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97% Of Singaporeans Would Consider Leaving Singapore To Work Overseas

Ninety-seven per cent of Singaporeans would consider leaving Singapore to work overseas — the biggest proportion in Asia, a poll by recruiting firm Hays showed.

The poll, released on Monday (March 30), found that 85 per cent of respondents would leave for better job opportunities, career development or exposure.

Twelve per cent would leave for a change in lifestyle.

The poll was conducted among 2,553 job seekers in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China and Japan.

China had the second most globally-mobile workforce, with 96 per cent of job seekers willing to work overseas, with better job opportunities, career development or exposure being the key reasons.

The figure for Hong Kong was 94 per cent and 93 per cent for Malaysia, with most job seekers citing better opportunities, career development or exposure as the factors that would nudge them to leave.

Japan had a lower proportion of job seekers who indicated they were willing to work overseas — 88 per cent.

However, it had the biggest proportion of job seekers citing lifestyle factors as a reason for leaving, at 23 per cent.

Ms Christine Wright, managing director of Hays in Asia, said the opportunity to gain international experience is the top factor driving local talent overseas.

Employers increasingly value local talent with “international experience and an international mindset”.

“These candidates are even more highly valued than expatriates since they combine their Westernised way of thinking and experience of how business is done overseas with local cultural understanding,” she said.

Source: www.todayonline.com

April 2, 2015
Abbas Saad And Rafi Ali Slam Lions’ Dismal Showing Against Guam

Two of Singapore’s former football heroes, Abbas Saad and Rafi Ali, have slammed the national team following their abysmal 2-2 draw with Guam on Tuesday night (Mar 31).

They were speaking on the sidelines of the launch of a global seven-aside football tournament, 24Sevens.

167th-ranked Guam lie 14 places below Singapore in the FIFA rankings, but the difference did not show at Jalan Besar Stadium. The Lions trailed the visitors twice, and it took a second-half leveller from Faris Ramli to spare the hosts further embarrassment.

Singapore have now won only four times in their last 12 games, including matches at their AFF Suzuki Cup run.

Abbas Saad, who was part of the Singapore team in the Malaysian League in 1990 and from 1993 to 1994, said: “2-2, Guam and the Singapore national team, in your home den. That is embarrassing, that is not good enough. There have got to be changes here. The coach has got to answer what is going on with the results.

“And again, it is not the results, it is the way they have been playing the game. Are you getting the best out of the players, are you identifying the best players, are you getting the right set-up or the right formation out there? I do not think so.”

Meanwhile, Rafi Ali, who was in the Singapore national team from 1995 to 2003, said: “When you have that flag, you must be proud of that flag. And some of the players, when I watch some of the games, they have it. But we need to have this on a consistent basis, week in, week out. Just give your best and give your 100 per cent. Because you are playing for your country. Because not many people have the privilege to put on the jerseys.”

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

April 2, 2015
More Differentiated Fee Structure For Use Of Public Sports Facilities Managed By Sports Singapore

Under a new fee structure to be introduced on May 1, non-residents will be charged higher rates for public sports facilities managed by Sport Singapore.

Following an announcement in August last year on plans to introduce the new fee structure, rates for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents will remain unchanged, while non-residents will be charged higher Standard rates. The Standard rates will apply to facilities that are booked for use on and after May 1.

All existing concessions for senior citizens, children, and family members accompanying senior citizens to the sports facilities will also continue to apply to Singapore Citizens and PRs only, not including non-residents.

The public sports facilities managed by Sport Singapore are under the ActiveSG umbrella, which is a national movement for sport launched in April last year. There will be notices at all ActiveSG sports centres islandwide to inform users of the new Standard rates. Users can approach Guest Service Officers at the sports centres if they have questions on the new rates, says Sport Singapore.

“The new and higher Standard rates will only apply to non-residents, so that there is a differentiation in what non-residents pay and what Singaporeans and Permanent Residents pay to use the facilities,” said Mr Lai Chin Kwang, Chief, ActiveSG, Sport Singapore.

Advance online booking for facilities under the new Standard rates will start from Apr 17 at www.myactivesg.com.

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

April 2, 2015
Petition To Gazette 23 March As Singapore Founding Founders’ Day In Memory Of Lee Kuan Yew

Dear PM Lee

As the Nation mourns for the lost of our Great Leader, Founding Father, we too wish for him to be etched forever in our memories and for many more good years to come. Generations after generations.

There are of course many ways of doing it including renaming Changi Airport to LKY International Airport and even building a statute of Mr Lee within the Tanjong Pagar Estate.

However, for Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s contributions and tireless effort to live forever through the years from this day forth requires nothing short of a gazette Public Holiday either on 23 March when Mr Lee left us.

Without Mr Lee, we know Singapore will not be where it is now in the world map.

We sincerely hope the Singapore Government will discuss on this petition and seriously consider making 23 March “Founding Father’s Day” as a Gazette Singapore Public Holiday.

Thank you very much and blessings to you and the family during this period of mourning.

Sincerely,

Annie Chan

Source: https://www.change.org

April 1, 2015
Osman Sulaiman: Another Public Holiday Needed, Support Petition To Gazette 23 March As Public Holiday As Remembrance For Lee Kuan Yew

I heard there’s a petition to make 23 March as a public holiday as a remembrance to LKY. I support!!!!

Already Singaporeans are working one of the longest hours. We pale in comparison to other developed nations when it comes to working hours per week. Also, our number of public holidays is on the low side.

It doesnt hurt to have an additional public holiday for workers. More work-life balance. Increase the quality of living and reduce the stress to make more babies.

Naysayers will probably say productivity will take a hit. But the gov is spending billions of tax payers monies to increase productivity. Many companies benefitted from this. How come no one say anything when we spend but quick to shoot down ideas when we want to give?

Source: Osman Sulaiman

April 1, 2015