TR EMERITUS

OPINION It is an open secret among Singaporeans that life has been getting tougher for them in the last few years. Their wages have either decreased or remained stagnant and even for those who had a modest pay rise, they are grossly insufficient to cover the rampant inflation which hit a record 6 percent in 2008. A comprehensive study "Prices and Earnings" conducted by UBS last year revealed that Singaporeans have the lowest wages and domestic purchasing power among th Asian tigers. In fact, Singapore has a standard of living comparable to Russia than to Switzerland whose standard of living was promised by a former Prime Minister a decade ago. According to UBS, the average Singaporean experienced an 8 percent drop in gross wages between 2006 and 2009 as compared to the more than 50 percent hike in the salaries of PAP ministers during the same period of time. Naturally, when one belongs to the top 1 percent of the earners in Singapore, it is easy to overlook the common folks struggling to get by in their daily lives. Obviously Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam was ignorant of the UBS report when he made the most unbelievable and audacious claim that foreign workers helped to increase the wages of Singaporeans: "The healthy growth of wages for low wage families from 2006 to 2008 corresponded with the period when the foreign workforce was growing most rapidly.......It was how we were able to offset the decline in wages for our lower-income group that had taken place in the first part of the decade,” he added. [Source: Straits Times, 3 March 2010] The discrepancy in the fitures can be explained by an error in the statistics used by Mr Tharman as pointed out by economist Kenneth Jeyaretnam from the Reform Party: “The majority of these new residents did not have dependents (hence the much faster rise in the resident labour force than the resident population) and all of them would have had jobs so the proportion of working adults in the average resident household would have risen. As a result we would have seen an increase in real median income per household member without any real increase in the median incomes of Singaporean citizens who were already here before this period began, i.e., the majority of us. Another reason why the Minister’s figure is misleading is that it excludes households consisting solely of non-working persons over 60.” [Source: Reform Party: A complacent Budget] Another PAP MP Halimah Yacob cast doubts on the results of the UBS study in Parliament and claimed that "anecdotal evidence" showed that there is a "significant" jump of about 20 percent in wages over the same period of time. “The discrepancy could have come from the limited sample of firms in the UBS study. The study’s figures do not give statistical averages as it covered only a few companies for each profession and city,” she suggested. [Source: Straits Times, 9 March 2010] It appears that both Mr Tharman and Madam Halimah have not checked the facts with their fellow colleague Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong which must have embarrassed them greatly when the Labor Report published this Monday had proven them wrong beyond any reasonable doubt: “Nominal earnings decreased over the year by 1.6% in the fourth quarter of 2009, easing from the 3.0% decline in the preceding quarter. Earnings in 2009 declined by 2.6%, after rising by 5.4% in 2008. After adjusting for inflation (2009: 0.6%, 2008: 6.6%), the decline in real earnings was 3.2% in 2009, deeper than the contraction of 1.2% in 2008.” [Source: Ministry of Manpower] The decline in wages in hardly surprising given the increased competition that Singaporeans have to face from cheap foreign workers which the PAP has let in indiscriminately. A recent Wall Street Journal editorial reported the relentless influx of foreigners into Singapore over the last few years had depressed the wages of ordinary Singaporeans, increased the cost of living, especially that of public housing, decreased labor productivity and led to an overall decline in the standard of living. One reader who graduated last year with an Engineering degree from NTU told us that he is still looking for a job. "I have sent my resumes to countless companies, both local and MNCs and only a handful got back to me. They offer a basic salary ranging from between $1,500 and $2,000 which is completely unacceptable as I still have to repay my study loans. Others coughed at my NS obligations which need me to be away for up to four weeks a year. One HR manager told me bluntly to 'take it or leave it' as she can easily find a China or Indian engineer to fill the positions for less pay than I am requesting easily. These companies have no problems fulfilling the dependency ratio quota for foreign workers as they will help the new foreign workers apply for Singapore PR almost immediately after they are hired," he said. In other countries, jobs like engineering are reserved only for locals, but over here, the PAP expects Singaporeans to compete directly with cheap foreign engineers while remaining "cheaper, faster and better" at the same time. The PAP's addiction to foreigners is understandable at it "kills two birds with one stone": 1. Foreigners help keep labor costs down thereby increasing GDP growth artificially. A certain percentage of the PAP ministers' multi-million salaries is pegged to GDP growth figures - the higher the percentage growth, the more money they bring home. 2. The foreigners provide a ready pool of potential new citizens whose increasing numbers will help to shore up the PAP's flagging support among native Singaporeans. How can Singaporeans ever trust the PAP to manage the economy when its MPs and ministers are still living in a state of denial? Does it make any sense that while the salaries of Singaporeans have decreased by 3.2 percent, the PAP ministers will be getting a hefty 8.8 percent pay hike at the same time? Is this a government for the people or for a small group of self-serving elites only? It is time for Singaporeans to realize that there will be no economic rights without political rights and unless Singaporeans stand up and fight for their rights, they will always remain as slaves to the despotic PAP regime, waiting for the crumbs left over by them rather than to partake and enjoy the fruits gained by the nation's economic growth.   The UBS Series: >> Part 1: Singapore has lowest wages and domestic purchasing power among Asian Tigers >> Part 2: Moving towards a Russian standard of living >> Part 3: Why Singaporeans are paupers in a first world economy   Related articles: >> Halimah Yacob refutes UBS study findings >> Halimah Yacob: Productivity drive will be derailed if foreign worker challenge not addressed  >> Exposing the six major flaws in the PAP’s immigration policies >> Wong Kan Seng promises to tighten immigration policies >> SM Goh: Foreign workers numbers may still rise >> Malaysian car mechanic applying for Singapore citizenship >> PAP launches Singapore Citizenship Journey to help new citizens integrate >> Compulsory for new citizens to attend “sharing sessions” with grassroots leaders >> Wong Kan Seng urged Singaporeans to be more tolerant of foreign workers >> Tharman: Foreign workers increase income of low-income families >> Sylvia Lim: Pace and influx of foreigners over last few years is wrong >> Amy Khor urges Singaporeans to welcome foreigners >> PAP MP wants more money to be spent to make new citizens feel welcomed in Singapore >> Shanmugam: Foreigners generate jobs for Singaporeans >> Vivian happy there are 4,500 new citizens serving as grassroots leaders >> Cosmetic changes made to immigration policy >> SM Goh: New immigrants needed to make up population shortfall >> PAP ministers hailed contributions of foreigners >> SM Goh expressed support for Zhang Yuanyuan >> State media: citizens have more rights over PRs >> Zhang Yuanyuan got her Singapore PR in only 2 months >> Official reply from government on the Zhang Yuanyuan fiasco >> Singapore PRC PR proclaimed loyalty to China publicly >> PRC resident hung China flag to celebrate its National Day >> PRC student in Singapore wants more scholarships for foreigners >> PRC prostitutes solicit for customers on Singapore’s cyberspace >> ERA: 40 per cent of resale flats buyers are PRs   EDITORS’ NOTE: If you like our work and would like to support us, please transfer your donations via paypal to our account ([email protected]). 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Written by Our Correspondent After being embarrassed publicly by the Sear Hock Rong and Eric How sagas, the YPAP has decided to close down two Facebook pages - YP Network and YP Community to "consolidate its online presence in a bid for better control over its new media message." Sear Hock Rong is a YPAP member and moderator of the YPAP Facebook Network and was embroiled in a controversy over his business dealings with several Eunos grassroots organizations where he is currently serving as a volunteer. Eric How sparked a massive outcry in cyberspace by posting callous remarks about lower-income Singaporeans on the YPAP Facebook Network leading to two "Eric Hows" from the YPAP lodging police reports separately for online "impersonation" under the "advice" of YPAP Chairman Teo Ser Luck. It was later revealed that there were more than 50 "Eric Hows" in Singapore alone and the likelihood of impersonation is non-existent. After two months, the police is still "investigating" the case. YPAP Vice Chairman Zaqy Mohamad and head of its internet subcommittee who has become increasingly unpopular lately over his relentless attacks on Singapore bloggers and netizens to cast doubts on the credibility of the New Media tried to put up a brave front, saying that "the move is not a 'U-turn' but a tweaking of strategy, incorporating lessons learnt." "For us, it was a lot of experimentation. We've never had these things happen to us. As we move along, we can put better processes in place," he added. Mr Zaqy claimed that the YPAP top brass will now directly monitor the main Facebook page to better differentiate between what is "official" and what are personal views and discussions and to allow it to look quickly into abuses and online impersonations. Media scholar Tan Tarn How of the Institute of Policy Studies coughed at the "new structure" and said it "evinces a lack of conceptualisation and thorough thinking before YP waded into cyberspace." "With new media, there is little control, if at all...The discussion cannot be steered in one direction or another. If people go off-message...how do you deal with that? The problem with such failed experiments is that their impact on reputations lingers," he was quoted as saying in the Straits Times. Despite spending inordinate amount of resources since 2006 to engage netizens, the YPAP has failed to establish a presence in Singapore's blogopshere. A blog started by a group of post-65 PAP MPs has floundered due to lack of efforts and readership and is almost as good as defunct now. Even the PAP's official feedback forum REACH has a pathetic readership with many netizens preferring to post their thoughts of national policies on alternative sites like The Temasek Review. With anti-PAP sentiments at an all-time high in cyberspace, the PAP is getting cold feet over the possible impact of the New Media on the next general election and has implemented a series of repressive laws to pre-empt it from causing a "freak" election as what happened to Malaysia in 2008. "Election advertising" on the internet is now outlawed on both cooling off and polling days and offenders can be arrested on the spot without a warrant of arrest, probably the first law of such kind anywhere in the world. While the measures may have a temporary deterrent effect, it is likely to alienate the PAP further from the younger generation who will form an increasingly influential voting bloc in future elections.  Read More →

Written by Our Correspondent Singapore may be one of the richest nations in the world with the highest paid ministers and deep enough pockets to lose billions of dollars of national reserves in failed overseas investments, but yet its citizens enjoy few social welfare benefits from the cash-flushed state. There is a Public Assistance (PA) scheme which provides a monthly allowance of $360 for Singaporeans who are certified either permanently unfit to work or are completely destitute with no living relatives. According to the Ministry of Community, Youth and Sports (MCYS), there were only 11 successful applicants for PA between July 2008 and December 2009. It claims that the "small number" is an "indication that families want to be "self-reliant" as far as possible without substantiating its claims. How many Singaporeans are aware of the PA scheme? Are they put off by the onerous many administrative hassles? How many applicants did MCYS receive during the same period of time?the number The Labor Force survey last year revealed that the number of Singaporeans and permanent residents in jobs that pay less than $1,000 per month has increased to 293,500 from 278,000 in June 1999. Of these, 80,500 earn less than $500 per month. It is most unbelievable that out of so many low-income Singaporeans, there were only 11 successful PA applicants. How are the rest going to survive with their meager income? Singaporeans are often exhorted by PAP leaders to work for as long as possible till they drop dead and die. Though the state is filthy rich, it is reluctant to invest more in the people out of fear of creating a "crutch mentality" in the population. At the same time, the PAP opens the floodgates and allows cheap foreign workers to enter the labor market to compete with Singaporeans on equal terms. A recent Wall Street Journal editorial reported that the relentless influx of foreigners over the last few years has depressed the wages of ordinary Singaporeans, increased the cost of living and led to an overall decline in the standard of living. When asked by MP Lily Neo in 2007 to increase the monthly PA allowance so that its recipients can have three basic meals a day, Minister for Community, Youth and Sports Dr Vivian Balakrishnan retorted: “How much do you want? Do you want three meals in a hawker centre, food court or restaurant?” He added that “one limiting factor must be the sum that we give through public assistance cannot be so generous as to erode the work ethic.” [Source: Channel News Asia, 9 March 2007] While MCYS has been most stingy in expanding the PA scheme to include more Singaporeans or to increase the monthly allowance, it has no qualms splurging on the new citizens. In October 2009, it unveiled a mega $10-million dollars Community Integration Fund to make the immigrants feel welcomed and happy in Singapore. It is futile for Singaporeans to continue to pin false hopes on the PAP to do more to help the poor and needy. As Reform Party Secretary-General Kenneth Jeyaretnam pointed out in his interview with Reuters, the PAP needs to change its mindset that spending more on healthcare and education for Singaporeans is an investment and not a burden which is highly unlikely. Unless Singaporeans vote overwhelmingly for change in the next general election to send a strong message across to the incumbents, they will have no choice but to put up with the current situation for many years to come.  Read More →