Why we need foreign workers in wafer fab plants
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THE semiconductor industry needs more workers, but such manufacturing jobs suffer from an image problem among young Singaporeans.
Said labour chief Lim Swee Say: 'Investors say younger Singaporeans prefer to dress up nicely, work in the service sector, where maybe they prefer to interact with people rather than machines.'
This mindset needs to be changed so that they can see the opportunities in manufacturing, said Mr Lim, who visited ST Microelectronics with union leaders.
The semiconductor manufacturer employs about 8,300 people.
Unionists can help open their eyes to the importance of this sector, one of the core pillars in Singapore's economy.
Said Mr Lim: 'In terms of economic development, we need a proportion of Singaporeans young and old to continue to work in manufacturing, because this is a good sector with good investment, good jobs and good pay.'
Unionists such as the second assistant general secretary of the United Workers of Electronic and Electrical Industries (UWEEI) agrees.
Said Mr Aaron Lim: 'We need to tell workers that even if they start from the bottom, they can progress and go higher.'
For instance, he said that about 200 workers of ST Microelectronics were recently retrained to take on high-end jobs like wafer fabrication, from their previous assembly-line work.
The union leaders were taking part in a new NTUC programme to better acquaint them with the issues and trends faced by companies in Singapore's key industries.
It is organised by the National Trades Union Congress and the Ong Teng Cheong Institute of Labour Studies.
For two hours, 80 union leaders were briefed by ST Microelectronics executives on, among other things, the problem of finding enough Singaporeans to be production operators at its plant.
The company says 54 per cent of its 8,300 employees are foreigners.
Later, when speaking to reporters, Mr Lim Swee Say noted that while Singapore could provide skilled manpower, there were not enough local workers to keep such plants running continuously.
Foreigners are needed to fill the gap, so he sees them as partners, not rivals for jobs.
The labour chief added: 'One lesson the labour movement takes away from this visit is that competition for good paying jobs and good investment will only get keener.
' We must now look at anybody who's able to help us attract investment, create jobs as our partners, not competitors.'
(Straits Times 16 Jan) -
Fab plants need workers who are
sharp eyes
quick mental calculation
steady hands etc.
no need to wear glass
but low pay!!!
Tell me any young sporeans are willing to do and qualified ?
Middle age one are not qualified for the above requirements .
2.You go for recruitments tests in Fab then you know, -
Now that's bu||sh|t lor.Originally posted by lionnoisy:Fab plants need workers who are
sharp eyes
quick mental calculation
steady hands etc.
no need to wear glass
but low pay!!!
Tell me any young sporeans are willing to do and qualified ?
Middle age one are not qualified for the above requirements .
2.You go for recruitments tests in Fab then you know,
Dunno where you get the impression for your above points. -
What a weird question. these are the following answers
1. Shift - local don't want to work shift while foreign don't mind or don't have much choices.
2. salary - local finds production operators salary low while foreigner don't mind coz the money multiplies in ther country
3. job scope - local don't find work chalenging while foreign cannot find work in their country so no choice.
there are much more but if you really think about it, why the MNC wants to come to Singapore since they are employing foreigners. We have to really be grateful for the peace, stablity of the government and country. -
Totally irrelevant to FT argument if someone is trying to start one.
FT argument - look at who is sitting on top of Singaporeans , not those below. We had Malaysians coming in before to do factory work and that was not an issue in the past . Why are they even highlighting factories when they should be looking at the top level jobs held by foreigners, not Singaporeans? Oh yeah ....DIVERSIONAL THERAPY - that is what Singapore gets for a million a year salary to top think tanks of the country.
Why does Singapore's LTA need Australian consultants to tell Singapore how to manage the 'world class' public transport system? I live in Australia - the only state with the best transportation facilities is Victoria due to their tram system. The rest suck compared to Singapore although Perth is coming up with their train system pretty nicely .
For god sakes. In the past, Australia has sent their people to learn more about the success of Singapore back when Singaporeans did not have their foreign talent issue and now Singapore is inviting an Australian company to come fix the system? It is like the teacher teaching the student and then the student teaches the teacher THE SAME THING AGAIN as well as GETTING PAID BETTER. Doesn't make sense to me at all. -
The term 'consultant' is usually used to describe 'fat' people who take a still fatter pay while learning their traits from the company that hired them.
Take a leaf out of Dogbert... -
Originally posted by fymk:
For god sakes. In the past, Australia has sent their people to learn more about the success of Singapore back when Singaporeans did not have their foreign talent issue and now Singapore is inviting an Australian company to come fix the system? It is like the teacher teaching the student and then the student teaches the teacher THE SAME THING AGAIN as well as GETTING PAID BETTER. Doesn't make sense to me at all. [/b] So true. Sillypore indeed. -
2.i went for recruitment test.Have u?Originally posted by ditzy:Now that's bu||sh|t lor. Dunno where you get the impression for your above points. -
OM wants to work in wafer fab plants?
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i dont think the salaries of operators at wafer fabs is low.
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I work in one, are you?Originally posted by lionnoisy:2.i went for recruitment test.Have u? -
how many jobs you hold?Originally posted by ditzy:I work in one, are you? -
Aircon technician is not one of them.Originally posted by dragg:how many jobs you hold? -
1. Locals are too picky and unwilling to work hard.Originally posted by LinYu:What a weird question. these are the following answers
1. Shift - local don't want to work shift while foreign don't mind or don't have much choices.
2. salary - local finds production operators salary low while foreigner don't mind coz the money multiplies in ther country
3. job scope - local don't find work chalenging while foreign cannot find work in their country so no choice.
there are much more but if you really think about it, why the MNC wants to come to Singapore since they are employing foreigners. We have to really be grateful for the peace, stablity of the government and country.
2. Pay in wafer fabs is higher than other manufacturing jobs. Locals are not hungry enough.
3. If locals are not willing to adopt a change in their work attitude, then it is no wonder they will lose their jobs to foreigners and they deserve it too -
Originally posted by fymk:
Hahaha....now you are saying we have a better public transport service than Australia. Kudos to the ruling party!
Totally irrelevant to FT argument if someone is trying to start one.
[b] FT argument - look at who is sitting on top of Singaporeans , not those below. We had Malaysians coming in before to do factory work and that was not an issue in the past . Why are they even highlighting factories when they should be looking at the top level jobs held by foreigners, not Singaporeans? Oh yeah ....DIVERSIONAL THERAPY - that is what Singapore gets for a million a year salary to top think tanks of the country.
Why does Singapore's LTA need Australian consultants to tell Singapore how to manage the 'world class' public transport system? I live in Australia - the only state with the best transportation facilities is Victoria due to their tram system. The rest suck compared to Singapore although Perth is coming up with their train system pretty nicely .
For god sakes. In the past, Australia has sent their people to learn more about the success of Singapore back when Singaporeans did not have their foreign talent issue and now Singapore is inviting an Australian company to come fix the system? It is like the teacher teaching the student and then the student teaches the teacher THE SAME THING AGAIN as well as GETTING PAID BETTER. Doesn't make sense to me at all. [/b] -
Respect due the Paying Singaporean who make it all possible.Originally posted by oxford mushroom:Hahaha....now you are saying we have a better public transport service than Australia. Kudos to the ruling party! -
Precisely, we are actually the boss of PAP...Originally posted by eyebuzz:Respect due the Paying Singaporean who make it all possible.
However, many of us are on the side of sacking them in years to come... -
Actually I am saying during a time where local talents are appreciated , services were constantly improving and upgrading. It is not the ruling party who made it possible, it was the Singaporeans generations before me or the younger generations who in hope of making Singapore a place to be , made it a first world nation through building it. Now they are being ditched aside one by one , made redundant - told to go do macdonald uncle's job when they have so loyally served Singapore.Originally posted by oxford mushroom:Hahaha....now you are saying we have a better public transport service than Australia. Kudos to the ruling party!
Singapore was not just built because of one man. Singapore was built by Singaporeans.
Look at how SIA was . Serviced by Singaporeans and managed by Singaporeans to a no. 1 airliner in the world . Now you have your foreign talents in SIA with Oh look ..... a nut bolt falling from the sky , ranking sunk from 1 to 7. Foreign talent that good meh?
Now when you invite foreign consultants to do up stuff, expect nothing but a big crash in the future. -
Don't bother explaining anything to OM, he's too thick and full of himself to agree nor understand your point of views...Originally posted by fymk:Actually I am saying during a time where local talents are appreciated , services were constantly improving and upgrading. It is not the ruling party who made it possible, it was the Singaporeans generations before me or the younger generations who in hope of making Singapore a place to be , made it a first world nation through building it. Now they are being ditched aside one by one , made redundant - told to go do macdonald uncle's job when they have so loyally served Singapore.
Singapore was not just built because of one man. Singapore was built by Singaporeans.
Look at how SIA was . Serviced by Singaporeans and managed by Singaporeans to a no. 1 airliner in the world . Now you have your foreign talents in SIA with Oh look ..... a nut bolt falling from the sky , ranking sunk from 1 to 7. Foreign talent that good meh?
Now when you invite foreign consultants to do up stuff, expect nothing but a big crash in the future. -
Item 1. comes from a person who works overseas instead of locally?Originally posted by oxford mushroom:1. Locals are too picky and unwilling to work hard.
2. Pay in wafer fabs is higher than other manufacturing jobs. Locals are not hungry enough.
3. If locals are not willing to adopt a change in their work attitude, then it is no wonder they will lose their jobs to foreigners and they deserve it too
Item 2. is totally incorrect. The wages in wafer fab industry are seasonal, as the semi-con industry goes through cyclical patterns. The biggest local player is Chartered, and they always grab the best talents. Pay package is totally dependent on the market conditions and is seldom on the high side.
Item 3. has been brought up numerous times, whether to take a dig at the locals to inspire them through reverse psychology, or simply to spite them. Either way, it's always easier for people in comfortable, well-paying jobs to say SG people are forever fussy, ignoring the multitude of other reasons for their selectiveness. -
Why you complain so much..? I thought you are pro-pap?Originally posted by lionnoisy:Fab plants need workers who are
sharp eyes
quick mental calculation
steady hands etc.
no need to wear glass
but low pay!!!
Tell me any young sporeans are willing to do and qualified ?
Middle age one are not qualified for the above requirements .
2.You go for recruitments tests in Fab then you know,
Everything pap is no. 1.
You should be grateful to pap for giving you jobs...job...and jobs.
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Media Release: Singaporeans suffer under the foreign talent policy
16 Jan 07
The recent report showing that 70 percent of jobs created in 2006 went to foreigners is not a revelation.
In 2003, a group of professors from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) reported that three out of four jobs created in the past five years went to foreigners.
Then, the Ministry of Manpower immediately issued a statement to denounce the NTU's findings and produced its own figures: That nine out of ten newly created jobs went to the locals.
The professors quickly withdrew their report, citing computational errors.
The SDP had, at that time, asked the Government to hold an inquiry to ascertain the truthfulness of the economists' report and not merely bully them into silence.
Four years have passed and it is clear that the professors were right. Worse, Singaporeans have had to continue to suffer in silence under the PAP Government's ill-conceived policy even though it is reported that a majority of people want a more judicious application of the foreign talent (Sunday Times, 14 Jan 07).
The Singapore Democrats repeat our stand: The foreign talent policy must be re-examined so that only foreigners with the requisite skills are allowed to work in Singapore.
We proposed the Singaporeans First Policy back in 2001 where we wanted foreigners to get the jobs only when we cannot find Singaporeans with the necessary skills to do them.
The PAP Government is desperately trying to make-up for the stunted population growth that resulted from its cruel and myopic Stop-at-Two family planning policy by flooding the society with foreign nationals.
The resultant economic and social consequences from such an unthinking move will yet manifest themselves in horrendous ways, if they have not already.
In addition, the Government refuses to acknowledge that the slow birthrate in Singapore is primarily due to the high cost of living and stressful lifestyle in our society which deters couples from wanting more children.
It also ignores the fact that the exodus of Singaporeans, most of whom possess talent and skills our country needs, to other countries is a result of the suffocating system created by the PAP.
It is clear that the Government not only has no intention of owning up to these problems it created, but now seeks to plaster over them by encouraging the indiscriminate influx of foreign workers.
Its main objective, of course, is to suppress the wages of working Singaporeans so that we can claim to be a “competitive” economy.
This race to the bottom is doomed to failure. It merely exploits the vulnerable to make the vulnerable even more vulnerable. It also ensures that while the rich get richer, the poor are consigned to an even bleaker future.
It escapes no one that the ministers continue to peg their salaries to the richest of the rich in Singapore, and ignore the plight of ordinary Singaporeans. The Government is able to do this only because the people have had their voices taken away.
The only remedy to this, and other problems that citizens face, is for the people to regain their political rights to free speech and peaceful assembly. Only when citizens are able to physically congregate en masse and speak freely will the Government sit-up and pay attention.
Chee Soon Juan
Secretary-General
Singapore Democratic Party -
Singaporean to willing to fill the placement in fab, excuse by the fab to employ more FT. Hey this is similar to that the gov has told us ma.. They are just learning from the Indian Chieft
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Nobody has an answer to this charge so one can only conclude that there s mute assent.
Despite the higher pay in wafer fab, Singaporeans would rather go jobless than work shifts in a clean environment. How can we reduce the number of foreign workers when Singaporeans refuse to take up the jobs? -
It was in BillyBong's post, blind bat.Originally posted by oxford mushroom:Nobody has an answer to this charge so one can only conclude that there s mute assent.
Despite the higher pay in wafer fab, Singaporeans would rather go jobless than work shifts in a clean environment. How can we reduce the number of foreign workers when Singaporeans refuse to take up the jobs?