Rilek1Corner

Tag: Foreign talent

  • Uniquely Singapore Or Another Fiasco?

    Uniquely Singapore Or Another Fiasco?

    There are more than 2m foreigners in the island of 3.5m population. Several hundred thousands of these foreigners from half past six countries and half past six universities are gainfully employed, happily employed, replacing the supposedly better qualified Singaporeans in their jobs. And the Singaporeans, the experienced and well qualified, the young graduates, are crying for jobs. They are unemployable, underemployed, they are mismatched!

    And all we heard of is that it is all because of mismatch. And these jobless Singaporeans are told to go overseas to find their rainbows. Not in Singapore. They are mismatched, they are misfits in their own countries. Their hundreds of thousands dollar education and degrees are useless, cannot eat, cannot find a job. They are only good enough to compete overseas, forget about in the US and Europe if they can’t even find a job in home town, unable to compete with half past six degree foreigners.

    They should go to third world countries to sell their skills and earn cheap currencies. And don’t think of coming back, don’t think of earning and saving enough to be able to survive back home. The cheap currencies they earned will become cheaper when brought home to spend in the world’s most expensive city. They are failures in Singapore and how could they expect the third world countries to hire them and pay them well? Even if they wanted to, they could not afford to.

    Singapore is not for Singaporeans. Singaporeans are only good enough to work in third world countries. And the govt knows that and are helping them with a lot of courses and training programmes to equip them to survive in third world countries. Probably they will teach them how to lower their expectations, how to live life in a third world countries, how to get use to third world standard of living, how to tighten their belts.

    Singapore is good only for foreigners, especially those from third world countries. These are the highly skilled and trained talents Singapore needs, with half past six degrees. Though they came from half past six universities, they have no mismatch problems. They matched beautifully with the needs of this first world city. The proof, a few hundred thousands of them are already here, employed in jobs that mismatched Singaporeans cannot do.

    Did anyone say Uniquely Singapore? With so many silly mismatched PMETs, what more proof is needed to confirm that Singaporeans are daft? The daft Singaporeans don’t even know why they are unemployable, why they became mismatched, misfits. The only thing they know, is that they are told that this is the reason. And everyone accepts this silly reason with no further question asked. Several hundred thousands of half past six foreigners are fit, not mismatched and taking over the jobs of the misfit Singaporeans. To laugh or to cry?

    And we are boasting about having three of the world’s best universities run by foreigners, the bulk of the academic staff and administrative staff is foreigners. I am waiting for the Parliament to be taken over by foreigners and pronouncing that Singaporeans are misfits to be in Parliament and should go elsewhere to live. This is only a matter of time.

    Where is the real mismatch?

    Chua Chin Leng aka Redbean

    *The writer blogs at My Singapore News.

     

    Source: www.tremeritus.com

  • The Decline Of True Singaporeans In Our Local Workforce

    The Decline Of True Singaporeans In Our Local Workforce

    Singapore’s business model is now in such a mismatch and the impact of this is that it will eventually impact Singaporeans in a bad way.

    Back in the 80s and 90s, Singapore tried to encourage MNCs from setting up businesses here in Singapore by promising them quality workers at a reasonable cost. The model worked for awhile but as our wages rose, MNCs then complained and asked for cheaper labour.

    What Trump is shouting about is true: Corporate leaders (about 5 percent in any population) out of sheer greed move their businesses to other countries, manipulate to outwit escape local tax laws and continually looking to exploit and take advantage of cheap labour anywhere.

    The government then responded with an open policy that was implemented without much publicity. LKY started to say that they are necessary whether we like it or not but things were not as upsetting as they are today because the rate of inflow was much slower. MNC employers are happy to have Pinoys, Indians, and Ah Tiongs to fill the vacancies at a lower cost.

    It is only a half-truth that there are lots of job vacancies since the PAP does not qualify what jobs are these. Some jobs pay so low that even you want to take up the job, you are barely surviving. $8 an hour as an admin staff? $1200 a month as a hawker assistant? These may be attractive to foreign workers but not viable to locals.

    Slowly but surely, Singaporeans are edged out because of higher salary expectation, CPF contributions and their NS obligations. The Employer credits your CPF every month but the next day, monies in the OA are channeled to HDB to service the mortgage loan. How much is left at 55? Everyone ‘bochap’, because the HDB repayments do not come from their take home pay.

    No impact. Life as usual until they are replaced and made redundant. This is our new Singapore brand that the PAP team created after the old guards left.

    *Comments first appeared on TRE and have been merged and edited for clarity’

     

    Source: www.tremeritus.com

  • Yoga Instructor On Trial For Molesting Student During Lesson

    Yoga Instructor On Trial For Molesting Student During Lesson

    A 24-year-old yoga instructor from India allegedly molested a student thrice during a lesson last year.

    Rakesh Kumar Prasad purportedly cupped and pinched the victim’s breast while she was doing yoga poses as instructed at the Real Yoga studio in Tampines Grande.

    He even tried to squeeze her breast after slipping his hand into her sports bra, a district court heard. When she protested, Rakesh allegedly smiled and told her: “It’s not like there’s anything to touch”.

    On Wednesday (Sept 21), the victim, who is now 26, took the witness stand on the first day of Rakesh’s trial. He faces one charge of outrage of modesty and one count of using criminal force.

    The court heard that the victim went for a yoga class scheduled for 12.30pm on April 26 last year. She was the only student at the session, instructed by Rakesh.

    According to his profile on Real Yoga’s website, Rakesh has more than eight years of yoga teaching experience. He was trained and certified as a yoga instructor in Kolkata.

    During the lesson, Rakesh, then 23, told the victim to adopt a forward bending pose, while seated on the floor with her legs outstretched. She was supposed to get her chest to touch her thighs.

    But barely 13 minutes after her yoga session started, Rakesh cupped her left breast with his left hand, she told the court. She hit his hand and told him not to touch her breasts. But undeterred, he pinched her breast and told her to bend lower, threatening to pinch her even harder if she did not do as told, she said.

    Just eight minutes later, while she was in the same yoga pose, Rakesh molested her again. When the student objected, the instructor admonished her for shouting, she said.

    Three minutes later, the victim was told to spread her legs while sitting and get her chest to touch the floor. While she was trying to adopt that yoga position, Rakesh slipped his left hand into the left side of her sports bra and tried to squeeze her breast, but she knocked his arm away.

    After the yoga class ended at about 1.30pm, Rakesh sat in front of the victim. He smiled at her and asked why he could not touch her breasts. He also said: “It’s not like there’s anything to touch.”

    Later, as the victim was leaving the yoga studio, Rakesh grabbed the back of her neck, she said.

    Video footage of the incidents, captured on closed-circuit television, were also played in court.

    During her cross-examination, defence lawyer Genesis Shen repeatedly asked the victim why she did not seek help immediately after being molested. He also asked her if her actions were consistent with “how a molest victim would react”.

    The victim reiterated that she was alone, and did not know any studio staff. Tearing, she added: “I was helpless, what did you expect me to do?”

    The trial continues on Thursday (Sept 22) with a studio receptionist and the police investigation officer taking the stand.

    Deputy Public Prosecutor Sharmila Sripathy-Shanaz is prosecuting the case before District Judge Luke Tan.

    The maximum penalty for molestation is two years’ jail, a fine and caning; and for using criminal force, three months’ jail and a $1,500 fine.

     

    Source: The Straits Times

  • Filipino Professionals Head To Singapore As Tourists To Seek Jobs

    Filipino Professionals Head To Singapore As Tourists To Seek Jobs

    This is allowed for foreign professionals; once hired, firms apply for work passes

    Mr Ramz came to Singapore in March as a tourist but his itinerary did not include visiting the Merlion, Universal Studios or Orchard Road.

    Instead, the 29-year-old Filipino had only one goal: to find a job.

    He would spend hours scouring employment websites every day, and often had only one meal a day to save money.

    Finally, after about four months, he landed a job as a financial analyst at an offshore bank, drawing a monthly salary of $2,800.

    Filipino professionals like Mr Ramz, who declined to give his full name, are increasingly taking a route once used mostly by maids to find employment in Singapore: entering the country as tourists. Once they secure jobs, their employers apply for work passes for them so that they can work here legally.

    In Singapore, foreign professionals can apply for jobs while visiting. But the authorities “will not grant an extension of visit passes” if the job prospects are unclear, states the Manpower Ministry on its website.

    However, Manila frowns on it and has been clamping down on its citizens leaving the country as tourists to prevent human trafficking.

    Immigration officials at the airports send people home if they do not have two-way tickets and a sufficient amount of cash to prove that they are genuine tourists.

    Mrs Daisy Lopez, who owns employment agency WorkHome Personnel in Singapore, said aspiring maids, who are usually from the countryside, have borne the brunt of the tightened rules.

    “The immigration officers can tell by one look that they aren’t tourists. They don’t dress fashionably and cannot answer the questions confidently,” she said.

    In contrast, professionals, many of whom hail from cities like Manila and Cebu, have a better chance of convincing immigration officers as they dress better and carry themselves well.

    Taking the legitimate route has its advantages, said Filipino bank staff and marketing and retail executives.

    It ensures that their rights, such as paying no placement fees, are protected under Philippine laws.

    But the process takes several months and has no guarantee of success.

    This is because they have to rely on recruitment agencies in the Philippines which are inundated by thousands of applications from university graduates who want to head to Singapore because of the good pay.

    Graduates earn only about US$400 (S$510) a month in the Philippines whereas in Singapore, they can draw over $2,000.

    So, many prefer the tourist route.

    It allows employers to interview them in person, increasing their chances of getting hired.

    While they are here, many bunk with their friends for free but dip into their savings to pay for food and transportation.

    If they cannot find a job before their tourist visa expires in a month, they apply to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority to extend their stay.

    In some cases, the extension is rejected.

    Filipinos like Mr Ramz then head to Johor Baru for a few days and re-enter Singapore on a new tourist pass.

    “It was stressful. But I told myself to stay positive because I must get a job here,” he said.

    Headhunters such as Mr Satish Bakhda from Rikvin recruitment consultancy said many foreigners who try the tourist route go home empty-handed as the Manpower Ministry continues to tighten the rules for the hiring of foreign workers.

    “But some foreigners will still try their luck because the pay here is so much higher than what they earn at home,” he said.

    One hopeful foreigner is Ms Mary, 26, a Filipino marketing executive whose employer was unable to renew her S Pass and has to leave Singapore next month.

    She said: “I’ve heard of Filipinos who went home without a job. But I’m willing to take my chances and fly here next year as a tourist. I really want to work here.”

     

    Source: The Straits Times

  • Many Expats On Localised, Perk-Free Packages

    Many Expats On Localised, Perk-Free Packages

    Some people assume that Western expats get luxurious perks and lead a glamorous lifestyle here but two of them say the reality can be different.

    Ms Elaine Young, 43, left Scotland 12 years ago to be a writer here.

    She buys her groceries at NTUC FairPrice and her clothes from Uniqlo, and eats at hawker centres near her Tiong Bahru rental apartment.

    Ms Young says: “I wish I could walk into Burberry and buy anything I want but the reality is I wear basic clothes like an average person here.”

    She did not imagine the cost of living here to be so high.

    .

    PHOTO COURTESY OF ELAINE YOUNG

    And she did not know she had the option of renting an HDB flat since property agents serving expats here often recommend private properties.

    “Had I known about renting HDB flats then, my husband and I would have done so to save more money,” she says.

    She and her husband, who is an Asia Pacific sales director with IHS Energy, pay about $6,500 a month for their three-room apartment.

    SAFER

    Apart from the haze and high cost of living, Ms Young says: “I’ve never felt safer and the people here are lovely.”

    She has made many local and expat friends, and they organise outings and dinners for the weekends.

    Ms Young intends to move back to the UK to look after her mother in a few years.

    She says: “We love living here but are well aware that we are guests in the country. It’s home now but not forever.”

    Thirty-year-old Dane Jesper Rasmussen, an operations manager in a shipping company, says he usually eats at hawker centres.

    He jumped on the opportunity to work in Singapore the moment he saw his company post the opening and has been here for more than two years now.

    Mr Rasmussen had another motivation to move here: His girlfriend, whom he met in Denmark, is a Singaporean.

    She was stationed in Denmark for three years in the same shipping company.He had never been to Singapore although he travelled around South-east Asia over a few years before his move here.

    So, the high cost of living here came as a surprise to him, especially since his experience with South-east Asia mainly involved Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.

    MOST EXPENSIVE

    Singapore is the world’s most expensive city, according to research by the Economist Intelligence Unit this year.

    During the first three months alone in Singapore, Mr Rasmussen overspent because he did not know about hawker centres and cheaper supermarkets.

    His girlfriend returned from Denmark and took him to hawker centres and food courts, showing him ways to save money.

    He says: “It’s great to have someone local to show me around. Had it not been for her guidance, I would still be spending a lot of money on the wrong things.”

    He rents a two-room condominium unit in Farrer Road and pays about $3,400 a month.

    Mr Rasmussen says that sometimes it is hard to adjust and make new friends as an expat because people know that he won’t be here for long.

    “Many have their own groups of friends and sometimes it’s hard for them to invest time in a person who will leave.”

    Both Ms Young and Mr Rasmussen have noticed expats switching to localised packages to secure a job here. They also say that many expats here do not live a life of luxury.

    “Like Singaporeans, each individual earns a different amount of money and leads different lifestyles,” says Mr Rasmussen who spends his weekends visiting his girlfriend and her family in Woodlands.

    I’ve never felt safer and the people here are lovely.

    – Ms Elaine Young from Scotland has been working here for 12 years

    Like Singaporeans, each individual earns a different amount of money and leads different lifestyles.

    – Mr Jesper Rasmussen, who is working as an operations manager in a shipping company

    Expats who are on localised package do not get perks

    Most Western expats no longer receive big income packages.

    “Today, a sizeable percentage of the expat community move here on a localised package,” says Dr Yvonne McNulty, founder of Expat Research.

    Dr McNulty is a scholar-practitioner by training. She is on the associate faculty at SIM University and is co-author of Managing Expatriates: A Return on Investment Approach (Business Expert Press).

    She adds that half of the expats here receive localised packages that do not include perks such as extensive allowances, a car and sponsorship of school fees for their children.

    “These expats who are here on a localised package don’t live in big houses and it isn’t easy for expats to rent in the heartlands,” she says.

    According to the HDB website, the quota for subletting to non-Malaysian foreigners is set at 8 per cent at the neighbourhood level and 11 per cent at the block level.

    INCOME

    For expats on a localised package, their accompanying spouses need to find work to supplement the household income.

    “Because the quota for foreign employment has been changed, it has become harder for expats and their spouses to find jobs,” says Dr McNulty.

    International schools are expensive and expats with children also face problems when trying to get their children into local schools.

    “The cost of putting them in local schools is about $12,000 a year, so it is still very costly.”

    Dr McNulty also says that while some may have started on expat packages, they switch to localised packages later to remain in Singapore.

    “Firstly, it could be that it is a critical point for their school-going child such as the Primary School Leaving Examinations.

    “Or, they do not foresee getting a job back in their home country.

    “Or it could be because they find living in Singapore good for the family because it is safe.”

     

    Source: www.tnp.sg