Tag: Singapore

Reshuffling in the Civil Service

SINGAPORE – The Public Service Division has announced several changes in permanent secretary appointments, which will take effect from Dec 1.

Mr Leo Yip, chairman of the Economic Development Board (EDB), will be Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs.

He will take over from Mr Tan Tee How, who will be appointed Commissioner of Inland Revenue and chief executive officer of the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore.

Mr Tan replaces Dr Tan Kim Siew, who will be stepping down on the completion of his term of appointment.

Permanent Secretary for Law Dr Beh Swan Gin will take over as chairman of the EDB when Mr Yip assumes his new role.

Mr Ng How Yue will give up his position as Second Permanent Secretary for Trade and Industry to be the new Permanent Secretary for Law.

Filling Mr Ng’s shoes is Mr Chee Hong Tat, currently the chief executive of statutory board Energy Market Authority.

Source: http://news.asiaone.com

November 4, 2014
New Global Navigation Satellite System in Place of ERP

A new road pricing system that relies on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology can help traffic management in many ways, said Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew on Monday (Nov 3), who told Parliament that it would not financially prudent to continue with the current Electronic Road Pricing gantry system in the long term.

GNSS technology allows for distance-based pricing along congested roads, thus making it more equitable for motorists, Mr Lui said. Under such a system, every vehicle becomes a sensor, which will allow the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to develop a more accurate picture of the traffic situation and intervene if necessary.

The LTA can then broadcast this data to motorists to help them plan their journeys and avoid congested roads, he said. This data will also be aggregated and anonymised – which means it will not infringe on the privacy of motorists. LTA is planning to implement the system by around 2020, he noted.

Mr Lui was speaking in response to questions posed by MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC Zainal Sapari about the new road pricing system.

Last month, the LTA called a tender to develop this system; the tender is still ongoing, Mr Lui said. What is clear is that maintaining the current gantry system – in place since 1998 – will not be financially prudent, he added.

“The annual operating cost has risen by 80 per cent over the last decade, and a large part of the system is coming to the end of its cycle, and it will have to be replaced, even if we do not move to a GNSS-based system,” said Mr Lui, adding that physical gantries also take up land that could otherwise be freed up for more roadside greenery.

But Mr Lui cautioned that while a GNSS-based road pricing system may improve traffic management, it alone cannot ensure that Singapore’s roads continue to be relatively smooth-flowing.

The minister said this would require a holistic approach involving vehicle growth, population controls, as well as enhancing and promoting public transport

Source: http://news.asiaone.com

November 4, 2014
Good News for Fresh Engineering Graduates

This year’s fresh graduates in Singapore can expect minimal pay rises in starting salaries for degree holders.

According to Hay Group’s annual Fresh Graduate Pay Survey – which is based on the salary expectations of 95 organisations in Singapore – local graduates can expect 2-3% increments in starting salaries, compared with last year.

The average monthly starting salary for degree holders in the three qualification categories — without Honors, with Honors (Second Lower) and with Honors (Second Upper) — is $2,741, $2,853 and $2,939 respectively, for 2014.

This is compared with 2013′s average starting salaries at $2,683 for Bachelor Degree (without honors), $2,795 for Bachelor Degree (honors, second lower) and $2,892 for Bachelor Degree (honors, second upper).

Additionally, one fifth of employers placed an average premium of $214 per month for local university graduates, compared with non-local university graduates.

As for diploma holders, they can look forward to a 2% increase in average starting salaries this year as well – increasing from $1,840 per month in 2013 to $1,878 this year.

The survey found the top paying jobs for degree holders (without honors) were mostly in engineering, which commanded the top average starting salary of $2,888 per month. This was followed by jobs in the legal sector at $2,856 per month and the IT sector at $2,816 per month.

Engineering jobs also topped the starting salaries for diploma holders at $1,976 per month, with marketing graduates coming in second at $1,938 per month and administration/ support/service graduates taking third place at $1,925 per month.

“Accelerated career development and not just money is the primary motivation for fresh graduates to work for a company. New entrants now have a wide spectrum of opportunities to choose from – from start-ups to entrepreneurial ventures to freelancing and contract work,” said Andrew How, managing director at Hay Group.

“With this widening range of choices, individuals are expecting acceptance and freedom to be themselves with the emphasis shifting to more cerebral needs, such as belonging, autonomy, and self-expression in the workplace.”

The research also showed employers are likely to pay up to 46% more in starting salaries for average degree holders versus diploma holders.

Top paying jobs for degree holders (without honours)

1. Engineering – $2,888
2. Legal – $2,856
3. Information Technology – $2,816
4. Project Management – $2,813
5. Production – $2,767
6. Finance and Accounting – $2,765
7. Corporate Affairs – $2,755
8. Property Management – $2,750
9. Research and Development – $2,738
10. Quality Assurance – $2,708

Top paying jobs for diploma holders

1. Engineering – $1,976
2. Marketing – $1,938
3. Administration/Support/Service – $1,925
4. Information Technology – $1,920
5. Finance and Accounting – $1,906
6. Logistics/Supply chain – $1,900
7. Property Management – $1,894
8. Human Resources – $1,884
9. Corporate Affairs – $1,881
10. Health and Environment – $1,865

Source: www.humanresourcesonline.net

November 4, 2014
Singapore To Contribute Personnel and Equipment to Multinational Coalition Against IS

SINGAPORE – Singapore will play its part in the multinational coalition battling the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) by contributing personnel and equipment, said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen in Parliament on Monday.

This is part and parcel of Singapore’s ongoing efforts to combat terrorism, Dr Ng said, as he outlined how Singapore fought against the terrorist threat from Al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah.

It did so by strengthening its social, psychological and physical defenses at home, and joining other countries to deal with the sources of radicalisation and terror in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“As a result, both Al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah are weaker today. However, this terorrism threat is a long-term one, and new groups like ISIS will emerge even as existing ones falter. When they do, we must not lose focus or heart in dealing with the threat from ISIS. We must continue with the approach that has served Singapore well and protected us thus far,” he said.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

November 3, 2014
SPH Wins Most Transparent Company Award 2014. Yes SPH.

SINGAPORE – Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) received the Most Transparent Company Award in the Services category at the 15th SIAS Investors’ Choice Awards 2014, held at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre on Friday evening (Oct 31).

With this latest accolade, SPH has now won this award eleven times.

This is also the third consecutive year it has bagged this award under the Services category (from 2012 to 2014). SPH won the award eight times when it was previously grouped under the Non-Electronics Manufacturing category.

Mr Lawrence Wong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Communications and Information, was the event’s Guest-of-Honour.

Mr Alan Chan, Chief Executive Officer of SPH, said: “This latest achievement is a testament to the rigorous standards of corporate governance and transparency that we uphold throughout the years. This is made possible with the guidance of our board and the strong support from our management and staff.

“I am also very proud of our award-winning journalists whose achievements continue to reflect their dedication and professionalism, as well as the high editorial standards set in our newsrooms.”

The three SPH journalists who received awards for their editorial excellence were:

1) Ms Michelle Quah (Senior Correspondent, The Business Times) – Financial Journalist of the Year

2) Ms Lee Meixian (Journalist, The Business Times) – Most Promising Journalist of the Year

3) Mr Goh Eng Yeow (Senior Correspondent, The Straits Times) – Best Commentary Award

This was the third time Ms Quah was honoured at the SIAS Investors’ Choice Awards. She was a joint-winner for the Financial Journalist of the Year award in 2007 and won the Financial Story of the Year award in 2010.

It was also the third accolade for Mr Goh Eng Yeow at the SIAS Investors’ Choice Awards. He was named Financial Journalist of the Year in 2006 and last year, he won the Outstanding Commentaries award.

This is the first award for Ms Lee Meixian at the SIAS Investors’ Choice Awards.

Mr Wong Wei Kong, Executive Editor and News Editor, The Business Times, said: “Michelle is without peer as an authority on corporate governance issues in Singapore. She combines her knowledge base with her years of experience covering corporate Singapore to put corporate governance, or the lack of it, under sharp scrutiny.

“She pulls no punches, regardless of who are involved, and her commentaries and stories have touched on a wide range of issues that have investor protection at their heart.”

Reflecting on Ms Lee’s achievements, he further added: “In just her first full year in reporting, Meixian has gone beyond the headlines to explore issues in depth. Her tenacity in chasing down the news, and refusal to give up until she is satisfied she has found the answers, make her a promising financial journalist.”

On Mr Goh’s latest accolade, Ms Jeanette Lee Su Shyan, Money Editor, The Straits Times, said: “Eng Yeow consistently delivers insightful commentaries. His knowledge of the stock market is unparalleled in the newsroom.”

Source: http://news.asiaone.com

November 3, 2014