I refer to the TR Emeritus editorial “How many jobs did the 2 IRs really create for S’poreans?” (Nov 17).
http://www.tremeritus.com/2012/11/17/how-many-jobs-did-the-2-irs-really-create-for-sporeans/

It states that “This is what the Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin replied on behalf of the Govt:

“Based on reports by TODAY and Lianhe Zaobao on 10th Nov 2012, the two Integrated Resorts (IRs) directly employ more than 22,000 staff, of which about 70% are locals. MBS hires over 9,400 full time employees, of which 60% are Singaporeans. RWS employs over 13,000 staff, and around 75% are Singaporeans. Singaporeans also take up 80% of total PME positions in RWS.”

A lot of people have since been asking as to why the Minister had to rely on newspaper reports to answer a question on statistics in Parliament? This I believe is unprecedented in Singapore’s Parliamentary history. Why didn’t the Minister obtain the statistics directly?

If newspapers never report, reply would be … ?

I wonder when did NCMP Png Eng Huat file his question?

What would the Minister’s reply be if the two newspapers did not coincidentally report on the IRs’ job statistics, just five days before the sitting in Parliament?

2 newspapers’ stories on the same day?

Also, what a coincidence that the two English and Chinese newspapers just so happened to write stories on the IRs’ job statistics on the same day too?

Since the reply said “the two Integrated Resorts (IRs) directly employ more than 22,000 staff, of which about 70% are locals”, is it 70 per cent locals or Singaporeans?

MBS from 70 to 60%?

In MBS’s reply “’70% of MBS employees are locals’” (Today, Oct 5, 2011) to my letter “IR updates requested” (Sept 30), it said “Marina Bay Sands is committed to hiring locals. Out of the nearly 9,000 team members at MBS, nearly 70 per cent are Singaporeans.

In some departments such as entertainment, facilities and security, the percentage of locals is as high as 94 per cent. Hiring will continue in tandem with our growth.”

But now the newspaper reports say that “MBS hires over 9,400 full time employees, of which 60% are Singaporeans”.

So, in the last 12 months or so, the percentage of Singaporeans has dropped from 70 to 60 per cent.

Why is this so?

RWS from locals to Singaporeans?

In RWS’s reply “We remain committed to hiring Singaporeans: RWS” (Today, Oct 4, 2011) to my same letter cited above, it said “Today, we have a 13,000-strong workforce; about 70 per cent are locals. Our talent recruitment is ongoing and we remain committed to hiring Singaporeans.”

You will note that RWS refers to locals, which presumerably includes permanent residents, and not Singaporeans, in its reply.

However, the newspaper reports now say that “RWS employs over 13,000 staff, and around 75% are Singaporeans. Singaporeans also take up 80% of total PME positions in RWS.”

So, in the last 12 months or so, “about 70 per cent are locals” have become “around 75% are Singaporeans. Singaporeans also take up 80% of total PME positions in RWS.”

So, if we include PRs, what percentage of the jobs at the IRs are held by locals?

Leong Sze Hian