<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Singapore United the way to go
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><TR>PM Lee calls on Singaporeans to work together to find solutions to the crisis </TR><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Aaron Low, Political Correspondent
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Mr Lee noted that in many countries, people were getting worried and frustrated about their jobs, and many looked for someone to blame. As a result, they lashed out at governments, foreign workers and immigrants. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM
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Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday called on Singaporeans to stay united and focus their energies on finding practical and effective solutions to the current economic crisis.
<TABLE width=200 align=left valign="top"><TBODY><TR><TD class=padr8><!-- Vodcast --><!-- Background Story --><STYLE type=text/css> #related .quote {background-color:#E7F7FF; padding:8px;margin:0px 0px 5px 0px;} #related .quote .headline {font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:10px;font-weight:bold; border-bottom:3px double #007BFF; color:#036; text-transform:uppercase; padding-bottom:5px;} #related .quote .text {font-size:11px;color:#036;padding:5px 0px;} </STYLE>PM: Use downturn to raise service quality
The current downturn is an opportunity to improve Singapore's service quality, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong last night.
=> How? By replacing with FTrash who insist in not speaking Engrish?
Addressing an issue that is often the subject of public lament, he noted that workers are now taking training and upgrading more seriously because of the downturn.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The 'Singapore United' way was how the country could achieve the best possible outcome for both workers and businesses, and emerge stronger in the longer term, he said.
'If we handle this well, we will pull through and emerge with stronger trust for each other, as we have done many times before,' he added.
=> How? NS for Sporns and Jobs for FTrash?
He was speaking at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Singapore Manual and Mercantile Workers' Union (SMMWU), the biggest union here, and one of the oldest.
It has 240 branches and 85,000 members, from sectors like retail, food manufacturing and logistics.
Mr Lee noted that in many countries, people were getting worried and frustrated about their jobs, and many looked for someone to blame. As a result, they lashed out at governments, foreign workers and immigrants.
'The country becomes divided, people react emotionally, and
=> But axe Sporns first/NS for Sporns and reserve free scholarships/jobs for FTrash can unite the cuntry?
problems become harder to solve,' he said, noting that in France, three million people protested against President Nicolas Sarkozy a few days ago.
But these protesters offered no alternative plans, he pointed out. 'After the anger, the letting off of steam, France is no nearer a solution to the crisis.'
Commenting on the Group of 20 summit which will take place this week in London, he said he hoped G-20 leaders would commit to upholding free trade and reach a mutual understanding that protectionist policies at home would simply result in them 'acting at cross purposes' and making things 'worse for all'.
Singapore has no control over its external environment and must 'make the best of what we have', he said.
=> Then pay ministers and dogs millions to GAM PUI ah?
This was why 'we must make the extra effort to stay united...think through our problems calmly and rationally, and work together to overcome this challenge', he said.
Unions such as SMMWU - which he described as a key asset in Singapore's tripartite partnership - have important responsibilities in this downturn, he stressed.
The union should continue to work with companies to stave off job losses - for example, by encouraging more companies to tap on the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (Spur), a $600 million government-sponsored training programme.
Spur currently has 735 companies committing some 38,000 workers for training, which the Government heavily subsidises.
The union can also help retrenched workers by encouraging them to go for retraining and to take up available jobs, Mr Lee said.
SMMWU secretary-general John De Payva announced last night that the union had raised some $500,000 to help needy union workers and their families.
The money came from last night's dinner proceeds, donations and the launch of its 50th anniversary book, which chronicles the struggles of the SMMWU.
In his speech, PM Lee noted how cooperation between the Government, unions and businesses has been a key advantage for Singapore as it tries to pull through this downturn.
The Government has also taken decisive measures to respond to the crisis, he noted, such as putting in place programmes like Spur and the $20.5 billion Resilience Package.
=> Sure, using national reserves to help FTrash! 1st in the world!
Despite the gloom, there are still bright spots in the economy.
The Employment and Employability Institute, which tries to match jobs and workers, still has some 13,000 job openings, half of them in the service sector, Mr Lee noted. 'Workers should take full advantage of these opportunities,' he urged. [email protected]
Unite Your See Lung Tao Lah!
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><TR>PM Lee calls on Singaporeans to work together to find solutions to the crisis </TR><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Aaron Low, Political Correspondent
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
Mr Lee noted that in many countries, people were getting worried and frustrated about their jobs, and many looked for someone to blame. As a result, they lashed out at governments, foreign workers and immigrants. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday called on Singaporeans to stay united and focus their energies on finding practical and effective solutions to the current economic crisis.
<TABLE width=200 align=left valign="top"><TBODY><TR><TD class=padr8><!-- Vodcast --><!-- Background Story --><STYLE type=text/css> #related .quote {background-color:#E7F7FF; padding:8px;margin:0px 0px 5px 0px;} #related .quote .headline {font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:10px;font-weight:bold; border-bottom:3px double #007BFF; color:#036; text-transform:uppercase; padding-bottom:5px;} #related .quote .text {font-size:11px;color:#036;padding:5px 0px;} </STYLE>PM: Use downturn to raise service quality
The current downturn is an opportunity to improve Singapore's service quality, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong last night.
=> How? By replacing with FTrash who insist in not speaking Engrish?
Addressing an issue that is often the subject of public lament, he noted that workers are now taking training and upgrading more seriously because of the downturn.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The 'Singapore United' way was how the country could achieve the best possible outcome for both workers and businesses, and emerge stronger in the longer term, he said.
'If we handle this well, we will pull through and emerge with stronger trust for each other, as we have done many times before,' he added.
=> How? NS for Sporns and Jobs for FTrash?
He was speaking at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Singapore Manual and Mercantile Workers' Union (SMMWU), the biggest union here, and one of the oldest.
It has 240 branches and 85,000 members, from sectors like retail, food manufacturing and logistics.
Mr Lee noted that in many countries, people were getting worried and frustrated about their jobs, and many looked for someone to blame. As a result, they lashed out at governments, foreign workers and immigrants.
'The country becomes divided, people react emotionally, and
=> But axe Sporns first/NS for Sporns and reserve free scholarships/jobs for FTrash can unite the cuntry?
problems become harder to solve,' he said, noting that in France, three million people protested against President Nicolas Sarkozy a few days ago.
But these protesters offered no alternative plans, he pointed out. 'After the anger, the letting off of steam, France is no nearer a solution to the crisis.'
Commenting on the Group of 20 summit which will take place this week in London, he said he hoped G-20 leaders would commit to upholding free trade and reach a mutual understanding that protectionist policies at home would simply result in them 'acting at cross purposes' and making things 'worse for all'.
Singapore has no control over its external environment and must 'make the best of what we have', he said.
=> Then pay ministers and dogs millions to GAM PUI ah?
This was why 'we must make the extra effort to stay united...think through our problems calmly and rationally, and work together to overcome this challenge', he said.
Unions such as SMMWU - which he described as a key asset in Singapore's tripartite partnership - have important responsibilities in this downturn, he stressed.
The union should continue to work with companies to stave off job losses - for example, by encouraging more companies to tap on the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (Spur), a $600 million government-sponsored training programme.
Spur currently has 735 companies committing some 38,000 workers for training, which the Government heavily subsidises.
The union can also help retrenched workers by encouraging them to go for retraining and to take up available jobs, Mr Lee said.
SMMWU secretary-general John De Payva announced last night that the union had raised some $500,000 to help needy union workers and their families.
The money came from last night's dinner proceeds, donations and the launch of its 50th anniversary book, which chronicles the struggles of the SMMWU.
In his speech, PM Lee noted how cooperation between the Government, unions and businesses has been a key advantage for Singapore as it tries to pull through this downturn.
The Government has also taken decisive measures to respond to the crisis, he noted, such as putting in place programmes like Spur and the $20.5 billion Resilience Package.
=> Sure, using national reserves to help FTrash! 1st in the world!
Despite the gloom, there are still bright spots in the economy.
The Employment and Employability Institute, which tries to match jobs and workers, still has some 13,000 job openings, half of them in the service sector, Mr Lee noted. 'Workers should take full advantage of these opportunities,' he urged. [email protected]
Unite Your See Lung Tao Lah!
