Rebutting Tan Kin Lian's call for a minimum wage

[Avantas]

In recent years, there have been calls for the government to impose a minimum wage to help the low income workers who have seen their take home pay remaining stagnant for for over a decade, the latest coming from Mr Tan Kin Lian in a speech made at Hong Lim Park last Saturday.

A minimum wage is the lowest daily, hourly or monthly wage that employers may legally pay to employees or workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labor.

Supporters of the minimum wage claim that it increases the workers’ earning power and protects them against exploitation by the employers. They argue that the widening income disparity between the rich and the poor in Singapore merits a relook at the minimum wage to prevent the low-income workers from being trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty.

Read full article here:

http://wayangparty.com/2008/12/09/a...-more-pain-than-relief-to-low-income-workers/

 

[annexa]

No need minimum wage. Just have more stringent criteria for foreign imports. Like contractors who hire cheap banglas but live in big terrace house and drive BMW one must make them pay workers properly!

 

[chupacabra]

Minimum wage is the stringent criteria. With minimum wage Every blue collar worker is paid the same hourly. It will be more wiser to hire sinkee.

But minimum wage will go against pappies dirt cheap/slave labour policy. So I do not believe it will happen.

Pappies do not give a damn about sinkee life. They are just mudderfuckers.

 

[suteerak1099]

c'mon, dun kid ourselves. if there was a minimum wage scheme, enforced by the ministries..... it'd only be another episode of dbl standads.

they'd generate unrealisitic guidelines for the wage tiers, and employers would be smiling cheek to cheek, popping champagne for mouth rinse daily, as employee wages would b cheaper than whores - making it impossible to match the inflation, let alone afford a decent living (with savings that can guarantee a sound retirement).

on the contrary, they absolve themselves from being categorized under the schemes, and continue to pay themselves higher wages than international celebrity sportsmen.

 

[chupacabra]

Minimum wage will help bottom earners. Better than none at all.

Minimum wage does not affect middle income earners.

With or without minimum wage, pappies will always overpay themselves.

 

[chupacabra]

c'mon, dun kid ourselves. if there was a minimum wage scheme, enforced by the ministries..... it'd only be another episode of dbl standads.

they'd generate unrealisitic guidelines for the wage tiers, and employers would be smiling cheek to cheek, popping champagne for mouth rinse daily, as employee wages would b cheaper than whores - making it impossible to match the inflation, let alone afford a decent living (with savings that can guarantee a sound retirement).

on the contrary, they absolve themselves from being categorized under the schemes, and continue to pay themselves higher wages than international celebrity sportsmen.

What you have said is already happening without minimum wage.

What more does the $2.50per hour earning sinkee got to loose?

 

[Ah Guan]

What more does the $2.50per hour earning sinkee got to loose?

For the minimum wage policy to be adopted, at least 2 sides of labour tripartite should benefit from it.

But since all employee unions are in effect neutered......

 

[tate]

First world countries all have minimum wage. It is something to protect ordinary citizens so they are not exploited by the elites

 

[silverfox@]

Seems Tan Ah Lian is super on the ball these days at Hong Lim Park.

First the minibonds.
Then the Presidency.
Now the minimum wage.

He seems to be creating news, attracting attention.

 

[zhihau]

Seems Tan Ah Lian is super on the ball these days at Hong Lim Park.

First the minibonds.
Then the Presidency.
Now the minimum wage.

He seems to be creating news, attracting attention.

would be nice if he contest against the PAP in the next GE :p

 

[twinseeker]

c'mon, dun kid ourselves. if there was a minimum wage scheme, enforced by the ministries..... it'd only be another episode of dbl standads.

What you have said is already happening without minimum wage.

It's not a bad move to have a minimum wage system enforced after all. At least it helps to ensure that people's interests are being taken care of.

Though I think it should be regulated by an independant union, and not 1 that is being hounded by the office in rule. The purpose of a labour union is to be the neutral party that cares for the workers, and not be biased towards employers only.