Rilek1Corner

Tag: MOM

  • Zainal Sapari: Is Outsourcing Always The Best Solution?

    Zainal Sapari: Is Outsourcing Always The Best Solution?

    I have been talking about the Government sector’s move into the world of outsourcing of their essential services. In my recent interview with Mothership.sg, I have mentioned this again. Well, as expected, there were some disagreeing views. But I stand firm with my thoughts.

    The strategy of outsourcing jobs in the public service has affected many professions such as cleaning, security and landscaping. When outsourcing came about, it brought many advantages to the business market. Companies could better manage their operations as they were now focused on core businesses. But it also brought with it many setbacks – for the workers.

    At some circumstances, when contracts change hands, workers are the ones who are affected most. Their terms of employment may be reset, especially their salaries. In my view, one major employer that can prevent this from happening is the Government.

    My strong affirmation on this comes from my childhood experiences. My Father back then was employed as daily-rated worker with the Public Works Department. As a Civil Servant, he enjoyed all the welfare benefits that were pegged to his scope. And so did our family. I wish this can be the case for all low-wage workers in the public sector – that they are direct employees so that they are shielded, to some extent, from the harshness of the economic system.

    This I why when I heard about the Housing Development Board Staff Union (HDBSU) and HDB’s successful emplacement of its security staff into the Operations Support and Management Support Schemes of Service, I was gratified.

    The union had discussed at length with the management partners on taking care of the interest of these workers in the best way they could. The Security Scheme of Service was to be discontinued and there were 18 employees who were to be impacted. After much discussion, both sides decided to retain these workers within the organisation. In a gist, 17 security officers were placed onto the Operations Support Scheme (OSS) and one Assistant Security Officer was placed into the Management Support Scheme. With this change, the security employees are set to have better career paths and prospects.

    My staff had a chat with one of the security officers at HDB, Mr Suhaimi Bin Aman, aged 56 years old. Mr Suhaimi shared that life in the security profession with HDB has been fulfilling. Above all, the major peace of mind he has is on job security. “There are some friends we know of who are outsourced workers, and their livelihoods really depends on the company’s tender. There is no form of commitment on the workers’ part as well. When you are in-house, there is a greater level of certainty with your job.”, he told my staff.

    This IS the reality. NTUC has done some work that enables our workers in the lowest rung – our cleaners – to earn at least $1,000 with the Progressive Wage Model. Yet, the solution to help these workers who find their careers on a reset mode is still yet to be uncovered. With the progressive wage, even if the wage is reset, it is reset to a minimum level of $1,000 or $1,200 if you are skilled.

    My hope is for the Government sector to consider directly hiring for positions like cleaners, security officers and the landscape workers.

     

    Source: Zainal Sapari

  • Catered Food For Workers Need More Regulation, Urge Researchers

    Catered Food For Workers Need More Regulation, Urge Researchers

    The authors of a study that highlighted the dismal quality of food that Bangladeshi construction workers in Singapore were being fed have called for greater government regulation of such caterers.

    The workers were provided catered food that was “foul-smelling”, “rock solid” and lacking in nutrition as it had been prepared hours in advance. The issue flummoxed many when TODAY reported on the preliminary findings of the study in March. The news report was widely circulated for more than a week and has since prompted two to three food-business owners to volunteer help to rectify the situation.

    In their White Paper summarising findings from a two-year study released today (June 11), researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and non-governmental organisation HealthServe said regulating caterers would be an “important step towards ensuring food safety and security”. “We learnt about the large number of unlicensed operators that operate without accountability. These unlicensed caterers often work thorough middlemen and are unable to control the quality of food,” they wrote.

    At a press conference today, Professor Mohan J Dutta, director of NUS’ Center for Culture-Centered Approach to Research and Evaluation, which co-authored the White Paper, added: “Caterers who are not licensed (have) a variety of practices, such as food being left outside the dorm. And often, we hear stories of rats pulling away at the food.”

    Currently, the National Environment Agency requires all caterers to be licensed. Packed food would have to come with time stamps, indicating when it was prepared and by when it has to be consumed.

    Apart from greater oversight of these businesses, HealthServe director Goh Wei Leong said providing cooking facilities in all dormitories could be a solution. Foreign workers may also save costs by pooling money for ingredients.

    The researchers’ findings also showed that foreign workers often liaise with a middleman for meals to be delivered to their dormitories. About a quarter of the average S$120 to S$130 they pay each month for the meals goes to the middleman, leaving the caterers scrimping on quality ingredients, said Prof Dutta, who suggested that employers work directly with caterers. “That’s so that the food is directly catered to a worksite. That could prevent the gap between the cooking and the delivery. Employers will have more ability to control the quality because they’ll be negotiating with the vendor,” added Prof Dutta.

    Today, CARE and HealthServe launched a campaign to raise awareness of the food woes of foreign workers through bus and MRT ads and a TV commercial. A documentary will also be released online later this month. Materials for the campaign came from the interviews, focus-group discussions and surveys with Bangladeshi construction workers conducted between September 2012 and December last year.

    A survey pertaining to the quality and hygiene of food, which involved 500 Bangladeshi migrant workers, showed 86.2 per cent had fallen ill after eating catered food. Common illnesses include vomiting. More than nine in 10 felt their food was unhygienic. Nearly all respondents (97.4 per cent) were dissatisfied with the quality of their food, with some describing it as “bread (that) is so tough, it … feels like eating a tyre”.

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • Lim Swee Say Outlines Four Manpower Priorities For Singapore

    Lim Swee Say Outlines Four Manpower Priorities For Singapore

    After spending his first month on the job meeting employer groups, business chambers and trade associations, Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say said on Tuesday that he has been able to get their agreement to work towards four priority outcomes.

    These are: becoming more manpower lean, building a strong Singaporean core, ensuring the foreign workforce is of good quality and maintaining Singapore’s competitiveness.

    Speaking to the media for the first time since he moved from the labour unions to be Manpower Minister, Mr Lim said that this will help to ensure that manpower constraints do not become the limiting factor for Singapore’s economic growth.

    “I think at the back of the mind is that given the constraints (businesses) face with manpower, how are they going to be able to respond to external competition…I requested they work together to think and look beyond the considerations of today,” he said at the Manpower Ministry headquarters. He took up his current post on May 4.

    Action must take place at the industry and sub-industry levels, he added. “We don’t have to wait until everybody agrees to start. All it takes is three companies, five companies, seven companies that are prepared to take the lead.”

    Mr Lim also said that he has been explaining to business leaders who have asked whether they will be able to employ more foreign workers that the ministry cannot afford to adopt a more liberal policy.

    “If we continue to do so, the ratio of local workers versus foreign manpower will continue to decline…One day Singaporeans will wake up to find ourselves as a minority in our Singapore workforce, and obviously that’s not sustainable, that’s not desirable,” he said.

    Other areas such as the national jobs bank will be reviewed, and more details are expected in around a month’s time, he said.

    Continuing his push for a three-way partnership between unions, employers and the government, Mr Lim, who was labour chief for eight years, said that his actions would show his commitment to finding solutions that benefit all three – encouraging good business, good careers and good economic growth.

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com

  • 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

  • Stop Allowing Maids To Be Preyed Upon By Sexual Predators

    Stop Allowing Maids To Be Preyed Upon By Sexual Predators

    I am filing this report as my concern to what is happening every Sunday at our parks and public places. I hope the authorities and the public will look into this issues.

    Every Sunday, Paya Lebar and Lucky Plaza have become a ‘flesh market’ for thousands of Banglas to gather, stalk, prey and pick maids for their lust and sexual desires.

    Also check-out every Sunday at the East Coast Park, Carpark D, Banglas and maids pitch tents for their ‘sex love nests’ for their immoral activities. Right in a public recreational park and beach areas that are meant for family outings. I am sure making love in a public area is a punishable offence.

    The open space between Kallang Airport Drive and Kallang Airport Way is littered with couples, Banglas and maids. Openly displaying ‘intimate and sensuous’ behaviours.

    This are not a normal boy/girl relationships of love and marriage, these are clear cut issues of sex predators taking advantage of naïve, vulnerable maids for their sexual pleasures. As we know the Banglas/Indians come from a country where women are subservient to men, a male chauvinistic society, a rape occurs every 15 minutes.

    Our maids have become the weekend ‘comfort women’ for these Bangla sex predators. Both Banglas and maids have it free and easy for sexual misconduct in Singapore.

    As we know hundreds of maids are pregnant every year, as always the girls get used and abandon.

    Sexual offences goes unreported.The maids do not how to complain and address their problems, They are easily exploited. On numerous occasions I have heard of maids after booking a hotel room with their Bangla boyfriends, find their money and possession missing along with their boyfriends. I also heard cases of sexual offences, forced sex, spiked drinks and broken promises

    When molest and rapes do happen, most maids are too scared to report , whatever happens these girls will never ever report to the authorities or police let alone inform their employers. They are the silent victims.

    There are more sinister intentions besides a normal Bangla and maid relationship. Willing or unwilling the line must not be crossed, all this must be within the boundaries of Singapore laws. I believe these foreign workers have contravene and defy their working contract which requires good behavior and not to cause public unease. These foreign workers have displayed bahaviours that have been very disconcerting and caused unease and disgust among Singaporeans.

    Action must be taken to apprehend these sex predators, curtailed such abuses and protect our maids.

    After taking care of liquors and drinkers, its time to reprimand and discipline Banglas/Indians sexpredators of stalking, preying and sexploiting our maids.

    My suggestions,
    • Every Sundays, the authorities, Police and MOM must check-out and record Banglas/Indians and maids booking into cheap hourly rates hotels, eg Hotel 81,involving in “illicit, inappropriate and unacceptable sexual relationship”.
    • The National Parks authority must keep track of park users and camp sites not for sinister activities.
    • Bangla/Indian drivers must not use their employers vans, on Sundays for making love. ( recently I saw a van with mattress, maids in East Coast Park)
    • Banglas and maids who display ‘flirtatious and indecent behavior’ in public.
    • In Sentosa, Banglas/Indians taking photos or oggling at bikini swimmers must be apprehended.
    This is a problem that needs to be addressed by the authorities. If nothing is done, then this will continue to happen indefinitely, Banglas will become more bolder and more innocent maids will fall victims indefinitely.

    Source: www.allsingaporestuff.com