High Unemploment On Labour Day!!!
-
Hi everyone
,
This quarter unemployment is quoted as 4.5% by the official, and it will get worse before it improves
. Predicted that the employment market will get better in 2004 if 2nd quarter pick up tremndously 
. Anyone have any opinion on:
- this topic;
- suggestions to those unemployed (graduates, middle-age educated and poorly educated & old aunties and uncles) on how to survive this stressful time?
;
- what sort of assistance, guidance or advice you would like to hear or see from our local gov?
;
- what will you do if you are unemployed and could not get a job or salary that is sufficient to meet your family expense ;
- any others
.
Thanks. Have a great Labour day... -
The best suggestions i could probably give is asking people to be more daring and be more entreprenur(sp?). If Singaporeans are only satisfied to work for others the economy will never pick up. Newer companies will go China because of cheaper costs, the older ones which cannot afford the relocating of operations will eventually dry up and go bust.
suggestions to those unemployed (graduates, middle-age educated and poorly educated & old aunties and uncles) on how to survive this stressful time? ;
- what sort of assistance, guidance or advice you would like to hear or see from our local gov? ;
- what will you do if you are unemployed and could not get a job or salary that is sufficient to meet your family expense ;
- any others .
Assistance from government? Come on man, our government is already one of the best around. The speed and efficiency they handled the SARS problem without resorting to draconian methods like Taiwan is already evidence enough, not to mention we're getting it under control faster than Hongkong.
Singaporeans need to wake up and not expect the government to hold our hands everytime things go wrong. They say it's the government's fault that we lack intiative, it's also partly our fault that we allow ourselves to be so lax about it. -
Great that someone reply and give feedback, opinion and suggestion. You mentioned asking Singaporean to be more entrepreneur and daring? Easier said than done. If you are saying about food-related industry, it will probably survive. If you are saying about industrial-related business, can I ask where can those start-up find business in this area? Do you surf the gov. websites that requires companies to have good financial background and experience to bid for their projects? Do you think those startup business will have such capabilities? Those are for established and rich people. Basically, business must have revenue and cashflow. How can a startup survive if the gov is so insistance, does not cut the red tapes and not dariing or innovative enough to give these startup a chance? Thanks.Originally posted by Stevenson101:The best suggestions i could probably give is asking people to be more daring and be more entreprenur(sp?). If Singaporeans are only satisfied to work for others the economy will never pick up. Newer companies will go China because of cheaper costs, the older ones which cannot afford the relocating of operations will eventually dry up and go bust.
.
. -
Well, Singapore's economy is hit by SARS problem...
The current "high" unemployment rate is not really that bad.
Those unemployed should learn new skills and knowledge and upgrade...
These years of economic downturns show that on skill is not enough to survive... We have to be "Multi-Industrial Trained"...
But we must carry on with our lives and be confident about our future. Or we'll end up like Hong Kong, which is suffering from depression on the SARS as well as their economy... There is just not enough confidence....
The SARS problem can be considered long-term (if it stays too long or gets out of control) or a short-term problem (Once the disease is greatly under control)...
Once the SARS is over... Our economy will recover...
But that may take about 1 or 2 years
(for proper SARS preventive measures or even vaccine to come out)!
We may be hit another wave of recession or downturn again for the next 3-5 years again, judging from the frequency of economy's ups and downs...
But we'll be stronger... Remember our 5 aspects of Total Defence...
That's the key strategy to Singapore's Survival, Stability and Success! -
In my opinion, the high unemployment rate is really bad. If I am not mistaken, this is the 2nd or 3rd year whereby a lot of local graduates who are not able to find job easily. There are just too few job openings in the market. From the news, we heard that some graduates becomes hawkers, taxi-drivers, etc which don't require knowledge that they learn in the university or poly institution. To make matter worse, there is a huge influx of ready "foreign talent" graduates competing for those positions that our local graduates can fill up and gain experience.
What I can say is that in the long run, there will be a high mismatch in the supply and demand of the workforce.
Something must be done quickly, else the one who suffers will be our local people. This will have social impact too, like decreasing number of marriage, low birthrate, etc. -
ya, the unemployment rate reali quite bad... and to make things worst, the foreign talent is still coming in... something need to be done to ensure that foreigners done take up all of our jobs... mayb should encourage companies in sg to take up locals rather than the foreign talent. sg do lack of entrepreneurs... mayb more should be done to attract ppl to startup lor.
-
Entrepreneurs will only startup when they see a demand in products or services that they wanted to provide. Its a simple logic. If no buyer, why sell and lose money? So I think the first thing the gov should do is to create the environment. In concrete, it means creating demand. Examples is looking for current local SME to do part of their projects, give as much work to local SME for any overseas projects, service or work. In this way only can SME prosper to MNC and help others locally.Originally posted by BrUtUs:ya, the unemployment rate reali quite bad... and to make things worst, the foreign talent is still coming in... something need to be done to ensure that foreigners done take up all of our jobs... mayb should encourage companies in sg to take up locals rather than the foreign talent. sg do lack of entrepreneurs... mayb more should be done to attract ppl to startup lor.
Just my opinion.; Tsk... -
sigh... to all new grads, welcome to the world of the unemployed...
but seriously... people with families need to find jobs that will let them support their wife and kids...
a fresh grad got what wife and kid? i mean... if they shot-gun then lan lan lah... otherwise, nothing to worry about, nothing to lose by just taking up part time jobs and stuff what... low pay? low pay lor... better than nothing... manual labour also can... as long as got $$$... just tide over this crisis first...
sit around at home waiting for job offer worse... still must live off parents and add to their problems... -
Yes... true enough. I still heard grads. friends having high demands in thier job search, such as high pay, 8 to 5, work must be course-related, etc.Originally posted by CX:sigh... to all new grads, welcome to the world of the unemployed...
but seriously... people with families need to find jobs that will let them support their wife and kids...
a fresh grad got what wife and kid? i mean... if they shot-gun then lan lan lah... otherwise, nothing to worry about, nothing to lose by just taking up part time jobs and stuff what... low pay? low pay lor... better than nothing... manual labour also can... as long as got $$$... just tide over this crisis first...
sit around at home waiting for job offer worse... still must live off parents and add to their problems...
Talking about people with families, some of them really cham. I know a friend who got retrenched, but luckily got a job soon. According to him, this new job's income does not meet his household expense. You see, he bought a 5-room flat before the 911 and he got 3 very young kids. His wife is taking care of the kids at home and he cannot downgrad his 5-room, arghh think need to live in there for 5 years before he can do that. Even if he can downgrad his 5-room, he will be in deeper debt due to the price difference he buy and sell. So this does not solve his problem. Currently, he is working 2 jobs, and I find its really torture... So sad... -
I think the main problem that we face in our economy is that we have embarked on a niche that is very difficult to sustain.
In the 60s and 70s, we were the manufacturing base for MNCs. In the 80s, we were the port and transhipment hub. In the 90s, we are the regional HQ for MNCs and a service hub.
Each of these models of economic growth in the last 4 decades depended on foreign investment as well as the fact that Singapore is a better place to do business than our neighbours.
But now, with China and India sucking up all the FDI and Malaysia and Philippines able to compete in manufacturing and services, we have little to differentiate. Indeed, brining in FT to either fill in the skills gap or to keep the salaries/costs low is only a short term measure.
Its is important to note that we are keeping our economic model intact after 40 years. We still are trying to attract FDI and act as a transhipment point. The latest is the FTA with USA. That reinforces the goverment's commitment to the model, not to change to any other model of development.
We will sink or swim depending on the models success. Already, our neighbour has changed from primary commodities, to manufacturing to services and now to focus on local SMIs to power their economy. All that in the same timeframe as us. We have to do something on a macro level to change our mindset or else no matter what we do, we are stuck at the same economic model, and not the masters of our own destiny. -
So much have been said in this topic... but no one provide a concrete solution in a laymen terms for common ppl to understand.
My opinion is the country should make us of our strong financial capabilities and reserves to invest or spark some our very own MNC in other countries since we have limited land resources. In this way, we can allows our graduates to fill up positions in these MNC and learn from there. Our people will manage these companies and help the country to earn more $$$...
As for local SME, I have suggested in my previous posting that the gov should lend a hand in allowing more tasks and jobs to be given to them to grow and survive. As long as tasks given are more, entrepreneurs will see the opportunity and more of them will startup companies. The red tapes must be reduce so that more companies will be eligible for the tasks.
Just my opinion and thoughts - Welcome all suggestions and ideas. -
So much have been said in this topic... but no one provide a concrete solution in a laymen terms for common ppl to understand.
My opinion is the country should make us of our strong financial capabilities and reserves to invest or spark some our very own MNC in other countries since we have limited land resources. In this way, we can allows our graduates to fill up positions in these MNC and learn from there. Our people will manage these companies and help the country to earn more $$$...
As for local SME, I have suggested in my previous posting that the gov should lend a hand in allowing more tasks and jobs to be given to them to grow and survive. As long as tasks given are more, entrepreneurs will see the opportunity and more of them will startup companies. The red tapes must be reduce so that more companies will be eligible for the tasks.
Just my opinion and thoughts - Welcome all suggestions and ideas. -
Your opening remarks sounded familiar readings from the books written by Dr Chee Soon Juan (his publications from 1992 through 2001).Originally posted by kenhor:I think the main problem that we face in our economy is that we have embarked on a niche that is very difficult to sustain.
In the 60s and 70s, we were the manufacturing base for MNCs. In the 80s, we were the port and transhipment hub. In the 90s, we are the regional HQ for MNCs and a service hub.
Each of these models of economic growth in the last 4 decades depended on foreign investment as well as the fact that Singapore is a better place to do business than our neighbours.
But now, with China and India sucking up all the FDI and Malaysia and Philippines able to compete in manufacturing and services, we have little to differentiate. Indeed, brining in FT to either fill in the skills gap or to keep the salaries/costs low is only a short term measure.
Its is important to note that we are keeping our economic model intact after 40 years. We still are trying to attract FDI and act as a transhipment point. The latest is the FTA with USA. That reinforces the goverment's commitment to the model, not to change to any other model of development.
We will sink or swim depending on the models success. Already, our neighbour has changed from primary commodities, to manufacturing to services and now to focus on local SMIs to power their economy. All that in the same timeframe as us. We have to do something on a macro level to change our mindset or else no matter what we do, we are stuck at the same economic model, and not the masters of our own destiny.
He had warned of the vulnerabilities of Singapore industries being so dependent on MNCs that require low cost labor for their continued commitment in Singapore; and that any other country offering similar infrastructural standards as Singapore, will easily threaten our position.
China has emerged at a speed that has caught us by surprised, with their high standards of infrastructural developments, and opeing itself so quickly to the world trading practises; and with an added advantage of a huge domestic consumer base.
However, we need to reorient our vision, and re-evaluate our strengths and weaknesses.
Our strength has always been as an entrepot trader since the founding of Singapore.
We have always thrived by bringing the rich produce of our neighbors to countries beyond our region; and introduce new technologies from far away into our our region.
The same remains true if the educated young will be wiling to be enterprising, and bring the cheaply produced goods from within this region, and offer to the countries that are rebuilding themselves from decades of wars.
Countries in Africa, Central Asia, Russia, East Europe, South America are emerging from their dark days.
Will we be able to organise ourselves to be the new breed of traders ?
We will need to re-educate the banks to assist and fund this new breed of traders, who are more educated then our forefathers, younger, and made "street smart" through National Service. -
Here another suggestions:
Ebay is a very successful e-trading and e-bidding company for ppl all around the world and seems like there is not many strong competitors in this area.
I think someone entreprise and capable enough who read this forum might want to start a similar business by enacting their model. This seems like a future for business and consumers in e-commerce... This is also trading but providing the trading services... -
www.interauct.com.sgOriginally posted by thinker:Here another suggestions:
Ebay is a very successful e-trading and e-bidding company for ppl all around the world and seems like there is not many strong competitors in this area.
I think someone entreprise and capable enough who read this forum might want to start a similar business by enacting their model. This seems like a future for business and consumers in e-commerce... This is also trading but providing the trading services... -
To atobe,
I have not read any of Dr Chee's works. I am just trying to voice my humble opinion that we are on one economic development model, which currently works, but needs to change as the model is 40 years old.
The present generation has been put in a mindset that working for people does earn good money. However, in the rest of the world (and especially as a Chinese), that thinking is false. The old saying is that you can only earn real money working for yourself. I think it true in most of the world, and I don't see how Singapore can change the old adage to be otherwise over in our sunny island. -
Originally posted by thinker:
thats because there is none! the problems we face are complex and multi-faceted.
So much have been said in this topic... but no one provide a concrete solution in a laymen terms for common ppl to understand.My opinion is the country should make us of our strong financial capabilities and reserves to invest or spark some our very own MNC in other countries since we have limited land resources. In this way, we can allows our graduates to fill up positions in these MNC and learn from there. Our people will manage these companies and help the country to earn more $$$...
please lah... they've been trying to do that for ages... ST, Singtel, DBS, PSA and the ultimate joke: the Singapore-Suzhou Industrial Park.
u can't run company like a government ministry! thats the ultimate joke of the GLCs... big, clunky, not very nimble... they have their limited success lah, but some of them are known to be bleeding money. chartered semi-conductors for instance... massive haemorrahage quarter after quarter...As for local SME, I have suggested in my previous posting that the gov should lend a hand in allowing more tasks and jobs to be given to them to grow and survive. As long as tasks given are more, entrepreneurs will see the opportunity and more of them will startup companies. The red tapes must be reduce so that more companies will be eligible for the tasks.
first u want local gov't-sponsore MNCs, whose growth will ultimately squeeze out smaller local players... then u want to promote local small-medium industry and entrepreneurial initiative... they contradict each other to some extent...
entrepreneurship is definitely one of the ways which people must gradually adopt to get out of this hole... but like many people also say, singaporeans are too screwed up in their head to think for themselves anymore...
not necessarily true lah... there is definitely a gap between the mindset of the previous generation and mine... young people are increasingly more open-minded and creative. -
Hi CX,
most of your points stated are true, but u have misunderstood me somehow or I might have mis-communicate in my previous message.
What I mean is the gov should made use of their financial strenght to build MNC overseas and help local SME to grow. That means the gov MNC should minimise their work locally and not squeeze out SMEs' opportunities. Preferably, some of the gov MNC should move out totally and give more work to SME... In this way, the gov MNC can concentrate to grow globally and SME can take up more of local work. This also may help local grads to have a chance to go overseas and help these gov MNC to grow and in the meantime learn. Who knows as these new grads see more of this world, they may be the next wave of entrepreneurs....
Thanks. -
Ha! It is pretty very unlucky to graduate these years... There's always something bad happening...
But there's one thing right about PAP government's words...
Biotechnology will be one of the new uprising economy that'll boost the world economy... Then, God give us a virus for the industry... -
Hi Kenhor, don't worry, quite interesting to read the books written by Dr Chee, which will give an alternative view even if you may not agree with his style of politics.Originally posted by kenhor:To atobe,
I have not read any of Dr Chee's works. I am just trying to voice my humble opinion that we are on one economic development model, which currently works, but needs to change as the model is 40 years old.
The present generation has been put in a mindset that working for people does earn good money. However, in the rest of the world (and especially as a Chinese), that thinking is false. The old saying is that you can only earn real money working for yourself. I think it true in most of the world, and I don't see how Singapore can change the old adage to be otherwise over in our sunny island.
If you look at the Government University Admission Policies that have been reviewed constantly since independence, it has always been to gear the graduates to service the industries.
This is applicable across the board to the entire education system.
It was only when the economy matured, and only during recent years (2001-2002 ?) that the Government encouraged the spirit of entrepreneurship amongst the student population, and across all levels of the education system.
Other Government policies that inhibit and prevented entrepreneurship were also reviewed; and these included the use of HDB home, as registered company address.
All the 40 odd years that have been wasted since independence, when compared to Hongkong, where none of these rules (and no "strong guiding hand" ) existed and which showed more resilience - until they met a stronger competitor in Shanghai with the opening up of China to the World.
Both Singapore and Hongkong now will have to find new orientation, and it is left to be seen if Singapore can respond earlier and faster then Hongkong - (who has a headstart in individualism, initiative, imagination, daring, and enterprise), -
cannot like that say also lah... GLCs are of Sg's biggest employers too... if they move out, the direct immediate effect is unemployment! so how? gahmen sponsor GLCs to go overseas to make others richer while more locals lose their jobs??Originally posted by thinker:Hi CX,
most of your points stated are true, but u have misunderstood me somehow or I might have mis-communicate in my previous message.
What I mean is the gov should made use of their financial strenght to build MNC overseas and help local SME to grow. That means the gov MNC should minimise their work locally and not squeeze out SMEs' opportunities. Preferably, some of the gov MNC should move out totally and give more work to SME... In this way, the gov MNC can concentrate to grow globally and SME can take up more of local work. This also may help local grads to have a chance to go overseas and help these gov MNC to grow and in the meantime learn. Who knows as these new grads see more of this world, they may be the next wave of entrepreneurs....
Thanks.
like when "a certain" local telecommunication company moved its call centre across the causeway, people were pissed off.
but if it stays here, its costs are higher... so what are they to do? service the LOCAL economy or service THEIR bottom line? these 2 roles are not always complementary.
u can't just tweak it a little bit... the problems are too deep rooted... but no matter how u address them, u'll hurt. -
First, I am not suggesting all the GLCs to move out... I mean "some" lor... selectively that those that local SME can handle.Originally posted by CX:cannot like that say also lah... GLCs are of Sg's biggest employers too... if they move out, the direct immediate effect is unemployment! so how? gahmen sponsor GLCs to go overseas to make others richer while more locals lose their jobs??
like when "a certain" local telecommunication company moved its call centre across the causeway, people were pissed off.
but if it stays here, its costs are higher... so what are they to do? service the LOCAL economy or service THEIR bottom line? these 2 roles are not always complementary.
u can't just tweak it a little bit... the problems are too deep rooted... but no matter how u address them, u'll hurt.
For the local employment matters, this is what I mean. What I mean is when the gov MNC established themselves globally and earn $$$... they can then give the work to local SME or help local SME to become MNC... Like if the global MNC earns net profit after tax is US1 biilion, they can give 500 million projects or works to local SME to grow... In simple is gov MNC earn outside and feed local SME inside and not sqeeze inside SME...
In this way, more jobs is actually being created... local SME need more ppl to to the work... and gov MNC need more local talent overseas to manage the business... but of cos this movement or changes must be gradual, else there will be upheaval in the employment market... -
First, I am not suggesting all the GLCs to move out... I mean "some" lor... selectively that those that local SME can handle.Originally posted by CX:cannot like that say also lah... GLCs are of Sg's biggest employers too... if they move out, the direct immediate effect is unemployment! so how? gahmen sponsor GLCs to go overseas to make others richer while more locals lose their jobs??
like when "a certain" local telecommunication company moved its call centre across the causeway, people were pissed off.
but if it stays here, its costs are higher... so what are they to do? service the LOCAL economy or service THEIR bottom line? these 2 roles are not always complementary.
u can't just tweak it a little bit... the problems are too deep rooted... but no matter how u address them, u'll hurt.
For the local employment matters, this is what I mean. What I mean is when the gov MNC established themselves globally and earn $$$... they can then give the work to local SME or help local SME to become MNC... Like if the global MNC earns net profit after tax is US1 biilion, they can give 500 million projects or works to local SME to grow... In simple is gov MNC earn outside and feed local SME inside and not sqeeze inside SME...
In this way, more jobs is actually being created... local SME need more ppl to to the work... and gov MNC need more local talent overseas to manage the business... one point is as long as the BIZ earns, I see no reason why employment will shrink... unless the MNC is managed inappropriately or losing profits...but of cos this movement or changes must be gradual, else there will be upheaval in the employment market... -
Short term goals for Singapore is to continue to attract foreign investments in a variety of form, whether in service, manufacturing, etc. This will require an environment supportive of foreign talent, in order to attract the larger more significant investments.
Long term goals should be to encourage local enterprises to form and to:
1. Feed into the existing business framework
2. Replace some, if not all, the existing foreign framework and ultimately to export these to the region and the world
3. Create new form of businesses
We have been successful in the past achieving the short term goals set. Each year we were able to bring in more foreign investments. While we were patting out backs, we failed to see that we have wasted those years by not looking after our long term goals.
It is time, we separate the two and have separate home teams working on them. Placing them together will simply lead to a status quo. The long term goal team should be given the flexibility to achieve their goals without hindrance and concerns of short term realities.
I have worked mostly with MNCs and one very obvious trait of such companies is that they have one and only one goal and that is to achieve profits for their parent company back home. There is no loyalty to the local country where they operate. If you do not give them what they want they will move and leave. The few cases recently in the shipping business is clear for all to see.
To think that they have Singapore interest at heart is being naive. My constant hope for the government is to realize the need to put more emphasis to build a large pool of world class businesses that will one day go overseas and bring back the dough.
I know some will say that enterpreneurs should come from the people and should need no assistance from the government. My answer is simple, if with government assistance we can bring sucess quicker, then why not. Say what you want but fortune 1000 companies achieve their current position with a lot of help from their home governments. Sanctions, quotas and whatever are used to ensure these successes.
P.S. I have read recently government is already placing our brains at the service of local SMBs. This is a good start and I urge the government not to stop at that only.
Cheers -
Originally posted by thinker:
to establish yourself globally, u need to compete effectively globally... against established western MNCs who've had decades more of experience in their respective fields and YEARS of headstart to entrench themselves into global markets.
First, I am not suggesting all the GLCs to move out... I mean "some" lor... selectively that those that local SME can handle.
For the local employment matters, this is what I mean. What I mean is when the gov MNC established themselves globally and earn $$$...
for instance, for NOL (which is losing money) to compete effectively, they need to take on Maersk, Evergreen, etc etc... Maersk especially, is BIG... and very firmly entrenched. and they're still profitable.In this way, more jobs is actually being created... local SME need more ppl to to the work... and gov MNC need more local talent overseas to manage the business... but of cos this movement or changes must be gradual, else there will be upheaval in the employment market...
their way to go is to get a foreign talent lah... u think they'll expatriate locals to an off shore location? yes, they do, but how many can u possibly send? its an expensive way to operate.
not that i'm arguing for the mere sake of it lah... but i really don't want to simplify the problem to this extent. its complex.
we're hit by rising costs. that makes us less attractive as an investment location unless we're able to add tremendous amounts of value to the output. manufacturing is still a big slice of the pie and the short-term way to go, seems to still be attempting to attract foreign investments.
as far as value-added manufacturing is concerned, you are trapped by the ang mohs... the technology is THEIRS... micro-electronics for instance... memory chips is mostly korean and taiwanese... because these are rather easier technologies to master in the early days (and they managed to build up the capability with ang-moh help) than micro-processors (which is very cheem and STILL ang moh).
as for services, face it... local GLCs are in no shape to compete with foreign MNCs... financial services... DBS vs Merryl Lynch, Citibank and HSBC... once u remove the restrictions currently holding them back... and with the US FTA, we're set for MORE competition on home ground... it won't be sweet.
to compete effectively, the GLCs need to revamp their entire mindset and operations philosophy... its not an overnight process... u can't run a business with bureaucrats in this day and age.
thats how i see the GLCs... monolithic, sluggish, dinosaurs.