Rilek1Corner

Tag: locals

  • Jobless Breadwinner With Master’s Degree Wants All EPs To Stop Immediately For PMET Vacancies

    Jobless Breadwinner With Master’s Degree Wants All EPs To Stop Immediately For PMET Vacancies

    Transitioning: First of all, thanks for allowing us to interview you online and can you provide us with some background information about yourself?

    Patrick: I am a Singaporean PMET with many years of IT experience. I have a wife and a two-year-old child.

    We live in our HDB flat and trying hard to have a happy life.

    Growing up in Singapore was much more better times that it is now.

    Looking at how things are now, I am often worried about how it will be when our child grows up.

    I am usually an optimistic person and consider myself quite intelligent and solving problems.

    However, this is one problem that I am quite frustrated about as I can’t seem to find the solution.

    Transitioning: What was  your last occupation and you have told me that you were unemployed for a few months, can you tell us more about this and  also  your job search experience?

    Patrick: My last job was as a permanent employee with an IT MNC where I was in charge of implementing large scale IT projects. However, after my last project was successfully completed, I was retrenched as part of their global restructuring program. They did acknowledge that I was a good performer and that it was not due to my performance but due to the Global restructuring.

    I had put in a lot of effort and time during my project and sacrificed my family time for the sake of the company success. I had been putting in 16-17 hours daily for more than 6 months and sometimes on Saturdays too.

    As a result the project was a success. However, shortly thereafter, I was retrenched.

    Therefore for the first couple of months after my retrenchment, I spent a lot of time with my family to make up for the earlier time lost.

    I started looking with more vigour since January this year and have submitted hundreds of applications for relevant jobs.

    I did have a handful of interviews, but they were all unsuccessful.

    I found that employers themselves aren’t sure of what they want to do. For example, some employers interview, but do not take any action for months or put the position on hold.

    Others have said that they decided to hire/promote internally or the worst is they give absolutely no update at all.

    Transitioning: You have told me that you are currently jobless for more than six months, what did you do in order to survive? Did you also approach the CDC for assistance?

    Patrick: Luckily I have been good at saving all these days, and am now eating into my savings. Hopefully, I can find a job before my savings finish. I have not approached CDC for financial or other help.

    Transitioning: Did you attend any interviews  during the past few  months  and why do you think you are unsuccessful so far?

    Patrick: Yes, I have attended interviews, but as mentioned, the companies themselves aren’t sure what they want to do and end up not selecting any candidate. I have also lowered my expectation to below market standards, and agencies question me why so low.

    I do not think that I am being choosy in terms of salary, location of even workload. However, I do have a strong feeling that employers are spoilt for chose and they are the ones who are being choosy these days.

    I think the basic reason is that employers are being choosy.

    Transitioning: Tell us abit more about what you have learnt from your jobless experience and how it has impacted your family.

    Patrick: Jobless experience is not very good. It does affect the family life and causes unnecessary friction as both husband and wife are worried about the future.

    As the sole breadwinner, I am constantly under pressure to provide for my family and to keep the roof over our head.  It is very frustrating to apply for jobs in Singapore.

    There seems to be nothing much that anyone can do. I have approached many people and seeking help from them. But no luck. My only avenue is job portals and job agents. Both are not much help.

    There are some good points as well to being jobless, in that I get to spend more time with my child and help my wife with the household chores. I also enjoy a little gardening, going to the library to catch up on my reading and sometimes if its not too hot I go to the nearby park to fly my kite.

    Transitioning: What do you think you could have done to shorten the unemployment period?

    Patrick: I have no idea. If i did, I would have done it already and not be unemployed for so long.

    Transitioning: Do you think that Singapore is now a more difficult place to make a living?

    Patrick: Yes, its very difficult for Singaporeans to make a living in Singapore. Its quite ironic that we find it difficult in our own home whereas newcomers seem to have it easier.

    Transitioning: What do you think the government can do to alleviate the current employment situation?

    Patrick: Immediate (should start by July):

    1. Stop issuing all EP’s for PMET jobs immediately.
    2. Enforce a rule that makes it necessary for employers to look at the unemployed Singaporeans first.
    3. Start a database of all unemployed PMET’s in Singapore that the employers can tap on for immediate hire.
    4. For those employers who are looking for a specific skill, WDA can provide free/subsidised training for the candidates who come close to the requirement but missing one or two skills. Employer could also provide OJT for such candidates.
    5. Provide clear & transparent statistics on unemployed PMETs to the general public. The statistics could include things like Age, Gender, Race, Qualification, Duration of Unemployment (1-3months, 3-6 months, 6-9 months >1 year, >2 years). I believe right now if you are unemployed more than 6 months you are considered”retried”. Currently the statistics says that Singapore unemployment rate is 1.9%. I don’t think this takes into consideration people who are jobless for more than 6 months. I feel that the unemployment rate might be much higher. Lets be transparent about how many are really unemployed.

    Long term (should start by Jan 2016):

    What should happen is that employers should have to demonstrate that there is a shortage of the specific skills/PMET in Singapore and so needs to hire from overseas. The EP should only be given after a 3-6 months of exhaustive search locally. Exhaustive mean that they should keep all records of those people they interviewed and have a clearly detailed report on why that person was not suitable.

    Their search should not be limited to job agents and job websites, but they should also work with WDA, MOM etc to find suitable locals. Companies can only apply for EP if such a skill is not found locally (SG/PR). MOM needs to review the report made by the employer and cross check with the candidates, WDA and job agents to ensure the authenticity of the report. During the review if a suitable local candidate is found then the employer will not get an EP approval.

    We should also have an absolute limit to the number of EP’s per year, just like the US does with its H1B. So for example if Singapore adds 50K PMET jobs annually, then only about 10-15K EP’s will be set aside for that year. Once the EP’s finish, no more EP for that year. Try next year!

    Employers need to plan their future needs properly and those who are good planners will not face issues even if they need to wait 6 months for foreign hires/EP. These days, employers tend to be short sighted and not able to plan properly at all. They are too spoilt and need to be reined in by controlling the EP’s! This will also increase the chances of local talent to get employment.

    Transitioning: Many people have blame foreigners for competing jobs with us, what is your view on this?

    Patrick: When I was employed, we used to often invite friends and family over to our home for dinner. These days we have completely stopped as we are trying to cut down on our costs. To me, its the same at the national level. When you have unemployed people in your own home, you should not be inviting others to come in. It’s like you have hungry mouths to feed in your home and you invite outsiders for dinner.

    I don’t blame the foreigners, they are coming in because we let them in/invite them. Its a policy and implementation issue. There is no policy that forces employers to hire locals first (guideline is not a policy/law its just a suggestion, not compulsory); so employers will do whatever they are allowed to in order to maximise their profits.

    We locals are losing out to corporates who just want to save some money. We lose out as we are not protected by our own people.

    Transitioning: Lastly, whats your advice for those who are still jobless and feeling down?

    Patrick: My basic advise is to stay strong, don’t give up. You probably heard this a million times, but its true, its hope that keeps us going. We need to keep the hope. Sometimes we feel like the situation is hopeless, and nothing can be done etc. Every morning I wake up with new hope, that maybe something will happen today. Every evening I go to bed angry and frustrated that nothing happened. But I wake up again next morning and I try something a little different.

    Its like we’re trapped in this maze, in order to get out, we must 1. Not give up. 2. Keep trying different paths. You WILL get out of this mess.

    That what I am hoping for myself and I hope for you too.

    Editor’s note: any employer keen to review Patrick’s resume please let us know by emailing [email protected].

     

    Source: www.transitioning.org

  • Gilbert Goh: Join The Income Inequality Forum on 30th May At Bras Basah Complex!

    Gilbert Goh: Join The Income Inequality Forum on 30th May At Bras Basah Complex!

    Come and support our Income Inequality forum this coming Saturday 30 May from 230pm to 5pm at 04-41 Bras Basah Complex.

    We face a crisis situation now whereby our income growth lags behind that of inflation for the past decade. Our cost of living is also at the world’s highest this year.

    More than 200,000 Singaporeans still earn $1000 and below a month putting them very close to the poverty line.

    Yet, we have the highest number of millionaires in the world exaceberating the income gap we have between the have’s and the have not’s.

    A high income gap not only inhibits social mobility but also encourages social class division and strife.

    Come and hear our four keynote speakers Mr Osman Sulaiman, Ms Fatimah Akhtar, Mr Roy Ngerng Yi Ling and Mr Goh Meng Seng expound on the topic with some PMETs giving short accounts of what they face in the job market.

    Email [email protected] for a seat.

    Singaporeans supporting Singaporeans.

     

    Source: Gilbert Goh

  • Slow Wage Growth Likely To Persist

    Slow Wage Growth Likely To Persist

    For those who have placed the blame for slow wage growth squarely on cheap imported labour, this year’s headline figures in manpower would have been sobering. Despite sharp pullbacks in manpower inflows in the past few years — to the extent that the percentage of vacancies being filled by Singaporeans rather than foreigners this year hit its highest level since 2011 — average pay cheques, after adjusting for inflation, grew by only 0.4 per cent amid tight labour market conditions.

    And if Singapore’s struggles with boosting productivity persist, the picture on the wage growth front next year is unlikely to be any rosier, said economists, especially given the poor global economic outlook. The impending cessation of the Wage Credit Scheme (WCS), which subsidises firms for pay raises, will add another chokehold, they added.

    “Companies don’t want their margin to be squeezed. They want to save more, hold on to a profit margin, to prepare for the next year when there’s no more WCS,” said UOB economist Francis Tan. “Once you increase the wages, it will be hard to move them down again. And if … the workers are still not as productive as you want them to be, it can be quite dangerous for the existence of the company.”

    Labour productivity contracted 0.8 per cent year-on-year in the third quarter, worse than the 0.3 per cent fall in the first half, figures from the Ministry of Manpower showed. The first half of last year registered a 1.3 per cent decline, but this improved to 0.8 per cent growth in the second half.

    The repercussions of flagging productivity, as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned, could extend to the whole of the Republic’s economy. With the tightening of the tap on foreign workers pushing up wages more quickly than productivity, not only will firms pass on the higher costs to consumers, but Singapore’s potential growth and competitiveness could also suffer a blow, the IMF said.

    DBS economist Irvin Seah noted: “Businesses are unable to pursue more orders because of this labour crunch. This will also prevent them from increasing their top-line, unless the productivity of the existing manpower is able to improve.”

    Besides sluggish productivity growth, OCBC’s Ms Selena Ling said companies face pressure from higher rental costs. Singapore is expected to top the rental forecast for Asia-Pacific cities, with a 25 per cent increase in office rents from this year to 2019, based on a report from property consultancy Knight Frank in September.

    In adjusting to these costs, business will take into account the differing flexibility of the various types of business costs. Between rental and wage costs, wages provide a “little bit more room for negotiation”, said Ms Ling.

    Agreeing, Mr Tan said many companies have been moving towards higher variable components in wages to help buffer against economic cycles.

    Workers who benefit from WCS — those earning below S$4,000 — are not considered as vulnerable as low-wage workers. But given the modest growth prospects next year, some economists speculate that the Government could extend the scheme.

    “At this moment, it looks like the United States is showing signs of much more broad-based sustained recovery, while the rest of the world is in different stages of recovery and slowdown,” noted CIMB Research economist Song Seng Wun.

    Mr Seah, however, noted that the WCS, which represents a form of government transfer, was never meant to last and that the more sustainable approach to boost workers’ pay is to equip them with the right skills.

    “Although I think our fiscal policies are gradually becoming more socialistic in nature, I think the Government has continued to emphasise the need for self-sufficiency and the notion of meritocracy,” he said. “I think such principles should continue to remain the hallmark of our economic policies.”

    Indeed, firms have had no choice but to pay more in the stretched labour market, which workers have been quick to capitalise on.

    “And it’s not just the blue-collar workers, but the senior and middle management too,” said RecruitPlus Consulting’s managing director, Mr Adrian Tan.

    Mr Erman Tan, president of the Singapore Human Resources Institute, added that firms will face pressure to keep wage growth at least on a par with inflation. Core inflation, which indicates the rise in everyday out-of-pocket costs, has been estimated at 2 to 3 per cent next year, higher than the 2 to 2.5 per cent expected this year.

    “Inflation is still putting pressure on staff. Firms have to make sure staff have the peace of mind to work, so you can change work procedures, change mindsets and invest in automation, leading to improvement in productivity,” he said.

    There has at least been one bright spark this year in the push for wages to grow because of productivity improvement. In September, the cleaning industry became the first to adopt a skill-wage ladder as a criterion to secure licensing, representing a breakthrough in lifting the pay of a group of workers who have seen their income stagnate. The Progressive Wage Model was also announced for security guards and will be implemented in 2016.

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • Little India Riot Instigator Gets 3-Strokes Of The Cane

    Little India Riot Instigator Gets 3-Strokes Of The Cane

    A man who was involved in the Little India riot on Dec 8 last year was sentenced to receive three strokes of the cane on Friday (Nov 28), to add to a 25-month prison sentence he had earlier received.

    Indian national Samiyappan Sellathurai was previously sentenced to 25 months imprisonment on Aug 14 for his involvement in the riot.

    But Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Sellakumaran Sellamuthoo told the High Court before Justice Chan Seng Onn that Samiyappan’s imprisonment term was “manifestly inadequate”, given that the 42-year-old had not only participated in the riot, but had also instigated the crowd.

    “The respondent instigated others to help him remove a concrete slab that was used to pave the ground. The Respondent had tried to do so on his own but failed, as the slab was heavy and stuck to the ground. After the crowd joined in — in response to the respondent’s instigation — the concrete slab was dislodged.

    “During the time frame between 10.09pm and 10.19pm, the respondent threw a total of eight pieces of concrete in the direction of the public vehicles and public servants. The crowd, which prior to this was non-violent, followed the respondent’s lead and started to dislodge other concrete slabs, break them and used them as projectiles.

    “The respondent then continued his streak of creating chaos and unrest by inciting others to help carry a small metal rack and ram it against a side wall of the Little India MRT station,” DPP Sellakumaran told the court while showing a video of CCTV footage taken at the time of the riot.

    A total of 25 individuals have been charged in court since for their respective roles and involvement in the riot in Little India.

    Before meting out the sentence on the grounds that Samiyappan had instigated the crowds and also vandalised public property, Justice Chan said that Samiyappan was “considered lucky” that the prosecution had not appealed for a longer prison term.

    “Viewing the video, it is clear that the respondent was the ringleader and instigated the crowd. In this case of rioting, vandalism was involved. Not only vandalism but destruction of government property,” Justice Chan said.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com