Bus Strike

[Sergei82]

In my opinion, the diff between PRC & Malaysian drivers are Contract vs Permanent staffs status. Of cos permanent staff will enjoy more perks and higher pay as compare to contract staffs, like any mnc & banks.

The mistake that SMRT made is their communication on payrise. Instead of saying PRC driver not entitled for payrise, maybe they should phrase it as not eligible for contract staffs.

in civilised countries contractors earn more to offset the loss of fringe benefits such as leave, training, bonuses... You're talking out of your ass.

Looks like you have never work in real world? Time to go out talk to the real ppl...

Singapore doesn't stand for the entire world.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way in Asia except if you are a western expatriate being contracted by a Western MNC here (usually only in the various construction industries).

[nakatago]

Asian contractors = cheap labor that don't require benefits outside of salary.

[Sergei82]

Btw, Channel News Asia was talking about Chinese laborers having absolutely no reason for coming to Singapore since they can earn as much if not more at home working at construction site. The only reason some of them come is some relatives living in Singapore or reasons close to that.

Not sure how true is all that.

[ScoobyDoes]

The knock on effect begins, with a dispute on a construction crane in Jurong with a 'sit-in' by two operators.

Shakey ground indeed.

Sergei, yes I saw that report last night too on the news, saying the worker's salaries are now fairly similar in China. Most, if working overseas, prefer places like Korea or Europe etc. where they could be earning up to 4x more.

[Sergei82]

Lots of illegal workers in Korea - China, former USSR etc (jumped down from a ship and stayed there) - earn really more, not 4x, but 2X is common. Other thing, they don't have to live in barracks snugging with bed bugs in Korea, unlike those bus "captains". There are plenty of small flats (officetels), very cheap, some of them are large enough and decent looking (better than some apartments) to accomodate a single guy.
Here if you are single, then you have to share your space with an army of flatmates (only thought of it makes me cringe), or you have to rent a huge space for a lot of money, 60% of which you may do not need.

[offshoreoildude]

Beginning of the end. A city-state built on sand, not rock.

[movingtospore]

The bird cage liner is running a headline story today about how absolutely fabulous it is for mainlanders to work as a bus drivers in SP.

If we print it, must be true...

I suppose it beats mining the Congo.

[nakatago]

The bird cage liner is running a headline story today about how absolutely fabulous it is for mainlanders to work as a bus drivers in SP.

If we print it, must be true...

I suppose it beats mining the Congo.

They served a lot of Kool-Aid at SPH's dinner and dance...

[zzm9980]

The bird cage liner is running a headline story today about how absolutely fabulous it is for mainlanders to work as a bus drivers in SP.

If we print it, must be true...

I suppose it beats mining the Congo.

I was chuckling this morning at the in-depth feature story about the local who wouldn't leave the tilting rig "until she checked for all her workers". They even conveniently gave a laundry list of all of the races of those workers. That one story had about twice as many words as every other story about the Chinese bus drivers combined.

Have to blot out the perception Singapore doesn't give a shit about foreign workers.

(just Google to find the story)

[offshoreoildude]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-sleeper/singaporeans-win-for-free_b_2249430.html

A really good read.

[the lynx]

On similar note, more Chinese workers are speaking out against employers. Two of them were arrested for staging a stand-off on top of a crane at a constructions site for more than 7 hours over outstanding salary dispute.

Well, brace yourself. The beginning is looming over...

Note: Can't post the link but you can Google with keywords Chinese + workers + crane + standoff + construction.

[morenangpinay]

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/proper-channels-workers-aren-t-adequate-060327169.html

what weve been saying all along.

http://publichouse.sg/categories/topstory/item/644-how-the-system-failed-this-worker

[nakatago]

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/proper-channels-workers-aren-t-adequate-060327169.html

what weve been saying all along.

http://publichouse.sg/categories/topstory/item/644-how-the-system-failed-this-worker

Oh wow. It's just as effective as UN sanctions!

"For your crime of genocide of your own people, we shall punish you with a strongly-worded letter!"