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.

regards
Karma

;)

unles these golden age grandparents are of LEEfamilies’…….

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?

I suppose the employer, prolly singaporean, also by hiring sub-1K singaporean NITEC holder will get to enjoy the JCS?

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.

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

“#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?

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.

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.

The said today online article is now missing…

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.