddenly will hear another bomb drop, propose GST to 10%, propose personal income tax bracket squeezed and tax percentage up. why? expenses went up, need to sustain a good show of GDP growth..and so on and so on but no tax increase on Corproate (you need to keep it competitive). Then we look at the private sectors (don’t forget the low-income people in this sector). When is the cycle going to end? As a matter of fact, this cycle is very vicious but it is inevitable, because you are living in a state with “Free Economy”. It is market driven. Therefore the market will set the trend. Demand and Surplus.

What can really be controlled by our government that they can make it less painful for all general public and perhaps an extra benefit for a low-income group to narrow the gap? That is where I think we all can agree to apart from the lower-income group own battle to move up the ladder. It is a cohesive effort. I think you, I and all of us here or out there are aware of this. Right? You see any change coming soon? May be you can call me naive. Out of touch because I have been away for so long. I don’t know. One thing I do know. It will take a real miracle to change what you are looking for. Old man already quick to reiterate his thoughts today.

I fully support higher wages for the workers rather than overpaying the managers and administrators who in order to ensure the substainability of their high wages, brings in low cost foreign workers to compete and suppress the wages we pay to the workers. Very few of the elite managers will stand up and put their money where their mouth is, that we are willing to pay more for services such as garbage disposal so that the workers can get more pay. On the other hand, for example we pay more for our taxi fare but my feeling is that the increase goes more towards supporting the high wage managers and the system instead of the guy actually driving the taxi getting more income. So, if we pay more for garbage collections, the manager in charge, the CEO, because they are the guy who make the decision,they will be getting a higher pay so that “you will get better service”. The poor garbage collector will not get much more out of the increase. This is how capitalism in Singapore works.

The issue is not the minimum wage thing, it is the government who partially condons this , closing an eye.
The cleaning services at our estates are managed by the town councils.
They give the job to the lowest bidder and this compounds the issue.
A cleaner at my place works during the day but in the evening changes her uniform and work across the shopping center, both as cleaner. Why? Her wage of $800 is not enough. Minimum wage could help the situation but that is one part of the solution. As long as the government is bend on driving Singapore a single means, that is economics the lower class will always be at the mercy of employers and government policies.We are first world salary but we will never be first world when it comes to looking after the less fortunately in our society.
Is it the job of the NGOs? Yes and it is also the social and political interest of the ruling government.
Can the town councils efford to tender for higher and thus less earning, sure they can, but do they want to, most probably not.
Here , it is a good opportunity to show the EQ side of the government and again, profits is all that matters. I think if they do more to help these Singaporean, I think less people will go to them for assistance. The scope for helping these people is really wide and it is really sad that at the end of the day we are really on our own. With inflation creeping how many more families will be sqeezed out of the supposed pie of the government. We are a first world country with a third world mindset as so often mentioned.

The gahmen wants the poor, lower middle class and middle class to rely on them. Yet they are not willing to leave them out of their trouble that quickly. Is like not letting you die instead surviving bit by bit day by day. This is a brilliant strategy. Only our unqiue self praise, self censored, self righteous and self rule gahmen can achieve. The “poor” are left wanting more.

FG

i agree with kin lian, that the lower income workers who are singaporeans shld be given higher salaries for the dirty job they are doing for us.

in switzerland, a garbage collector is paid highly for the job he is doing and he is very proud about it. whereas in singapore, a toilet cleaner, garbage collector etc … is paid sooooo low they even their moral, self-esteem is soooo low that effects their intellect capacity thinking that they cannot get a better job then this. if they are paid well, you will be surprised that even an educated person would take up jobs as cleaners.

just a comment for observer … how much do you have in your bank account that you can arrogantly not see the stars infront on your eyes !!!
when you dont have so many zeros in your bank account, you will be writting differently.

@looker,

You really want to know? Anyone of you here are better off than me. Does that satisfied you? And I mean what I say.

The minimium wage in Australia is about A$568 per week. Strict working hours of 9 to 5 without a minute more or less. Every year an independent commission will adjust the minimium wage. In the minning sector a train driver is paid about A$170,000. There are still short of train drivers. Singaporeans, what are you waiting for ?

@looker

You want to know more about me? Here it is.

I don’t drive, I do not own a home and I have 3 jobless mouths and an old age mom to feed on a struggling package. But guess what, thank god, I am not on any debt and am happy about my life as is now. As a matter of fact, any changes made for the good I will be benefiting from it. But I do not go cry baby and pretend that some crusader or white knight will come help you. Because I knew there are none in the Singapore context. I have gone through that period much more than you can imagine. Don’t be too fast to make your judgment and don’t kid yourself.

That’s the problem with many of the Singaporeans I knew and seen in all over the places. Professionals or non professionals. You view money and material as the most important aspect of your life that you are so engrossed with it that you see others with tainted glasses. Quick to judge to as a matter of fact. Few own a car for necessity purpose but more so to make them feel better seen in a society even risk ending up with debt but then complain about it. Of course the more affluent are much much more flashier. At odds though, the poorer people are much more genuine and some of course were discriminated even within their own community.

Ya, writing up an article to voice your concerns and rooting for support is good. At minimum the conscience is still there. Thanks to the internet. But after-all, the internet is still a virtual world. That does not necessary transform to real action with wannabe results. Why? let me help you with the answer. The general excuse will be because you are living in a suppressed and controlled environment. Really that suppress? Purely in the context of this article, you really do not need to wait for the government to do something if you are so genuinely concerned. Is it genuine or just for the sake of making a statement? So whatever written does not necessary meant there is any responsibility that comes with it let alone how genuine are your concerns is still a very big question mark.

Ya, First World Country and infrastructure no doubt but with a Third World mentality summarized my view for most.

Arrogant? Not quite reach that standard yet. Pragmatic and Realist is a better description of me. I am also a survivor.

Me dare not say any word before this because I have never work or reside in a foreign land, so, difficult for me to make comparisons.

But, maybe I can relate my past experience. I was born to a poor farming family and helped out in the farms(vegetable/pig/poultry) as young as six year old. Left school before Senior Cambridge Examination, worked as construction worker with mother after been resettled to Public Housing.

Working at constructions in the late sixties to the eighties meant tough, heavy menial works. Running the cement mixer itself is beyond the understanding of any young Singaporeans. Let me describe; two to three workers man the motor driven mixer, one control the mixer and the other two will have to pour troughs of sand and sometimes fine granite chips and cement(each pack 25 kilogram in weight) into the mixer at chest height. The trough of sand and granite weighed average no less than 40 kg, when there was no water hose for water, water would also had to be manually carried from source and poured into the mixer.

Each cycle of work usually took hours invariably under open sky and exposed us to the elements, the heat, rain and dust etc. As the lowest skilled, we got about $30 a day. Other duties included carrying building materials up and down from the buildings, roads, drains and other structures under constructions. When worksites are far, transport were USUALLY provided, I used bicycle to nearby sites.

Despite the hard works, my mother, me and others accepted our fates with little complaints, in fact we were quite happy working with each others. Cares, concerns and camaraderies were usual amongst workers those days. No CPF, Insurance, Medical Benefits and yet we were happy. My mother brought up five children, none with much education, the highest was me.

I served NS, got married and is presently an unemployed grandad and as poor as ever. Those earlier days, we were poorer but happier, now we are materially sufficient but I have no happy feelings. Politics, self centredness and boastfulness are everywhere, at the workplace, market, school and estate. Laws and Regulations of every imaginations cover every facets of livings, did someone accurately said we are birds kept in cages?

Leaders care for their remunerations, foreigners came in to take away our jobs and living space. Unskilled jobs almost all taken by foreign workers. Choice housings and locations are purchased by wealthy foreigners. So, where do we stand? Struggling and yet hardly can survive.

And all our leaders could tell us is for us to upgrade, upgrade! They are taking us, the Citizenry, as morons. They think we are blind to those professionals and managers getting displaced, replaced and retrenched, became jobless, went into taxi driving, security job that pay them peanuts. Why are these people suffering such fates? THE FAULTS LIE WITH NATIONAL POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN AND BEING DISHED ONTO US, SHOVED ONTO US!

DOES ANYONE WANTS TO UPGRADE TO WHERE THE SAID PROFESSIONALS AND MANAGERS WERE AND SUFFERS THEIR FATES, AFTER SPENDING MONEY AND TIME AND NEGLECTING ONES’ FAMILY IN THE PURSUIT OF UPGRADING?

AT THIS POINT, I WANT TO SAY TO THE LEADERSHIP; GO ON AND ENJOY YOUR POWER, WEALTH AND PERKS BUT JUST RETAIN A LITTLE CONSCIENCE FOR YOUR CITIZENS. IT IS NEVER TOO MUCH FOR US TO ASK FOR A LITTLE UNDERSTANDING FROM YOU.

YOU LEADERS ARE MATERIALISTIC, THAT DOES NOT MEAN WE THE CITIZENS ENVY YOU, MOST CITIZENS ARE SANE ENOUGH TO WANT A SPIRITUAL WELLBEING WHICH YOU MAY NOT FANCY.

patriot.

Patriot,

I have read most of your comments in TOC and I do have a lot of respect for you. Ironically, come voting time, we are quite clear where the pendulum is going to swing towards. However, I don’t think we will see much change anytime soon.

You cannot turn the clock back. Time wait for no one. That is a reality. All that we can asked for employers and fellow citizens to treat them with kindness and respect. Give them a chance to prove themselves when they still can. Thank you if you are willing to offer real help. It’s alright even if you don’t. Just give them the space and opportunity. It is not just Singapore citizens, those who are on work permit as well as they too are human beings. Wealth is not necessary measured in monetary terms.

Btw, for years, some Singaporeans have been calling the Regime as the Nanny of Singaporeans. It must be the greatest inapt description, if the Leadership has been nanny, then it is akin to the Stepmother of Cinderella(and the seven dwarfs) and we, the Cinderellas who made to toil endlessly for the Stepmother to enjoy herself at the mirror.

The Regime has been insensitive to the plights of the people and ignored for too long the contributions of active citizens. Even foreign workers such as the Gurkhas are frustrated.

patriot.

Dear Observer;
me too regrets that U-turn is impossible for us, the irrepairable damages are already done in the last two decades or so.

The miniscule land resources have almost been developed to depletion and now the only remaining resource of citizenry are near completely exploited. I depend on no one for survival nor owe anyone a living and my conscience tells me that I simply cannot live to see how my fellow countrymen have to face challenges brought about because of our Independence(State).

Frankly, those days when I stayed in the village, my family gave shelter and food to anyone who needed them. Today, I cannot nor will others do, Singaporeans are regulated and inculcated to being a caged bird which cannot even take care of itself. Citizens have lost much of their freedoms and more frighteningly, their human senses and characters. This state of affairs is brought about by a materialistic and pragmatic culture initiated by LOCAL LEADERSHIP. I cannot say that it is a crime but a sin it certainly is and SINCITY is what some Australians who had been to Singapore call our city state. The Australian Tourists were prescient, but Singaporeans themselves are not.

For the last two years or so, through the local political blogs, one aspect strikes me hard. Almost all the Intellectuals doing socio-political blogs were and are consistently critical of the LOCAL REGIME. Are these bloggers nuts? Certainly not, most if not all are good enough to pack and go anytime. They did not and blogged about their feelings for the Country, yet our leaders treat them as invisible and instead implemented more measures against the wishes expressed by the Bloggers. This is blatant disregards for active citizens, a lack of respect and decency for ones’ subjects, tantamount to ill treatments of citizens.

All of us here are not politicians, we are not even affiliated to any, why are the Leadership treating active citizens like oppositions? Don’t they have a sense of proportion? Are they numb to plights of struggling citizens? Why is the country going into vice industry? Corruption of the minds of the citizens is far more evil than the corruptions of money and power, our leaders do not understand? then what leaders are they?

Let Singaporeans be the judges themselves.

patriot.

I agree with the views expressed by Monsoon (June 26th, 2008 5.52 pm)

….. rather than overpaying the managers and administrators who in order to ensure the substainability of their high wages, brings in low cost foreign workers to compete and suppress the wages we pay to the workers. …. for example we pay more for our taxi fare but my feeling is that the increase goes more towards supporting the high wage managers and the system instead of the guy actually driving the taxi getting more income. …… if we pay more for garbage collections, the manager in charge, the CEO, because they are the guy who make the decision,they will be getting a higher pay so that “you will get better service”. The poor garbage collector will not get much more out of the increase. This is how capitalism in Singapore works.

The top managers and shareholders can take a larger share of the pie because:

1. wages are depressed

2. there is inadequate control over the pricing of services paid by consumers, especially from businesses operating as near monopolies

If we have higher wages and a stronger voice looking after the interest of consumers, we will have a fairer distribution of income and a better standard of living for consumers. We need more people to express a stronger voice to change our current capitalist system.

Even in America, we have politicians who speak for the ordinary people. They appears regularly in television interviews.

In many countries, the workers in the lowest segment are given adequate wages through the efforts of:

1. The trade unions (e.g. Europe)
2. The political leaders (e.g. America, Australia)

More adequate wages does not mean that the business will be uncompetitive. The businesses can adust by:

a. Paying less to top managers (but still quite handsome salaries)
b. Paying less for rental of premises
c. Paying less to shareholders (but still give an attractive return).

It is a matter of being fairer in the distribution of the economic results. Paying higher wages to workers will lead to a fairer and more sustainable society.

Part of the problem that empirical studies based on actual pay patterns have shown is that an increase of wages often lead to further unemployment.

Businesses having to pay more for an individual expects that individual to do far more. So instead of 3 low-wage workers, businesses often choose to hire 2 if the cost goes up and expect the 2 to do the previous work of 3.

This is a phenomena that occurs even in Singapore. An example are when fewer workers hired to clear tables at Kopitiams have increasingly had to cover more and more tables.

I’d like to see higher wages for low-wage workers and even a minimum wage. But I do recognise that the answers aren’t that simple.

lim on June 27th, 2008 10.01 am

“Part of the problem that empirical studies based on actual pay patterns have shown is that an increase of wages often lead to further unemployment.”

It very much depends on the economic stage that we you are in and also the nature of other production / service factor mix at that very stage concerned. If you start from a low base like India & China, well wages are going up and up and away – plenty of margin to play around and value addition work. Likelihood that FDI will flow in to capitalize on their resources. Of course, this is only possible with favourable policies and right existing production / service factor mix for FDI to be attractive.

In any mature economy like Singapore with no resources, the juggling is more delicate & finely sensitive as a lot of factor variables are already worked till its “optimum level”. One wrong move will sometimes serious unintended effect on other variables – one of which is labour (people with real flesh and blood and who need basic minimum for survival).

@Tan Kin Lian

The booklet for the WIS can be found here:
http://www.wis.sg

lim

>>Part of the problem that empirical studies based on actual pay patterns have shown is that an increase of wages often lead to further unemployment.
>>

Not necessary. Have you ever heard of the term “productivity”?

>>
This is a phenomena that occurs even in Singapore. An example are when fewer workers hired to clear tables at Kopitiams have increasingly had to cover more and more tables.
>>

The phenomenon i see more is a foreign worker willing to work at around 400 per month clearing tables which no decent Singaporean worker can compete. Heard of the global phenomenon of “race to the bottom”?

“But I do recognise that the answers aren’t that simple.”

The answer is simple: Just don’t add on the burden of ordinary Singaporeans with regressive taxes like GST.

I also agree that the wage should be higher for the so called “low skill” jobs that are absolutely necessary – e.g. rubbish collector. In fact, there could even be a relevant “skill upgrade” for this field. If Singapore ever decide to adopt a system similar to Tokyo’s rubbish recycling/separation system, some can be in charge of making sure that the recyclables are handled properly.

Just would like to make a point about “conservancy fee” though. I think the present Town Councils can easily cope with some increase in their operating cost. After all, they have collected over 1 billion dollars in excess fee…

I congratulate Tan Kim Lian for daring to bring this up. Kim Lian is a brilliant and good man. He may not know me but I know him since Griffiths Primary School days and his family aquarium business along Thomson Rd.

The case for minimium wage for Singapore is a compelling one.

1. To leave the weakest in our society to the merciless blast of the free market is inhuman. Some might even consider it to be cruel. These are people who are least able to fend for themselves. How can we as fellow human beings, fellow citizens and those as leaders have the consciences to enjoy our good life while allowing our weakests to be exploited under the disguise of economic growth and competitiveness ? How dare we place the full burden of economic growth and competitiveness on the shoulder of our weakests ? Where are the creativity and capacity of our brightest and most capable as leaders to move Singapore forward without sacrificing or weakests ? It is not that Singapore cannot afford it. Singapore is now a wealthy city state with over US$500 billions invested all over the world. Is there a need to rely on cheap labour to move us forward ?

If the PAP government claimed to be one of the world best, then they should stopped the exploitation of our weakests to sustain our competitivenss and use their brains and ingenuities to bring more prosperity to Singapore. All the first world countries have minimium wages. I was told that even Communist China has one.

2. Minimium wage for Singapore will have potential economic side benefits. More wages for our poorest will lead to more consumptions which will benefit the small traders in the heartlands. More wages for the poorest will lead to less of them having to resort to financial assistances for the government and others. We may even end up with less suicides, divorces, higher birth rates and other social ills prevailing in Singapore.

3. Minimium wage also has the potential to solve some of the cronic structural unemployment amongst the old. The higher wages may induce some of those who are not prepared to work to come forward to join the workforce. Thus Singaporeans will work longer to support themselves. Higher wages for the low income will motivate them. They will be happier and more eager to work leading to better quality of work and higher productivity. In the long run such manual jobs may even lose their social stigma as we see in all the first world countries. Any job contributes to the economy.

I urge the Singapore government to stop the expliotations of our weakests by introducing minimium wage as soon as possible. Why they failed to see such a compelling case is a mystery to me.

One bigshot MP demonstrated his driving thru the CBD to show how smooth the traffic runs. Just to bring in the point that Spore government is not earning more money for implementing more ERP gantries.
But then, he forget to remember that they are paid like the busted Investment bankers or business to run Spore, so what is the cost of ERP fares to him?
To ramp his points thru and stop public from making noises, he is a free video film.

When a child grows up in a strict and ‘nanny’ environment, do you expect them to grow up to be – be a more responsive person? The main task for a child to stop the ‘abusive and hashness’ guidiance or training, is to play ‘die’ or ’stupid’ so that the hot spot is shfted from the child and his/her life will be more peaceful and smooth. Whatever, the parent get more angry or agigated when the child fails to grow normally but makes more of the same mistakes. So the parent starts to blame the child just like the Spore leader starts to blame its citizens for being slow, stupid and not creative. Then the rest of pack (business leaders, the Straits Times reporters and even the agents starts to blame the ‘S citizens’.

The ‘S citizens’ takes its cues by blaming the S leaders. Hear what the taxi drivers mentions to the visitors and foreigners. So much revengeful, pented up frustrations, small heartness and un happiness in Spore.
Hi S Leader stops looking for ways to be more creative than Hong Kong. The 1st batch of local business leaders trusted you and submit their ideas and plans to you. What happen? The project not approved or delayed but their ideas and plans were taken away and implemented by the Singapore Inc companies. Thank you for Singapore promises and lessons learned as we know how the game is being played.

I pity the poor souls of Singaporeans for being bornt here. History has shown that no matter how strict and controllable a leader is, the future will lead its effects … and the ambitious leader will be disappointed before he dies.

Observer, pls ask those Hong Kong who had stayed in Singapore and what they have to say and why they decide to give up Singapore and return to HK or move on another place. It is not a healthy place to stay longer … S leader is always right with a big stick on their hand … Pls do not believe what the official figures – the true is bad and worse.

@Downtoearth,

“Pls do not believe what the official figures – the true is bad and worse.”

Just to clarify with you, in which of my comment did I use or say I believe the official figures?

I have no problem you making a point but if you are directing at me, please get the facts right.

If you are a Singaporean of voting age, more so, do your duty come 2011.

Sorry, I have no known HK friends who are working in Singapore, so I would not have known what they think. But I must say my HK friends (you can classify them poor working class – HK standard) who visited Singapore for holidays, none complain except it is hot. They like the clean air, space and the variety of food. As a matter of fact, they are happy to return to Singapore for holidays. For argument sake. Really! Singapore is not a healthy place to stay longer? Why are there so many skilled and unskilled FTs, I wonder. what was the last count again? Likewise, FT come and go from HK as well as other places. So HK sucks in your deduction?

Harry,

Bravo! Well said. So we expect to see all citizens will suddenly come to their conscience and join the band wagon? I doubted it.

I am just curious, how were the NTUC low-income earners paid without haveing to work overtime till they drop. I hope they earn a decent living wage so we have one less lot to worry for. And for those who are owners of business blogging here, you don’t have to wait for government to act to treat your low-income earners with the right living wage. Right? Oh, those with maids. Please, give a raise to your maid or at least give them a day off each week. They too needed your help.

Observer, to me the top must set the lead in the right direction. For the past 49 especially the last 20 years the top has been setting some of the lead in the wrong direction. Singapore may now be a modern metropolis but it is one without a soul. It is one where citizens are behaving like strangers to each other. Singaporeans are overly materialistic and judge everything on the monetary value place on it. People are judged by the cars they drive, what they wear rather than on their characters and feelings. We have become less human and more like robot.

Hi Harry,

Remember Dr. Syed Alwi’s commented about Singaporeans mindset in UDHR week? I was trying to make my point to him that young Singaporeans needed time to change. I was kidding myself. A reality check confirmed my thoughts. Don’t worry a bit, it is not just Singaporean that is happening, over here in HK and China, there are no short of such young people but they will learn. Sad isn’t it?

But one consolation recently, the behavior of the Chinese people who reacted to the Sichuan earthquake is an eye opener. You would never have thought how come these young people can behave so maturely after experiencing such a disaster. Likewise those who volunteered to help. We are talking about kids here below 18. Amazing.

May be it takes a disaster to wake people’s consicence that there is life after money and material.

A long time ago with the regionalisation thrust of Singapore in the 90s, there was discussion that born-bred true blue Singaporeans will be disenfranchised, and will be stripped of their birthright. The concept of citizenship will change. Only the top 20% will make it. The rest will have to figure it out. The bottom 20% might ship themselves out to be workers in foreign lands.
We have always had great policies and education processes. But by the time, the cohort is educated however, they are out of jobs as the jobs were given to foreigners when we lacked the skills at the start of the new industry curve. There will always be a running gap when the country leapfrogs ahead of the people’s change/adaptability rate.
So we create great jobs, hand them to foreigners, train the locals, when the locals graduate, they are out of jobs.
Meanwhile when we transform industries rapidly, we create job displacement of the new unskilled. Yes, ‘unskilled’ is now the IT professional. Yes, taxi driving is now the way for used IT people.
Many mid level over qualified people scratching their heads what to do with life.
Entrepreneurship is out as start-up price is high. Office rental at $17 psf in Shenton Way. 1000sq feet is $17,000. But cheap to the world. Cheap to the people coming away from London. From Monte Carlo.
Then if the business is really worth doing, the GLCs, now called TLCs, are there. So let me see, what can we do in a tiny home market squeezed out by BIG players with deep pockets and long time horizons.
We progress.
And hold on, take heart. Property price increased and masses became rich overnight. Foreigners buy and rent property. There is always the enbloc potential. End game – some people get richer. Some get poorer. It’s everyperson for themselves. You got enbloc or not, uncle?
Is there a choice? We never dare take the choice. The choice of no longer being No 1? The choice of being second to our neighbours? The choice of having a smaller GNP per capita? What, you mad? You unpatriotic?
Let’s keep going. We must be number 1. If you have money, buy property. We are so small an island. And if the government somehow manages the bottom 20%, the top 20% should comprise the economy. Like California being the 7th largest economy in the world and the largest in the US. 80:20 rule. The 20 rule.
End conclusion – be the 20%, somehow be in property, or get ready to build a sampan to ship yourself away. Question: Are you the top 20%? Or the bottom?

our forefathers were foreigners to singapore. nothing will change, our opinions are an outlet that will not see any light at the end of the tunnel. best thing to do … if not happy … work hard like 12 – 14hours a day … save money … and ship somewhere BUT all ’somewhere’ have some type of issues or another.
so what to do ? make do for the meantime until the bubble burst … pay high rent to the greedy landlord and pay the high electrical bills and pay for the high price of rice. what goes around will come around !
ooh .. i forget we might just drop dead working so hard to save a few cents before any light comes through to be the 78000 millionaire in singapore.

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I want to ask that if the low salary workers continue with low pay and the inflation rising, how are low paid SINGAPORE CITIZEN in future going to buy house to stay. In a bad word to say, chase them away to live elsewhere and perhaps come here to work as foreign worker?

leon on June 28th, 2008 11.25 am

Just hope and pray that they can cope with what little they have and at the same time stay sane and not resort to unhealthy actions which become a social problem.

Well, if the government cannot solve it. Do not worry, the effect will always come go back to them somehow or rather. Singaporeans are very prone (automatic reflex) to point the finger (blame) at them – the unfortunate result of their policies which have a generally overall ‘nanny’ effect..

Won’t it be good to give Singapore people some incentives and train them to upgrade skills? Then won’t it be good that the cost for inflation be lowered, the housing (flats) and the foods cheaper. Everyone particularly SINGAPOREAN live happier without grumbling.

leon on June 28th, 2008 12.06 pm

It is not only about the quality & skillset of labour. We already have a lot of educated people. For people in the lower education scale, no matter how you upgrade you are at best on par with people of tertiary education (poly, degree, master, Phd) and how far you can upgrade academically. In terms of skillset (cheap and good), well there is already an official floodgate open for foreign workers to come in.

Good luck to you if you are in the lower category of the employment scale because even a blind one can feel that he is being wacked from both sides (in terms of education and in being both cheap, cheaper, cheapest and good).

“Then won’t it be good that the cost for inflation be lowered, the housing (flats) and the foods cheaper.”

This question about inflation, you need to ask our governement in areas like GST and pricing of flats (e.g HDB) which are within their control. They seem to be quite deaf to certain suggestions already been made in these areas. Maybe you can convince them better.

Anything which Singapore does not have and needs to be imported like food, oil, vegetables cannot be helped as it is subject to mercy of international trade. Welcome of being born in Singapore where we do not have any natural resources and yet have the most talented & highest paid gahmen in the world.

Dear forummers,

Let me ask you people one question :

How do you justify losing billions to bad investments but simultaneously – absolutely refuse to spend on SOME subsidies ? On what moral ground ?

To me if you are prepared to lose billions in bad investments – then you should also be prepared to spend a few on SOME subsidies !

The pap government have lost their moral compass since the day when they voted to peg their salaries to the top 5 in the private sectors. They have lost their high moral grounds and hence the respect of Singaporeans. That they managed to cling onto power for so long is testimony to how much they have manipulated the electorial systems in Singapore. Now, there is non in the pap including Lee Kuan Yew who can stand up to close scrutiny for virtues and righteousness in the true traditions of the Eastern cultures. This is a real shame especially when they have been turning Singapore more and more into an Eastern society. Their motive is not to improve on the moral values and virtues of Singaporeans but to absolve themselves from the strict demands of a Western Liberal Democracies. That Singapore is such a contradictory society is due in no small way to Lee Kuan Yew subverting some of the noble means to fulfill his immediate needs. For example to legitimise the non action on those (Ho Ching) who blew away $500 million in Micropolis, they began to preach that people should not be faulted when they make a genuine mistake, otherwise they will be afraid to make decisions.

Just one comment folks :

The people should NOT subsidise the Government in making bad investment decisions.

It is the Government who should subsidise the people on SOME commodities !

If you are prepared to lose billions in bad investments then you should also be prepared to make some subsidies……………….

Dr Syed Alwi’s question – “How do you justify losing billions to bad investments but simultaneously – absolutely refuse to spend on SOME subsidies ?”

Answer: The same way a compulsive gambler who loses a fortune but simultaneously refuse to give give some money to his wife to buy food for their hungry children.

There is a report in the Straits Times today about the wages of various occupations in Signapore.

The wages of cleaners have stagnated for the past 10 years. They suffered a real drop in earnings after discounting for inflation. The wages at the top earners have increased more than inflation.

The gap between the high and lw wage earners have widened. This is the result of the “free market”. It has led to inequity and depressed wages for the weaker sections of our society.

I hope that our government agencies should set an example in outsourcing the work to contractors.

They should set a certain contract (which is based on a fair rate of wages for the contract workers) and judge the contractors based on their standard of service.

This will help to establish a fair wage for the workers and get the focus on upgrading the quality of service.

Some government agencies identify their non-core activities and engaged in outsourcing the work. Some examples are cleaning of premises and answering of telephone calls.

Most people are familiar with the tendering approach, as follows:

> specify the standard of work
> award the work to the contractor that gives the lowest cost.

The consequence is that the contractor will find the cheapest source of labour, including foreign workers. Eventually, the standard of service deteriorates. Wages continue to be depressed.

There is another way of approaching this outsourcing of non-core work, as follows:

> specify the contract price, including the wages to be paid to the workers
> award the work to the contractor that is able to give the best standard of service.

If a specified wage is given, the focus is to select the best candidates for the job. This will ensure better standard and quality of service. The contractor’s task is to ensure that the human and other resources are organised efficiently to meet the changes in requirement.

I hope that more attention can be paid to this new method of outsourcing, which is based on quality of service, rather than reducing cost.

Mr Tan – a very good idea. I hope ALL government buildings and STAT boards will go onto this scheme of best outsourcing immediately. It will defintely help the lowest salary people. Today’s report in ST really gave a damning report on the failure of PAP in raising the wages and life of our weakest and poorest citizens….

Today is SAF day.
Same idea – the govt should start paying market rates for our NS men. We should stop subsiding a cheap National service through the blood sweat and tears and lives of our 18 year olds. Please pay them a market rate and reduce the number of months in National Service. Better yet, abolish NS now. With our sophisticated weaponry and world class air force, we should be able to provide adequate deterrent without sacrificing the time and lives of our children. Especially when they do not even get free education in Uni / Poly for this ’sacrifice’. Govt ministers have salary pegged to private sector, so should our 18 year old!!

Like Mah Bow Tan said in the papers – it is subsidy all the way for HDB or market rate all the way – they cannot be 2 systems. He said this to defend the market price based subsidy for HDB flats.
If that is the case, it should be the same for University fees, medical fees, and National service.
If our young men are subsidising NS – the govt should give them free education. That is only fair!!

Dear leon;

Upgrading of skill, is but a smoke screen and it is a sound good advice
but we need to look deeper into this political exhortation. It is a ploy so beautiful that many are taken in and brainwashed.

“And all our leaders could tell us is for us to upgrade, upgrade! They are taking us, the Citizenry, as morons. They think we are blind to those professionals and managers getting displaced, replaced and retrenched, became jobless, went into taxi driving, security job that pay them peanuts. Why are these people suffering such fates? THE FAULTS LIE WITH NATIONAL POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN AND BEING DISHED ONTO US, SHOVED ONTO US!

DOES ANYONE WANTS TO UPGRADE TO WHERE THE SAID PROFESSIONALS AND MANAGERS WERE AND SUFFERS THEIR FATES, AFTER SPENDING MONEY AND TIME AND NEGLECTING ONES’ FAMILY IN THE PURSUIT OF UPGRADING?”

May I add here that many job applicants are rejected because they are ‘over qualified’ and many that were retrenched were because their pays were much higher than the many new candidates, including foreigners available in the market who are able to replace them(current employees) at a much lower cost(salary).

This is a very vicious development, which of not arrested, could result in serious turmoil in time to come.

We, the people, must carefully scritinize the words of our leaders and check if there are substances in what they spout(say).

patriot.

Correction to ‘of not arrested,’ it should be ‘if not arrested’.

My sincere apology!

patriot.

I met many workers in the service industry, such as petrol pump attendants and restaurants. They come from Myanmar and China.

These workers are able to accept the low wage and still have some savings to send back to their families in their home countries. Most of live near their place of work and share a rented room with other workers.

The Singaporean worker is not able to accept these low wages, as they have to pay for the installment of their expensive HDB flat and also travel to work (and the cost of transport is quite high). The current Workfare Income Supplement is not able to meet the higher cost of living for the Singaporean worker. As a result, many of the older Singaporean workers are unemployed.

I hope that the wages for Singaporean workers can be increased to an adequate level, or the foreign workers should not be allowed in most service-oriented industries.

The argument has been put forward that we need to be competitive to attract Foreign Direct Investments into Singapore. This does not apply to the service oriented industries, except for tourism.

That is the problem. They have lost touch with the ground. They fail to understand one thing. What is the point of being No 1 when this does not serve the people except a few so-called elite? You may practice all the good principles of management but these are mere principles. Eventually, in the face of seeing another human being suffer, compassion must give way to concepts and theories and systems. This is call “being human”. And this is what makes us different from inanimate objects.

If we keep sticking to black and white rules and pushing the entire population through some economic concepts studied in schools without an eye and a heart on the ground, one can be regarded as no different from a robot.

The ultimate goal of government must be to serve its people. If you say life must go on and turn your head the other way, then the only way you will understand what it means to be a human being is suffer that same misfortune your neighbours are going throough..

Comments edited by moderator. Pls no personal attacks. Thanks.

Someone asked me if it is the work of the trade union in Singapore to ensure that the low income workers get a higher wage, above the poverty level.

The problem is that most of these casual and contract workers are not represented by a trade union.

Previously, when they were employed by the public sector, they were represented by a trade union which negotiated the wages for them. After outsourcing, these workers become contract workers and are not covered by the trade union.

A union leader told me about the difficulty that he and other union leaders faced in trying to fight for higher wages for the low income workers, as the leadership is against a minimum wage. They are quite helpless in arresting the decline in wages, due to outsourcing and the use of foreign workers. They tried to get the members to upgrade their skills, but it is not so practical.

Hi Harry (74)

I congratulate you on a well written piece. Please send an email to me at kinlian@gmail.com. I like to discuss this matter further with you.

The First Post by sgcynic about people enticed by millions of SIN Dollars to serve indeed is reflective of the sincerities of these people. It is worrying indeed!

Thanks sgcynic for borrowing your comment.

patriot.

The massive surge in the number of foreign workers here over the past year is due largely to the booming construction and rig building industry. As highlighted previously, the amount of foreign levy that the govt collects is humongous. A simple calculation here for your fantasy.

Foreign worker levy
Conservative 500,000 foreign workers (likely more than 600,000 by now)
500,000 x $200.00 (average) = $100,000,000 monthly = $1.2 billion min. annually

For every foreign worker (FW) here, a Singaporean would have been affected by the low wage that a FW commands. Therefore, the govt should use the levy collected to assist those Singaporean low wage workers in the badly affected sectors such as services, manufacturing, etc.

A minimum wage law is still necessary to protect low wage workers (both Singaporeans and FW) from exploitation. Govt help for Singaporeans is only logical and expected since they have to contribute taxes, national service and being stakeholders of the country beside having to compete against FW for jobs.

Minimum wage in USA

The US government has raised the nation’s minimum wage to USD 6.55 per hour (SGD 9) as part of the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007. The previous revision was made in 1997. A final increase, scheduled for July 24, 2009, will raise the minimum wage to $7.25 per hour (SGD 10).

The government’s efforts may not be enough to help struggling workers, according to labor-backed Economic Policy Institute (EPI). Even with the increase, the institute believes that a full-time, minimum-wage worker earns below the poverty line for a household of two.

Businesses are concerned that higher labor costs will make an already adverse enconomic environment even more difficult.