I refer to the article “NTUC to boost hotel staff wages” (Straits Times, Jul 25).

It states that “(NTUC) unveiled a progressive wage framework that will lift the pay of about 3,000 workers – or one-fifth of the industry’s local workforce”.

Does this mean that the local workforce in the hotel industry is about 15,000?

Since “the hotel industry has 33,700 workers”, does it mean that locals only comprise about 45 per cent of the total workforce?

Dependency ratio vs actual statistics?

As the Services Sector’s Sectoral Dependency Ratio (DR) is 45 per cent (maximum of 45% (50% before 1 July 2012) Work Permit, inclusive of maximum of 25% S Pass), why is it that the local workforce seems to be only 45 per cent?

Foreign worker quotes aside, what this may indicate is that the actual statistics may not gel with the foreign worker quota limits.

Foreign interns not counted?

If we include foreign interns generally on 6 months attachment, who are not counted in the foreign worker quota, what percentage of the total workforce are locals.

How many per cent are Singaporeans?

Pay declines with age

The Ratio of Median Monthly Wages for Service & sales workers age 60 – 64 compared to age 25 – 29, is about two-third.

This means that a typical low-skill hotel worker, may earn about one-third less at age 60 – 64, compared to when one is age 25 – 29.

If we adjust for inflation, a hotel worker may be earning even much less, comparatively, as one gets older. For example, based on two per cent historical inflation, the real wage may have dropped by more than 60 per cent.

To what extent has our liberal foreign worker policies contributed to this declining wages as workers get older?

Leong Sze Hian