- Joined
- Jul 24, 2008
- Messages
- 33,627
- Points
- 0
<TABLE id=msgUN border=0 cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD id=msgUNsubj vAlign=top>
Coffeeshop Chit Chat - My reply to Dr Tan Khee Giap, pls check!</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead vAlign=top><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>kojakbt_89 <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>8:12 am </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 1) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>30748.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>(this is what I'm going to reply... pls comment)
---------------------------------
Hi Dr Tan,
You are saying that based on your so called "facts", salary is not the issue here when Singaporeans rejected those jobs offered by WDA? Can you share some of these facts with us then in order to support what you said in your email?
What is the average salary of all these jobs offered by WDA? What types of jobs are being rejected? On what basis were these Singaporeans rejecting the jobs? What kind of lifestyle were they having before they went jobless? What occupations and positions were they holding before they were jobless and what jobs and positions were WDA trying to match them to? I assume that most of these people seeking WDA's help are PMETs and over 40s? If this is the case, I would think that their previous pays would at least S$3.5K-4.5K?
Now, leaving salary issue aside, assuming that the person seeking WDA's help is a retrenched manager and WDA asks him to become a cleaner, do you think that after 20 years of corporate climbing he would agree to WDA's offer? Is this realistic?
Alright, given that the relentless onslaught of FTs onto our shores and that the Singaporean has no choice but to "rethink and readjust" his life like what you have said, let's examine what he can do to make adjustments so as to survive on his new $1.5K salary. He may have to sell his 4-room in order to downgrade to a 3-room. His wife may now have to go out and work. His primary school going kids may have to be left alone at home and fend for themselves after school, etc.
Now, what if the Govt after election, decides to open its door wider to get in more foreign workers from those even “cheaper” 3rd world countries than India and China? Say, they get in more workers from Myanmar and African countries (a civil servant makes about US$20-30 a month in Myanmar and a doctor makes about US$30 in Zimbabwe)?
These 3rd world people can survive well in Singapore by living very “frugally”. They don’t mind cramming
6-8 people in 1 HDB room to save on rent. They can drink water and eat bread and egg everyday. Every
dollar they save, they send back home. Now, with another round of massive influx of workers from these “below 3rd world” countries, are you still expecting our Singapore workers to "rethink and readjust" to a new salary level of $300-400 a month? May be you are thinking 3 Singaporean families can live in a 4 room flat each taking 1 room like our grandparents did in the 50s or 60s?
If this goes on, at a certain point, it will become completely meaningless to be a Singaporean! We are not
moving forward anymore. We are now moving backward. Bottomline is, influx of FTs is depressing our salaries. Singapore should learn more on how the 1st world western countries cope with globalization. They certainly don’t blindly import massive number of FTs to make the lives of their citizens miserable! By the way, didn't you write some time ago that for every 10 new jobs created, 7 went to foreigners?
Finally, since you are living in Jurong West HDB, do tell us honestly how much you think is sufficient for a family of 4 living in HDB to survive in Singapore with dignity?
Yours sincerely
Kojakbt
p.s. I've included a recent news article below about a young Singaporean having problems competing with foreigners in the service industry for your reading pleasure.
----------------------------------------
http://www.tnp.sg/news/story/0,4136,234791,00.html?
'Locals want jobs in service sector'
But receptionist says employers in the industry prefer foreigners
By Danson Cheong
March 26, 2010
Locals shun jobs in the service sector, so employers have no choice but to hire foreign workers.
Not if you ask Ms Emmi Sulaiman.
The 29-year-old receptionist said she has had door after door slammed in her face when she tried applying
for jobs in the service line.
Ms Emmi had e-mailed The New Paper in response to Singapore Retailers Association executive director
Lau Chuen Wei's comments in a report yesterday.
Ms Emmi claimed that for over a year, she had applied for five jobs at various F&B outlets but to no avail.
She recalled: "I went for an interview at a cafe. I looked around and the rest of the interviewees were all
foreigners."
To her dismay, the cafe supervisor position she applied for went to a Myanmar national instead.
She said: "My friends working at the cafe told me the Myanmar national was hired for $1,200. I asked for
$400 more."
But, Ms Emmi added, that was not an unreasonable amount to ask for.
"Let's get real,“ $1,600 is already barely enough for me to feed myself, my parents and pay the bills," she
said. "Employers need to recognise that the cost of living in Singapore is high."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tan Khee Giap to me
show details
12:51 pm (4 hours ago)
Dear Kojak,
You suspect that salary is the main issue here, but I do not suspect because I am actually based on facts, the salary level is certainly bot as you suspect because if you take income supplement in and others it is closer to 2k per month and there are many job types too.
Very often it is easier to be popular rather than telling the truth, because the truth hurts. Some Singaporeans must rethink and readjust
I am not staying at Ivory tower, I have been staying in Jurong west HDB for more than ten years since 1994.
Best regards, khee Giap
</TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msgleft width="1%"> </TD><TD class=msgopt width="24%" noWrap>
Options</TD><TD class=msgrde width="50%" noWrap align=middle> 
Reply</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
---------------------------------
Hi Dr Tan,
You are saying that based on your so called "facts", salary is not the issue here when Singaporeans rejected those jobs offered by WDA? Can you share some of these facts with us then in order to support what you said in your email?
What is the average salary of all these jobs offered by WDA? What types of jobs are being rejected? On what basis were these Singaporeans rejecting the jobs? What kind of lifestyle were they having before they went jobless? What occupations and positions were they holding before they were jobless and what jobs and positions were WDA trying to match them to? I assume that most of these people seeking WDA's help are PMETs and over 40s? If this is the case, I would think that their previous pays would at least S$3.5K-4.5K?
Now, leaving salary issue aside, assuming that the person seeking WDA's help is a retrenched manager and WDA asks him to become a cleaner, do you think that after 20 years of corporate climbing he would agree to WDA's offer? Is this realistic?
Alright, given that the relentless onslaught of FTs onto our shores and that the Singaporean has no choice but to "rethink and readjust" his life like what you have said, let's examine what he can do to make adjustments so as to survive on his new $1.5K salary. He may have to sell his 4-room in order to downgrade to a 3-room. His wife may now have to go out and work. His primary school going kids may have to be left alone at home and fend for themselves after school, etc.
Now, what if the Govt after election, decides to open its door wider to get in more foreign workers from those even “cheaper” 3rd world countries than India and China? Say, they get in more workers from Myanmar and African countries (a civil servant makes about US$20-30 a month in Myanmar and a doctor makes about US$30 in Zimbabwe)?
These 3rd world people can survive well in Singapore by living very “frugally”. They don’t mind cramming
6-8 people in 1 HDB room to save on rent. They can drink water and eat bread and egg everyday. Every
dollar they save, they send back home. Now, with another round of massive influx of workers from these “below 3rd world” countries, are you still expecting our Singapore workers to "rethink and readjust" to a new salary level of $300-400 a month? May be you are thinking 3 Singaporean families can live in a 4 room flat each taking 1 room like our grandparents did in the 50s or 60s?
If this goes on, at a certain point, it will become completely meaningless to be a Singaporean! We are not
moving forward anymore. We are now moving backward. Bottomline is, influx of FTs is depressing our salaries. Singapore should learn more on how the 1st world western countries cope with globalization. They certainly don’t blindly import massive number of FTs to make the lives of their citizens miserable! By the way, didn't you write some time ago that for every 10 new jobs created, 7 went to foreigners?
Finally, since you are living in Jurong West HDB, do tell us honestly how much you think is sufficient for a family of 4 living in HDB to survive in Singapore with dignity?
Yours sincerely
Kojakbt
p.s. I've included a recent news article below about a young Singaporean having problems competing with foreigners in the service industry for your reading pleasure.
----------------------------------------
http://www.tnp.sg/news/story/0,4136,234791,00.html?
'Locals want jobs in service sector'
But receptionist says employers in the industry prefer foreigners
By Danson Cheong
March 26, 2010
Locals shun jobs in the service sector, so employers have no choice but to hire foreign workers.
Not if you ask Ms Emmi Sulaiman.
The 29-year-old receptionist said she has had door after door slammed in her face when she tried applying
for jobs in the service line.
Ms Emmi had e-mailed The New Paper in response to Singapore Retailers Association executive director
Lau Chuen Wei's comments in a report yesterday.
Ms Emmi claimed that for over a year, she had applied for five jobs at various F&B outlets but to no avail.
She recalled: "I went for an interview at a cafe. I looked around and the rest of the interviewees were all
foreigners."
To her dismay, the cafe supervisor position she applied for went to a Myanmar national instead.
She said: "My friends working at the cafe told me the Myanmar national was hired for $1,200. I asked for
$400 more."
But, Ms Emmi added, that was not an unreasonable amount to ask for.
"Let's get real,“ $1,600 is already barely enough for me to feed myself, my parents and pay the bills," she
said. "Employers need to recognise that the cost of living in Singapore is high."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tan Khee Giap to me
show details
12:51 pm (4 hours ago)
Dear Kojak,
You suspect that salary is the main issue here, but I do not suspect because I am actually based on facts, the salary level is certainly bot as you suspect because if you take income supplement in and others it is closer to 2k per month and there are many job types too.
Very often it is easier to be popular rather than telling the truth, because the truth hurts. Some Singaporeans must rethink and readjust
I am not staying at Ivory tower, I have been staying in Jurong west HDB for more than ten years since 1994.
Best regards, khee Giap
</TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msgleft width="1%"> </TD><TD class=msgopt width="24%" noWrap>
