9/21/2013

JEM ceiling collapsed - must be the tightening of foreign worker policy


I quoted below statement from an editorial article posted in TRE. ‘Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for National Development Lee Bee Wah said that sometimes developers and contractors compromise on the quality of construction materials in order to lower costs.

The tightening of foreign workers policy may also be a factor.

Ms Lee said, “Every time a contractor renews work permit for their workers, they face some difficulties and therefore keep changing staff. That could mean we don’t have experienced engineers or inspectors. The government should really look into this.”’

I think this is a good way of looking at the newly built shopping complex. It must have been built during the time when the govt was curtailing the import of foreign workers and thus the quality of the building is affected. Either shortchanged in material or quality of workers could be a factor. It is very likely the later as the only thing changed was foreign worker policy. Now, is this true? When was the building built and was it really affected by the foreign worker policy? Another question, is the foreign worker policy to curb bringing in of construction worker or white collar foreigners that the people were angry about, esp the PMET? I thought there was no problem with construction workers and everyone agreed that in this sector it is very difficult to get Sinkies to work? And another question, how could construction worker be such a big factor when there are engineers, supervisors and QCs overseeing the jobs?

Nevermind, got some small fries to take the blame. And good reason to bring in more construction workers, which was never an issue. Hope this would not translate into bringing in more foreign PMETs.
Another way of solving this problem is to borrow the logic of preventing corruption. You know what I mean. Then the work quality will improve and contractors would not take short cuts. And nothing will collapse. QED.

38 comments:

Anonymous said...

Do you know that real Sinkies don't like to work in the construction sector in site work even as PMET, let alone as construction workers?

So what do you expect the smart PAP govt to do? Get foreign talents as construction sector PMETs lah of course, never mind even if they can't even speak or write proper English.

Just like choosing Sinkie govt, it is a matter of choosing the best available. Because don't choose is not an option.

You need construction workers just as you need a govt.

Anonymous said...

Sinkie PMETs can afford to choose what type of work and salary they wanted.

Therefore if they don't like the type of work, or the salary, or both, they will not do it lah.

For some reasons, they can even afford not to work at all.

Anonymous said...

Ya lor, that's why got time to come and kachio RB blog some more.

patriot said...

Wow!
Sounds very very very SERIOUS to me leh.

'COMPROMISED QUALITY OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS'.

DID THEY ALSO COMPROMISE THE QUALITY OF WORKMANSHIPS(CONSTRUCTION) AND HENCE COMPROMISED THE SAFETY OF THE BUILDING(S) AS WELL???

patriot

Anonymous said...

Maybe the engineers are not trained properly or dont bother to check and leave it to the workers to do it. Remember the SMRT disruption where the engineers do not check the "defects" higlighted by the techinicians.

Or maybe the foreigners have "forged" qualification lah...Well, the Aussie developers / contractors need to be fined accordingly and barred from construction / supervision any projects.

We dont want another Nicholl Highway accident.

Anonymous said...

Maybe the engineers are not trained properly or dont bother to check and leave it to the workers to do it. Remember the SMRT disruption where the engineers do not check the "defects" higlighted by the techinicians.

Or maybe the foreigners have "forged" qualification lah...Well, the Aussie developers / contractors need to be fined accordingly and barred from construction / supervision any projects.

We dont want another Nicholl Highway accident.

patriot said...

I do not believe that with our fame regulatory and quality controls, COMPROMISES ARE ABLE TO TAKE PLACE.
And
are compromises also taking place with track, train, bus maintenances and other industries due to shortages of foreign workers as well???

patr

oldhorse42 said...

I agree with RB as I usually do, that bringing in construction workers is not an issue. This is an area of work that really need foreign workers/talents. I also notice that in some Chinese restaurants, some pretty sio mei have also vanished. One chinese restaurantm in WEST MALL in Bukit Batok Central have replaced the chinese waitress with India/Bangladeshi who do not speak Chinese and appear to be better suited to work in the construction sites.

Anonymous said...

False ceiling coming down is small matter. Wait for the whole floors coming down if there were compromises on material on the structures.

Anonymous said...

...have replaced the chinese waitress with India/Bangladeshi...
oldhorse42 12:49 pm

Not surprising if India/Bangladeshi become the best available.

And a restaurant needs waiters and waitresses.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like another excuse to cover the BCA ass.
Why/who do they even approve the building permit in the first place?

Just go the source. CSI out who is the developer and construction company lah. Somebody has to sign off the whole damn building first correct?

Anonymous said...

@ September 21, 2013 11:40 am
/// You need construction workers just as you need a govt. ///

Nonsense.
If population is reduced, then no need so much construction.
So no need so many construction workers.

If we vote in more Opposition MPs, then netizens no need to be watchdog over an incompetent PAP gahmen.
The Opposition MPs will do the job for us.

Anonymous said...

When shortage of foreign workers, quality and SAFETY compromised.
So, if Singaporeans not interested in serving the country, quality of rulers also compromised.
Hence, Singaporeans are not living in promise land but a compromised one.
Lolx.

sgcynic said...

The ballot boxes 'non-lapse' also happened during the time when the govt was supposedly curtailing the import of foreign workers and thus the adherence to procedures is affected.

I wonder why Singapore is facing so many systemic issues: (in)affordable HDB and COE, multiple ponding and corruption where previously there was none,etc. they are build up when we were importing foreign talent y the plane loads. Must be not enough...

b said...

Just like ministers who like to bullshit. Bullshit = talents for certain political party.

b said...

Most likely, after the passing of an old man the city state will return to the original owners. Thus they have to milk as much as possible to flee.

Anonymous said...

Remember Hotel New World?
Which will be next?

Anonymous said...

Will the country collapses due to compromised leadership?

What You think?

Anonymous said...

There seems to be a point missing, all foreign workers on contruction needs to obtain a safety certificate and a profiency certificate before they are allowed to work, that's why employers of these sector is also huming about.

Now comes the part on how they are taught, in a national org which end with the word parks ( cannot be sue, smart me?),
I had attended such a course whereby the lecturers complain about the notes being used as not appplicable to local context,an australian had set the daily course notes, the equipment in used is of poor standards, most was faulty or down right not usesable or is smelly beyond conprehension, you have to have iron stomachs to don their so call safety boots and gear. There was also a lecturer who yell at a participant who was not wearing his cap, and the biggest blow amongst them is a guy from ntuc income bull shitting his entire day about what iso certification is, i drew a blank after hearing the first 10 mins of his shit as he gave out all the wrong answer, he also gave out all the answer to his oral question as well.
These are the example that was learnt, was showed, hearing lies, complains, and fake answer from such so call lectureres, you can formulate what such workers that have attented the course will bring back to their work and shop place.
And they were recently awarded something by the govt.

I think in all aspect for a country to suceed, quality must be a prime concern, getting professional people that is capable, getting the top of the notch machines, implementing standard sop's that all should follow, respect to fellow participant, anin't these the basic core of a company let alone a country to set up, who are those people from spring singapore that grand the $, beside having the acadamics, do they have experience or knowledge to qualify standards....obviously not, unless these front liners have the capabilities......expect more such fall downs from system to buildings.......and you heard from red bean blog first.

Anonymous said...

Are all these type of safety certification just a lot of bullshit?
Who earns the certification fees?
Is it another $2 company?
What is the political party affiliation of the people earning the certification fees from all these foreign workers?

Anonymous said...

Certified on paper? Just like paper generals who have never fight a real war?

Anonymous said...

FT,whether they are qualify or not qualify for the work, for one simple and important fact, they knew , they are being expolited by their employee as cheat labour, they will cover up for what they do not know, they will not deliver good workmenship for what they are capable of. Who to blame, the one who open the flood gate, make many of our PMET loss their job and rice bow.

Anonymous said...

The Rulers may like to read up 老子语录, 第三和第五章 to make themselves better in managing the people and the society.
All they need to do is to google for them at baidu.com.

Anonymous said...

Ha ha ha, anon 11.53pm:

The problem is many aren't even conversant in simple basic Chinese. To ask them to read in ancient Chinese high level profound Philosophy may be asking them to pluck the stars from the sky. IMPOSSIBLE! No?

Anonymous said...

@Anon 21.53pm

Sometimes to listen to the so called Elites speak in Mandarin is an agony and torture to the listeners. NO?

Anonymous said...

*Anon 11.53pm

Anonymous said...

Lee Hsien Loong, Chan Chun Sing, Sim Ann, Lee Bee Wah and some Chinese Educated MPs will have no problem.
The Others can get tutors to interpret for them. Not an issue if they want to be better beings.

Anonymous said...

@ Anon 11.53pm:

Are you referring to the following verses?:

《老子》第三章

不尚贤,使民不争;不贵难得之货,使民不为盗;不见可欲,使民心不乱。

是以圣人之治,虚其心,实其腹,弱其志,强其骨。常使民无知无欲。使夫智者不敢为也。为无为,则无不治。

------------------------------

《老子》第五章

天地不仁,以万物为刍狗;圣人不仁,以百姓为刍狗。

天地之间,其犹橐龠乎?虚而不屈,动而愈出。

多言数穷,不如守中。

Anonymous said...

@ Anon 12.12 am

Ha ha ha!

So embarrassing to be Sinkieporeans sometimes.

The minustars, minustars of pahlimong and leeders of this nation still need tutors?????

Think many need holes to hide liao.

NO?

Real embarrassing to have such minustars, minustars of pahlimong and leeders in such a can't-three!

Ha ha ha

Anonymous said...

《老子》第一章

道可道,非常道。名可名,非常名。

无名天地之始;有名万物之母。

故常无,欲以观其妙;常有,欲以观其徼。

此两者,同出而异名,同谓之玄。玄之又玄,众妙之门。

------------------------------

《老子》第二章

天下皆知美之为美,斯恶已。皆知善之为善,斯不善已。

有无相生,难易相成,长短相形,高下相盈,音声相和,前后相随。恒也。

是以圣人处无为之事,行不言之教;万物作而弗始,生而弗有,为而弗恃,功成而不居。夫唯弗居,是以不去。

Anonymous said...

《老子》第六章

谷神不死,是谓玄牝。玄牝之门,是谓天地根。绵绵若存,用之不勤。

------------------------------

《老子》第七章

天长地久。天地所以能长且久者,以其不自生,故能长生。

是以圣人后其身而身先;外其身而身存。非以其无私邪?故能成其私。

------------------------------

《老子》第九章

持而盈之,不如其已;

揣而锐之,不可长保。

金玉满堂,莫之能守;

富贵而骄,自遗其咎。

功遂身退,天之道也。

------------------------------

《老子》第十章

载营魄抱一,能无离乎?

专气致柔,能如婴儿乎?

涤除玄鉴,能如疵乎?

爱国治民,能无为乎?

天门开阖,能为雌乎?

明白四达,能无知乎?

------------------------------

《老子》第十一章

三十辐,共一毂,当其无,有车之用。

埏埴以为器,当其无,有器之用。

凿户牖以为室,当其无,有室之用。

故有之以为利,无之以为用。

------------------------------

《老子》第十二章

五色令人目盲;五音令人耳聋;五味令人口爽;驰骋畋猎,令人心发狂;难得之货,令人行妨。

是以圣人为腹不为目,故去彼取此。

Anonymous said...

《老子》第十四章

视之不见,名曰夷;听之不闻,名曰希;搏之不得,名曰微。此三者不可致诘,故混而为一。其上不□,其下不昧。绳绳兮不可名,复归于物。是谓无状之状,无物之象,是谓惚恍。迎之不见其首,随之不见其后。

执古之道,以御今之有。能知古始,是谓道纪。

------------------------------

《老子》第十七章

太上,不知有之;其次,亲而誉之;其次,畏之;其次,侮之。信不足焉,有不信焉。

悠兮其贵言。功成事遂,百姓皆谓:「我自然」。

------------------------------

《老子》第二十五章

有物混成,先天地生。寂兮寥兮,独立而不改,周行而不殆,可以为天地母。吾不知其名,强字之曰道,强为之名曰大。大曰逝,逝曰远,远曰反。

故道大,天大,地大,人亦大。域中有四大,而人居其一焉。

人法地,地法天,天法道,道法自然。

------------------------------

《老子》第二十六章

重为轻根,静为躁君。

是以君子终日行不离辎重。虽有荣观,燕处超然。奈何万乘之主,而以身轻天下?

轻则失根,躁则失君。

------------------------------

《老子》第二十七章

善行无辙迹,善言无瑕谪;善数不用筹策;善闭无关楗而不可开,善结无绳约而不可解。

是以圣人常善救人,故无弃人;常善救物,故无弃物。是谓袭明。

故善人者,不善人之师;不善人者,善人之资。不贵其师,不爱其资,虽智大迷,是谓要妙。

------------------------------

《老子》第二十八章

知其雄,守其雌,为天下溪。为天下溪,常德不离,复归于婴儿。

知其白,守其辱,为天下谷。为天下谷,常德乃足,复归于朴。

知其白,守其黑,为天下式。为天下式,常德不忒,复归于无极。

朴散则为器,圣人用之,则为官长,故大智不割。

------------------------------

《老子》第二十九章

将欲取天下而为之,吾见其不得已。天下神器,不可为也,不可执也。为者败之,执者失之。是以圣人无为,故无败;无执,故无失。

夫物或行或随;或嘘或吹;或强或羸;或载或隳。

是以圣人去甚,去奢,去泰。

------------------------------

《老子》第三十章

以道佐人主者,不以兵强天下。其事好远。师之所处,荆棘生焉。大军之后,必有凶年。

善有果而已,不以取强。果而勿矜,果而勿伐,果而勿骄。果而不得已,果而勿强。

物壮则老,是谓不道,不道早已。

------------------------------

《老子》第三十一章

夫兵者,不祥之器,物或恶之,故有道者不处。

君子居则贵左,用兵则贵右。兵者不祥之器,非君子之器,不得已而用之,恬淡为上。胜而不美,而美之者,是乐杀人。夫乐杀人者,则不可得志于天下矣。

吉事尚左,凶事尚右。偏将军居左,上将军居右,言以丧礼处之。杀人之众,以悲哀泣之,战胜以丧礼处之。

------------------------------

《老子》第三十二章

道常无名朴。虽小,天下莫能臣。侯王若能守之,万物将自宾。

天地相合,以降甘露,民莫之令而自均。

始制有名,名亦既有,夫亦将知止,知止可以不殆。

譬道之在天下,犹川谷之于江海。

------------------------------

《老子》第三十三章

知人者智,自知者明。

胜人者有力,自胜者强。

知足者富。

强行者有志。

不失其所者久。

死而不亡者寿。

Anonymous said...

《老子》第三十四章

大道泛兮,其可左右。万物恃之以生而不辞,功成而不有。衣养万物而不为主,可名于小;万物归焉而不为主,可名为大。以其终不自为大,故能成其大。

------------------------------

《老子》第三十五章

执大象,天下往。往而不害,安平泰。

乐与饵,过客止。道之出口,淡乎其无味,视之不足见,听之不足闻,用之不足既。

------------------------------

《老子》第三十六章

将欲歙之,必故张之;将欲弱之,必故强之;将欲废之,必故兴之;将欲取之,必故与之。是谓微明。

柔弱胜刚强。鱼不可脱于渊,国之利器不可以示人。

------------------------------

《老子》第三十七章

道常无为而无不为。侯王若能守之,万物将自化。化而欲作,吾将镇之以无名之朴。镇之以无名之朴,夫将不欲。不欲以静,天下将自正。

------------------------------

《老子》第三十八章

上德不德,是以有德;下德不失德,是以无德。

上德无为而无以为;下德无为而有以为。

上仁为之而无以为;上义为之而有以为。

上礼为之而莫之应,则攘臂而扔之。

故失道而后德,失德而后仁,失仁而后义,失义而后礼。

夫礼者,忠信之薄,而乱之首。

前识者,道之华,而愚之始。是以大丈夫处其厚,不居其薄;处其实,不居其华。故去彼取此。

------------------------------

《老子》第三十九章

昔之得一者:天得一以清;地得一以宁;神得一以灵;谷得一以生;侯得一以为天下正。

其致之也,谓天无以清,将恐裂;地无以宁,将恐废;神无以灵,将恐歇;谷无以盈,将恐竭;万物无以生,将恐灭;侯王无以正,将恐蹶。

故贵以贱为本,高以下为基。是以侯王自称孤、寡、不谷。此非以贱为本邪?非乎?故致誉无誉。是故不欲□□如玉,珞珞如石。

------------------------------

《老子》第四十章

反者道之动;弱者道之用。

天下万物生于有,有生于无。

------------------------------

《老子》第四十一章

上士闻道,勤而行之;中士闻道,若存若亡;下士闻道,大笑之。不笑不足以为道。故建言有之:

明道若昧;

进道若退;

夷道若□;

上德若谷;

广德若不足;

建德若偷;

质真若渝;

大白若辱;

大方无隅;

大器晚成;

大音希声;

大象无形;

道隐无名。

夫唯道,善贷且成。

------------------------------

《老子》第四十二章

道生一,一生二,二生三,三生万物。万物负阴而抱阳,冲气以为和。

人之所恶,唯孤、寡、不谷,而王公以为称。

故物或损之而益,或益之而损。

人之所教,我亦教之。强梁者不得其死,吾将以为教父。

------------------------------

《老子》第四十三章

天下之至柔,驰骋天下之至坚。无有入无间,吾是以知无为之有益。

不言之教,无为之益,天下希及之。

------------------------------

《老子》第四十四章

名与身孰亲?身与货孰多?得与亡孰病?

甚爱必大费;多藏必厚亡。

故知足不辱,知止不殆,可以长久。

------------------------------

《老子》第四十五章

大成若缺,其用不弊。

大盈若冲,其用不穷。

大直若屈,大巧若拙,大辩若讷。

静胜躁,寒胜热。清静为天下正。

------------------------------

《老子》第四十六章

天下有道,却走马以粪。天下无道,戎马生于郊。

祸莫大于不知足;咎莫大于欲得。故知足之足,常足矣。*

------------------------------

《老子》第四十七章

不出户,知天下;不窥牖,见天道。其出弥远,其知弥少。

是以圣人不行而知,不见而明,不为而成。

------------------------------

《老子》第四十八章

为学日益,为道日损。损之又损,以至于无为。

无为而无不为。取天下常以无事,及其有事,不足以取天下。

virgo49 said...

Bro, Hotel New World number 2 and you all poor SAF reservists after completing your full circle incamp training kena kicked into SCDF
to serve another three ir five in amp for civil defence.

Don't play play

Anonymous said...

These morons are missing the boat for the trees!

What we, the Sinkies are against is not the lowly construction workers, the maids, the nurses or any foreign "talent" that takes away employment from citizens.

What we are against are the bringing in of alien PMETs to replace Sinkies at a much lower salary. You see this unbelievable state of affairs where almost the whole banking organization is run by people of one race. Utterly contemptible!

And here, you have this moronic woman who is shooting her mouth at the wrong target. Being an ex Malaysian herself, you can quite understand why she is so quick on the draw. The issue is not construction workers. The issue is quality control after the construction work has been completed. Foreign engineers and supervisory staff employed on the cheap are not going to be that thorough when inspecting especially when they are paid peanuts. Don't let's talk about the credentials to do the job. Lots of them comes in with fake degrees and diplomas and those buffoons at the MOM or the ICA are obviously sleeping on their jobs or giving in to the wet dream orders of their masters who instructs them to "Let them In"!

Anonymous said...

Our top talents will hastily package a study trip abroad to study study from the less talented people of other countries when they are faced with a problem.

This is how talented our top talents are. Learn from the lesser talents. Wait to hear a trip for some top talents to visit some countries to learn how to tackle this kind of collapsing ceiling problems.

Anonymous said...

"Foreign engineers and supervisory staff employed on the cheap are not going to be that thorough when inspecting especially when they are paid peanuts." They exploite the Licence Worker Scheme for the industrial. They shun their responsibility, hide their wrong doings passing their bugs to them. They wash their hand when things happen. That is why nowaday u see so many of these fake personalities in the industry,who is the cupid?

Anonymous said...

It maybe safer to employ foreign Chief Executives on contract basis. End of contract send them home, anything happens now or in future, make them answerable. All the Owners of Companies will always be free from responsibility.