tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post6253080387963010644..comments2024-03-19T18:44:15.041+08:00Comments on Little Stories: 300,000 Job Losses is a Scary ThoughtGilbert Koh aka Mr Wanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01027678080233274309noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-67019582726990408112009-03-03T00:41:00.000+08:002009-03-03T00:41:00.000+08:00To AnonJanuary 29, 2009 10:56 PMYou think our gahm...To Anon<BR/>January 29, 2009 10:56 PM<BR/><BR/>You think our gahmen is democractic ??? No wonder 67% of morons voted for them ! <BR/><BR/>Singapore will be better without people who think like you !Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-9030527332335655592009-02-04T10:30:00.000+08:002009-02-04T10:30:00.000+08:00So much for original thinking from our million dol...So much for original thinking from our million dollar ministers and team.<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://singaporemind.blogspot.com/2009/02/truth-about-jobs-credit.html" REL="nofollow">http://singaporemind.blogspot.com/2009/02/truth-about-jobs-credit.html/</A><BR/><BR/>I have no delusions about the Jobs Credit. There's no reason to believe it will create jobs. At best, it might slow down employers <B>singling</B> out Singapore citizens and PRs to retrench first, and that's all one should expect.Jimmy Munhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04927345822970412901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-64572111922398720092009-01-29T22:56:00.000+08:002009-01-29T22:56:00.000+08:00To AnonJanuary 28, 2009 6:53 PMLike Gopal you have...To Anon<BR/>January 28, 2009 6:53 PM<BR/><BR/>Like Gopal you have a free choice leh. After all Singapore is an immigrant society. Life would be much better back in your ancestral homeland, be it Indonesia, India or China. No one is holding you back leh. <BR/><BR/>This is democracy leh. By the people (67% of popular votes) & for the people.<BR/><BR/>Do your health a lot of good if you stop complaining and whining.<BR/><BR/>Singapore will be better off without you leh.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-86829498975058960962009-01-28T18:53:00.000+08:002009-01-28T18:53:00.000+08:00"Unless one is the employer also trying to make a ...<I>"Unless one is the employer also trying to make a living you won't understand the dynamics of real economics."</I><BR/><BR/>Ya loh. Just like you said, Singaporeans deserve to be paid like banglas and worked like the banglas for electing a gahmen who allows the employer to stay in bungalows and drive BMWs, plus go to Paris to learn cooking, but cannot afford to pay for Singaporean workers.<BR/><BR/>How come you understand only ONE part of costs? My business bills tells me that my rental has gone up 30% last year. And the market so kns oligopolistic, it is not very possible to go elsewhere find rent.<BR/><BR/>My electricity and water bills also got whack damn bad. All these how?<BR/><BR/>You damn good employer leh.<BR/><BR/>You must be the bestest businessman on Earth. No wonder our contractors and SMEs almost never make it to world stage.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-63136732224240764472009-01-28T11:41:00.000+08:002009-01-28T11:41:00.000+08:00"To the critic I say go and be an employer, a cont..."To the critic I say go and be an employer, a contractor, etc. Tender for the job and get it done without foreign workers.<BR/><BR/>Empty vessels make the most noise. Go back to school . . . ."<BR/><BR/>eh, we pay taxes and elect a government for a purpose. U know like "creating jobs, protecting livelihood" etc. Also foreign worker levies\work permits exist for a reason. No one says the gahmen job is easy but we do pay them very well.<BR/><BR/>PS: you may wish to know that unfettered capitalism (for better or worst) is gone with President Bush.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-9512816726157243882009-01-28T11:34:00.000+08:002009-01-28T11:34:00.000+08:00Dear Mr WangMy point precisely.Top 10% is nothing....Dear Mr Wang<BR/><BR/>My point precisely.<BR/>Top 10% is nothing. <BR/>You should be fairly close to the 5% mark but even then its still nothing. There is a sizeable gap between 5% and 1%.<BR/><BR/>"Mere rich" is roughly defined as min of USD$5 to 25 million nett liquid assets ... unless u married rich ...<BR/><BR/>Just kapo. oh man. waiting for the axe is really mentally painful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-43877579266494598672009-01-28T09:29:00.000+08:002009-01-28T09:29:00.000+08:00The only thing in the budget interesting to me was...<I>The only thing in the budget interesting to me was the job credit.</I><BR/><BR/>Hahahahahahaha the job credit to CPF is for "Singaporeans". Get an inkling, Singapore PRs, people who do not hold red passport also contribute CPF! And basically any tom dicky and harry can be a Sinigapore PR very easily! Our dear gahmen is again playing the game of confusing us, when they are in fact subsidising foreigners!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-55198567133295778062009-01-28T00:42:00.000+08:002009-01-28T00:42:00.000+08:00"This global downturn has swallowed already up its..."This global downturn has swallowed already up its first casualty, Iceland."<BR/><BR/>You speak like Iceland was swallowed by a black hole, never to be seen again. <BR/><BR/>The truth is, even in these darkest hours, the 300,000 Icelanders are still living a better life than the poorest 300,000 Singaporeans at any time in our "golden age".Jimmy Munhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04927345822970412901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-48269785739795946382009-01-27T20:38:00.000+08:002009-01-27T20:38:00.000+08:00Foreign labor is an integral part of Singapore. Pr...Foreign labor is an integral part of Singapore. Private businesses have to lower costs and labor is a FACTOR of production, like it or not.<BR/><BR/>Bad times have driven the Banglas out of the food courts and hawker centers. Singaporean oldies are more realistic today. They accept the same wages as the Banglas and local contract employers use them even though they are slower and absent themselves more frequently cos they are Singaporeans.<BR/><BR/>The thousands of Indians building roads, at the shipyards, etc., and Chinese nationals aren't oldies. They won't be here if young Singaporeans are prepared to do the job and their wages. <BR/><BR/>Unless one is the employer also trying to make a living you won't understand the dynamics of real economics. <BR/><BR/>To the critic I say go and be an employer, a contractor, etc. Tender for the job and get it done without foreign workers.<BR/><BR/>Empty vessels make the most noise. Go back to school . . . .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-10116345922113223012009-01-27T12:37:00.000+08:002009-01-27T12:37:00.000+08:00Thanks for the far-sightedness. Thanks for buildin...Thanks for the far-sightedness. Thanks for building up the Reserves.<BR/><BR/>This global downturn has swallowed already up its first casualty, Iceland. Agriculture is definitely not on the cards for Iceland. More countries will invariable fall.<BR/><BR/>It's s scary if external demand is not there. This little, resourceless, red dot must export its goods and services to survive. To derive the income to pay for all its basic imports like fuel, food, etc.<BR/><BR/>How long will and can the Reserves last? <BR/><BR/>Any guess?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-30990328836715071242009-01-27T12:11:00.000+08:002009-01-27T12:11:00.000+08:00So many 'foreign talents' in Sg now that i...So many 'foreign talents' in Sg now that it makes me wonder what ARE our Singaporeans working as? Even the bus drivers are from China now. So what are our uncles and aunties working as for livelihood? Even in the food & beverage line, there is an influx of 'foreign talents'.<BR/><BR/>So this so-called massive job losses in question, is it purely that or are we losing our jobs to 'foreign talents'?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-52011564003928904222009-01-25T18:00:00.000+08:002009-01-25T18:00:00.000+08:00My friends, not that it is any of your business, b...My friends, not that it is any of your business, but you do underestimate my income. I am most definitely not just in the top 10%. ;)<BR/><BR/><BR/>If you are curious to know where you stand, these are some links you can check out:<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.salary.sg/2008/compare-your-annual-salary-2008/" REL="nofollow">By annual salary</A><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.salary.sg/2009/compare-your-household-income-2009/" REL="nofollow">By household income</A><BR/><BR/>Happy New Year!Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027678080233274309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-70220906083315295042009-01-25T16:14:00.000+08:002009-01-25T16:14:00.000+08:00Yeh don't forget our uniformed guardians durin...Yeh don't forget our uniformed guardians during this festive occasion as Singaporeans merrily partake in food & drinks.<BR/><BR/>They make the peace possible for us all to enjoy Chinese New Year. <BR/><BR/>Remember the Israeli festive Yom Kippur when the enemies suddenly swept into Israel and took the country by surprise. Many lives were unnecessarily lost. <BR/><BR/>Every country ought to learn from it. Enemies usually like to catch its prey unprepared.<BR/><BR/>During this period, superiors/ commanders ought to take time and show solidarity with his men by visiting them at camps & checkpoints and offer them the traditional oranges and greetings. They don't cost much. They are indeed not forgotten. The cookhouses at the various camps where soldiers are on standby shd receive special meals.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-8235046442245003912009-01-25T13:00:00.000+08:002009-01-25T13:00:00.000+08:00"How is it that someone who belongs to the upper 1..."How is it that someone who belongs to the upper 10% of the pecking order still feel insecure?"<BR/><BR/>Thats because most of the wealth here is concentrated in the top ONE percent. Top 10% is nothing.<BR/><BR/>Even the smug Mr Wang is feeling insecure ...<BR/>Welcome to the club. But dun worry, hyper-inflation is now unlikely and ur funds should stretch.<BR/>But we are ALL going to lose a few years of our prime.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-661066149378479492009-01-25T11:22:00.000+08:002009-01-25T11:22:00.000+08:00Sorry,Jimmy Mun"To keep our jobs, Singaporeans can...Sorry,Jimmy Mun<BR/><BR/>"To keep our jobs, Singaporeans cannot afford to be just as good as the 1 million foreigners in Singapore; we need to be better."<BR/><BR/>You got confused by PAP propaganda yet again.<BR/><BR/>It is not 1 million,it is,in fact,1.7 million foreigners,pl do not forget the 700k residents are holding Non -Singapore passports,they do not love PAP as much as PAP loves them,that is for sure.<BR/><BR/>We have to be very careful when we read figures released by PAP,they are accurate but they also serve to confuse,most of the time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-59378229396318784032009-01-24T13:38:00.000+08:002009-01-24T13:38:00.000+08:00Anonymous January 23, 2009 1:32 PM said... "Sin...Anonymous January 23, 2009 1:32 PM said...<BR/><BR/> "Singapore has no agriculture or natural resource sector, or serving a rich hinterland. Just a little red dot of 700 sq km with 4.5 million folks squatting on it.<BR/><BR/> Hence the domestic economy is also small and due to the wide income gap much wealth is concentratd only in a handful.<BR/><BR/> In fact KL and the suburbs (known as the Klang valley in Malaysia) is bigger and has more people.<BR/><BR/> Come to think of it, that red dot can survive, grow and prosper is already quite a feat.<BR/><BR/> But this is totally dependent on the global business climate. When this turns sour on a broad scale as of now, red dot can be doomed.<BR/><BR/> Hence things can be quite scary for red dot now and in the future."<BR/><BR/>So why, if we are so dependent on the business climate, our PAP masters gave themselves a pat on the back and tell everyone it was because of their good governance? When the Singapore economy was doing well, was that not because the global business climate was also good? Was that also not the reason why they increase their bloated salaries and bonuses.<BR/><BR/>Now that our economy is on the downward spiral, the blame is on the external factors. In other words, when good things happened, it was because of them and when bad things happened, it was because of external factors. Is that logical?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-29998504586198792862009-01-23T23:37:00.000+08:002009-01-23T23:37:00.000+08:00Porridge and soy sauce? Aiyoh, poor thing. There i...Porridge and soy sauce? Aiyoh, poor thing. There is a better alternative and just as cheap - potatoes. They are more nutritious and delicious, I discovered while racking my brains to save money.<BR/><BR/>You will certainly become more dense, with nutrients :DAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-39181122465197370162009-01-23T21:54:00.000+08:002009-01-23T21:54:00.000+08:00I have fairly substantial back-up funds, but still...<I>I have fairly substantial back-up funds, but still ....</I><BR/><BR/>How is it that someone who belongs to the upper 10% of the pecking order still feel insecure? That's mind-boggling.Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15186339395772858004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-22563772821718006672009-01-23T21:43:00.000+08:002009-01-23T21:43:00.000+08:00The only thing in the budget interesting to me was...The only thing in the budget interesting to me was the job credit. It's a pleasant surprise from this foreign talent loving government. But it's also an affirmation of my concern that CPF is a major liability for Singaporeans. Furthermore, it may cost a lot of money but it still does not fully eliminate the CPF "tax" on the employer.<BR/><BR/>Given two identical apples, one costs 1 dollar and the other $1.20, even if you give a 10 cent rebate, the latter is still more expensive.<BR/><BR/>To keep our jobs, Singaporeans cannot afford to be just as good as the 1 million foreigners in Singapore; we need to be better.<BR/><BR/>Be prepared to hear the chorus of employers and lap dogs singing insults at jobless Singaporeans for being "lazy", not as hardworking at our jobs, not diligent in our upgrading, as the foreigners. <BR/><BR/>Because openly fingering the CPF, putting property market at risk, is an inconvenient truth that nobody wants to talk about.<BR/><BR/>One other missed opportunity, is that the government should offer to foot all four months of working mother's maternity leave. There's no better way of ensuring domestic spending than having a child.<BR/><BR/>But as anybody who knows our Machiavellian government should expect, the good news would only be served in drips.Jimmy Munhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04927345822970412901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-48412949635416385072009-01-23T13:39:00.000+08:002009-01-23T13:39:00.000+08:00Anyone here remember 1982? I was a child then and ...Anyone here remember 1982? I was a child then and I recalled eating porridge with soy sauce for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Maybe that explains why I grew up somewhat dense.<BR/><BR/>Well it's going to get as bad as that. I haven't met or spoken to anyone in banking and finance, who can envision or imagine the new face of the economy. But they are all sure that its not going to be business as usual.<BR/><BR/>Singapore is mainly finance services driven so she will be very hard hit, not unlike the UK. However, the tsunami hasn't really hit Singapore & Asia yet. Now's just the 'bad news' bit. The fallout will be very, very deep. In order to survive, everyone will need to learn to adapt to this 'new economy'. The old dynamics no longer applies.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-44026084853212412702009-01-23T13:32:00.001+08:002009-01-23T13:32:00.001+08:00Singapore has no agriculture or natural resource s...Singapore has no agriculture or natural resource sector, or serving a rich hinterland. Just a little red dot of 700 sq km with 4.5 million folks squatting on it.<BR/><BR/>Hence the domestic economy is also small and due to the wide income gap much wealth is concentratd only in a handful.<BR/><BR/>In fact KL and the suburbs (known as the Klang valley in Malaysia) is bigger and has more people.<BR/><BR/>Come to think of it, that red dot can survive, grow and prosper is already quite a feat. <BR/><BR/>But this is totally dependent on the global business climate. When this turns sour on a broad scale as of now, red dot can be doomed.<BR/><BR/>Hence things can be quite scary for red dot now and in the future.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-22315216653955323732009-01-23T11:15:00.000+08:002009-01-23T11:15:00.000+08:00Although we will forsee more foreign expats or PRs...Although we will forsee more foreign expats or PRs being retrenched, Singaporeans might not necessarily breathe easier especially for graduating students.<BR/><BR/>PRs invites will continue to be extended to international students pursuing their education in local institutes of higher learning. The foreign students (comprising mainly from India and China) will be a competitive force against local graduates since most wouldn't mind securing a lower salary for start just to secure their PR status in Singapore.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-64387636789490518182009-01-23T10:50:00.000+08:002009-01-23T10:50:00.000+08:00"Are they really asking companies to retrench fore...<I> "Are they really asking companies to retrench foreigners first?" </I><BR/><BR/>The government can ask companies whatever the government wants to ask. The effect is limited because it's all just moral suasion.<BR/><BR/>The estimation of proportion of jobs lost by foreigners / citizens is probably just based on:<BR/><BR/>(1) the proportion of foreigners / citizens working in particular sectors, and <BR/><BR/>(2) the type and number of jobs expected to be lost in those sectors.Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027678080233274309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-7864366580182859382009-01-23T10:46:00.000+08:002009-01-23T10:46:00.000+08:00One comment rejected for excessive use of expletiv...One comment rejected for excessive use of expletives.<BR/><BR/>The poster is welcome to resubmit his views, after removing the thirteen F words.Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027678080233274309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-50473121866947504422009-01-23T08:38:00.000+08:002009-01-23T08:38:00.000+08:00Mr Wang,DOS has just calculated that the latest mo...Mr Wang,<BR/><BR/>DOS has just calculated that the latest monthly wage in Spore is S$2,500.00,so if 300,000 get the walking tickets,straight away 4% off the GDP,should be more as of the remaining employees,many are getting up to 30% wage reduction.<BR/><BR/>Traditionally,corpoare profit accounts for close to 50% of our GDP,and under averge recession,corporate profit should decline by 20%,this round the decline should definitely be much higher.<BR/><BR/>Even a 20% reduction means another 10% drop in GDP.<BR/><BR/>Minister Tharman & PM Lee have both grossly under estimated the seriousness of the current situation.<BR/><BR/>Note that of the world class countries,Spore is the only one with corporate accounts so much of GDP,this is the killing stick for uniquly red dot,and no other world calss country would have such huge loss of jobs.<BR/><BR/>I bet that more peanuts would be required after the June quarter.<BR/><BR/>With the projected paper loss of Spore Inc,this is going to be a very nasty picture for MM lee during the last leg of his legacy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com