Bad news I'm afraid!

[ksl]

Heard from a reliable source that Singapore are cutting back on foreigners, because of complaints from locals that have lost jobs and need to be retrenched. So those quota's you thought you had, may well have been taken away.
I suggest if you are a Company to check your quota's again asap.

One thing for sure is that the screws are tightening and I don't see much chance for all the new foreign contractors or new talent unless it is extremely rare offering...in other words Singapore maybe closing the doors, becuase of unemployment.

[Strong Eagle]

a) Are you talking work permits, S-Pass, Q1, P1, P2, or DFW?

b) Can you cite some kind of source that sustains and elaborates on your comments?

The paper is not very reliable. It says what the gahmen think the people want to hear. But reality is often different.

a) The local population still doesn't want to work the crap jobs for long hours for low pay.

b) The gahmen doesn't want to see a Dubai type depression because all the expats are tossed.

[carteki]

It sounds about right. I did the PR self assessment test recently and it came out negative, which was a suprise... Fortunately it is not a major issue so I'm just going to continue as is.

[ksl]

Sorry I don't have the source information, it came from someone Singaporean who i know to be reliable, they have also lost their quota, which they had last month, of 2 employees could be employed. Today they have no quota, on contacting MOM, they was given a verbal explanation, it was because of the unemployment in Singapore. These people need to be retrained and sent out, Singaporeans get priority, makes sense I guess if so many have lost their jobs.

[Strong Eagle]

These people need to be retrained and sent out, Singaporeans get priority, makes sense I guess if so many have lost their jobs.

Except that in an article in the newsrag whose name cannot be mentioned hawker center owners, restaurants, and retail establishments were bemoaning the fact that Singaporeans won't work for the low pay and long hours. So what really ends up happening is unemployment doesn't change but service goes to hell in a hand basket.

[ksl]

These people need to be retrained and sent out, Singaporeans get priority, makes sense I guess if so many have lost their jobs.

Except that in an article in the newsrag whose name cannot be mentioned hawker center owners, restaurants, and retail establishments were bemoaning the fact that Singaporeans won't work for the low pay and long hours. So what really ends up happening is unemployment doesn't change but service goes to hell in a hand basket.

Yes I couldn't agree more, we have had many difficulties getting the right kind of people. Even a Singaporean friend of mine wouldn't work for less than 3k he stayed out of work for almost 2 years, because he had been used to earning 3k until he lost his job, he had no significant qualifications, after he lost his CPF money on playing the stock market, he was eventually forced to go out looking for a job for 2k and work saturday for overtime.

Unfortunately I have seen a great deal of exploitation, which I do not agree with, though i am a guest in this Country I can say my meaning, but its all on deaf ears, and I get the same old story I'm not Asian so I wouldn't understand.

I would prefer to see people that do well rewarded for their efforts, but many Singaporean employers do not think that way only greed and profit. Though it's the same in other Countries too by the way, so I'm not pointing fingers...

because many employees will screw the employer anyway, it reminds me a little of how the UK was back in the early 60's, in fact may companies have still never changed their conservative role models to engage their workers, and treat them like garbage.

Though I have never been a staunch unionist, I sympathise with the working class, the problem as always been, I have never been in the situation to be dependant on an employer other than the military, team work.

[tth1311]

take for eg, the construction sector, they employed cheap foreign worker, most of the time, they used much more workers than necessary required for the job and you will notice some laying and standing around doing nothing.

This is not efficient and wasting manpower exploited by the employer for the quantity rather than quality. They have denied a chances for the local Singaporean of the work.

Instead of employing these foreign worker cheaper, they can use lesser local people and pay them higher salary and thus can achieve the same or higher efficiency output of the job.

[sundaymorningstaple]

take for eg, the construction sector, they employed cheap foreign worker, most of the time, they used much more workers than necessary required for the job and you will notice some laying and standing around doing nothing.

This is not efficient and wasting manpower exploited by the employer for the quantity rather than quality. They have denied a chances for the local Singaporean of the work.

Instead of employing these foreign worker cheaper, they can use lesser local people and pay them higher salary and thus can achieve the same or higher efficiency output of the job.

You really don't know too much about either the construction OR the penchant for Singaporeans to shun outdoor jobs in the construction sector in general. Even if you pay them more, the working outdoors in the weather is considered a subservient position. And how many days would you ride around in the back of a truck in open weather without any safety devices. You say pay more money? Buy more/better transport? How to get contracts then? You must have stepped off the boat yesterday. You need to do a reality check, I would love to hire locals but they work two or three days and then just disappear off the job. I'm sorry, but frankly I don't think you even have a clue.

[tth1311]

As a moderator, I think you should encourage newbie to participate and contribute to YOUR forum rather than SHOOT US down with sarcastic reply/remarks like you are not in this line and you know pea/nut or you should do your homework first, this and that. Afterall it is the forumer that make the heavy traffic to the success of the website unless your purpose is to attract the professional, executive, CEO to your site then I will disappear forever and you can shoot me off from your forum.
By not in this line and trying to participate , show my enthusiasm to contribute and share my observation to forumer. Not knowing the subject does not needs your sarcastic criticism. I am a newbie learning new thing.

In Australia, the government set a min. wage for the worker at ard $3K and encourage them for training. They do not have FT in this sector and dependent on them like Singapore(I again say exploit).

another eg., for roadwork, next time you happen to pass by one, OPEN you BIG eye and see the nos of FT standing and laying around(I must say if the supervisor not around) You want more eg.?

Just that they can be ridden around in open truck and endure the hot/rain weather, is this what you stated to qualify them to be a FT in Singapore and not by their skill? I think you know nothing about the profession in this sector.

[sundaymorningstaple]

You really need to get a clue before going off half-cocked! We are not in Australia where Unions hold the government hostage. Here the union is part of the government so actually has no real power at all. You really need to study a country you are going to. It helps.

As a moderator I call it like I see it. Expats, to me are supposed to brighter with better perception of what is going on. I'm sorry I've misjudged you. I keep forgetting the criteria here have been reduced in recent years. Fortunately it would seem in my absence while on holiday that they are tightening up the criteria again.

Please accept my apologies.

[maneo]

As a moderator, I think you should encourage newbie to participate and contribute to YOUR forum rather than SHOOT US down with sarcastic reply/remarks like you are not in this line and you know pea/nut or you should do your homework first, this and that. Afterall it is the forumer that make the heavy traffic to the success of the website unless your purpose is to attract the professional, executive, CEO to your site then I will disappear forever and you can shoot me off from your forum.
By not in this line and trying to participate , show my enthusiasm to contribute and share my observation to forumer. Not knowing the subject does not needs your sarcastic criticism. I am a newbie learning new thing.

Hopefully, one thing you just learned is that you really don't have a clue about the SG labour market.
But, don't be discouraged.
Surely some posting will come along in an area that you really do know something about firsthand.

[ScoobyDoes]

As a moderator, I think you should encourage newbie to participate and contribute to YOUR forum rather than SHOOT US down with sarcastic reply/remarks like you are not in this line and you know pea/nut or you should do your homework first, this and that.

Welcome to the real world my friend. We have no time to break people in gently to a debate, this discussion will be finished in a page or two.

As a moderator I call it like I see it. Expats, to me are supposed to brighter with better perception of what is going on. I'm sorry I've misjudged you. I keep forgetting the criteria here have been reduced in recent years. Fortunately it would seem in my absence while on holiday that they are tightening up the criteria again.

Ouch.


Finally a point of fact: I was on holiday in Chiang Mai years ago and went on one of the local tours into the mountains, with river rafting etc. Typical cliche Chiang Mai stuff after riding an elephant. Anywho, our guide on one of the trips was really great, out of Bangkok, and one whom you would not expect to be a guide.

I asked him if he was married or had a girlfriend at one stage and he said "No, I have the wrong skin colour, i am too dark. The girls know i work outside and not in an office so are not interested cause they already consider i am poor or second rate."

[taxico]

...he said "No, I have the wrong skin colour, i am too dark. The girls know i work outside and not in an office so are not interested cause they already consider i am poor or second rate."

a colleague once told me a good number of japanese chicks dig tanned guys.

mr bangkok might be able to do just that in the land of the rising sun! *oriental music*

[winger7]

Good debate guys, I've managed to pick up some useful information off both sides of perspectives here. I did have a friend from Singapore that thought the same,

a) People in Singapore won't want the low paid jobs anyway
b) It could be on the papers/news just because its what people want to hear