Is the mainstream media and government statistics reflecting the truth about the jobs and unemployment situation in Singapore?
A group of Singaporeans, who are concerned about the unemployment situation and how the Singaporean worker is unprotected, will take to Speakers Corner this Saturday, 9 May. They plan to highlight the problems faced by those who are retrenched and provide suggestions on how they can be better helped.
As mentioned by Mr Leong Sze Hian in a letter to the Today newspaper (see below), unemployment statistics and job vacancies may not reflect accurately the situation on the ground.
Do come and give your support to the speakers this Saturday! (See details below)
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Letter from Leong Sze Hian to the Today newspaper on May 3.
I refer to “Job pool shrinks” (Apr 30).
The Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) now has about 18,000 immediate job vacancies and some 9,600 registered job seekers.
I would like to commend the e2i for managing to increase the number of job vacancies from the 12,668 about a month ago, to 18,000 now. This is a remarkable increase of 42 per cent in just one month, not counting the jobs that must already have been taken in the past month, inspite of the worsening downturn.
In the update on the achievements of e2i, about 80 per cent of those who sought its help were not ready to start a new job immediately.
In this regard, I would like to suggest that we try to find out why four out of five unemployed, “were not ready to start on a new job immediately”? After all, there is now about two jobs available to every registered job seeker at e2i.
In this connection, since e2i’s last update on March 3 was that about 40 per cent of the 12,668 jobs available at e2i were offering salaries of more than $2,000, I would like to suggest that a break-down of the current 18,000 jobs available be given in respect of the salaries range.
Doing so may encourage more unemployed Singaporeans to register with e2i.
As the locals unemployment rate has hit a 5-year high of 4.8 per cent, and there were 95,600 unemployed residents at the end of the first quarter according to the Ministry of Manpower, with 12,600 retrenched in the first quarter, I would like to suggest that the e2i try to do more to reach out to the unemployed to register as a job seeker. This is perhaps underscored by the statistic that only about 27,000 (9,600 with e2i and 17,000 with CDCs) are currently registered job seekers with e2i and the CDC Career Link centres, which is only about 28 per cent of the 95,600 total unemployed now.
Whilst on the one hand, the e2i seems to be doing a great job in getting and increasing job vacancies, it does not appear to be doing as well in placing jobs, as only 4,012 workers were placed in jobs in sectors such as construction, tourism and childcare, in the first quarter. This is only about 20 per cent of the 20,000 people whom it helped find jobs last year. On a quarterly adjusted basis, this may mean that it is placing about 20 per cent less jobs this quarter compared to each quarter last year.
According to e2i’s web site, 5679 of the 18,489 vacancies are in the public sector, and 5,800 are in the two integrated resorts (IRs). As the IRs are expected to open at the end of the year, how many of these 5,800 jobs are available now and paying salaries now?
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Dear Jacobite,
Glad that you know you’re a foreigner, not a SIngaporean. The main thing here is that you shouldn’t even be writing here.
we are talking about “PROTECTING THE SINGAPOREAN WORKER” and NOT FOREIGNER!!!
38) Jackson on May 6th, 2009 5.43 pm
” If I were to scold someone, I will scold both the government and ourselves.
Scold the govt becoz they did all the unnecessary, brought in too many foreigners and spoil the entire labour market. ”
Japan and SKorea use very low ratio of foreigner.
I notice that many singapore companies like hawker centers hire many foreigners. This is to take advantage of the ease of supply of this labor and the lower cost which means more money for the boss to spend on things he like.
Many of these employers are also true blooded singaporeans.
When it comes to personal gains …… so i do not see this problem going away but get more serious in future. As we grow older, our market value changes. But when young and cheaper labor is constantly available from all over and the ease of getting them in is like among the best in the world if not the best (easiest) in the world, I think we better brace ourselves.
But I am hopeful. Life is a self cleaning toilet. Time will present opportunity.
the only constant in the galaxy.
Did anyone invite a minister or mp to sit in on this upcoming session ? If not, why ? If not, should the invitation be a standard protocol in future ?
Can anyone invite Ong Teng Cheong he speak more like a human being but sadly this true gentleman already in heaven.
If invite Lim Swee Say before he say anything people already know what he is saying no different from a parrot!
Comparison between majority Singaporean and Foreigner……
Foreigner – work , work and work,their goals – next time go back to their country buy big houses, big cars, retirement. Relax have children and repeat this cycle. ( that why they can take the tougher job, longer working hours, they got clear goals in life. )
Singaporean – work, work and work, their goals – pay 20-30 years for hdb and return when reach 99 years, buy car return 10 years, relax??? possible??? working in mcdonald after retirement age? struggle for whole life? Have children and repeat this cycle.
Dear foreigner, will you be so hard working back in your own country? Please think twice before you say singaporean are lazy. Don’t forget your currency conversion. thanks.
TrueBlood Singaporean, Ong Teng Cheong is a hero!!! nathan? what he done for singapore except waving to the crowds?
Before his Death, Ong Teng Cheong has speak out against the Gov abt Reserve!
But LKY don’t like it and after a decade his ghost came back and PAP LL has to open the reserve.
What has being right in this time is not right in the other time!
His conscience is clear as true gentleman who speak his mind and not like those parrot!
What I meant earlier was invite ministers and mps to sit in, not speak.
Although I have a what is considered iron rice bowl, I too feel that it is important to participate in this event. Voice may not be heard if no one participate by just passing by to listen.
Young people who have less committments may be able to wait for the recovery (depending on USA), but in future, which will come, these young people would become old and when that happens and by the next recession, if things do not improve, i wonder how much worse will life be if out of job at late 30′s or older?
Will cost of living increasing further on top of what is already very expensive at least based on S.E Asian standard ?
Will more foreigners be coming here to compete?
As you grow older, even if you go for Course to switch line , at an older age, how optimistic are you to land a job when there is no problem getting younger and same or more skilled and experienced worker from overseas who are attracted here for several reasons eg. Exchange Rate? Why would employers like singaporean employers employ a older newly skilled singaporean who is old enough to have many committments and demand slightly more salary at least?
Jia You TOC! I hope more turn up but pessimistically, by virtue of 4 percent unemployment, 96 percent may not be bothered to turn up as they may feel that it does not concern them, as in not their parsar.
Former PAP people like Ong Teng Cheong and Tan Kim Lian got certain concern of Ordinary Singapore Workers.
But the Current NTUC Chiefs get no respect by Ordinary Workers but only in the eye of LKY.
I really encourged Ordinary Singaporean who are concern with their Rice Bowl to attend this event.
It may not be your turn but very soon it will be your turn to be replaced unless you are in Civil Sector with Iron Rice Bowl.
See how Ordinary Jobless Singapore had Suffers these few years and it will be your turn soon.
If you got nothing, you got nohing to lose expect your HDB flat.
For those who want to hear the Truth pls come Hong Lim Park 5pm!
The policy of fast tracking foreigners to citizenship should not be left out when discussing the issues of protecting local workers becos it masked the definition of who are actually foreign.
If enough foreign workers are granted citizenships in a short period of time, the number of foreign workers in the statistics will invariably fall off thereby resolving the issues in a flash.
Do you think foreign would earn and spend here. Don’t be stupid, they like the strong Sing dollars but if anyting wrong they will ship back what they earn to their home countries whereby things are cheaper.
If Gov is so capable than attract foreigners of Steve Jobs Category but they can’t cause these type of people treasure Freedom of Expression and Innovative Enivronment for their business to thrive and Singapore can’t provide them.
Ask any PRCs, their ultimate aim is in the New York or Silicon Valley!
Is there age discrimination in Indochina?
I am 69 and I was hired as a sub-editor cum journalist by an English newspaper in Indochina.
Probably much less. Here, if you can do the job then it is OK and I hire you.
One of my village buddy is around my age and his two young ones are around nine and 10 years old and he had switched jobs three times. He speaks good English and now he runs a school.
If you are old and you are capable and you say you sok mia or looking for a wife then it is perfectly OK. In sing they say you dirty old man. More tolerant here.
Can sing learn from Indochina?
Come on sing. sing boleh.
We ready Hope One Day the Foreigners will be more than the
locals and take over the PAP like they take Suzhou from LKY during the 90s and
according to their terms.
I don’t mind to call the next PM to be Li etc etc rather than Lee etc. One day we
will call Chinaman to be Boss! Very Very Soon!!!!
The turnout was more than disappointing.
1. tens of thousands are jobless. not even 1 percent of these turned up to listen. Why? Are these not affected? Those still holding a job could not care less? 5-6pm timing bad? people go for dinner or shopping? The news of the event did not reach out to enough people? While Aware made people realise there is some hope left in singaporeans, this event reminded me that singaporeans are truely unique to the CORE.
2. Statistics – how to ensure the people see the clear truth like how many residents vs citizens occupied what types of jobs? One of the Speaker, Miss Braema, said something like Solution requires Research data . Without clear data, how can solution be created to target the problem of why people are not getting jobs when it is reported so many jobs are available and so many people willing to accept 42% pay cut and this means even cheaper than FTs, possibly.
3. I can understand why certain types of employees dare not turn up to listen.
But I could not understand why the 99.9% of the jobless and retrenched did not show up.
4. Could the system be improved to benefit singaporeans more? If so, why are people not stepping forward to provide the solution , to discuss, to voice up?
The current policies are great for employers. They could pick from anyone in the world and easily get them here to work . Why should employers hire a singaporean who is older and asks for slightly higher pay due to living standard and CPF overhead to the employer?
5. We are all gonna grow older. If not now, we are gonna have to face this employment issue sooner or later. Why are people so passive?
6. why is Aware response different from rice bowl issue? I thought singaporeans will only voice up when they themselves pocket are hurt?
I want to migrate but its not so easy as I have to have a job 1st to complete the application form where you need to provide resume and proofs of where you have been employed and worked as what and have what skills, for skill-based migration.
Okay, there is still hope left. Wait . Wait for Nature to provide the opportunity.
Thank goodness we are all humans and all humans are mere mortals. Evil cannot prevail. Period.
thanks TOC for organising a talk at HL Park.
^.^
@TrueBlood Singaporean
@Singaporeans did not turn up to give support
Don’t be discourage about the turn-up or misunderstand and make conclusion from the outcome.. I’m all for this event, however, honestly, not much people are aware of this event. Furthermore, it was such a short notice.. Me? I got to know on these on evening of 8th May. All Excuses? Nope… we need to garner support and create awareness to those that don’t frequent TOC, on the event.
Is there a way to make the event a more public one? or arrange it to in advance e.g. 3 weeks to 1 months? I’m very sure that it will have a different outcome. Send out an invitation email on the event and drawn support on the cause. You send to 10 recipients.. then each of them will send to another 10. Slowly and surely, they will reach the audiences. Get 50 committed audiences and it will create a wave… Then have another (same) event in 2 weeks time… Definitely, the number go up!
I have two daughters studying, and worry if there are jobs for them once they graduate… It’s a real concern for Singaporean…
#66
“2. Statistics – how to ensure the people see the clear truth like how many residents vs citizens occupied what types of jobs? One of the Speaker, Miss Braema, said something like Solution requires Research data . Without clear data, how can solution be created to target the problem of why people are not getting jobs when it is reported so many jobs are available and so many people willing to accept 42% pay cut and this means even cheaper than FTs, possibly.”
As mentioned in #62, the quickest way to resolve these FTs and workers issues is to fast track these residents to become new citizens; so, no more arguments. Is this solution already taking place?
Jobless Bloke who dare not eat pork because too expensive. You do not need to go to NTUC Fairprice where the pork is so expensive. Try going to Giant. I just went and bought half a kilo of airflown Australian lean hind for slightly over 4 dollars. Tasted very good in my salted pork porridge which I had because I was running a fever. So did not attend the talk.
I think if TOC can manage to put out an advertisement on TV or the newspapers the response will be better. Don’t forget the AWARE issue was widely aired and reported in the media prior to the runup. It all boils down to advertisement. If an advertisement can be put up on the positions vacant ads on a Saturday you will be seeing a huge response.
I dont see how your idea will help or solve problem for existing singaporeans who are jobless or will be jobless or retrenched.
Your idea seems to make the statistics look better only.
Very evil you.
regrads
Pork and Pork to you
I second and concurr with 68) ZA .
TOC or some other NGO should hold another event on the same.
This turnout of under 50 was appalling and illogical Representation of the situation and sentiments on the ground. This means there is a gap between organizer and the target audience. I see a need for Marketing Specialists and Advertisement Gurus to execute a solid plan for mobilization.
Youths, in time, and time passes quickly, you too will become 35 and then 40.
There is also no more iron rice bowl at least based on some reporting.
Regardless of these factors, we should still open our eyes and heart and come together to solve a Real problem.
I like many who turned up are not Against FTs. We have many FT friends, real friends. The issue is This is our country. What is inplace to give singaporeans support when employers clearly choose to favor hiring FTs and some cite the convenient but Broad and non-specific reason that singaporeans a lazy or shun this job or are too choosey or job hop a lot or ask for too high pay. EVEN IN THIS CRISIS? I do not think so their reasons are Valid anymore. Yet.
Who is really ensuring and checking the quota in all companies every month?
I think the quota is or can be different for different industries or companies.
Which of you really knows what is happening?
Oh I forgot, got Tripartism.
sigh…
Thanks to all who attended the HL PArk event. Your turn out meant alot to us.
It is true that the turn out was disappointing. We expect at least 200 to come for such a relevant event.
Maybe we need to publicise and give more thoughts to marketing it in future.
I am sure that we will do this again sometime in future. That is for sure.
Such events need a concerted effort by all to publicise it. Bring your friends and help us to be your mouthpiece.
Thanks again for those die-hard who turn up yesterday.
Everything starts from the first time and I am sure the second one will be much better.
#73 Gilbert,
Singaporeans are like that lah. Much as I appreciate your intention, the fact is this will not help them one bit in securing a job!
Also please do not be too fixated with big turnouts lah. Remember those opposition rallies during elections? They were huge, much bigger than those of the PAP. What was the voting result?
Also more recently Tan Kin Lian’s Minibond fiasco rallies. What was the positive impact to those investors who lose money? Almost none. They still have to fight their legal battles with the banks if they want to get back their money.
hwy, people. dun so dishearten lah, at least yesterday never rain & it did materialise.
other than publicity, i think some jobless people who may have known about (or not) the event may not want to spend the if they stay far & for a talk that they may feel sceptical that it will change their plight.
& yes i dun stay that far away…
Due to some strong reason , the turnout of between 20-49 (estimate) wasn’t great. So, I wonder could this have sent a wrong signal to the u-knoe-who or not?
I mean its fair to assume ‘they’ have sent people there to observe. If so, does the low turnout give an impression of APATHY on issue that is BREAD AND BUTTER? Or could it have given the signal that the People are not facing job security problem related to FT in a time like this? People not affected by Age Discrimination? People not jobless and cannot pay and pay the arrears as they are now hardly able to eat Pork and Pork ?
Could this sent a signal to citizens that People are 99.9% not bothered about voicing up for this issue as there is no such serious problem? Could this Dissuade the youths from participating? Could they have gotten a wrong message.
Could the messages not have reached the Youths and Adult workers?
regrads
Pork and Pork
compared to the Aware’s EOGM where its widely & frequently publised in the local media on TV, radio & newspapers, and the online interests it generated. fair to say the level of publicity for this talk is fairly muted.
social issues are not fashion fads, where a sudden surge reaches a plateau then sees a rapid decline in interest wan. maybe it’s 99% who may have turned up dun even know of it?
anyway civil society movements do not always have things going smoothly in the early stages. just look at Aware, after 20+ years still got so much room for improvement, those gritty women never gave up their cause. that is the spirit mah.
Aware has real people as members.
Aware has a office where real people meet there physically to solve problems or help women.
Other civil society awareness blogs exists on the virtual cyberspace.
‘Members’ are real but many are readers without a face identified by nicknames.
Other civil society internet ‘establishments’ does not have the kind of funding to advertise to reach critical mass.
The process may take another 20 years to mature? I hope not as too many would have given up.
I cannot turn up at HL Park because I am in Indochina.
I will be back in October and if there is a meeting at that time I will turn up.
Sure as hell.
Are sing people dead scared and scared that ISD and all the other are taking photographs of the crowd.
.
Let us catch these spooks.
You know when I was at uni in Auckland the white students caught a spy for the gahmen and they really fixed him and they punched him hard and so he begged God for mercy.
re to Aware is Different,
i know, Aware is different. but they do not have internet to spread their cause. this is the online comunity’s advantage. not sure about Aware’s fundings in their early years.
i am not saying this also will take that long, i am saying it takes a determined group of core “founders” who believe in it & work towards a common goal, without the certainty of knowing when “success” will come.
i also hope its well under 20 years. lol… -.-”
Some jobless PR and FT go back to their country as they manage to find good jobs in their country. I wish I can do that.
I believe there must be some rules to protect Singaporen worker. Can anyone list out all ?
Can anyone tell me how the other first world country protect their citizen workers ? Or they do not?
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Ayio all these Unemployed are so worried and depressed till they can’t step out of their house or just hide in the library.
Some need to go see psychristry to take depression pill and the psychristry are so happy that their business had increase during this time!
Singaporean never reliase that Change is Only Constant and even during unemployment they just refused to change!
What a pity! Singaporean bless you to the grave!
to TrueBlood Singaporean,
if our forward looking govt that have always been able to plan years ahead, the change would not be painful & sudden. just like their leadership renewal, no where near drastic, smooth, largely predictable. compare that to the change people are being forced into this past few months, through job losses, reduction in salaries with a change of job.
everytime there is a change (“recession”) common folks are made to swallow bitter pills like wage freeze, CPF cuts, rising cost of limits. the biggest change is the status quo of PMETs who made up the large middle (low, mid to high) income earners. this group is being pushed to the low income group with all the retraining for new industries that pay much less. how to keep their (&heir family’s) heads above troubled waters?
For an export dependence country like Singapore, global recession will have a profound effect on employment. Manufacturing will contract and workers will be retrented. Similarly shipyard workers were retrented as the number of ships were parked/mothballed. Globalisation come with both positives and negatives.The poor FT/FW especially those newly arrived who were still paying off the debth they had to take on to travel to Singapore. The unique feature of this recession is that although company were reducing their head count, food inflation was still rising. This made life doubly hard for those unemployed. I supposed because we import all our food from abroad, there is little we could do about it. Maybe our gahment could fellow the example of S.Korean and Saudi and use our hugh reserve to lease farm land and grow our own food. It will create employemnt by training Singaporean to grow our own food. That would also garantee our own food supply.