Here’s the speeches and slideshow of Maruah‘s event at Speakers’ Corner on Saturday.
Part 1
Part 2
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Slideshow
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NMP Siew Kum Hong is one of the few parliamentarians that really have my respect. The other is Sylvia Lim. We need commited non-PAP parliamentarians to lead our country that has no attached legacy to them. What Iceland has showed even an incumbent political party 60 years in power can destroy a country’s economy, talk alone an incumbent political party in power for 43 years.
While UDHR is fighting to protect foreign workers, The IRONY is there is not enough jobs created to support the growing unemployed citizens. When there is shortage of jobs, we cannot say foreign worker , citizen and pr all will getting jobs. So, something has to give. Citizens must be priority 1, then PRs then foreign workers.
So, I think its easy to champion for rights.
Its easy to say what are the ideal situations.
The fact is the world is dynamic and unpredictable and equality is subjective.
I think UDHR should help Create Jobs and this is only sure way to provide foreign workers with good jobs and enjoy living in singapore.
Ravi,
please note that your definition of CONTRACT workers is too narrow.
unless you confirm these lower wage workers are whom your message is for.
Contract workers include all types of jobs including CEO, consultants and the normal office executive types of work.
There are many singaporean who are professionals and employed as contract workers. I am not sure if these higher educated or qualified contract workers have slipped through the cracks.
Thus, I hope people are aware that almost all jobs can be contract jobs.
ALL contract workers need a contract workers UNION.
Contract workers (professional qualified ones) are often ‘outcasted’ by permanent staff because of many reasons , some of which are:
1. fear of rice bowl competition
2. professional contract staff are usually skilled and specialised. They have been around accumulating cross industry or multi company experience. permanent old timers have narrower working experience.
3. contract workers are used to adapting in new environments. permanent ones
are less used to the need to adapt to new environment and colleagues. they are more ‘homely’ ‘comfort zone’ types.
4. contract workers are employed in high profile work like projects. they pose risk to permanent workers as permanent ones do not know about the new system.
5. contract workers are less respected and regarded in the sense that perm ones shun or avoid socialising with them or treat them more like outcasts. contract workers have to learn to survive by being independent workers able to work without much help from perm ones.
6. Contract workers are treated like employees of permanent employee. know what i mean?
Contract workers are useful and flexible labor for companies:
1. less benefits
2. short term employment
3. sack at any time or due to change in business requirements.
4. employers dictate the contract terms.
5. no career path
6. not much long term prospect in the company
7. future uncertain – sack at short notice , depending on employer set contract terms.
while people seem to be fighting for lower waged contract workers, and the definition seems to be unclear or narrow, i urge that we also look into protecting and improving the working conditions of contract staff who have professional qualifications.
nowadays, most if not all companies have FROZEN the headcount and even stopped hiring contract staff and even retrenched. its employers market like never before. the last many years have already been employers market . its even more so now.
incompetent and unsuccessful companies resort to cutting salaries and retrenching when the real problems or causes of financial problems are :
1. failed investments
2. incompetence in capturing the market.
3. incompetence in creating excellent products and services
4. incompetent CEOs
5. lousy management team
6. corruption
7. etc
more and more white collar workers shall become contract staff, many will be citizens. Fighting for Contract workers is Fighting for you, the uniquely unique singaporeans.
In Europe, contract workers are respected and highly regarded professionals and regarded like experts.
In Asia, contract worker is a low class term in the impression of many.
Ravi and speakers seem to have failed to define clearly who are the contract workers. The impression i get is those foreign workers on contract.
Lets understand that many many locals are contract workers also.
I wish that there be no discrimination.
To UnTil U C,
Just want to make a small point – UDHR (Universal Declaration of Human Rights) refers to the United Nations document created in 1948 which articulates the fundamental liberties and rights of any person on this Earth. It is just that Maruah (the organiser) are choosing to direct attention to the foreign workers.
I do agree that local workers and their rights & conditions need to attended to. Perhaps Maruah figures it’s a better (or safer?) strategy to look at migrant workers. And as a ‘contract worker’ myself, I definitely agree with all the points raised so far.
6) noora on December 14th, 2008 6.59 pm
There seems to be a misunderstanding here. The MARUAH event at Speakers’ Corner focused on:
I will treat all workers in Singapore with dignity and respect.
If you check the program and the video again, you will note that it covers wide range of worker issues including ‘contract worker’. The organiser was directing attention to all workers in Singapore.
Foreign workers issue was one of the five speeches covered in the event.
+++++++++++++++++++++
Programme
Time Event
4.30 p.m. Welcome remarks by Co-Chair of U60 and member of MARUAH, Ms Clara Feng
4.35 p.m. Speech by Chairperson of MARUAH, Ms. Braema Mathi
“Workers In Singapore – Vulnerable Communities”
4.45 p.m. Speech by Mr. Ravi Philemon
“Contract Workers in Singapore”
4.55 p.m. Speech by Exco Member, Transient Workers Count Too, Mr. Mykel Yeo
“Foreign Workers in Singapore”
5.05 p.m. Speech by Action for Aids Programme Coordinator, Mr. Benedict Thambyah
“People with HIV in Singapore”
5.15 p.m. Speech by Mr. Roy Tan
“Gay people in Singapore”
5.25 p.m. Closing remarks by Ms. Braema Mathi
5.35 p.m.
to 6.30 p.m. Make Your Commitment
Venue: Speakers’ Corner, Hong Lim Park
Date: 13th December
Time: 4.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.
Singapore is a developed country and it is only now that we are free to talk openly on
human rights.
I live in a LDC and this country is talking about giving rights to its minorities and to its other disadvantaged people.
I feel that Singapore is behind in this and I conclude that all the while the big man up there who knows everything suppress us and say that the human rights thing is a gimmick and it is to do you in.
Aha. Now, Ok you can discuss. Year 2008.
Rich country Singapore in Asean but you are behind.
Ronnie
‘Free’ the unions (NTUC) from govt control if you want workers to have a voice in their jobs. Enable independence and working life will improve .
great effort to those speakers in Hong Lim Park.
Gov has been pushing for a population size that’s beyond optimum level. In good times, everyone could be employed, economy could benefit from large workforce, all at the expense of personal space. There’s also the risk of crisis, which has hit recently, & there won’t be enough jobs to satisfy the huge population. Unemployment, unhappiness & poverty ensue.
The bigger the population, the bigger the scale of unemployment.
Gov got greedy during good times & bring in hordes of foreigners to work & boost the economy further for more moolah.
During bad times, he refuses to play an active part in helping people who have been helping his economy grow. Talk about ungratefulness.
Hello UnTilUC:
I indeed had the low-wage contract workers in my mind as I crafted my speech, as this is a cause that is very close to my heart. But I do agree with the point that you have made. There may be a necessity for a Contract Workers’ Union.