Sunday, June 7, 2009 21:22
Low-wage workers better off – really?
In Main Stories, Top Story • 3,053 views • 98 Comments
Leong Sze Hian / Columnist
The Ministry of Manpower has published a 74-page press release detailing significant progress in the welfare of low-wage workers. But a closer scrutiny of the report finds that the picture may not be so rosy. (Read the Straits Times report here.)
IS THE Ministry of Manpower (MOM) blowing its own trumpet?
While its press release claims that low-wage workers have made significant progress since 2006, they may in fact be presenting a distorted picture.
(Photo: A road sweeper keeping Singapore clean. Are these workers better off since 2006? Courtesy of Kirk Siang / Creative Commons)
The press release says that “the wages of the 20th percentile full-time employed resident increased from $1,200 a month in 2006 to $1,310 in 2008.”
However, after adjusting for inflation, $1,200 in 2006 would be equivalent to $1,304 in 2008.
This means that these low-wage workers received a wage increase of just $6 over 2 years, or just 0.25% per year.
So, while the headline of the press release proclaims: “Significant progress for low-wage workers since 2006”, are these workers really better off?
The ministry adds that “the number of residents earning $1,200 or less has fallen from 360,000 in 2006 to below 300,000 in 2008.” This is a little misleading as the benchmark of $1,200 is from 2006. The ministry should have used the 2008 benchmark instead, after adjusting for inflation.
The pertinent question should thus be: how many are earning less than $1,304, instead of how many are still earning less than $1,200.
The number of part-time workers in the workforce as a share of total employment increased from 3.2% in 1998 to 6.8% in 2008. There are currently 126,000 part-time workers, and their median monthly income has remained unchanged at $600. Is this proof that the number of low-wage workers (full-time and part-time) may have actually increased, rather than dwindled?
The press release also said:
“More people were working, especially from households living in smaller flat types. The monthly household income of those living in 3-room HDB flats or smaller also grew by over $300 from $1,910 to $2,220. Even after factoring for inflation, this translated to a 3.5% per annum increase in real terms”.
However, this increase in household income may be due to more people working per household rather than an actual increase in household income. What we need to know is the employed per household data – whether it has gone up – and the extent of it resulting in the 3.5% increase.
It is incredulous how the MOM chose to ignore inflation when talking about the rise in income of low-wage workers. As for the rise in household income, it seems like MOM is trying to paint a picture that workers are better off, even when the reality on the ground might be different.
Housing Grants
The press statement also highlighted that “more than 10,000 lower-income families received $144.3 million worth of Additional CPF Housing Grants (AHG)…”
This works out to an average AHG of $13,983 per family.
In view of the very large increase in HDB flat prices from 2006 to 2008, the AHG (or increase in the AHG) may have been lower than the flat’s price increase. For example, the HDB Resale Price Index increased by 37% from 101.8 in Q1 2006 to 139.4 in Q4 2008.
Is an AHG that is less than the flat’s price increase really a subsidy?
Childcare Financial Assistance
The press statement noted that the Kindergarten Financial Assistance Scheme (KiFAS) and the Centre-based Financial Assistance Scheme for Child Care (CFAC) were reviewed and enhanced annually. It provides $41.6 million from 2006 to 2008, for over 11,200 children per year, on average.
This works out to an average of about $103 per child per month. This might not be substantial enough – in light of the fact that the Today newspaper reported in July 2008 that “some 1,500 students attending the seven PAP Community Foundation (PCF) kindergartens in Woodlands will see their fees shoot up by 30 to 100 per cent from July.”
Inflation, it seems, might once again completely obliterate any supposed benefits Singaporeans have gained over the past two years.
Workfare
Why is it that the number of workers receiving Workfare declined from 362,000 in 2006 to 306,000 in 2007, and 297,000 in 2008, during a period of record job creation?
Why did a staggering 106,000 self-employed Singaporeans drop out of Workfare in 2007, after just 1 year?
Was it mainly because they had to contribute cash to their CPF, but receive their entire Workfare as a top-up to their Medisave account? (Note: The Resilence package now gives some workfare to them in cash.)
Home Ownership Plus Education (HOPE)
The press release stated that “an additional 1,200 families were approved for assistance under the HOPE scheme, bringing the total number of families approved on HOPE to about 1,700 at end-2008.”
After 5 years of the HOPE scheme, it is arguably not very successful by any measure, as only 1,700 out of 24,600 (presumably eligible families) have been approved.
This represents only about 7% of all eligible families. The average payout per HOPE family per year is quite a lot – $8,784. So, why are so few taking it up or being approved?
I think the problem may be that the bulk of the benefits is in the form of a housing grant of $50,000 disbursed in annual installments of $2,500 into the mother’s CPF account over 20 years, or until she reaches 45 years old. After that, a training grant of up to $10,000, and cash incentives of $6,000 – $20,000 will be given to help couples with family planning.
But while you may get $2,500 a year until age 45 to pay for a HDB flat, would you want to risk losing the flat plus face litigation if you can’t service the mortgage in the future? Would you really go for training when you are probably still struggling with work and free time?
Does it really make much difference for suffering families now?
Conclusions
As my final analysis, this 72-page press release may be of little meaning or consolation to lower-wage Singaporeans, because for them the reality is that they have been adversely affected by the downturn: many may have lost their jobs, had wages cuts, no bonus, shorter work week, compulsory leave, and so on.
The government’s threadbare social assistance schemes have not done much for them over the past three years, and are unlikely to serve them any better in the months ahead.
All the data that the government has released cannot conceal the reality that Singapore has become a much more unequal society under the government’s growth-at-costs approach. In thinking about how to restructure the Singapore economy, the government might want to rethink the premise of its economic strategy.
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Read also: “Average income of low-wage workers up by 9% over past two years” by Channel NewsAsia.
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Related posts:
- Do upgrading skills and Workfare help low-wage workers?
- Low-wage workers better off, now everybody worse off?
- Low-skilled, low-wage workers an “economic problem”, says Lim Swee Say
- How many low-wage or unemployed? 600,000? 700,000?
- PAP MP floats idea of minimum wage, criticizes ‘overheated’ growth model
98 Comments
If only
The point is that others who read it might be concerned enough to talk about it, speak up and/or do something for the less fortunate. Hopefully.
Pritam Singh
An enlightening piece. Thanks!
Blur
Government should reduce the pay packets for top earners
significantly to bring them in line with practices in other
countries. Those earning above a million dollars a year
can have these cut by half. Only when this happens, then
I would belief what they said they are doing to help the
needy.
prettyplace
Well done, Sze Hian. They are clearly saying something just to make themselves look good and as if they are doing something.
Numbers don’t lie….nice catch…. on inflation and CPF grant. It is so obvious.
tiredman
Did the report mention about the number of hours these labours work to earn $1304?
What I do know is an average security guard, like my dad has to work more than 10 hours per day and only entitled 3 days of rest day per month and hence to earn approximately $1400 every month.
Another smokescreen blown away....
The smoke bombs being thrown at us by our elites is getting more and more pathetic.
Can’t enforce labour laws properly and yet claim they are protecting foreign workers …..throwing misleading figures at us now to make them look good….what else will they think of next?
Another smokescreen blown away....
The smoke bombs being thrown at us by our elites is getting more and more pathetic.
Can’t enforce labour laws properly and yet claim they are protecting foreign workers …..throwing misleading figures at us now to make them look good….what else will they think of next?
Sorry… forgot to say great post – can’t wait to read your next one!
SY
Nice work by TOC. I take it that the 20 percentile income is $1310 in 2008? The inflation adjusted numbers should have been given. The fall in the number of earners below $1200 is not a worthwhile stat to mention.
However, its good to see the fall in the GINI coefficient, and I think that the fact that more members from low income families are working is a good thing.
P.S. CNA article says “Low-wage workers, who form 20 per cent of the workforce in Singapore…” This is a silly way to say it. I mean, they are DEFINED as the lowest 20%…..
PAP still win
Whether low wage workers better off or not, they are not the majority.
Even if their numbers are significant, some are very satisfied with the PAP.
Which explains why there are consistently 66% mandate for the PAP at every election!. This is the most important statistic to the PAP. And with a good design of GRCs, PAP get 50% walkovers and 98% seats too.
And for many more elections to come. This I am quite sure.
good article but can be improved
While it is good scrutinise govt statistic, we have to get beyond just raising suspicion about the reports and saying costs are increasing. This will only make the image of the Opposition stay very negative.
In my opinion, in addition to the questions, it is necessary to put forward what you think is the reason that low-wage workers is not able earn more, and how to solve the problem.
Besides, it would also good to anticipate common rebuttals and give some answers before they are asked. Like all policies, answers may not be perfect, but it shows that Opposition are aware of implementation issues. For example:
- If your solution is based on welfare, how much does each worker benefit and how much does it cost in total? Is that sustainable? What are the sentiments of the contributing taxpayers?
- Why do you think existing welfare is under-utilised. The article provides some guesses. It could be something worthwhile to investigate more.
- What do you think is a long-term solution to raise the pay of low-wage workers?
Eveline
CNA: “Average income of low-wage workers up over past two years”
Yes, average working hours of these low-wage workers are also up!
David
If Gan Kim Yong said so, please don’t read his report. It is fake. I have been observing his gestures, his expressions and how he read out his opinions. Sincerity does not exist in him. I have decided to grab some other inspirational books to read and pass time instead of reading news from msm.
fishy
Its the same style and tactic by ST and PAP, simply paint a rosy picture and con SG citizens.
fishy
To “good article but can be improved”,
Why don’t you write an article for us to read????
mon
When elites have to masquerade facts to promote agenda, you know the country is in trouble.
Else, why don’t they just tell you the actual performance.
anon11
To “good article but can be improved”,
How abt a minimum wage to begin with?
Harminder Singh
Great analysis, Sze Hian! Some of the points you make are so self-evident that it makes you wonder what kind of reporters they hire at SPH… Definitely not “our best and brightest”
two things
1. Blatantly put, the only way for real wages (i.e. wage adjusted for inflation) to rise is to hold a job that commands higher value.
2. Social welfare helps people to tide through, not have a pay increase. It is unsustainable for welfare increase the real wage every year because this means the burden on social welfare has to increase yearly too.
Small Time Businessman
As in business, there are two ways to survice in tough times: to increase revenue or cut cost. If revenue side though to increase, then should cut cost.
In the same vein, if govt cannot guarantee min wage or higher wages for Singaporeans, then it should reduce cost of living here. eg hdb price
Justin
Is there any law against worker exploitation in Spore? Can an employer pay $1 per hour to hourly paid workers?
CJ
Very apt of the government to come up with ‘reports’ like this…
They think they can still smoke the people with such lame news publications.
Keep up with all this lame-ness… your votes are sky-diving!
Tan Kin Lian
If the low wage worker did earn $1,300, it is okay. But I suspect that the statistics are not really revealing the correct situation. There must be many people that earned $800 or less, doing a full day job. Perhaps, they are excluded, in some way from the statistics? Maybe, they are counted as part time workers and not reflected here?
Tan Kin Lian
The best way to measure the progress (if any) is to look at the low wage workers two years ago, and find out if their wages today. We should be looking at the same cohort of people. Some have lost their jobs and earned nothing. Others have made progress and earned more. It should be based on the entire cohort or a representative sample of these people.
The MOM had the statistics. I hope that they are honest in making this calcuation and show the results. We need more honesty in presentation and use of statistics – to tell the true picture, and not to make the policy makers “look good”.
lobo76
Actually, I think in this economic climate, the fact that the low income managed to keep pace with inflation is already a decent achievement.
However, I am very very skeptical about the total number of low income having actually decreased. As point out, with the huge increase in part-timers, what is the real figure?
Lastly, the average number of hours put in by the low income worker is also a concern. They might be low income, but do they not need work-life balance too?
whjho
Another ‘feel good’ data published.
I would not be surprise to hear the announcement of GE since Mas was caught, lower income group earning more than 2006, etc.
Ramesh Naidu
as usual, a good analysis……clears the smoke brought on by the MOM, yeah?
How to improve ?
“In my opinion, in addition to the questions, it is necessary to put forward what you think is the reason that low-wage workers is not able earn more, and how to solve the problem.”
Do some u-turn on certain policies. Cap the inflow of similar foreign low-wage workers. supply < demand, “cost” will naturally go up. Do not think of cost per se (that is what pure capitalists may want you to believe, think it as a way to redistribute benefits from the haves of businesses back to have-not-so-much of low income earners.
The above will only work for firms who cannot / are not able relocate to another country but are deriving their businesses purely from local.
ABC
This wanyang Govt try to bullshit n mislead the citizens that the lower wage workers has improved their income, expect to get more votes from the ppl for the coming GE.
ABC
Correction…the lower wage workers hv improved their income
GLOW
I GONNA print this out… GREAT stuff….
The PAP must be so far removed from the people to get this report printed out.. Are they trying to convince US, the people, that things are better or just trying to convince themselves, the government…. this is the typical “emperor syndrome” .. only told what will sound nice….
coz.. the people really don’t need any kind of convincing.. we are standing in HIGH water right up to our ears in the muck…
the people gets lower wages all in the name of competition… however, unfair that competition might be… this race to the bottom of the lowest wages is one that the people will continue to suffer and it will undercut our meritocratic principles… less resouces in time and $$$ will definitely not help families move up and out of poverty…
VOTE………. VOTE…………. VOTE…………. VOTE……………….. VOTE……………. VOTE…
anakin
I would like to see the improvement of the elite class viz a viz the lower class. If elite class income increase 400% and lower income increase only 0.25% as this article suggests then an increase of the lower class of such a small amount is really meaningless.
The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Daily SG: 8 Jun 2009
[...] old numbers game, same old story – My Little Corner: No-Fault Motor Insurance for Singapore? – TOC: Low-wage workers better off – really? – The Singapore Sports Fan Says: What Shana’s AYG withdrawal says about Singapore sport – The [...]
ram
“Statistics are like a bikini. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital.”
- Aaron Levenstein
As LZH pointed out, did they take inflation, longer working hours into consideration?
What happens when subsidy is removed because we could no longer afford due to losses by TH & GIC?
SY
17) anon11 on June 8th, 2009 12.57 am
“How abt a minimum wage to begin with?”
19) two things on June 8th, 2009 2.41 am
“Blatantly put, the only way for real wages (i.e. wage adjusted for inflation) to rise is to hold a job that commands higher value.”
I think a minimum wage policy works only if the worker is able to generate the value of the minimum wage, wise he just would not get the job, minimum wage law of not. It is much better to make sure that the economy is vibrant, to increase demand for jobs and thus drive wages up by the price mechanism. In the meantime, help the low wage worker upgrade his skills. In this aspect I think our govt has been working hard. I think the govt often appears unhelpful because it keeps a tight tab on the fundamental economic reality – productivity must keep up with wages. It is not a lack of empathy or concern.
mike
i have no confidence at all in the MOM statistics esp previous minister who runs it. this one is no acception.
same trick……wanyang….wanyang……..
aiyoyo
aiyoyo
make it simple la, let elites do work for 1month
($1200/month or $800/month),
after that see if there’s any feedback from them?
人间疾苦。。。
aiyoyo
pugdragon
20% of residents earn $1.2k or lower… That’s a frightening fact. $1.2k is not enough for a comfortable life. Heck, it’s barely enough to make ends meet, if you consider the fact that 20% of this $1.2k goes to CPF & you’re left with $960. 20% of the population earning this amount or less is unacceptable. Too many people struggles to make ends meet, making surviving a chorish challenge.
Independent committee to verify the statistics?
So, we just based on whatever is published as the ‘Statistics’?
I mean, how should i say this….hmmmm…..
did anyone get my drift?
if not reply and i shall clarify.
We are educated to think and analyse right?
Ang Kong Kia
Kue Tu-tu index:
price of the kue tu-tu at Pasar Malam:
used to be 3 for S$1 – $0.33 each about 3 years ago,
now the price is 5 for $2 – $0.40 each.
definitely income increase for the kue tu tu hawkers.
The govt ridiculous efforts to always use the media to misinform are so mind boggling.
If they can provide 1 billion dollars to help the needy then why are the poor always having to work two more jobs to make ends meet?
Why are so many HDB homes being repossessed lately?
Why are so many of our poor having to eat at temples for free meals?
A minimal wage system needs to be in place to see that our poor (those earn below $1200) will not continue to suffer as our living standard escalated.
I have stayed in CHina and Australia and found that our living standard thse past years have being rising faster than our wages.
In fact, having hear so much from the govt ’s call for our people to take on any jobs that could pay meals on the table, we can guess that many middle income earners all got substantial pay cut working for employers who will continue to undercut one another in paying low salaries.
Foreigners also are willing to work for much lesser pay further squeezing the salaries of local ones.
This issue will seriously affect the votes of the govt in the forthcoming election.
gemami
I am thinking that perhaps the figures presented by the report might be true that there is a wage increase amongst the lower wage earners. The catch here is that these are workers who have managed to keep their jobs. However, what would be most telling, imho, would be the number of low-wage workers who have lost their jobs.
Take for example: Company A has been employing 3 workers are $1000 each per month. The company lets one of the employee go and keep the other two and increases their pay to $1300 each. the catch here is that these two workers must do the job left behind by the retrenced worker.
This is the situation we are facing now. It looks good on paper and the statistics looks even better – giving the false impression that our wages are increasing but not taking into the consideration the number of people out of job so that the rest can have these increases.
mike
my daughter who is 24 yrs old and was retrenched lately. having to pay loan for education (degreed course), a poly graduate in chemical processing, got a job working as waitress though for temp., was paid $1,100.00 from 4.00 pm to 1.00 pm. this is what singaporean gets!
now u guy tell me, can you these MIW doing their work??
mike
sorry, error.
it should be 4.00 pm till 1.00 in the morning…
lego
Apart from inflation, we should not forget that GST rate has increasd. GST taxes the poor more than the rich.
lego
Instead of coming up with effective solutions (besides the ineffective retraining scheme), the ruling elite chose to praise themselves!!
If life is so great in S’pore, why are so many people struggling to make ends meet. Even the middle class are finding life here increasingly difficult (the price of everything has shot up every year over the past 3 years)….not to mention the low wage earners.
government say so
45) lego on June 8th, 2009 2.02 pm
no you are wrong… GST is to help the poor… the rich pay more… our government say one….
Jackson
I don’t believe the govt at all.
work care agent said this....
43) mike on June 8th, 2009 1.42 pm
I also looking for job.
A agent told me yesterday, e2i got waiter job. I asked i heard a lot of jobs created . Do you have jobs for executives (degree grads). He said only F&B and things like that. so, fyi, for your daughter to try. he said can try admin. I said oh, that is considered degree job.
Uptune the Downtune.
I had it.
two things
#24 TKL: We need more honesty in presentation and use of statistics – to tell the true picture, and not to make the policy makers “look good”.
1. Without evidence, I won’t go so far to accuse the government for manipulating statistics. But I must say, they must have hope that statistics look good on themselves. On the other hand, equally guilty, are people who hope that the statistics reflect bad on the policers makers.
2. As I mentioned earlier, the only way to achieve an increase in real wages is by commanding a job of higher value. Aside from reporting wage increase, it’ll be revealing to have other statistics to measure how much has been done to help people acquire capability of holding a job of higher value, and what are the difficulties for more improvement.
Tear down this wall pronto
We need people who can ask pertinent questions. People like Financials guru Mr Leong. The problem with singaporeans is they rely on some info given to them like being spoonfed. Open mouth, take in what is given. I prefer to think independently and question EVERYTHING. This is my right. eg. when someone says knee before me, do i do it? i tell him to fight spider. or when someone demands that you respect him, i say the same back to him plus “respect is earned not demanded. dun siah Sway like mr anyhow Say”.
Just think for 30 seconds, if he becomes the president, what pertinent questions could he ask?
regards
Pandora’s box – due to be wide open , in TIME.
“T-Rex used to think it is immortal and the lord of the jungle. It too is now extinct”
mike
52) Banana Kangolees Gown of Clowns ,
do you mean can the ‘elites’ handle the TRUTH?
IMS
the government has very good marketing team, and the media filters all the responses that rebutted. so most singaporeans get to see the marketing stats and slogans and in so, believed that singaporeans are better off each year.
winstoncheng
I observed in the coffeeshop landscape that people these days do not believe in anything said by the government anymore. On the contrary, they see everything as bull. The more the government tries to look good, the more negative effect they generate.
So, the scenario I suspect – Government briefed MSM, MSM published it, government reads it the next morning while seeping their latte and says to themselves `Ahh…..good, good, I’m sure the people will be convinced’. And out there the next morning, the ordinary folks read it while seeping Kopi-O says `Wah lau….what a load of &#%u/?…..’
David
He is probably referring to foreign workers’ (PR included) wages have improved. These peolple earned $400 rupee in india or $300rmb in china but when working in Singapore they earned $800 & $1200 SGD respectively. From this perspective, wages have indeed increased tremendously. That is why Gan Kim Yong kept emphasizing foreign workers and nothing concrete was mentioned about Singaporeans’ wages except to smoke us with his pre-election talk. Rest assured that such talks will stream through the msm until election date is confirmed.
CJ
winstoncheng,
problem is, THEY stil thinks or believe that we are swallowing their crap…
and absolutely NO ONE makes a noise in public or anywhere about all these.
Then what people do comes next GE? Will there be stil 66.6% left?
Or people still gets bought over with carrots and little packets of sweets?
After that, it is another tough grueling, and frgual 5 friggin years with them!!
a singapore in malaysian court
I was chatting with a colleague in my company (based in KL) today. she said she visited spore the other day; she pointed out the sorry sight of elderly people working in food court and peddling on the streets in Singapore. she said such is not common in KL and suburbs (which in total has a bigger pop than singpaore). having pointed that out, i too realised that i haven’t seen anything like that in KL/suburb since Feb 2009 when i started working here. I wonder why.
Banana Kangolees Gown of Clowns
52) mike on June 8th, 2009 3.46 pm
52) Banana Kangolees Gown of Clowns ,
do you mean can the ‘elites’ handle the TRUTH?
===========================================
Why need to be elites? I don’t bias towards elites or non-elites.
To me, both are just merely mortals as in they all have finite years of mortality. This is the Truth of human beings and all creatures on earth.
Can humans handle the Truth or some prefer to Believe?
Believing someone is not a bad thing in itself.
It can make things easier – like no need to investigate if something is the truth.
But still the scientific side of me prefer to see solid evidence.
If you can prove it , you are telling the truth.
If you cannot prove it, people can still choose to believe you.
The world is not made up of mostly smart people, you know?
This is why the richest are the minority.
Concerned Sporean
Two things @50
How can a Singaporean get evidence? So since we can’t, it is based on what is happening to judge whether the stats is reliable. If what people are experiencing does not tally with what the stats say, that is closest ‘evidence’ of screwed stats.
You talk about jobs of higher value. Yes, exactly, the industries in Spore are pathetic! Majority are manufacturing and managed by expats. In fact even the top job in our very own Temasek is given to expat. 50 yrs on and we are still relying almost totally on foreign investments. Our education and ministry of trade & industry have produced or achieved nothing but continue to collect their multi-million dollar salaries and get praised.
tiredsingaporean
54) winstoncheng on June 8th, 2009 5.50 pm
observed in the coffeeshop landscape that people these days do not believe in anything said by the government anymore. On the contrary, they see everything as bull. The more the government tries to look good, the more negative effect they generate.
the problem here is that those MIW still think they can do the same trick to con those folks out there not even knowing the truth is that situation at ground level is going to explored in time to come, what feedback they are getting through most of their so called grassroot thingy are always the goody goody things, everyone is happy with them. This can lead to a tsunami case comes next election if they still think that the majority of people down there are still supporting them.
huh
WHAT ABOUT THOSE LOW WAGE WORKERS THAT LOST THEIR JOBS? CONVENIENTLY OUT OF THE STATISTICS.
toiletmatter
my daughter who is 24 yrs old and was retrenched lately. having to pay loan for education (degreed course), a poly graduate in chemical processing, got a job working as waitress though for temp., was paid $1,100.00 from 4.00 pm to 1.00 pm. this is what singaporean gets!
ask ur girl go NUS or NTU get a real degree, except maybe she need to have even better grades than the PRCs, Mymars, Indians, Viets who are paid to come here to study, & btw the PRC to local ratio are easily 3:1 … including the lecturers
winstoncheng
This is a sad day for Singaporean. We have been told to defend our nation and we did. I remember the days when I tried to justify the need for National Service and reservist training to my friends. The need for every man in Singapore to pick up the M-16 when our security is threatened. I was proud to be trained for that.
Today, we can’t even defend our rice bowl against the invasion of foreign workers.
Bottomline is, we’ve been screwed!
mice is nice
hi winstoncheng,
you are wrong liao, you pick up M16 to defend the foreigners… must treat them like they are the 1s giving you the ricebowl.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
hi Concerned Sporean,
////how can a S’porean get evidence?////
take pictures with 35mm camera? film negative is not that easily manipulated compared to digital image censors.
tiredman
Dear #50 two things on June 8th, 2009 3.26 pm
You said:
“Without evidence, I won’t go so far to accuse the government for manipulating statistics. But I must say, they must have hope that statistics look good on themselves. On the other hand, equally guilty, are people who hope that the statistics reflect bad on the policers makers.”
What I think:
There are too many cover up going on in this country. Case such as: Temasek, keeping quiet still foreign media report their losses. As far as I am concern the gahman has already loss her creditability. Convince me and make me believe what reflects in the statistic is true base on the gahman’s track record.
You said:
“ As I mentioned earlier, the only way to achieve an increase in real wages is by commanding a job of higher value. Aside from reporting wage increase, it’ll be revealing to have other statistics to measure how much has been done to help people acquire capability of holding a job of higher value, and what are the difficulties for more improvement.”
What I think:
What is Time value for money? What is inflation? I do not know where you are heading to . Don’t you know that when there is inflation we are actually reallocating wealth (from the poor to the rich) if there is no adjustment to real wages? I think you have got things seriously very wrong.
In the way you put it, the salary of a road sweeper should not have his wage adjust to inflation while, a high class being can have the adjustment to their real wage. It is not about commanding a job of a higher value. It is about being fair. (i.e. the salary of a road sweeper in Singapore should have a higher salary as compared to a road sweeper in China. Why? Higher cost of living!!) We are talking about how to put lower income worker back to their original position, hence can buy the same basket of goods given there is inflation in any point of time. So what are you talking about?
prettyplace
#34 ram…
Great line man…forgot that one…thanx for reminding me…
ah soh
Hi TOC:
I have been posting the last two days but after submitting the comments, they disappeared into the thin air.
Any idea, what is the problem Sir ?
CJ
Is this how Low-Wage Workers are ‘better off’?
David
PAP has done enough of people damages already, let’s shut them up and force them to close down their 154th states Times. I can’t believe I am still FORCED TO PAY for my TV licence, damned!
loop
Most needy do not even read English. What is the point of this report?
mike
60) tiredsingaporean on June 8th, 2009 8.40 pm ,
this is what my sentiments too about what you said. all ground level is pissed and frustrated about the government system. ppl are really struggle and they do what they can to uphold and survive all by themsevles not from the government.
this is true facts.
Pessimist
WORK HARD, AND DIE POOR!!!! YEAH!!!!
two things
#65 tiredman: … if there is no adjustment to real wages?…. it is not about commanding a job of a higher value.
You didn’t get it.
1. real wages = wages adjusted for inflation = real buying power of wage
2. commanding higher value = having a capability that employers are willing to pay more salary. For example, getting promoted, doing a more difficult job, doing the same job better (including becoming more experience than before), or doing something that consumers want to pay more.
two things, what rubbish.
“On the other hand, equally guilty, are people who hope that the statistics reflect bad on the policers makers.”
What rubbish. With some negatives & answers coming in a manner that leave much to be desired. It is not too difficult to know that dots are missing when they should be there. If you do not know how to spot them, do not blame others for spotting them.
GLOW
We need a referendum on the PAP……………
The only way is to get the opposition to contest EVERY constituency………..
The ballot paper should just read “PAP” … or…. “OPPOSITION” ………
Wahhh Liao….. buay tahan liao………..
Visitor to E2i
The job fair got jobs for non-degree holders, based on the one i been to today.
salaries i heard are between $900 to $1000.
Low wage workers better off – really?
i not sure since i not sure who provided the data and who can access the real data and what is the reality.
Angelina
Think about it, is there any consequence to ST’s inaccurate numbers or nonsense report? Any consequence at all if they lie??? Its not as if they will get thrown into IMH or detained by ISA (unless of course the ‘news’ are NOT to Govt’s favour). The answer is a crystal clear “NO” (somebody will get promoted instead)! So of course they WILL lie, its like given the free kick to score a goal in football, won’t you? Under this circumstance, we don’t even need to check out the accuracy of the figures or gather evidence. There is ZERO credibility on such a newspaper.
Pessimist
Low wage workers better off cos’ they get to die in S’pore lah. If you’re middle income, you die in JB lor….
ACACIA
57) Yes I realised that long ago although I frequent JB more. Our leaders need to be shot with a lump of mud to wake them up!!! ( burning them is too much! )
My question is this, why is this happening to Singapore! The high cost of living?, low wages not from the old folks working but their family members, so low that they have to work themselves.
The father and son who jumped, the repossession part was not reported in the ST until I read the Today online edition.
As I’ve always maintained, they stop this policy now! I hope the relevent department heads are reading this.
PCC
They can write what they want to write as long as approved by their Editors.
Looking at all the ST articles, I always wondered did the writers come up with the topics or they are given topics to write?
Makes a lot of difference in terms of the kind of information coming into our minds.
radlife66
ACACIA #79
The said today online article is now missing…
Repossession = Death Sentence?
I have always wondered what happens after a person’s flat is repossessed as it can be a traumatic experience for the whole family.
Does MCYS or HDB ensure that there is a place for the family to relocate to before allowing for a flat to be repossessed? Or is it another case of ‘you die, your business’ here in Singapore?
Although they may not have caused the deaths of the father and son directly, I believe the people that took back the flat already have blood on their hands.
a singapore in malaysian court
To ‘62) toiletmatter on June 8th, 2009 11.18 pm
my daughter who is 24 yrs old and was retrenched lately. having to pay loan for education (degreed course), a poly graduate in chemical processing, got a job working as waitress though for temp., was paid $1,100.00 from 4.00 pm to 1.00 pm. this is what singaporean gets!
ask ur girl go NUS or NTU get a real degree, except maybe she need to have even better grades than the PRCs, Mymars, Indians, Viets who are paid to come here to study, & btw the PRC to local ratio are easily 3:1 … including the lecturers’
YOU ARE SPOT ON. the division where i used to teach in NTU now comprises 12 FT/PRs to 1 Sporean. I left the system because many of these FT/PRs have low work ethics; this depresses me; they will eat you up for breakfast/lucnh and dinner over and over again and then when the day comes, you will be thrown out. I am now working in Malaysian uni.
tiredman
#73 two things on June 9th, 2009 2.11 pm
You are wasting my time. This is just not the way to combat inflation and to narrow income gap.
Be-lee-ttled
To #73 two things.
“#65 tiredman: … if there is no adjustment to real wages?…. it is not about commanding a job of a higher value.
You didn’t get it.
1. real wages = wages adjusted for inflation = real buying power of wage
2. commanding higher value = having a capability that employers are willing to pay more salary. For example, getting promoted, doing a more difficult job, doing the same job better (including becoming more experience than before), or doing something that consumers want to pay more.”
for point #2, You are missing the point. There will always be people who do not have the capacity, aptitude, capability to perform jobs of higher value existing amongst any societies. So what happens if you do not have the capability to perform higher value jobs? Does that make it okay to disenfranchise these people? To make as if they don’t exist and then sweep them under the carpet somewhere?
Doing the same job better may sit well with some employers, but given the climate of employment in singapore, the employer is likely to load you with more work than to give you a pay rise or promotion. Like the common saying these days goes, the reward for good work is more work.
Most policies have to be enforced before any employer will even consider putting them into practice.
Our leaders current or future have to change their mind set, that the society, no matter what “cracy” it is in, has to be inclusive as much as possible. It should not rely too much on idealism such as elitism or meritocracy and create an exclusive society where only a few opinions matter.
I think singapore is starting to feel the pinch of such idealism. Ideals do not matter. People matters. All policies should be people oriented. If the government cannot address these real issues of the country convincingly enough, they should make room for a better player. They should not be too afraid to loose their power and benefits. Afterall, these are elites who could easily find jobs out there that commands them similar salaries as ministers.
Jobs, employment, should also be people oriented as oppose to productivity or growth oriented. What is the purpose of so much growth when a good percentage of the populace are in dire financial situations? We move at the pace of the slowest people, that is the fact of all societies.
Our leaders have to seriously relook into their policies pertaining to the less fortunate and consolidate some real strategies and purposeful policies to alleviate their dispositions. Shorter working hours, better justified wages, childcare providence, education subsidy etc. And be less stringent about the selection criteria. Whats the point of having a good financial aide plan when only a few people in need gets it?
Lee Fatt Yew
Finally found an article on low wage.
Fact :
1. Singaporean NITEC cert holder is offered only hundreds of dollars and not even 1k a month for
6 day job.
weekends are all working days.
shifts – work till early morning.
To me, such low wage is very competitive even for foreign workers.
what say you?
why is salary level like this?
Can retire with dignity?
Can meet min sum?
better don’t grow old.
Lee Fatt Yew
Lydia Chua Mui Mui of the hooong G.A.N (Gorilla And Nanas)
Hi #85,
wow, that kind of pay is comparable to road sweepers and hawker center cleaners if not cardboard collectors liao. I mean, you did not mean lower than $100 a month right? But seriously, can singaporeans be paid $99 per month or less? What is there to stop lowering of wages? Lets say foreign workers ask for a nice round number of $99 per month.
Zaki sing songer
hey #85 Lee,
I suppose the employer, prolly singaporean, also by hiring sub-1K singaporean NITEC holder will get to enjoy the JCS?
sadsg
Sze Hian is awalys such insightful into the details … hats off
And shame on you Mr Gan. I thought you are unlikely the rest of PAP elite who uses propaganda and misled people. Looks like you are just one of them.
Ultimately, it is not what we read on paper that counts. I’d rather depends on what I see daily on these low wage worker. Each day I see ah gong & ah ma working tirelessly in coffee shops cleaning table or washing toilets, just to earn peanuts to support their themselves and their family. Some of them selling tissues or simply begging at the road side.
One would simply wonder whats wrong with out society, shouldnt these golden age grandparents be enjoying their last few moments happily with their family?
ahtong
I am reminded by TOC’s article on comparing Singapore with Animal Farm. Recall the chapter where Squealor was reporting increases in grain and food production to the animals, but those animals were still feeling hungry?
mike
88) sadsg on June 11th, 2009 10.15 am ,
unles these golden age grandparents are of LEEfamilies’…….
mice is nice
want a slice of life from the “horse’s mouth”, just chat up security, retail or F&B staff during off peak hours, usually 2pm – 5pm.
;)
Fairness
ya, pay increase = working hours also increase. 1 person doing 2 persons job.
Significant Progress for Low Wage Workers since 2006? « Temasek Society
[...] Straits Times. • The Online Citizen’s Leong Sze Hian also wrote about MOM’s report here. • See also TOC’s list of Singapore’s purported rising cost of living. 0 Comments [...]
jobless singaporean
What will happen to all these elites if and only if in a scientific fictitious fiction, a new gov takes over? what will they be doing? I hope they continue do what they do lor. I mean they so good good and bombastic and steady bom bi bi .
regards
Karma
Dear Mr Leong,
You have written a good analysis to the MOM’s 74 page report. I certainly don’t feel that the low wage workers are better off now than in 2006. We see a huge inflation in oil, gas, food, water, and housing from 2006-2008 before the economic crisis. These things are necessities and even the low income people can’t live without them. I believe much of the price increase is due to the commodity speculations from the rich investors and oil tycoons although the turbulent climate and diseases did reduce the supply of crops and livestock too. The rich co The income of the poorest 20% of the people did increase by 9.2% but inflation for this group also rise by 9.5%. The commodity investors have milked a lot of money from those necessities out from the pockets of the low and middle income people who have to pay higher prices for their oil, gas and food.
The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Weekly Roundup: Week 24
[...] “..it seems like MOM is trying to paint a picture that workers are better off, even when the reality on the ground might be different.” Leong Sze Hian [...]
mice is nice
there is an article in the Straits Times about this issue today, page 2 of the main section. the coverage is more balanced, could have been a response to this article? ;)
Good analysis Sze Hian. The needy may not read these reports to properly refute it.