<TABLE id=msgUN cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD id=msgUNsubj vAlign=top>Coffeeshop Chit Chat - Mediacorp confirmed overstaffed</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right>
Subscribe </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgF noWrap align=right width="1%">From: </TD><TD class=msgFname noWrap width="68%">SGNEWSALTE <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate noWrap align=right width="30%">Jan-9 2:46 am </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT noWrap align=right width="1%" height=20>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname noWrap width="68%">ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 6) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft width="1%" rowSpan=4> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>5019.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>If it can cut working hours without affecting programming, doesn't that prove that it is overstaffed? Stop collecting TV licence from us to pay all the fat cats govt cronies in the state broadcasting media.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/401327/1/.html
MediaCorp to reduce work hours but programming not affected
Posted: 09 January 2009 1638 hrs
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</TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD><TD class=update> </TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD><TD>http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/401327/1/.html</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Singapore - Media giant MediaCorp will be adopting alternate short weeks with staff taking block leave to cut operating costs. The announcement made Friday however came with an assurance that its popular TV and radio programmes, publications and online properties will not be affected.
MediaCorp CEO Lucas Chow said these and other cost cutting measures would help the company weather the economic storm, without having to resort to retrenchments at this stage.
“We need to take pro-active measures to respond to the weak business condition. But whatever we do, our twin priorities are to ensure that there is no impact to our audiences and partners, and to save jobs,” said Mr Chow at a staff briefing.
The company, he said, has started seeing a decline in advertising revenue, which forms the bulk of its income.
With the shorter 4-day week that will alternate with the regular 5-day work week starting from April 2009, the company will see a cut of about 10 per cent from the annual wage bill.
Further savings in operating costs will come from common leave taken across the group – except those manning 24 by 7 services such as News, broadcast transmission, live radio and advertisement bookings.
The alternate short week and common leave will be scheduled around public holidays and school vacation, resulting in some breaks lasting up to a week.
This break will enable MediaCorp to carry out equipment and facility maintenance.
During the shut down periods, the company is also considering letting staff undergo training and skills upgrading under the auspices of the NTUC and other agencies. The first block leave begins during the Lunar New Year week.
The company’s in-house union had provided input on the scheduled shut downs.
Mr Ang Wah Lai, President of Singapore Union of Broadcasting Employees, said: “Our employees understand it’s a necessary step to save jobs. I am glad to have been consulted early, and the early notice of the scheduled shut downs allows staff to plan their personal commitments.
"I really appreciate the level of trust and openness between the union and management.”
He was comforted that the new working arrangements would be reviewed regularly as to whether they are needed.
NTUC's Secretary General, Mr Lim Swee Say, said he's most encouraged by the close consultation between MediaCorp management and SUBE.
"It will strengthen trust and build confidence which is especially critical during this period of economic downturn" he said.
"I am also happy that MediaCorp is making full use of SPUR (Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience) to upgrade the skills of the staff and enhance the capability of the organisation. I am sure MediaCorp will emerge from this downturn even stronger and better.”
These new working arrangements come on top of various other cost cutting measures already implemented, including cutting variable bonuses.
Under SPUR which is a scheme developed by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) together with the Manpower Ministry (MOM), National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), companies and workers can tap into scale-up skills training programmes.
Singapore's Manpower Ministry recently added more SPUR courses bringing the total to 800 courses - a five-fold increase from December 2008- to encourage companies to send workers for upgrading instead of retrenching them.
Through SPUR employers can also look to save on manpower costs and better manage their excess manpower during the current economic downturn.
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http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/401327/1/.html
MediaCorp to reduce work hours but programming not affected
Posted: 09 January 2009 1638 hrs
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=260 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=right width=20> </TD><TD align=right width=240>
</TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD><TD class=update> </TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD><TD>http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/401327/1/.html</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Singapore - Media giant MediaCorp will be adopting alternate short weeks with staff taking block leave to cut operating costs. The announcement made Friday however came with an assurance that its popular TV and radio programmes, publications and online properties will not be affected.
MediaCorp CEO Lucas Chow said these and other cost cutting measures would help the company weather the economic storm, without having to resort to retrenchments at this stage.
“We need to take pro-active measures to respond to the weak business condition. But whatever we do, our twin priorities are to ensure that there is no impact to our audiences and partners, and to save jobs,” said Mr Chow at a staff briefing.
The company, he said, has started seeing a decline in advertising revenue, which forms the bulk of its income.
With the shorter 4-day week that will alternate with the regular 5-day work week starting from April 2009, the company will see a cut of about 10 per cent from the annual wage bill.
Further savings in operating costs will come from common leave taken across the group – except those manning 24 by 7 services such as News, broadcast transmission, live radio and advertisement bookings.
The alternate short week and common leave will be scheduled around public holidays and school vacation, resulting in some breaks lasting up to a week.
This break will enable MediaCorp to carry out equipment and facility maintenance.
During the shut down periods, the company is also considering letting staff undergo training and skills upgrading under the auspices of the NTUC and other agencies. The first block leave begins during the Lunar New Year week.
The company’s in-house union had provided input on the scheduled shut downs.
Mr Ang Wah Lai, President of Singapore Union of Broadcasting Employees, said: “Our employees understand it’s a necessary step to save jobs. I am glad to have been consulted early, and the early notice of the scheduled shut downs allows staff to plan their personal commitments.
"I really appreciate the level of trust and openness between the union and management.”
He was comforted that the new working arrangements would be reviewed regularly as to whether they are needed.
NTUC's Secretary General, Mr Lim Swee Say, said he's most encouraged by the close consultation between MediaCorp management and SUBE.
"It will strengthen trust and build confidence which is especially critical during this period of economic downturn" he said.
"I am also happy that MediaCorp is making full use of SPUR (Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience) to upgrade the skills of the staff and enhance the capability of the organisation. I am sure MediaCorp will emerge from this downturn even stronger and better.”
These new working arrangements come on top of various other cost cutting measures already implemented, including cutting variable bonuses.
Under SPUR which is a scheme developed by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) together with the Manpower Ministry (MOM), National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), companies and workers can tap into scale-up skills training programmes.
Singapore's Manpower Ministry recently added more SPUR courses bringing the total to 800 courses - a five-fold increase from December 2008- to encourage companies to send workers for upgrading instead of retrenching them.
Through SPUR employers can also look to save on manpower costs and better manage their excess manpower during the current economic downturn.
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