Economic Restructuring II: Prof Lim
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caroline3sg:
300 only ?Yes I support minimum salary so that we have less reliance from foreign labour esp bus drivers.
In TRE, an article states that SMRT is recruiting 300 PRC drivers.
or 300 per batch ? -
I’m not in favour of a welfare state but believe that to counter the low wages accepted by FTs while Singaporeans shun low paying jobs there must be a system. My suggestion is that as long as a Singaporean is employed, he/she be given a limited amount of free basic services e.g. free medical attention to the whole family up to a limit of 10 per year; free public transport for 30 rides a month; special rates to places of interest for Singaporeans only etc, etc, etc. This will lighten the breadwinner’s burden while providing some leisure to the family. Of course, this is given to those who earn say less $2500 a month or $600 per head in a family. How to expect Singaporeans to be able to survive at such low wages in an affluent society where cost of living is sky high? Some countries have been practising them for a long time e.g. Taiwan issue medical card similar to rewards card to all its citizens for visits to clinics and hospital. Children below 12 in Japan enjoy free admissions to places of interest while citizens pay a different price from tourists.
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http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_788662.html
[quote]Wage shock therapy very risky, warns Swee Say...
But he conceded that driving wage growth through productivity gains would take time.
'We all agree we need to speed up the transformation of the economy, especially for the low-wage workers,' he said, adding that labour and business leaders would have to find ways to speed up productivity gains.[/quote]Former NWC Chairman Professor Lim Chong Yah, or
Labour chief Lim Swee Say
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http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_788661.html
[quote]Cost of living likely to rise further this year...
Govt raises CPI forecast to 3.5%-4.5%, citing high oil prices and labour costs...
Inflation in Singapore is often affected by external factors such as oil prices, which MAS said will likely remain high for the rest of the year. But a tight labour market domestically has also resulted in higher wage costs which companies will likely continue to pass on to consumers, added the central bank...[/quote]How come MAS say got higher wage cost when employees are saying their wages are low?
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Daddy
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_788662.html
Wage shock therapy very risky, warns Swee Say...
but Prof Lim probably knows what he is doing and saying. So... Lim SS knows more than the professor? What about the risks behind 'not doing the wage shock therapy?'
But he conceded that driving wage growth through productivity gains would take time.
ahbu then?
'We all agree we need to speed up the transformation of the economy, especially for the low-wage workers,' he said, adding that labour and business leaders would have to find ways to speed up productivity gains.
labour and business leaders would typically take the path that has least resistance and is cheapest. Meaning....there would be NO transformation of the economy unless the govt wills it. However, judging by their reactions, it's probably a no.
Former NWC Chairman Professor Lim Chong Yah, or
Labour chief Lim Swee Say
:? -
I have been questioning the mindset of:
\"Pay rise without higher productivity 'dangerous'\"
(view article: http://www.spring.gov.sg/NewsEvents/ITN/Pages/Pay-rise-without-higher-productivity-dangerous-20120501.aspx)
and I finally realized what is wrong.
The problem is not that the people are not productive. It is because businesses and employers are compromising more productive, more efficient workers with lower cost alternatives.
When revenue drops, cost-cutting are often the first to be implemented.
On the one hand, the company who engages in lower cost alternatives, such as less skill workers, may continue to survive. But productivity suffers because they have to be trained and needs time to get familiar with their job and with their environment. Before you know it, the contract of the workers are up and new workers come in and have to receive new training, and the cycle repeats once again. (I am sure those who have engaged news maids would be very familiar with this!) How can productivity be achieved, not to mention increase?
On the other hand, those workers who got laid off due to company restructuring, or those who loses opportunities to get employed due to the quality-cost compromise may not end up in the same trade any more, and have to seek job opportunities in other industries and learn new skills. The same situation is likely to occur here - picking up news skills and low productivity until one gets familiar with the job.
It is understandable if we are looking at totally new industries (maybe casino?
) BUT there are many industries such as the services lines that are existing, but employers CHOOSE to compromise more qualified people by engaging cheaper labour. How often do we walk into a retail store or restaurant or hotel and receive the answer of \"Sorry, I am not familiar/I don't know, I am new here?\" or \"Um...let me check and get back to you..\"? How we miss the knowledgeable staff who'd give you that confident reply,\"Sure, this way please!\" Or, \"This is from xxx, the quality is superior to the other one because...\" etc? The quick sale you might just get from that confidence of familiarity and efficiency is so important yet often undermined. This is but one example of the many many.
For companies which are on the verge of survival, perhaps, it is not of choice. However, when the ultimate motive is to achieve higher profits, to accumulate wealth and be stingy on paying workers who truly deserve to be paid better, then I'd say the employers deserve what they get - lower productivity.
When the time comes round, most people would, or may have changed career, maybe become lagged in their specialty, gone on to something else, like driving taxi perhaps, or trading, or tuition, or real estate, or insurance, or be SAHM, the companies would be forever reliant on someone else, someone cheaper, and hoping that productivity would increase.
Ok, I've finished. Start shooting! -
concern2:
Wow! I never quite understood that... thanks for explaining. :thankyou: :udawoman:I have been questioning the mindset of:
\"Pay rise without higher productivity 'dangerous'\"
(view article: http://www.spring.gov.sg/NewsEvents/ITN/Pages/Pay-rise-without-higher-productivity-dangerous-20120501.aspx)
and I finally realized what is wrong.
The problem is not that the people are not productive. It is because businesses and employers are compromising more productive, more efficient workers with lower cost alternatives.
When revenue drops, cost-cutting are often the first to be implemented.
On the one hand, the company who engages in lower cost alternatives, such as less skill workers, may continue to survive. But productivity suffers because they have to be trained and needs time to get familiar with their job and with their environment. Before you know it, the contract of the workers are up and new workers come in and have to receive new training, and the cycle repeats once again. (I am sure those who have engaged news maids would be very familiar with this!) How can productivity be achieved, not to mention increase?
On the other hand, those workers who got laid off due to company restructuring, or those who loses opportunities to get employed due to the quality-cost compromise may not end up in the same trade any more, and have to seek job opportunities in other industries and learn new skills. The same situation is likely to occur here - picking up news skills and low productivity until one gets familiar with the job.
It is understandable if we are looking at totally new industries (maybe casino? ) BUT there are many industries such as the services lines that are existing, but employers CHOOSE to compromise more qualified people by engaging cheaper labour. How often do we walk into a retail store or restaurant or hotel and receive the answer of \"Sorry, I am not familiar/I don't know, I am new here?\" or \"Um...let me check and get back to you..\"? How we miss the knowledgeable staff who'd give you that confident reply,\"Sure, this way please!\" Or, \"This is from xxx, the quality is superior to the other one because...\" etc? The quick sale you might just get from that confidence of familiarity and efficiency is so important yet often undermined. This is but one example of the many many.
For companies which are on the verge of survival, perhaps, it is not of choice. However, when the ultimate motive is to achieve higher profits, to accumulate wealth and be stingy on paying workers who truly deserve to be paid better, then I'd say the employers deserve what they get - lower productivity.
When the time comes round, most people would, or may have changed career, maybe become lagged in their specialty, gone on to something else, like driving taxi perhaps, or trading, or tuition, or real estate, or insurance, or be SAHM, the companies would be forever reliant on someone else, someone cheaper, and hoping that productivity would increase.
Ok, I've finished. Start shooting! -
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concern2:
great post, concern2 ~
On the one hand, the company who engages in lower cost alternatives, such as less skill workers, may continue to survive. But productivity suffers because they have to be trained and needs time to get familiar with their job and with their environment. Before you know it, the contract of the workers are up and new workers come in and have to receive new training, and the cycle repeats once again. (I am sure those who have engaged news maids would be very familiar with this!) How can productivity be achieved, not to mention increase?
On the other hand, those workers who got laid off due to company restructuring, or those who loses opportunities to get employed due to the quality-cost compromise may not end up in the same trade any more, and have to seek job opportunities in other industries and learn new skills. The same situation is likely to occur here - picking up news skills and low productivity until one gets familiar with the job.
It is understandable if we are looking at totally new industries (maybe casino? ) BUT there are many industries such as the services lines that are existing, but employers CHOOSE to compromise more qualified people by engaging cheaper labour. How often do we walk into a retail store or restaurant or hotel and receive the answer of \"Sorry, I am not familiar/I don't know, I am new here?\" or \"Um...let me check and get back to you..\"? How we miss the knowledgeable staff who'd give you that confident reply,\"Sure, this way please!\" Or, \"This is from xxx, the quality is superior to the other one because...\" etc? The quick sale you might just get from that confidence of familiarity and efficiency is so important yet often undermined. This is but one example of the many many.
For companies which are on the verge of survival, perhaps, it is not of choice. However, when the ultimate motive is to achieve higher profits, to accumulate wealth and be stingy on paying workers who truly deserve to be paid better, then I'd say the employers deserve what they get - lower productivity.
Makes good sense to me!
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verykiasu2010:
thanks for sharing this ~http://justice4workerssingapore.blogspot.sg/2012/05/long-interview-yeoh-lam-keong-are-we.html
take a look at this
gosh i love his vision and philosophy..
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