We refer to the article “More than 52,000 job vacancies available on national Jobs Bank; two-thirds are for PMEs” (Straits Times, Aug 7).
Apply many, but no response?
Someone told me that she had applied for several jobs since the jobsbank was launched on 14 July, but did not receive any response from any of the employers at all.
63,744 jobs available?
The jobsbank now shows more than 63,744 jobs available.
Interview on the jobsbank?
We spoke to Mr Human Re (not his real name) about the jobsbank.
Q. Your company employs about 80% non-Singaporeans?
A. Yes
Q. What type of foreign workers?
A. Mostly S-pass, employment pass
Q Why
A. Aiyah, foreigners cheaper mah (no pay CPF save 17% you know), no NS, no 4 months maternity, no turnover problem as 2 year contract they cannot run mah
Q. What do you do now that there is the Fair Consideration Framework?
A. No difference lah. Can still advertise in other places and jobs protals like before at the same time mah. So, just wayang and advertise also in jobsbank lo for 2 weeks
Q. Can please elaborate?
A. It take about 1.5 months at least normally to do the jobs advertisement, interviews, etc process – so we just concurrently advertise and recruit foreigner just like before lah
“ANNEX A
FAIR CONSIDERATION FRAMEWORK: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Advertising Requirement
1. Can a firm advertise on other websites (instead of the Jobs Bank) or other
platforms (e.g. newspapers)?
• There is nothing to stop firms from advertising job vacancies on other
platforms and websites. However, we would strongly encourage firms to
also post their jobs on the Jobs Bank at www.jobsbank.gov.sg to extend
their outreach to Singaporean job seekers.
• If an EP application is needed, firms must advertise on the Jobs Bank
before submitting the application to MOM.”
Q. So, how to help Singaporeans in the so called “employ Singaporeans first” policy?
A. Simple lah – just do like in other countries – maybe make it 6 months instead of just 2 weeks, and must show why cannot get Singaporeans to work like the requirement in other countries. Don’t allow concurrent advertising and recruitment of foreigners on other job portals. Don’t allow foreigners to come as tourists to apply for jobs.
Q . Anything else
A. The jobsbank does not apply to work permit. So, foreigners whose pay is less than $2,200 – jobsbank also not applicable. If really want to ëmploy Singaporeans first” – why don’t apply to work permit hah?
Q Keep talking leh. This is very good!
A. You can see – a lot of job postings from third party entities such as employment agencies, private job portals and companies which offer outsourced human resource services – so, they are just going through the motion – because they will still be doing what they were doing before – no difference lah!
Waiting for the statistics?
Perhaps the 73,200 unemployed Singaporeans in June and the 13,400 long–term unemployed residents at the end of last year – making a total of about 86,600 unemployed, may be eagerly looking forward to the statistics on the jobsbank as to how effective it is in employing “Singaporeans first” and how much the Singaporeans’ unemployment rate and the number of unemployed Singaporeans will come down, as well as the 95% of employment change in the second quarter that is estimated to have gone to non-Singaporeans (“95% of jobs growth went to foreigners?“. Aug 1)?
S Y Lee and Leong Sze Hian
P.S. Come with your family and friends to the
3rd Return Our CPF protest on 23 August 4 pm at Speakers’ Corner https://www.facebook.com/events/648543138548193/?ref=2&ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming
