$100m for productivity enhancements and help schemes?
I refer to the article “SingPost sets aside S$100m for productivity enhancements and help schemes” (Channel NewsAsia, Sep 19).
Progressive wage model?
It states that “SingPost has also adopted the progressive wage model to attract more Singaporeans to become postmen and postwomen. Under it, the company has extended their career path with a new job grade — the Postman Special Grade 2 — from May.
$10 million Inclusivity Fund to help 3,400 workers?
The company also has a S$10 million Inclusivity Fund to help some 3,400 workers who earn below S$2,000.
90 per cent of this fund is dedicated to help lower-waged staff to cope with rising costs through annual special recognition payments, income enhancements and retention awards.
80% local workers?
Currently, SingPost hires more than 4,500 employees — 80 per cent of whom are Singaporeans and permanent residents.
Mr Heng added: “The more you could make the playing field of employment favourable to the local jobseeker, and in a way that allows the company to look for the appropriate person to employ, then it will be win-win.”
Since 80 per cent of the employees are Singaporeans and permanent residents (PRs), does it mean that about 3,600 (80% of 4,500 employees) are locals?
94% of locals are lower-income workers?
As the Inclusivity Fund is to help some 3,400 workers who earn below $2,000, and presumably such financial assistance schemes may apply only to locals as with all financial assistance schemes in Singapore which generally only apply to Singaporeans – how many of the 3,400 lower-income employees are Singaporeans and PRs? Is it almost all of them?
If this is the case, does it mean that about 94 per cent (3,400 helped divided by 3,600 local employees) of the local employees are lower-income ones?
Most higher-income employees are foreigners?
Correspondingly, does it mean that most of the higher-income employees are foreigners?
What is puzzling may be that in February this year, the media reported that “About 3,400 of SingPost’s 4,700-odd employees will benefit from the fund, These are employees with monthly incomes ranging from $2,000 to $4,000. Depending on their income bracket, the fund aims to supplement each staff member with an additional $300 to $500 per annum.” (“SingPost to set up new $10m fund for lower-income employees” (Straits Time, Feb 28))
No employees earn less than $2,000?
I am somewhat puzzled by “About 3,400 of SingPost’s 4,700-odd employees will benefit from the fund, These are employees with monthly incomes ranging from $2,000 to $4,000″ – does this mean that there are no employees who earn less than $2,000?
From 3,400 earning more than $2,000 to 3,400 earning less than $2,000?
So, how is it possible that 3,400 employees earning at least $2,000 being helped (as reported in February) now becomes 3,400 employees earning less than $2,000 being helped?
“Postman” wages statistics has disappeared?
As I believe that the most common job may be “postman”, I searched for the basic and gross median wage of “postman” in the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) web site’s benchmarking occupational wages tool – and got the following message:
“This occupation is not available for benchmarking, as we will only release data with sufficient coverage.”
I then looked at the now discontinued annual Report on Wages 2011 – and the basic and gross median wage for “postman” was $1,500 and $1,803, respectively.
So, why is it that the wages of “postman” has disappeared, and thus can no longer be found now?
Housewives rejoin workforce – pay how much?
As to “SingPost has also provided various job opportunities for Singaporeans and housewives who want to re-join the workforce.
It now hires 680 housewives in the mail delivery section and another 217 housewives in the mail processing section. This has also reduced the company’s reliance on foreign workers” – what is the basic and gross median wage of these former housewives who have rejoined the workforce?
In this connection, it may be interesting to revisit the issue brought up previously in 2012, by the child of two parents who worked as postman for years, without any CPF, annual leave or medical benefits:
One postman family’s child’s questions?
A posting on the Reach forum in May, 2012, said “Hi Mr Tan!
Both my parents are employees of Singapore Post. They are one of the many neighborhood postman/postwoman who work tirelessly day in and day out, making sure letters are been delivered on time to the residents.
My mother is a postwoman for more then 10 years; my father more then 5 years. All these years, they do not have any CPF contributions, leave benefit, medical benefits or even basic insurance coverage. Their working hours are long. Usually they start work at 1pm, depending on what time the letters are send to their area, and depending on the amount of letters, they usually end work at around 8 pm. I remembered a lot of times, my parents came home after 8pm, feeling tired, but they have no complains. And this routine goes on and on for years.
There were times when my parents got injured while at work, but they cant claim from the company, just because they are part timers and they have no medical benefits. There were times when we wanted to bring them overseas for holidays, but company don’t allow because they do not have any leave benefits. At times, the company will give reasons like: “sorry, you can’t go on leave, because there are not enough people covering your area”. What is this? Does the company want the neighbourhood postman/postwoman to work day in day out, giving up their time with their kids or even grandchildren? This is too much.
Having to work for such long hours, Monday to Friday, rain or shine, there’s no CPF contributions or even the basic benefits a worker should be entitled to, is this fair to them and all other neighborhood postman/postwoman working out there?
This matter have been brought up to Singapore Post for a long time, but all the replies they gave sounds like they are not going to do anything about it. Which is why, I decided to bring this matter to your attention on behalf of the postman/postwoman out there.
My questions are:
– Are neighbourhood postman/postwoman entitled to CPF contribution given their long working hours?
– Are they not entitled to medical and annual leave benefits?
So Mr Tan, I hope you can look into this matter. And I hope to hear from you soon.
LI WEIMING
* The above was first posted as a comment on Mr Tan’s Facebook page. Mr Tan has replied he will follow up on it.”
Singpost’s reply
I understand that Singpost’s reply was as follows:-
When were contract rates last increased?
When was the last time that the postman contract rates were increased.
Do postman become contract workers?
Looking back in history, do postman who are employees become contract workers, and if so, how many have done so?
How many “postman” employees and “postman” contract workers?
Please help
I would like to ask for the help of those who work as postman, or if you have a relative or friend who is a postman – please share with us the pay, working hours and work conditions of a postman. Please also share with us your life experience as a postman.
Leong Sze Hian
