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Jeffrey Khoo shares encounter with a former MNC director who drives GRAB to sustain expenses

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2 years ago

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SINGAPORE — Middle-aged Singaporean who was a former Multi-National Company (MNC) director, now works as a private hire driver to sustain expenses and lost hope in finding a full-time job.

Mr Jeffery Khoo, a Progress Singapore Party member and candidate at the West Coast GRC in General Election 2020, posted a Facebook post about an encounter he had with a private hire driver with GRAB on Tuesday (29 Nov).

Mr Khoo who was travelling from the Kent Ridge Guild House of the National University of Singapore Society (NUSS), was surprised and saddened when the driver told him that he was a former NUSS member and had to sell off his membership as he has fallen on hard times.

According to Mr Khoo, the driver proclaims to have been a Commercial Director at a large MNC and left his job to start his own venture.

However, things did not work out after three-four years and he found great difficulties securing a job.

For the past few years, the driver is said to have been driving GRAB and now at 48, he feels all hope is lost to find full-time employment.

Mr Khoo then asked if the driver had taken up some training to upgrade his skills, which is the common suggestion, to better his chances.

But as the driver has ongoing expenses to pay, he has no choice but to drive as much as possible to increase income.

“Basically no time to attend courses. He further mentioned that he needs a job now and not “higher potential for a job” by acquiring more training,” wrote Mr Khoo.

Mr Khoo noted that one of the driver’s comments resonated with him, which is at the driver’s age, he would be more suitable for a people management role.

While taking up new skill sets may be undoubtedly beneficial, it also means starting from a lower level in most cases.

Mr Khoo also added that the driver was infuriated over the number of managerial roles that were given to foreigners and not Singaporeans.

According to Mr Khoo, the driver had not been aware that he was a member of a political party and was just pouring out his frustrations to a fellow Singaporean.

“Before I disembarked, I encouraged him that there will be change at some point in the future and we must not to give up hope. Incidentally, “Hope” in the Malay language is “Harapan”. ”

Netizens Share Similar Experiences

Mr Khoo’s post struck an accord with netizens who agreed with what was allegedly said by the driver with 1000 over interactions and over 200 shares.

Dicksen Chua wrote that companies will say that it has exhausted all possible situations to employ locals but then claim all locals who applied are not suitable, “so we have to get FT”.

“MOM believed or just can’t be bothered. If you really want to know that they really exhausted all means, MOM can request the companies to forward them all the resumes and interviews at random to see if is it the case.”

Another commenter,  Kristoffer Sy said the driver’s comments are valid.

“When u cross 50, employers put aside your application for younger ones. Talk about increasing the retirement age! How to retire like that, when you cannot get a job?”

Mike Yeo shared that he is one of those who had similar experiences similar with the driver.

“Too old to re-employ, even if willing to start from scratch, no one will even consider. Even when I was willing to earn just enough to live, no one would give me a chance.”

“Regardless of whether within the same field or to try a different field, regardless of the tonnes of CVs I sent out, not even one interview.”

“Even if I went for tonnes of upgrading courses or re-skilling courses, it was to no avail.
That is why we are shunted into dead-end jobs like driving or security jobs or even delivery jobs.”

“And this will just make our situation worse because the longer we stay out of the normal workforce, the harder people find it to accept us back in.”

Yeo argued that Singapore needs to fundamentally change its hiring practices and also how to make the reabsorption of manpower better.

Aapache Z-flip also commented that all those Workforce Singapore (WSG) courses I took — 18 courses since he came back to Singapore in Nov 2019  — won’t get the job you wanted.

He wrote that the agents and employers will instead ask him to downgrade to be a cleaner or pamphlets distributor, despite being a graduate of RMIT with a Diploma in Production Planning coupled with 35 years of experience in MNC from facilities set up (whole factory) to inventory control & materials planning.

But after writing more than 500 emails, only two called him up for an interview.

According to Aapache, both interviewers were foreigners and got their citizenship only months ago.

Allegedly, the interviewers told him they have 10 to 12 purchasers respectively and only 1 – 2 respectively are locals. The rest are from their own Countries (Philippines & PRC).

“And due to my age and more experience than them, I was not selected (of course).” wrote Aapache.

Kum Meng Poon lamented that the Merdeka generation in Singapore is badly hit by a job change or loss symptoms.

“Whatever benefits we get from it, can’t replace the loss of employment or work that we have had. I used to say this many years back “I’m a tourist in my own country”.”

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Civil Society

TWC2 launches fundraising initiative for at-risk migrant workers

Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) has launched a fundraising campaign to assist those facing challenges such as work injuries, wrongful termination or financial hardship due to underpayment disputes. The campaign, hosted on Give.asia, aims to raise S$36,000 to provide crucial support during these workers’ most difficult times.

Published

13 hours ago

on

11 October 2024

By

SINGAPORE: Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), an advocacy group for migrant workers, has launched a fundraising campaign to support those facing difficulties, including work injuries, termination for requesting rightful salaries, or financial hardship due to disputes over underpayment.

The campaign, hosted on the Give.asia platform, aims to raise S$36,000 to provide a lifeline for these workers during their darkest hours.

The group stated that the funds will offer support to low-wage migrant workers in distress through various means, including meal assistance, phone top-ups, travel allowances, emergency shelter, and more.

TWC2 highlighted five types of workers in distress. For example, one cook was forced to perform unpaid work late into the night and was coerced into signing blank payslips.

He received less than half of his official salary, with his employer creating false timecards and payslips.

TWC2 specified the resources needed to assist migrant workers facing financial challenges over six months, including S$1,322 per month for an online helpdesk, S$876 for meal support, S$120 for phone top-ups, and S$80 for EZ-Link credit to attend Ministry of Manpower (MOM) appointments.

Worker Left Vulnerable After Company Closure: Loss of Housing and Belongings Leads to Months of Hardship

Another worker is struggling after his company closed down, leaving him without coverage for his injury.

Furthermore, his employer allegedly failed to pay his housing rent, resulting in the worker losing all his belongings, including his passport, cash, and clothes. He was left to beg and borrow clothes for nearly a month.

TWC2 stated that the funds will help him replace his passport, which costs around S$200, as well as cover S$2,228 for his monthly rent at the TWC2 shelter, S$480 for EZ-Link credit for travel to hospital appointments, and S$240 for phone top-ups.

The third case involves a migrant worker who was denied necessary surgery after suffering a finger injury from heavy machinery. Instead of being taken to the hospital immediately, he was brought to a small clinic, leading to an infection in his open fracture.

He was also pressured to return to his home country for treatment. Urgent surgery was delayed for 33 days because his employer withheld the necessary documents.

TWC2 is appealing for S$1,322 per month for online helpdesk support for this worker, S$1,898 for meal support, S$240 for phone top-ups, and S$480 for EZ-Link credit for travel to hospital appointments.

The fourth case involves a worker who was underpaid for overtime and rest day work.

He was fired after discussing information related to the Employment Act with his colleagues. His employer later contacted a potential future employer to disparage him.

This worker will require S$1,073 monthly to fund online information campaigns, S$120 for phone top-ups, and S$80 for EZ-Link credit to attend MOM appointments.

The fifth case concerns a worker who injured his back while lifting 50kg of cement. Although he was granted 300 days of medical leave, his employer did not report the incident to MOM, and the insurance company took over a year to investigate and accept his claim. The doctor instructed him to avoid catered food for health reasons.

TWC2 is seeking S$160 monthly for his groceries, S$120 for phone top-ups, and S$80 for EZ-Link credit to attend MOM appointments.

Part of this annual fundraising campaign commemorates International Migrants Day in December, which includes a luncheon, “Lunch With Heart,” for migrant workers to thank them for their contributions to Singapore.

TWC2 Highlights Ongoing Exploitation: Employers Bypass Laws to Undermine Workers’ Earnings

TWC2 noted that, according to Singapore’s Employment Act (Section 96), all workers should receive payslips detailing how their salaries are calculated and paid.

However, some employers still find ways to circumvent these laws, cheating workers out of their already low salaries. In 2023 alone, salary disputes rose by 55% according to MOM’s Employment Standards Report.

TWC2 emphasized that migrant workers who experience workplace accidents can be denied treatment by unscrupulous employers, despite being covered under the Work Injury Compensation Act. Even with medical insurance, they often lack access to it and may be sent back home with untreated injuries. The recovery process can be long and isolating, contributing to significant stress and mental health challenges for injured workers.

For these workers, a significant source of daily stress is financial insecurity.

“They are constantly thinking about providing for their family back home, ensuring loans are paid and sick family members have money for medical treatment. Essentially they are like us in every way.”

TWC2 highlighted that workers often take on overtime and forgo days off, even on public holidays, to earn higher wages. They should not be deprived of the wages they have rightfully earned or left with untreated injuries.

“We are appealing to you to offer a helping hand to these filial sons, devoted husbands, responsible mothers and dedicated workers, in their hour of dire need. ”

“We sincerely hope you can chip in so that these workers can have a lifeline in their darkest hours.”

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Labour

19 workplace fatalities in first half of 2024, MOM reports

Singapore’s Workplace Safety and Health report, issued on 9 October, revealed 19 workplace fatalities in the first half of 2024, up from 14 in 2023. Vehicular incidents were the leading cause, followed by falls from heights and equipment breakdowns. With five more deaths reported by September, the total fatalities for 2024 have reached at least 24. In comparison, 36 deaths were recorded in 2023.

Published

3 days ago

on

9 October 2024

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SINGAPORE: Nineteen workers died from workplace injuries in the first half of 2024, an increase from 14 fatalities during the same period in 2023, according to Singapore’s Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) performance report released by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Wednesday (9 October).

Vehicular incidents were the leading cause of death, followed by falls from a height and the collapse or breakdown of structures and equipment.

These causes accounted for 11 of the fatalities – 58 per cent of the total deaths.

The construction, marine, transportation and storage, and manufacturing industries were responsible for 63 per cent of the 19 fatalities.

In the construction sector alone, five workers lost their lives, down from seven fatalities in the first half of 2023 and 11 in the second half of that year.

The marine industry saw four deaths in the first six months of 2024, despite no fatalities being recorded in 2023.

The transportation and storage sector had two fatalities, down from five in the same period last year. One fatality occurred in the manufacturing sector, mirroring the number from the first half of 2023.

In the water supply, sewerage, and waste management sector, three workers died, including two who inhaled poisonous fumes while cleaning tanks at PUB’s Choa Chu Kang Waterworks. There were no fatalities in this sector in 2023.

As of September 2024, five more deaths were reported, bringing the total workplace fatalities for the year to at least 24.

In comparison, 36 deaths were recorded in 2023.

The most recent workplace fatality occurred on 29 September, when a 44-year-old Bangladeshi worker tragically lost his life in an accident at a construction site within Resorts World Sentosa (RWS).

The worker was fatally struck by a collapsing steel structure during lifting operations.

Two workers tragically lost their lives on 17 September following a heavy machinery accident at a North-South Corridor construction site along Lentor Avenue.

The incident occurred while a group of workers was assembling a winch drum on two concrete blocks. The winch slipped, causing injuries to four workers.

Singapore’s Workplace Fatality Rate Rises Slightly, Now Fifth Among OECD Countries

The latest WSH report noted that Singapore’s workplace fatality rate from January to June 2024 was one death per 100,000 workers, slightly up from 0.8 in the first half of 2023 and 0.99 in the latter half of that year.

Singapore ranks fifth among Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, with a three-year average of 1.1 deaths per 100,000 workers.

The Netherlands and United Kingdom lead with 0.4, followed by Sweden at 0.7 and Germany at 0.8.

Major Injuries Decline

There were 293 major injuries in the first half of 2024, down from 316 in the same period of 2023.

These injuries, which include amputations, blindness, and paralysis, predominantly occurred in the construction and manufacturing industries. The main causes were slips, trips and falls; machinery incidents; and falls from a height.

The manufacturing sector saw a significant 35 per cent reduction in fatalities and major injuries, with 60 incidents recorded in the first half of 2024 compared to 92 in the same period last year.

The number of fatal and major injuries from metalworking also fell sharply, from 40 in 2023 to 22 in 2024.

In the construction sector, fatalities and major injuries from smaller-scale works, such as renovations, decreased by 22 per cent, from 59 in 2023 to 46 in 2024.

Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad attributed these improvements to the expanded demerit point system and increased surveillance.

The system, introduced to the manufacturing sector in October 2023 after years of use in construction, penalises companies for safety violations, potentially barring them from hiring foreign workers for up to two years.

Minor Injuries and Occupational Diseases

In the first half of 2024, there were 10,379 minor injuries, a 4.8 per cent reduction from 10,897 in the same period of 2023.

Slips, trips, falls, and machinery incidents were the leading causes. Meanwhile, the number of occupational diseases continued to drop, with 473 cases reported, down from 653 in 2023.

MOM also reported 11 dangerous occurrences in the first half of 2024, fewer than the 12 in the same period last year. These incidents included the collapse of structures and equipment, as well as fires and explosions.

MOM conducted over 3,000 inspections in various industries and took enforcement actions against more than 7,000 breaches, issuing 717 fines totalling more than $1.4 million and 22 stop-work orders.

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