Tag: Singaporeans

Reasons Why Foreigners Get Jobs Over Singaporeans
Another new initiative to help Singaporean workers?

According to the Channel NewsAsia news report “New portal to prepare students for future jobs” (Apr 7) – “The one-stop portal for education, training and career information, is a key plank of the SkillsFuture initiative that seeks to help Singaporeans take ownership of their job search.”

What do employers want?

All these new initiatives to help Singaporeans find jobs and career development may not work because we do not think through what is it that most employers want?

Employers want …
- workers who are experienced, highly skilled, highly educated and intelligent
When you allow the whole world to come to Singapore as tourists to look for jobs – you don’t need to be a genius to figure out that the odds will continue to be stacked against Singaporeans – when you are competing with the best (or the worse who fake their credentials) in the world
- workers who cost less
Foreigners don’t have to contribute CPF. So, employers save up to 20 per cent on wages. And of course, foreigners may be willing to work for lesser pay than Singaporeans
- workers who do not have turnover problems
Since most foreigners are on 2-year contracts – they are mostly stuck with the same employer for at least 2 years
- less work disruption
Foreigners on work permits cannot get pregnant. So, no “4 months’ maternity leave” problems. Those on employment pass also typically come to Singapore as “singles” and so are less likely to have maternity leave

Male foreigners do not have National Service reservist training “disruptions” to work
- workers who can do very long hours of shift work
Foreigners have no choice and are more willing to accept jobs which are 12 hours or longer a day for 6 days a week

Make yourself valuable to employers?

As to the article “Make yourself valuable, even after getting your degree: Indranee Rajah” (CNA, Apr 7), which said ”The forum focused on whether a degree still matters when it comes to employment, and saw some students sharing their views on pursuing a job that is not relevant to their degree.

Ms Indranee said having skills to adapt to the changing job market will be important and it is one of the objectives of the Government’s SkillsFuture initiative.

Odds stacked against Singaporeans?

She added that the Government is hoping to change mind sets by getting people to find out what they really want to do and to get the relevant qualifications”
- how do Singaporeans make themselves more valuable to employers, when the odds are so stacked against them in favour of foreigner?
Real pay increase?

So, is it any wonder that the real starting pay of graduates has hardly increased in the last 8 years or so, and real basic, gross and total wages (excluding employer CPF contribution) have also hardly increased in the last 15 years or so?

Employ Singaporeans first?

Finally, the most telling “wayang” is perhaps that the national jobs portal under the Fair Consideration Framework to employ Singaporeans First, cannot give any statistics at all as to how many of the jobs actually went to Singaporeans!

Win battles lose war
* Submitted by TRE reader

Half the workforce not “true-blue” Singaporeans?

P.S. I went to a bank, hospital and food basement of a shopping mall one day, and almost every worker was not a Singaporean!

Source: www.tremeritus.com
April 16, 2015
SEA Games Organising Committe Chairman Calls Singapore Football Fans Fair Weather Fans

Recent results for Singapore’s SEA Games football team have made for grim reading. But the Republic’s top sports executive called on fans to “show your mettle and come out in force” to support the struggling national Under-23 squad.

SEA Games Organising Committee (Singsoc) exco chairman Lim Teck Yin, who is also Sport Singapore’s CEO, admitted that Aide Iskandar’s charges are under “a lot of pressure” following a 1-8 mauling by Japan’s Olympic team, a 1-2 defeat by Syria’s U-23s and a 1-3 loss to regional minnows Cambodia’s U-22 side this year. Coupled with poor displays from the senior Lions and their U-22 counterparts, Singapore’s national teams are still searching for their first win this year.

Yet Lim, a former national water polo player, is urging true fans of Singapore football to back the Young Lions. He told The Straits Times on Wednesday: “Our SEA Games team is training hard and trying to do their best. For fans, it’s your turn now to step up.

“For a fan to say ‘you perform then I come’, it’s sort of saying you’re not quite a fan. Fans are there for the highs and lows – they lift the team when they are low.

“Singapore’s pride is at stake and regardless of how good or bad they are, this is our team.”

Lim was speaking after leading President Tony Tan Keng Yam on his first tour of the Sports Hub in Kallang, where they met national athletes who are training for the Games.

The Young Lions have been grouped with Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia and Philippines for the June 5-16 extravaganza. The football tournament will kick off on May 29, with tickets going on sale on May 6.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

April 16, 2015
Lions Gold Medal Hunt Begins

There is no doubt Aide Iskandar’s job is a tough one. His SEA Games-bound squad have been handed an easier group for the Under-23 football competition but the irony is that expectations will be higher for them to deliver a better result than their bronze medal performance in 2013.

Singapore will host the 28th edition of the Games from June 5 to 16 and playing on home soil in front of a partisan crowd, the pressure will be massive.

During today’s (April 15) draw for the competition at the Sports Hub, Aide’s under-23 side were placed in Group A with 2013 silver medallists Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia and the Philippines.

The tougher Group B consists of defending champions Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos, Brunei and Timor-Leste. The top two teams of each group will advance to the semi-finals but Singapore’s passage to the last four is anything but assured.

In six friendly matches they played from January to March in their preparation for the Games, they lost five and drew one. Two of the losses were during a training stint in Turkey, including a 1-1 draw with Uzbekistan’s Under-21 side.

On their return they were handed an 8-1 drubbing by Japan’s under-22 team, and they suffered a 3-1 defeat by Cambodia’s Under-22 side last month.

With Indonesia a perennial threat and Myanmar also in the mix, Aide has his work cut out to whip the team into shape.

He will only be able to assemble the entire team in May because the squad, made up of players from LionsXII and Courts Young Lions, have Malaysian Super League and S-League commitments.

“As hosts we want to do well and we have to challenge ourselves to qualify for the semi-final,” said Aide. “But our final phase of training will only kick off from May 1, which is an important and critical period when we can work on team bonding and cohesiveness.”

Team unity is an issue for the national Under-23 coach, particularly with talk among the fraternity that the poor attitude of some players is disrupting the team. Aide has engaged the help of former fellow Lions defender Kadir Yahaya, a reputed task master who steered Singapore’s Youth Olympics side to bronze in 2010.

“He is a no-nonsense guy who is focused on results and won’t stand for prima donnas,” said former international Lim Tong Hai. “The team needs to be consolidated before the Games and between Aide and Kadir, they could probably do it.”

Added former Lions midfielder Malek Awab: “The performance of the team during pre-Games matches in the last few months has not been encouraging.

“We had stars like Fandi Ahmad and Sundram (ex-striker V Sundramoorthy) during my time in the national team and none of them were prima donnas. if they want to make anything of themselves, they must follow the instructions of the coaches. If not, it is going to be tough for them.”

Source: www.todayonline.com

April 16, 2015
LTA Unveils Tender For Bus Routes In Punggol And Pasir Ris

The second package of bus routes under the government contracting model was today (April 15) put up for tender by the Land Transport Authority (LTA). But in contrast to the enthusiastic response that greeted the first package, the foreign and local operators that TODAY spoke to had little to say when asked about their interest. Of the six operators contacted, two said they plan to bid, two others were non-commital and the rest declined to comment.

Analysts said this was because the operators are awaiting the results of the first package, which would have a significant bearing on the operators’ plans. The results are expected to be announced by June, while the tender for the second package will close in August.

Last May, the Government announced the transition to this new model of operations, where it owns the bus operating assets while private operators compete for contracts to run routes.

The newly released package comprises 25 bus services — including three new routes — that mainly cover the Punggol and Pasir Ris areas, and will be operating out of the new Loyang Bus Depot.

The winning bidder will run the services for five years with the possibility of a two-year extension for good performance. It will also be required to operate, manage and maintain the government-owned buses, interchanges and Centralised Bus Fleet Management System.

Of those contacted today, SMRT Buses and French firm RATP Dev Transdev Asia (RDTA) expressed their interest.

Mr Tan Kian Heong, SMRT Buses’ vice president said: “SMRT Buses is pleased to participate in the Loyang package. We look forward to delivering a positive commuter experience to all residents served by the Loyang bus services.”

RDTA’s bid director, Mark Harbridge, said it is “very interested” in the package, which it is now studying.

“The bid process for the first package, which is being considered at the moment, was a very positive experience and it is one of many reasons that we are excited about the Loyang bus package,” he added.

Incumbent operator SBS Transit’s senior vice president for corporate communication, Tammy Tan, said it is unable to comment since it is a competitive tender. Mr Roger Wong, General Manager of Woodlands Transport, said it will evaluate the tender requirements before deciding whether to bid.

Transport analysts said operators could be waiting for the tender results of the first bus package to serve as a benchmark.

SIM University transport analyst Park Byung Joon said SMRT’s low bid price could have surprised its rivals. “If SMRT is going to win the first bid for that price, foreign companies may find that it may not be as profitable as they thought,” he said.

Eight of the 11 bids for the first package were shortlisted last month. Incumbent bus operators SMRT and ComfortDelGro — via its subsidiary SBS Transit — had the lowest bidding prices of S$93.7 million and S$125.2 million, respectively. The six remaining bids ranged from S$125.6 million to S$153.5 million.

National University of Singapore transport expert Lee Der Horng believes that interest in the second package is still strong among operators, adding that those who participated in the first tender are likely to throw their hats in the ring again.

“They just need to make some tweaks. Most of the content material (for the first bid) can still be applicable for the second bid. It wouldn’t make sense to walk away,” he said.

Source: www.todayonline.com

April 16, 2015
HDB Survey Finds More Eyeing Bigger Flats Or Private Homes

Upgrading aspirations have risen over the years, with fewer Housing Board (HDB) households content with smaller flats and more aspiring to bigger flats or private property.

But even as they wanted bigger homes, most were happy with the state of public housing here, with nine in 10 saying their flats were value for money.

These findings were captured in the latest HDB Sample Household Survey, which is conducted once every five years.

The report, which surveyed 7,800 HDB households in 2013, tackled issues related to public housing ranging from HDB residents’ satisfaction with their physical surroundings, to their family ties and aspirations.

Of those surveyed, 57.5 per cent said they were content with their present flat type.

But 35 per cent would be content only with better housing, up from 28.6 per cent in 2008.

Households headed by someone younger than 35 had the highest aspirations.

Three in 10 of such households aspired to own private property, compared with the overall average of 15.9 per cent.

Existing home owners’ aspirations may have risen along with house prices, said R’ST Research director Ong Kah Seng.

“Many buyers understand that the flats they own have seen paper gains due to increases in flat prices, so they would like to cash out and top up ‘a bit more’ for a better living experience.”

But while many continued to believe that flats were good value for money, pride in their homes slipped. Seven in 10 said they were proud of their homes, down from eight in 10 five years before.

The study also found that one in five young married couples under the age of 35 chose to rent instead of buying their first home.

Experts said this could be due to couples waiting for flats to be completed or to be able to afford an ideal home, and did not indicate that they were shunning home ownership.

With about 3.06 million Singaporeans living in public housing – or about eight in 10 Singaporeans – the survey findings closely tracked the overall demographics of the country.

Households were getting older, with the median age of HDB residents at 39, up from 37 in 2008.

Households also had more income earners. On average, there were 1.8 income earners per household in 2013, slightly higher than the 1.7 in 2008.

Four-room units were the most common type of flat sold, making up 41 per cent of the total stock.

The study also showed that bonds in families staying in HDB estates remained strong.

Nine in 10 married children visited their parents at least once a month, with 19.5 per cent doing so on a daily basis.

Similarly, filial piety in the form of financial support for parents remains a virtue in many households.

Nearly three in four younger married residents provided regular financial support to their parents in 2013, up from 70.2 per cent in 2008. The average quantum given to their parents went up from $336 to $400.

The generally positive reviews of public housing come even though the population density has risen, noted the HDB.

“Despite the increase, survey findings showed that residents liked most aspects about the HDB living environment,” it said.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

April 16, 2015