By Leong Sze Hian
I refer to media reports (“Resorts World Sentosa say 70% of its over 8,000 staff are S’poreans, PRs”, Channel News Asia, 17 February) that Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) said that 70 per cent of its staff strength of over 8,000 are Singaporeans or Permanent Residents. But some who have visited the gaming tables are questioning where exactly are they working?
RWS said since it was awarded the integrated resort in 2006, it has remained committed to hiring Singaporeans as a first priority. But they were not able to give a detailed breakdown on the proportion of locals to foreigners hired to work at the integrated resort.
I was dining at a restaurant located in RWS, and struck up a conversation with the member of staff who was serving me.
I understand that of the dozen or so service staff members working in that restaurant’s open public serving area, 20 per cent come from a neighbouring country while the other 80 per cent is from another Asean country.
Most from the other Asean country are university students who are on a six-month internship here, earning just $430 a month. They also have to pay for their return airfare to Singapore, food, transport and other expenses, although accommodation is provided for them.
These ‘intern’ workers may be competing with Singaporeans for service jobs, and may also contribute to declining wages.
Here’s the context – there are about 401,600 resident workers earning less than $1,200 a month, and about 106,000 households with monthly household incomes below $1,000.
Over the last ten years, the bottom two quintiles of resident workers saw minuscule changes to their incomes – incomes in the bottom quintile slipped 1.7 per cent per annum while that of workers in the 21st to 40th percentile grew only 0.9 per cent per annum.
Are such ‘intern’ low-wage workers subject to the foreign worker levy? Are they counted in the foreign worker quotas imposed upon employers?
Recent newspaper recruitment advertisements from RWS state that “only Singaporeans and Singapore PRs are invited to apply”, but also say that “foreign students that are eligible to work under MOM’s [Ministry of Manpower] Work Pass exemption policy may also apply for our F&B [food and beverage] part-time positions”.
As there are about 150,000 foreign students in private tertiary institutions in Singapore, if we add the foreign universities’ “interns”, how many “intern” low-wage workers are there in total in a year?
Government statistics state that there are about one million foreign workers here, of which about 856,000 are on work permits and 82,000 on the S Pass. Are these short-tem “interns”, short-term project workers, green pass workers and so on included?
If an adjustment is made to account for these “short-term” workers, how many foreign workers are there in total in a year?
In the somewhat contentious debate about whether the two integrated resorts should be built, the primary argument which won the day was that it would create about 35,000 jobs for Singaporeans.
It was then reported in the media that Philippines president Gloria Arroyo said that RWS would provide about 5,000 jobs for Filipinos.
So, now that the IRs are poised to open fully, and in the light of my experience at this restaurant where 100 per cent of the service staff are foreigners, can we have a clarification on the number of jobs in IRs that would go to Singaporeans, permanent residents (PRs) and foreigners?
To provide further anecdotal evidence of the issue, a country club that I have been going to for years used to have food and beverage service staff who were Singaporeans, earning about $1,500 a month.
Over the years, they were replaced by workers from a neighbouring country earning about $1,200. They were subsequently replaced by workers from another Asean country at salaries of $800 a month. Now, the jobs are worth just $550 a month and are worked by private university interns from an Asean country.
The employer’s cost have gone down significantly, as such students do not even need the employer to provide accommodation, unlike the previous foreign workers.
By the way, Marina Bay Sands also said that “it was unable to give an exact figure but added most of the people it has recruited across the entire IR are locals”. (“Marina Bay Sands gears up for April 27 opening with final hiring burst”, Channel News Asia, 25 Feb).
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don’t bullsxxt lah Pap, we only believe what we experience on the ground.
my company in recent months got 7 new hires. (trust me, not jobs that singaporeans don’t want and pay > $3k)
only 2 singaporeans, rest is pr, ft and even wp/ep.
really, as NSMen, what are we defending?? vote out the traitors of singapore.
Readers,
all social politico blogs articles have 1 thing in common : Questions.
How can singapore have a team of independent people’s representatives to audit all figures published and drill into the details not shown like public housing construction cost, how many foreigners, how many jobs, how many citizens employed?
I cannot see how such a model can last the test of time.
Uncle Leong, thanks for your article.
RWS, a big international company cannot give a breakdown of their workforce ? Who are they trying to bluff ? Every company will find ways to employ labour on the cheap. Our govt allowed this to happened. If they want to, they can tighten/close some loopholes. Singaporeans can work, and want to be gainfully employed, but do not want to be paid with such low wages. I do not believe for once that Singaporeans are not interested or incapable to take up jobs available in the IRs.
just face the fact lah guys…the casinos are creating job for our neighbours. How many Filipinos do you see prowling the streets of Singapore.
Under the eminent leadership of our world-class paid leaders, our economy has certainly grown and we created many jobs for locals (“local-foreigner” PRs). Mr Leong’s example of the food and beverage service Singaporean staff being replaced by cheaper and cheaper foreign workers should be cited by Lim Swee Say as a model for how we can become cheaper. We can cook up some elements to include in the story to showcase the “better” and “faster” aspects – maybe faster replacement by cheaper workers to achieve better profits for the bosses.
May I also humbly say some of our politicians and commercial operators are being economical with the truth? No, I’m not accusing them of lying.
May I humbly call some of our politicians and commercial operators liars?
‘By the way, Marina Bay Sands also said that “it was unable to give an exact figure but added most of the people it has recruited across the entire IR are locals”. ‘
Come on Marina Bay Sands, at least give a ball park figure – out of the “(most are) locals”, what proportion are SINGAPOREANS?
“It was then reported in the media that Philippines president Gloria Arroyo said that RWS would provide about 5,000 jobs for Filipinos.”
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Under what conditions were these 5,000 jobs provided for or reserved the Filipinos?
Were there under the table deals that could have taken place between Genting Singapore and/or Genting Malaysia and Gloria Arroyo for the benefit of Genting in Philippines at the expense of Singaporeans?
Did the Ministry of Manpower attempt to prevent this ?
This is truly an act of betrayal.
Its very simple… if you are not able to get a CLEAR and meaningful answer, that means the “truth” is BS ………. lets keep it simple :)
All NS men are Sporean except for about ten 2nd generation PRs.
Two world class resorts unable to tell us the nationality of their employees??
Why does everybody want to take us as fools?
I think even the no-smoking law is being bent because the ” resorts” are too big to fail.
Let’s face reality.It’s our own fault for trusting (or fearing) PAP too much that’s why all these are happening right before our very eyes!
It’s simply betrayal of the worst kind when the so-called elected leaders reward themselves at our citizens’ expense!
Govt outsource jobs to cut costs (but never the Ministers &MPs ,GLC CEOs & board directors’ fat salaries).
WE just have to wait for the day when Singaporeans decide to protest outside the IRs to register our anger!!
LKY said that Singapore was unique.
How right he is!
We grant our ministers fat paychecks,believing that they are a unique bunch of very brainy,capable Homo sapiens who are mysteriously endowed with the wisdom to think of the best solutions for Singapore’s problems.At first,I thought so too,that we are indeed very lucky,and that their salaries are fully justified,that they are indeed our most able helmsmen.
So, the desperate problem of how to attract the tourist dollar was ably solved by them.The solution?
Set up gambling dens.(But make it sound less controversial.Call them “Integrated Resorts”)
I was convinced that they could come up with better,less controversial plans than this,given the high pay that they command.Alas,I was dead wrong.
Can’t get Singaporeans to work at certain jobs?
Just open the floodgates to foreigners.Problem solved,period.
Pay just 1/10 of their salaries,and any Tom,Dick and Harry can give Singaporeans the same solutions.Pray tell,with such solutions how are they different from other politicians?How are their high pay justified?
Answer:
Because Singapore is unique…………
While I was still working overseas, i read many comments and opinions that spore is now filled with foreigners. Some comment that they don’t understand the languages of the person sitting next to them while on buses and MRT.
I was on home leave in Feb. I was shocked to see and hear so many Philippinos and Indians.
Now i see and I believe.
Enough of the bullshit. The two IRs should come clean with the exact figures of Singaporeans and foreigners employed. The MOM should direct them to provide such figures. If they have nothing to hide, there is nothing to cover up.
I say do not trust your own eyes; just read the Straits Times, it is full of goodness like milo.
i think the issue is not about facts but about trust.
RWS have publicly stated that 70% are Singaporeans/PRs, 30% are foreigners.
There is no way of verifying that number, short of physically counting all the people.
Even if this issue comes up in parliament, there is only the minister’s word.
So it all boils down to trust.
Skeptics will never believe and dismiss it as lies.
Believers will buy into the theory that the visible service shift jobs are the ones that locals don’t want and the locals are tucked into the higher paying, office hour jobs at the back.
While we will never know for sure (like lemons market), we can infer from costly signalling. If a company makes such a statement publicly and was caught lying, it will be a major PR disaster. However, if they are confident enough to be so specific with the 70-30 ratio, chances are they are technically telling the truth.
Yup, “technically telling the truth” that that 70% are Singaporeans/PRs, 30% are foreigners and then having to go the whole hog because “if a company makes such a statement publicly and was caught lying, it will be a major PR disaster”. Yet we rightly question, as the 70% Singaporeans/PRs could technically be 20% Singaporeans/80% foreigner-PRs and experiences from public suggest this could very well be the case.
how does the system worked for the casinos? so simple..you go to cebu or wherever in phillippines..you placed an advert printin payin you a STRAIGHT S$400/month..want the job or not? i guranteed you 101% there will be a long long Q longer than singapoor idols wannabes…
off course without a doubt singapoor government cannot be seen dishin out salaries @ $400/month..thats is technicalLEE breakin the LAWs of the whole wide world..that where the word ^internship^ comes in just liked your poly/uni undergrads who goes for ^internships^ @ the rate of $400/month as expenses allowance…
which part of the rules i don’t know? liked i said before..i also recruit beautiFOOL lasses from china doin the same jobs from dealin cards to dishin out dishes with their 1/2 balls asset showin flirtin the tukoapeks eyes while they were placin the bets…
~chey~
“these are jobs shunned by Singaporeans”, “70% working at IRs are Singaporeans”.
When a lie is repeated often enough and long enough, people will be brainwashed and accepted them to be the truth.
annonymou: Why is it so since hiring Singaporeans would make more sense?
sgcynic
Mar 2, 2010 22:56
i agree – what’s wrong with giving a ballpark figure? it is really that hard? the fact that they are playing dodge with the figures simply mean they are not transparent, so they definitely got something to hide.
i find it amusing how they insist majority of the IR workers are singaporeans when many people who go there find it the opposite. are the singaporean workers support staff then as they are “hidden” from view?
“singaporeans shun these jobs” is becoming a sickening refrain the ruling party keeps singing over and over. find another reason to justify the low productivity and how you DON’T want to increase wages.
if they can’t convince you, they confuse you.
Not everybody is upset over this, employers are VERY happy with such policies and loopholes. Upsetand daft S’poreans just show their frustrations at the ballot box. In such a scenario, any clown can stand for elections and have a decent chance of pocketing 13k a month. In short, the MIWs are shooting themselves in the foot, they are just asking for it.
Is it a hiring policy by RWS or MBS that majority of her employees are locals ? I don’ think so.
Even if it were so now, what difference will it make ?
Unless it is a requirement by MOM and regular checks conducted, it is not going to stay that way. We all know that employees come and go. overtime, you will find that this mix will be skewed towards foreigners.
So asking for details now is useless. We know they are lying…
Mar 3, 2010
MPs worried about levy
By Sue-Ann Chia
THE raising of the foreign worker levy was a hot issue on the first day of the Budget debate in Parliament yesterday, with almost half of the 26 MPs who spoke zooming in on the hike.
Many feared it could lead to businesses passing on the higher costs to consumers. Also, starting the first phase of the increase this year could hurt companies as some are still recovering from the recession.
While they acknowledge the need for a higher levy to control the surge in foreign workers, the MPs worry employers will not be able to find enough locals to do the jobs done by the foreigners.
‘If we don’t have enough manpower and other resources to take added new orders in the world markets, we may lose all our customers and business opportunities to our competitors very quickly,’ warned Nominated MP Teo Siong Seng, who is also president of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Ms Jessica Tan (East Coast GRC) said the increase could send the wrong signal that foreigners are not welcome, while Mr Ong Ah Heng (Nee Soon Central) gave an impassioned speech in defence of foreign workers who make significant contributions.
He said in Mandarin: ‘I know of one family who complain the cleaners in their precinct are lazy and too old. They don’t want local workers who are old, they want young foreign workers.
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking…ry_497178.html
“Mr Ong Ah Heng (Nee Soon Central) gave an impassioned speech in defence of foreign workers who make significant contributions.
He said in Mandarin: ‘I know of one family who complain the cleaners in their precinct are lazy and too old. They don’t want local workers who are old, they want young foreign workers.”
I beg your pardon. I respectfully disagree with you.
How can you say that Singaporean cleaners are all lazy? In my estate, the bangla cleaners are nowhere to be seen in the afternoon. When I do see them, they are trying to hook an Indon or filipina maid.
It is the old ‘ah pek’ who I find still working in the afternoon sun.
It is very wrong of you to generalise that all Singaporean cleaners are lazy.
Seems you have forgotten who put you in parliament.
Quoted: It was then reported in the media that Philippines president Gloria Arroyo said that RWS would provide about 5,000 jobs for Filipinos.
Arroyo just made an unsubstantiated, hopefully popular, statement.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1624690/and_now_military_offers_2000_jobs_to.html?cat=9
Nowhere do we hear further about the alleged 5,000 jobs for Filipinos…
hmm i dun think its fair to make accusations so quickly when u don’t have the facts. And to Joe how can you know for sure that they are lying? And would u work there for 550 a month?
Jobs are not just created by direct employment by the IRs. Indirect employment is also created by suppliers and services providers to the IRs and the other facilities surrounding the IRs. Indirect employment is also created in the tourism, food, and transportation industries, etc. Therefore the actual number of jobs created due to the spin offs from the IRs are much larger than the projections of direct employment. We cannot expect the IRs to operate without workers with the relevant skills and work attitude, otherwise they (and we) will fail. It will take time for Singaporeans to learn the ropes of running an IR/Casino which is a new industry here, but we cannot afford to let the IRs fail from day one due to the shortage of the requisite professionals. These may include young and good-looking cleaners, bearing in mind that the IRs is an entertainment industry catering to the international audience and image is important. So let us be patient and help make these 2 huge investments in Singapore a roaring success…for Singapore and for Singaporeans.
“hmm i dun think its fair to make accusations so quickly when u don’t have the facts.”
Agree. Question is why is there a need to be so coy on the facts? It is when things are not transparent and the experiences on the ground do not square with “facts” that it raises doubts about published “facts”.
I do agree that I despice organisations and institutions (including government bodies) that hide behind the facade that they cannot provide any figures, ballpark or otherwise. Where is the quota that guarantee jobs for Singaporeans? Look at Sheng Siong, it is nearly all foreigners.
As an employer, I love foreign workers. I have interviewed tons of locals and there is only despair to share with you, my friends. Work on weekend, cannot lah; work late, cannot lah (we know that the statistics that said Singaporeans are hardworking do not address the fact that most of these hardworking Singaporeans are foreign workers), the constant complaint about foreigners taking away their job – true to a certain extent but not all valid.
“As there are about 150,000 foreign students in private tertiary institutions in Singapore, if we add the foreign universities’ “interns”, how many “intern” low-wage workers are there in total in a year?”
150,000 foreign students? I am so proud of our country reaching its goal as an educational hub. However, only students from selected institutions are allowed to work. Either your article overstates it or MOM is not doing a very good job monitoring the casino.
everyone is harping on wanting to know the facts, the figures about the numbers of FW employed by RWS.
My answer is what does it matter.. so what if they can show the figures today ? Employees come and go.. unless it is a government mandate that they must employ a certain % of singaporeans, it is not going to stay that way even if they can show the figures today . Get it? You guys are harping on the wrong things…
Sinkies are a gullible lot and are easily fooled.
By being evasive the casinos and gahmen obviously have something to hide from us.
When the time comes for us to finally open the closets, all the hidden skeletons will come tumbling out. We will then be dismissively told once again “to let’s move on”!!!
When will we learn to stop whining, be more assertive and excercise our will and our rights towards a gahmen that treats its citizens with contempt?
America and Europe are tottering on the edge of disaster. America and countries of Europe are one by one falling in desperate debt. China’s growth has slowed down and may no longer function as the engine of growth for the rest of Asia. In the worst case scenario, let us envisage that the West collapses and China stalls permamently. In such a case, even if you beg foreign talent to come to S they will not come. Instead they will give up their citizenship en masse and run. Property prices will drop resoundingly. Even HDB flats will be vacant in large numbers and its high prices evaporate. The PAP or indeed any Government will not be able to do anything to save Singapore. Instead I think even the Ministers themselves will resign in large numbers and run away to other countries in which they have bought properties during the years of their million dollar largesse. My point is, there is no one smart enough, no not one, who is able to fend off global crisis of such magnitude that is now hovering on the horizen. So no need to pay these Ministers and President such millions as if they have the capability to do something to save us when the crunch comes. They can’t even solve local flood problems! Let us pay them a reasonable amount commensurate with other office holders in the world. In this way, they are stuck in Singapore just as much as we are and will probably make more effort to solve problems and do things for the local population now when the catastrophe has yet to come upon us. The Ruling Party can then use their brains to see that only necessary foreigners are allowed into the country, so that the jobs which Singaporeans can do will be earmarked for Singaporeans. If disaster then strikes, at least Singaporeans will not be left in the lurch with minus equity in their homes because they are jobless for decades even during the good times. Being continuously employed makes for a healthy population. Payouts from the Government is neither sufficient nor healthy. Other things which the Ruling party can avoid is to give University scholarshipa to large numbers of foreigners who can fog a mirror, spend millions in effort to have them speak English, build massive economic superstructures like the gambling resorts only to employ foreigners in the bulk, allow prostitutes into the country in droves to feed the pleasure industry comprising of mostly tourists etc. Instead spend on our own people because we are the sons of the soil ( of course we are not the indigeneous inhabitants ) and too poor to leave even if a financial and economic Tsunami were to hit our land. One example of deliberate planning against the old and less educated Singaporeans is the easy entry of armies of young China girls and young Bangladeshi men to work the menial jobs at hawker centres, shopping centres and wherever manual work is required. Even such lowly jobs are denied our people in this Goverment’s worship of foreign talent. I don’t know whether it is devotion to foreign icons, stupidity or malevolence against the downtrodden in our midst. Because there is nothing we can do to stem the tide of mounting arrogant carelessness of societal needs in the ranks of the Ruling Party; because the political police are ever ready to smash any objectors in the land, the ruling politicians grow heedless and bold beyond care.