We refer to the article “Restructuring must continue for “better workers, better jobs”: Tan Chuan-Jin” (Channel NewsAsia, Apr 28).

It states that “Singapore must continue with its restructuring efforts to achieve its vision of making “better workers, better jobs”, Acting Minister for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin said in his May Day message.

He also stressed the importance of tripartite members continuing to work closely together “as we transform our economy to create higher-value industries and quality jobs for Singaporeans”.

The government, he said, is committed to help workers adapt to the new economic environment.

“One key area is continuous learning and skills upgrading,” Mr Tan said.

“We are embarking on a major review of the Continuing Education and Training (CET) system to support workers in upgrading their skills and lifelong learning, so that they can seize the new job opportunities that restructuring will bring.

“The Workfare Training Support Scheme will continue to support low-wage workers and older workers to enhance their employability.

“For the growing pool of our professionals, managers and executives, we will continue to enhance funding support to help deepen their skills, competencies and career prospects.”

He added that the government is committed to helping companies transform their business models, so that they can create better opportunities for workers.”

–  Practically every year we get the similar rhetoric. Let’s let the numbers do the talking:-

… Negative real total wage change?

According to the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) web site, the real annual total wage change (excluding employer CPF) from 2008 to 2012, was -2.4, -1.0, 2.7, 0.1 and -0.8, respectively.

This works out to a cumulative real decrease in wage change of about -1.5% or -0.29 per annum, from 2008 to 2012 – A negative real total wage change for the last 5 years.

… Real income growth?

Real median income change from 2008 to 2013 was only about 1.0 per cent per annum

… for the 20th percentile – the real change per annum for the last 10 years was only about 0.3 per cent

… Real growth in graduates’ starting pay negativ?

… The real growth in university, polytechnic and Institute of Technical Education (ITE)  graduates starting pay has been negative in the last 7 years or so.

… So many lower-income workers?

– There were 207,100 residents earning below $1,000, 416,900 below $1,500 and 627,800 below $2,000.

Since the total workforce was 2,004,600 in 2012 – it means that about 1 in 10 earn below $1,000, 1 in 5 earn below $1,500 and 3 in 10 earn below $2,000.

… Widespread age discrimination?

The labour statistics also indicate widespread age discrimination – with real pay decreasing as workers get older from their mid-thirties in age – particularly for the lower-wage occupations like cleaners and service workers.

… 1 in 3 no pay increase?

Of the Singaporeans eligible for the Wage Credit scheme, two-thirds received pay rises last year, which this first tranche of Wage Credit Scheme payouts is helping to fund this year

– Does it mean that 1 out of 3 Singaporean workers who earn less than $4,000 did not get any pay rise at all?

… PMETs – hard to find jobs?

PMETs may be finding it harder to get a job, as 34% of those laid off – could not find a job after 12 months.

… PMETs had highest redundancy rate?

The problems of PMETs may also be compounded by their highest redundancy rate – PMETs were more vulnerable to redundancy, with 7.3 made redundant for every 1,000 PMETs, compared to production and related workers (5.7 per 1,000) and clerical, sales and service workers (2.8 per 1,000).

… Unemployed and under-employed?

… I understand that there are about 90,000 unemployed and long-term unemployed locals, more than 200,000 who have indicated that they would like to return to the workforce, tens if not hundreds of thousands of under-employed (getting much lower pay than their last drawn pay), etc.

Impact of foreign workers?

To what extent has our liberal foreign labour policies and huge influx of foreign workers – contributed to the woes of Singaporean workers as highlighted by the above statistics?

… 53% are Singaporeans?

In this connection, with 38% of the workforce being foreign workers – If we assume that about 15% of the “locals””workers are permanent residents, then the percentage of Singaporeans in the total workforce, is about 53%.

Less than 50% are Singaporeans?

If we make an adjustment for new citizens, does it mean that less than half the workforce were not “truly” Singaporeans?

260,800 “locals” jobs increase vs 451,934 new citizens/PRs?

– What percentage of the increase in the resident labour force of 260,800 from 2007 to June 2013 were Singaporeans, against the estimated 451,934 new citizens and new PRs granted in the 7 years to end 2013?

May Day Protest

Come to the May Day protest on Jobs, Wages and Unemployment on 3 May 4 pm at Hong Lim Park

– Jointly organised by Function 8, Workfair, Empowering Singaporeans, with speakers from AWARE, Dr. Vincent Wijeisingha, Tan Kin Lian, Roy Ngerng, Leong Sze Hian, Han Hui Hui, etc.
https://www.facebook.com/events/527069484078804/

SY Lee and Leong Sze Hian