Firms Struggle To Hire Local Workers!!
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there are about 64,700 unemployed workers in singapore.
foreigner now make up 15% of isetan's workforce.
isetan prefer singaporeans.
from jan next year, foreign workers can make up to 45% of the workforce of the service sector, up from 40%.
from oct this year, the levy for skilled work permit holders will increased from $100 to $150 for each worker.
how did the govt come up with the figure 64,700?
where and who are all these people?
the foreign workers cap will increased from jan next year. why does the levy increase start in oct this year?
what is the purpose of increasing the cap? to allow firms to employ more foreigners? if so, why increase the levy which will in turn increase the overheads making it more difficult for businesses? -
just an estimate lah.
not working, no money, at home loh
since the govt end up collecting money, might as well start it earlier -
thats where it gets funny.Originally posted by Kenashi:just an estimate lah.
not working, no money, at home loh
since the govt end up collecting money, might as well start it earlier
plenty of sales assistants and cashiers jobs available but no-takers.
so what are all these 64,700 people surviving on? -
singaporeans don't like to work in service industry, they think that it is too lowly for them, they rather starveOriginally posted by dragg:thats where it gets funny.
plenty of sales assistants and cashiers jobs available but no-takers.
so what are all these 64,700 people surviving on?
eat A&W loh
air n water -
i dont believe this is the case.Originally posted by Kenashi:singaporeans don't like to work in service industry, they think that it is too lowly for them, they rather starve
eat A&W loh
air n water -
figure from p-package?Originally posted by dragg:there are about 64,700 unemployed workers in singapore.
foreigner now make up 15% of isetan's workforce.
isetan prefer singaporeans.
from jan next year, foreign workers can make up to 45% of the workforce of the service sector, up from 40%.
from oct this year, the levy for skilled work permit holders will increased from $100 to $150 for each worker.
how did the govt come up with the figure 64,700?
where are all these people?
the foreign workers cap will increased from jan next year. why does the levy increase start in oct this year?
what is the purpose of increasing the cap? to allow firms to employ more foreigners? if so, why increase the levy which will in turn increase the overheads making it more difficult for businesses? -
the report is quite spot-on. try advertising for sales asst and cashiers - many calls. but few locals and most are PRs (from m'sia or china). even when scheduled for interviews, many singaporeans do not bother to turn up.
a few weeks ago, i was helping a family fren who advertised for staff in the food industry. when the call is from a singaporean, it typically goes like this : how long is lunch break ? any tea break ? do you provide meals ? can have weekend off ? how about public holidays ? can increase weekend rates ? sigh . . . i feel like I am being interviewed instead. and mind you, they have not even enquired about job scope !
no choice. we ended up employing 2 PRs - and i was told that they were excellent workers.
note : by spot-on - i'm referring to the low take-up rate by singaporeans for these jobs. many see it as beneath them. -
nowaday employer choose worker , they want young, pretty. recently I got 1 guys friends jobless for 1 1/2 yrs in their 40 something went for the WDA recruitment Retail Trial Programmes. During the Breifing It say If selected got to go for 5 days retail training pay by WDA. After the course NO GUARANTEE OF A JOB OFFER. plenty of pples got Fedup go back home. You know what is my friends queue number 150 got to wait don know many hrs. In the end talk rubbish gave U pay $800 sonemore got to be shortlisted.
Is not straightaway got job. -
My Friends even try sale assistant @ Harvey Norman callup they say must had retail experience if not don Hired. Somemore he try security guard, he can speak ,write english very well completed sec 2 , only things he don have NRS cert , The security Firm say Must work 12 hrs shift @ this amount of pay & nowaday NRS cert change already government change another type of cert , very difficult to pass. My friend no problem. He say go back wait for Phoned call until now 1 months no reply.
How to survive in s,pore when you above 40s. that why alot of pple fedup rather gaveup finding job.
Go to Library read newspaper look for job must wait so many pple jobless looking @ classified. After your turns either the job classified is missing or got one holes .
Gov say jobless rate down all rubbish not true. when U went to WDA register for Job after 6 month still no job, U must register again if not they consider U got a Job ,of course u fedup never ask them again. how the Gov got the jobless statics. All are no True. -
aiyah, working in retail and security guard no need high education lah. The govt keep raising the percentage of workforce who have poly, JC and university education. So now not enough O level and PSLE students in the work force already.
Those people who have tertiary education dont want to work in retail is correct, they follow govt's planning mah. I think govt plan to put everyone through uni is not for them to work in retail or security guard.
So unless these firms willing to accept 40-50 yrs old lor otherwise now youngsters almost everyone has a degree or diploma, how to work there? Their parents want or not?
Ask govt to change the plan, make more people get phD or Masters, then degree holders can work in retail lor. -
i believe firms are struggling to hire local workers, but why?. can anyone advice how much a local sales assistant at a dept store are being paid?maybe $1000- $1200/mth. why these sales assistant which has to stand for long hours are being paid such low salary? these salary are set base on what critria? compare to china PRs? malaysians? philippino? i would like to ask the question, if a dept store employ a foreign sales assistant, after paying $150 levy,do they still profit when comparing to hiring a local singaporean?
what kind of stupid levy is $150 gona make a monkey difference to employer? it just enough to pump full tank of petrol in their mercedes and BMW.
stop blaming fellow singaporean for being choosy, can we still be happy and contented when lowly educated singaporean are being paid second class salary living in first world living standard? -
plus 1.....Originally posted by reyes:i believe firms are struggling to hire local workers, but why?. can anyone advice how much a local sales assistant at a dept store are being paid?maybe $1000- $1200/mth. why these sales assistant which has to stand for long hours are being paid such low salary? these salary are set base on what critria? compare to china PRs? malaysians? philippino? i would like to ask the question, if a dept store employ a foreign sales assistant, after paying $150 levy,do they still profit when comparing to hiring a local singaporean?
what kind of stupid levy is $150 gona make a monkey difference to employer? it just enough to pump full tank of petrol in their mercedes and BMW.
stop blaming fellow singaporean for being choosy, can we still be happy and contented when lowly educated singaporean are being paid second class salary living in first world living standard?
a salary that is not enough for basic needs then what's the point of work. our govt only know how to talk c o c k. Asking them..are they willing to experience themselves with S$1500 - S$2000 income that have to support two kids schooling and all the basic expenses in livelihood? Fark them!!! -
we are world class
of cos must give staff world class pay -
i find their decision contradictory too.Originally posted by reyes:i believe firms are struggling to hire local workers, but why?. can anyone advice how much a local sales assistant at a dept store are being paid?maybe $1000- $1200/mth. why these sales assistant which has to stand for long hours are being paid such low salary? these salary are set base on what critria? compare to china PRs? malaysians? philippino? i would like to ask the question, if a dept store employ a foreign sales assistant, after paying $150 levy,do they still profit when comparing to hiring a local singaporean?
what kind of stupid levy is $150 gona make a monkey difference to employer? it just enough to pump full tank of petrol in their mercedes and BMW.
stop blaming fellow singaporean for being choosy, can we still be happy and contented when lowly educated singaporean are being paid second class salary living in first world living standard?
why increase the levy? it will only increase the overheads.
why increase the cap? it will lead to more foreign labours coming in.
all in all they are only interested in making more money from the levy. -
Obviously what you said being true, there isn't a need for a DECISION regarding the increase in levy.Originally posted by dragg:i find their decision contradictory too.
why increase the levy? it will only increase the overheads.
why increase the cap? it will lead to more foreign labours coming in.
all in all they are only interested in making more money from the levy.
Whatever that makes them more money, it will be done. Whether people can survive, doesn't register in their collective minds. We only matter most, during GE. -
hopefully nt world class prices denOriginally posted by FireIce:we are world class
of cos must give staff world class pay -
I remember reading in another thread, there is another reason why many locals are unwilling to take up these low paying jobs. No offence but retail jobs that pay less than $700 a month is really low paying, regardless of the hours.
Many foreigners from PRC, India, Malaysia (lesser extent) are willing to work for absurdly low pay because they are here for a fixed period of time. They scrimp and save, and try very hard to earn extra side incomes (legal or otherwise) so that they can take the money they've earn back home.
Imagine converting our SGD into rupees or renminbi, you can imagine how rich they are back home. They can buy a small plot of land or open a small provision stall and live easy the rest of their lives.
How many locals are able to escape to another country to be able to retire there spending in either rupees or renmingbi? Only a few. Furthermore, we have to consider the CPF contribution which we are unable to touch until we retire, and if there isn't enough in the CPF, you still can't touch it even after retirement.
How many of us can say we can survive for at least 1 year after losing our jobs? How many of us are ASSURED of having half a million SGD upon retirement? Not many, hence many of us want higher, and higher and higer pay. Its materialism, granted, but also necessity.
Next thing you'll ask, why sit around jobless when you can earn few hundred a month? Well, being fresh to the workforce, I face a similiar situation. should I accept a low pay while looking for another job? Or should I concentrate on looking for a job that meets my (reasonable) pay demand?
I chose to get a low paying job while looking for another higher paying job. Now I'm facing the problem of employers trying to pay me beneth my expected salary. ie. They are willing to spend up to $2.5k for a new hire, but upon hearing of my previously drawn salary, they will push it down to $2.1k which is a significant increase over my previously drawn salary.
That being said, working also incurs an increased expenditure. Travelling, buying clothes to wear, more expensive food, etc. Many of you can give many suggestions to save money, but implementing those suggestions is really miserable.
In a way, I know the hope these poorer ppl have when looking for a better job and I can understand the fear of "spoiling your own market" when getting a job. -
Very well explained indeed.Originally posted by SilverPal:I remember reading in another thread, there is another reason why many locals are unwilling to take up these low paying jobs. No offence but retail jobs that pay less than $700 a month is really low paying, regardless of the hours.
Many foreigners from PRC, India, Malaysia (lesser extent) are willing to work for absurdly low pay because they are here for a fixed period of time. They scrimp and save, and try very hard to earn extra side incomes (legal or otherwise) so that they can take the money they've earn back home.
Imagine converting our SGD into rupees or renminbi, you can imagine how rich they are back home. They can buy a small plot of land or open a small provision stall and live easy the rest of their lives.
How many locals are able to escape to another country to be able to retire there spending in either rupees or renmingbi? Only a few. Furthermore, we have to consider the CPF contribution which we are unable to touch until we retire, and if there isn't enough in the CPF, you still can't touch it even after retirement.
How many of us can say we can survive for at least 1 year after losing our jobs? How many of us are ASSURED of having half a million SGD upon retirement? Not many, hence many of us want higher, and higher and higer pay. Its materialism, granted, but also necessity.
Next thing you'll ask, why sit around jobless when you can earn few hundred a month? Well, being fresh to the workforce, I face a similiar situation. should I accept a low pay while looking for another job? Or should I concentrate on looking for a job that meets my (reasonable) pay demand?
I chose to get a low paying job while looking for another higher paying job. Now I'm facing the problem of employers trying to pay me beneth my expected salary. ie. They are willing to spend up to $2.5k for a new hire, but upon hearing of my previously drawn salary, they will push it down to $2.1k which is a significant increase over my previously drawn salary.
That being said, working also incurs an increased expenditure. Travelling, buying clothes to wear, more expensive food, etc. Many of you can give many suggestions to save money, but implementing those suggestions is really miserable.
In a way, I know the hope these poorer ppl have when looking for a better job and I can understand the fear of "spoiling your own market" when getting a job.
The problem is with our government; if you can sensibly see our predicament, I am sure many of our ministers and members of the government can too. It's just that they don't view it as a problem, and that their prevailing policies and general scheme of things are in line with their "National Buildling" plans.
Since when, have they ever seen things at our level? From what we can all see, they're only keen in making more money through all of our needs, wants, ills, and troubles.
We're just laying eggs, and they're just collecting them. Term after term. -
we're also sugar cane, every drop to be squeezed and then dumped; preferably in jb, bintan or batam.Originally posted by ShutterBug:We're just laying eggs, and they're just collecting them. Term after term. -
Well, Singaporeans want cheaper services and we don't want to pay higher taxes. So in the civil service for example, the government has successfully cut jobs and make existing staff work harder for the same salary. But Singaporeans complain about the workload and the lack of work-life balance, so these jobs go to foreigner workers who are willing to work harder for less pay.
It is the same the wortld over. In the UK, British workers are losing their jobs to cheaper Polish workers who are willing to accept pay below the minimum wage and work far harder.
The bottom line is: if foreigners can do your job for less pay, you will lose your job to them...period. If we cannot compete, then we should seriously consider spending our retirement in Batam. Sell off the HDB flat and you can live quite comfortably in Bintan or Batam. It is tough message but it's time we face up to the facts: it's survival of the fittest. -
It's a correct balancing act: increase the levy to encourage bosses to employ local workers. But if locals demand far too much in wages for their level of productivity, it may be more economical for businesses to employ foreigners. In that case, we must not stifle the competitiveness of such businesses.Originally posted by dragg:what is the purpose of increasing the cap? to allow firms to employ more foreigners? if so, why increase the levy which will in turn increase the overheads making it more difficult for businesses?
This new policy will help local workers who are just marginally less cost-effective when compared to their foreign counterparts. The increase in levy may be enough to make it worthwhile to employ locals. But again if foreigners can do the job just as well for half the salary, we should not practise protectionism at the risk of losing competitiveness. -
Captialism is indeed harsh. It wants the workers to work long hours like the Singapore maids yet pay them as low as possible, yet demand them to procreate lots of babies with this unbalanced type of lifestyle.Originally posted by oxford mushroom:Well, Singaporeans want cheaper services and we don't want to pay higher taxes. So in the civil service for example, the government has successfully cut jobs and make existing staff work harder for the same salary. But Singaporeans complain about the workload and the lack of work-life balance, so these jobs go to foreigner workers who are willing to work harder for less pay.
It is the same the wortld over. In the UK, British workers are losing their jobs to cheaper Polish workers who are willing to accept pay below the minimum wage and work far harder.
The bottom line is: if foreigners can do your job for less pay, you will lose your job to them...period. If we cannot compete, then we should seriously consider spending our retirement in Batam. Sell off the HDB flat and you can live quite comfortably in Bintan or Batam. It is tough message but it's time we face up to the facts: it's survival of the fittest.
I hope i dont hear you complaining about the lack of babies in Singapore.
Maybe we will have another marxist type of rebellion in future against capitalism for its exploitation of workers... -
Its not massive greed that make locals demand higher pay, well, not most of the time anyway.Originally posted by oxford mushroom:Well, Singaporeans want cheaper services and we don't want to pay higher taxes. So in the civil service for example, the government has successfully cut jobs and make existing staff work harder for the same salary. But Singaporeans complain about the workload and the lack of work-life balance, so these jobs go to foreigner workers who are willing to work harder for less pay.
It is the same the wortld over. In the UK, British workers are losing their jobs to cheaper Polish workers who are willing to accept pay below the minimum wage and work far harder.
The bottom line is: if foreigners can do your job for less pay, you will lose your job to them...period. If we cannot compete, then we should seriously consider spending our retirement in Batam. Sell off the HDB flat and you can live quite comfortably in Bintan or Batam. It is tough message but it's time we face up to the facts: it's survival of the fittest.
Imagine a job that pays $2k SGD. A local can only take home $1.6k before taxes while a foreigner takes home $2k before taxes. Bearing in mind foreigners have no family comittment in sg, they can squeeze in to one 3 room flat with 6 other foreigners for the next 2-3 years.
What about locals? Assuming you have no friends, all your family members have died (saving you money on christmas and birthday presents), how long can you squeeze into a 3 room flat with 6 other people? 3 years? 6 years? Until retirement? Will there be a light at the end of the tunnel?
Our only hope to to become a quitter and steal jobs from others who are more expensive than us, such as those who really are in the first world. -
I agree that Singapore, while lacking in any natural resources need to remain competitive with the rest of the world by not practicing protectionism, but wouldn't prospering by neglecting the people (the only natural resource of Singapore) be akin to setting up a time-bomb to deal with later?Originally posted by oxford mushroom:It's a correct balancing act: increase the levy to encourage bosses to employ local workers. But if locals demand far too much in wages for their level of productivity, it may be more economical for businesses to employ foreigners. In that case, we must not stifle the competitiveness of such businesses.
This new policy will help local workers who are just marginally less cost-effective when compared to their foreign counterparts. The increase in levy may be enough to make it worthwhile to employ locals. But again if foreigners can do the job just as well for half the salary, we should not practise protectionism at the risk of losing competitiveness.
Foreigners are being treated like citizens, and citizens being treated like outsiders? Call it capitalism and all that jazz, but ultimately, consequences of neglecting Singaporeans will be an issue in later years to come.
And, what sense of BELONGING does our government hope to instill in the people of Singapore in this way???
We belong to this country alright, but most certainly don't belong to the Rat Race they started, or have simply been shouldered out of their so called Rat Race by sheer FAVORTISM.
I can only see two areas to address, and badly needs addressing;
1) Reduction of Living Costs, or
2) Provide Singaporeans 'fair means' of making a living
If either of the above two options is proactively addressed by our gov, they will remain in power longer.
Otherwise, I can only see their inevitable end...
No sign of formidable oppositions, does not mean NO oppositions at all. -
Fertility drops in every developed nation. It's not surprising at all now that we have moved into a knowledge-based rather than a labour-intensive economy.Originally posted by kilua:Captialism is indeed harsh. It wants the workers to work long hours like the Singapore maids yet pay them as low as possible, yet demand them to procreate lots of babies with this unbalanced type of lifestyle.
I hope i dont hear you complaining about the lack of babies in Singapore.
Maybe we will have another marxist type of rebellion in future against capitalism for its exploitation of workers...
Marxism does not work. Even communist nations like China and Vietnam are embracing capitalism. The Chinese are turning out to be better capitalists than the west, learning both the merits and faults of capitalism.