Budget 2013

[janet88]

Prices have all gone up…if big family goes out to eat, the bill can be substantial. Maybe for family of 4, it is not so bad.

Hubby said the stall selling Pork porridge at the market increased 50 cents suddenly. He 打包 with tiffin carrier on weekends. Chwee kueh also increased price.

You will be surprised to see long queues snaking outside sakae sushi, swensens or some restaurants on weekends.

[sleepy]

I only eat in restaurants with hubby.

if eating with kids can only go food court or coffee shop. Even a simple meal + coffee at killiney coffee shop can come up to$30

[ngl2010]

This morning I had breakfast outside and got a shock when I have to pay $ 4.50 for beehoon + 1 egg + 1 fish cake + 1 teh o kosong. So expensive... :faint:

[janet88]

sleepy:

I only eat in restaurants with hubby.

if eating with kids can only go food court or coffee shop. Even a simple meal + coffee at killiney coffee shop can come up to$30

I get my Chee cheong fun fix at kopitiam...$2.20 with coffee...increased 20 cent from $2. Even QB house increased price of hair cut.

Sleepy/ngl,
Breakfast alone so ex?

[ngl2010]

janet_lee88:

sleepy:

I only eat in restaurants with hubby.

if eating with kids can only go food court or coffee shop. Even a simple meal + coffee at killiney coffee shop can come up to$30

I get my Chee cheong fun fix at kopitiam...$2.20 with coffee...increased 20 cent from $2. Even QB house increased price of hair cut.

Sleepy/ngl,
Breakfast alone so ex?

I was also so shocked. I didn't have breakfast at Killiney or other well-known coffee chain. It was at a food court in a suburban mall.

And yesterday I had lunch with my friend at Food Republic at Vivo City and 1 bowl of prawn mee costs $ 8+ ??? What's happening? Have I been SAHM too long that I forgot weekday lunches can cost that much? While I was working, I remember prawn mee costs around $ 4 - 5 at CBD.

[janet88]

Hi ngl,

I know food prices at kopitiam Vivo are more ex compared to other branches.
Even the dessert portion is lesser too. Son loves mango sunrise and he was upset when he didn’t get to enjoy same portion there. Think stalls are trying to kill people who stay at sentosa but come out to eat. A bowl of ban 面 as well as char kuay teow at MBS food court costs $8 each. I pity those working there. How much do these people pay a month just for lunch?
SAHMs lost touch Liao.

[Oppsgal]

janet_lee88:

Hi ngl,

I know food prices at kopitiam Vivo are more ex compared to other branches.
Even the dessert portion is lesser too. Son loves mango sunrise and he was upset when he didn't get to enjoy same portion there. Think stalls are trying to kill people who stay at sentosa but come out to eat. A bowl of ban 面 as well as char kuay teow at MBS food court costs $8 each. I pity those working there. How much do these people pay a month just for lunch?
SAHMs lost touch Liao.

:shock: If so expensive, eat fast food there, cheaper right?

[janet88]

Fast food 吃不饱. Most people will not consider fast food as a meal…and besides, this is everyday. Can’t eat Mac, KFC and BK everyday. Thinking about it makes my hair stand.

[Coolkidsrock2]

Oppsgal:

janet_lee88:

Hi ngl,

I know food prices at kopitiam Vivo are more ex compared to other branches.
Even the dessert portion is lesser too. Son loves mango sunrise and he was upset when he didn't get to enjoy same portion there. Think stalls are trying to kill people who stay at sentosa but come out to eat. A bowl of ban 面 as well as char kuay teow at MBS food court costs $8 each. I pity those working there. How much do these people pay a month just for lunch?
SAHMs lost touch Liao.

:shock: If so expensive, eat fast food there, cheaper right?

There is probably staff rate for staff of tenants working there? The hotel's staff can eat at the staff canteen.

[concern2]

$170 million to be spent to boost work-life harmony

(source: http://sg.news.yahoo.com/-170-million-to-be-spent-to-boost-work-life-harmony-091546347.html)

Minister of State for Manpower Amy Khor in Parliament on Thursday unveiled an extensive “WorkPro” scheme aimed at promoting work-life harmony in Singapore.

Consisting of three programmes combined into one, it will involve some $170 million being spent on helping employees achieve better work-life harmony and also supporting employers to hire back-to-work and mature workers.

Small and Medium Enterprises are expected to make up 70 per cent of the companies which will benefit from WorkPro, with $100 million of the fund to be pumped into encouraging employers to implement flexible work arrangements, including a $40,000 grant given to employers who implement work-life strategies.

WorkPro also aims to encourage employers to hire and retain mature workers and locals who have been unemployed for long periods of time through a Hire Retention Scheme and a Job Redesign Grant.

Under the Hire Retention Scheme, employers will receive a retention incentive of up to $2,000 for each newly hired back-to-work employee or matured worker earning below $4,500. The Job Redesign Grant, in turn, awards up to $300,000 to companies to redesign jobs for this particular demographic of employees.

The support continues in the form of an on-the-job training allowance provided by WorkPro which provides employers up to $2,000 a month for each back-to-work local employee they hire and train.

Employees who stay with their companies for over a year will receive a retention bonus of up to $1,200, which may motivate them to stay in their jobs.
_________

With regards to those in bold, what constitutes \"newly hired back-to-work employee\"? Does it mean must go back to x-employer? If not, how do employers /authorities determine whether the person is 'back-to-work', or if the person is just waiting in vain for job offer? What if in between, the SAHP for instance, had been doing part-time real estate or tuition?