1/21/2021

"Fair Hiring and Employment Practices - BELIEVE IT OR Not?

 

1984 George Orwell said...

BELIEVE IT OR Not? - Comments to a joint statement on "Fair Hiring and Employment Practices" issued by 29 Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs) under the TAC Alliance.+ on Tuesday, 19 January 2021.


1. This statement was made in the Trade Associations' website and was copyrighted. That means it cannot be republished without permission. That means it is not intended for widespread distribution freely. That means it is meant for only a limited number of people to read, e.g. the Government.

2. Why did they felt the need to gang up together as a large body in a concerted effort to make such a statement? Is it because unity is strength? The larger they are the more people will take their words seriously? Or is it because they ganged up together as a force to challenge the government and the people?

3. Words are cheap. Especially words coming out of business people's mouth and from business people's brains. Actions speak louder than words. They claimed that 99% of them have abide by the fair hiring and employment practices and only 1% of businesses are the culprits who are unfair. Can any person with a little bit of common sense honestly believe that?

4. The fact that many, too many, Singaporean PMETs and graduates have lost their jobs to foreigners cannot and must not be brushed aside, trifled and trampled with. We all not only know but can really feel that many Singaporeans have been unfairly perceived, assessed, treated and sidelined by employers over the last ten years, at least. There is no need to use statistics to prove otherwise.

5. If the employers are truthful and sincere to treat Singaporeans fairly, there is no need to come out and make such a statement. Words will spread by mouths of your employees and people will know automatically.

6. In fact, by coming to join force and make such a statement, it only proves that employers fear a backlash coming and therefore are trying to pre-empt it by making a strong collective statement. Not only that. Such a statement is counter-productive to what the employers are trying to achieve. Because people can see that it is merely a political window-dressing exercise.

Think harder, think deeper.


1984 George Orwell.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Behind closed doors: "SIA SUAY!"

Bad mouthing Sinkies, remember?

Anonymous said...

This cannot be a very true statement as one can still see there r so many Poreans still ploughing as delivery drivers, Grabs or private hire drivers, taxi drivers, security guards, cleaners, and many menial jobs that Poreans r still doing. Let them say what they wan it to be the reality is on the ground as peoples doings heaven watching (人在做 天在看)。

Anonymous said...

Good well-paying jobs for foreigners. NS for Singaporeans.

SSO said...


The Destruction Of Our Nation

Truth is stranger than Fiction.
Fiction of imagination,
If stretched by business corporation,
Becomes absurdly in retrospection.

In the building of the Nation,
There was only one expectation:
A just, equal and fair consideration
For all our beloved citizens.

Today, after years of progression,
Many have different expectation.
So they resort to manipulation
To achieve greater division.

Divide and rule is their equation,
For they seek only damnation
And destruction, not salvation,
For our beloved Nation.


SSO - 21 Jan 2021

Anonymous said...

Why are Singaporeans so upset about FTs coming to this little red dot? Is it because Singaporeans are jealous when they see others earning good salary? If you are as good as these FTs then you too will be able to earn that kind of money. The fact that they are here means these FTs are needed to do the jobs that are beyond the capability of Singaporeans. Let us look at banking. The FTs from India are definitely much more capable that Singaporeans. They are better in the banking sector. Also in technology, the Indian and the PRC FTs are miles better than the Singaporeans. Singapore often boasts that the country has the best education system. But when it comes to thinking out of the box, Singaporeans are miles behind the lean and mean FTs from India, China, Malaysia and most Asean countries. So, please remember that FTs are needed to oil the machinery of Singapore. Without FTs Singapore cannot survive.

Anonymous said...

Hi Virgo, let him or her be, let the Universal Law of Cause and Effect or Karma do unto that fellow, Chinese sayings 人在做 天在看 (people's doings Heaven watching) or 不是不报 是时辰未到 (karma to befall unto thou when the time ripens)..

SSO said...

It is not about "if you are good".

If anyone is still labouring with the argument of "if you are good", then he has missed the point, either deliberately or stupidly.

The issue here is about FAIRNESS in employment. If employers put up obstacles euther in their job advertisements, selecting process, or interviews, no matter how good you are in your area if expertise or profession, you are already at a very serious disadvantage. Most probably, you have already been disregarded. But because the government regulations and the country's laws, you employers have to put up a show by going through the process. Nevertheless, you know and the employers know that you won't be selected, no matter what.

Discriminatory selection and interviews are mainly based on race, language and nationality. Never based on your qualifications for the job.

It boils down to who you know, not what you know.

So, anyone who keep using the "if you are good" argument, to earn his $5 pocket money, or to belittle Singaporeans, is amateurish at best.

SSO said...

STRENGTHENING THE SINGAPOREAN CORE (OF EMPLOYERS) - Part 1

The following was written on Josephine Teo's Facebook page on Tuesday (19 Jan):

"As we kick off 2021, our foremost priority is to keep Singaporeans in jobs and help displaced Singaporeans get back to work.

To achieve this, we are providing stronger support for employers to develop their Singaporean core. Through the Jobs Support Scheme, Jobs Growth Initiative and other programmes, employers of local employees get generous wage and training support.

While the Government has provided a range of support to help employers develop their Singaporean core, employers too must play their part in ensuring that they hire fairly on the basis of merit. This means that when a job is advertised, the best candidate should be considered. Attributes which are not relevant to the job such as nationality, gender, age, race, and disability should not be considerations. Jobs should also not be kept to a “closed circle of friends”. Ultimately, employers should keep to the spirit, not just the letter, of the Fair Consideration Framework and the Tripartite Guidelines for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices.

I am heartened that the Singapore Business Federation and the Trade Associations and Chambers Alliance have come together to pledge their support for fair hiring and progressive employment practices

(see statement here -> https://www.sbf.org.sg/…/786-joint-statement-on-fair-hiring…).

This represents the business community’s commitment in preventing workplace discrimination and adopting progressive human resource practices, so as to develop a strong Singaporean core. These progressive employment practices also makes business sense. When businesses hire fairly and based on merit, they will have access to the widest pool of candidates that can help them succeed. It will motivate their employees to give of their best, knowing that the company practices fair employment. Fair employment is not just right, it is win-win too. - Jo Teo."


============================


1. Hooray! Employers "Teo Bey Pio" (strike lottery) again! All employers need to do is to either throw their weight around or throw tantrums, then the Mother of Labour will throw good money (from taxpayers) to the bad apples. What a brilliant solution! Yah, of course, win-win too!

Continues in Part 2.

SSO said...

STRENGTHENING THE SINGAPOREAN CORE (OF EMPLOYERS) - Part 2


1. Hooray! Employers "Teo Bey Pio" (strike lottery) again! All employers need to do is to either throw their weight around or throw tantrums, then the Mother of Labour will throw good money (from taxpayers) to the bad apples. What a brilliant solution! Yah, of course, win-win too!

2. It has dawned on me since once upon a time, long long ago, four or five MOM leadership changes ago, that since the ministry changed its name from the Ministry for Labour (MFL) to Ministry of Manpower (MOM), it became a softie in the face of employers. Why?

3. Is it because it actually has no Man and no Power? If so, who is the Man and the real Power behind it?

4. Or, is it because it is reluctant to behave like a man and afraid to exercise its power? If so, why?

5. I strongly believe it has something to do with the Tripartite concept. The Tripartite is supposed to be the three parties of Government, Trade Unions and Employers come together for the interests of the Employees, the Labour Force (actually the strongest force in any country, except Singapore). Why except Singapore?

6. In Singapore, if you care to examine deeply, you will realise that the Tripartite actually represents the Three Huge Groups of Employers coming together to join as a single "Unified Front" to safeguard the Interests of ALL EMPLOYERS against the interests of ALL EMPLOYEES. That means the employees have no real representation, no real protection, and no real clout, i.e. powerless and leaderless.

7. The Three Huge Groups of Employers are:

A. The Largest Group of Employers is the Government with the Civil Service, he Government Investment Corporation, he Government-Linked Companies, the Temasek Holdings and all its subsidiary holdings companies, like DBS, POSB, Singapore Technology, Changi Airport Group, and SIA. It has in effect growb to become like a Huge Banyan Tree with a huge canopy of leaves blocking off all the sunlight from above and sucking up all the nutrients from below. Under such circumstances, only creepers and parasites can grow.

B. The National Trade Union Congress, which has, over the decades, evolved from numerous actual labour-caring unions into a pseudo make-belief uncaring unrecognisable monster which mutated into a Super Giant Octopus with its tenacious tentacles of businesses stretching to every loop and into every corner of the island. It is now the second Largest Group of Employers. Unionism has become just a pass-time hobby and a springboard platform for certain people to navigate and transform themselves into Ministers and Presidents.

C. The third Largest Group of Employers in Singapore is represented by the Singapore Business Federation and the Trade Associations and Chambers Alliance. This group has the least power among the three. However, it has the most leverage because the other two groups dare not openly claim themselves to represent the interests of Employers. They have to act like the Government and the Trade Unions at least in front of all the watching eyes of the workers/employees. Therefore, whatever this group proposes, the other two groups will wholeheartedly support in silence, while the workers and employees suffer in silence (because nobody is willing to speak up on their behalf).

8. So, whatever MOM or MTI says, its all about strengthening the Singapore CORE OF EMPLOYERS. Don't be a fool to interpret that it is about strengthening the Singapore Core of Employees. Because the employees are inconsequential, easily replaceable and powerless. They are totally at the mercy of the Tripartite of Employers.

Wake up!


SSO - 22 January 2021




Anonymous said...

What has happened to Uncle RB today, again? Sick or what? But if sick, he would inform us mah.

How come no sign of him at all? Suddenly got kidnapped by the Biden and Kamala thugs or what?

Or, China government invited him for High Tea?

Or, ...... my imagination is going wild. Better stop here.

Anonymous said...

He went out with your mummy lah.

Anonymous said...

Earlier this month (4 Jan), Opposition MP Gerald Giam asked the government what specific conditions are imposed on foreign companies to develop a Singaporean core in their companies, since they have received tax incentives for their investment here.

MP Gerald Giam from Aljunied GRC also asked if the government tracks the growth of the Singaporean core of such companies over time.

Chan Chun Sing, the Trade and Industry Minister Chan side-stepped, as habitual, and did not address Mr Giam’s questions directly.

After saying a lot of things, yet actually say nothing of significance, he still did not reply to MP Giam's queries.

If this is the kind of half-baked Ministers we are having, why need to pay them by the $millions? Just 10% of the pay is more than sufficient to hire such sub standard Ministers, who

1. Called Singaporeans Xia Shuay (disgraceful) behind closed doors.

2. Said cotton comes from wool.

3. Made a fool of himself by addressing the Speaker of the House as Madam President, not once but twice, in front of the camera in the Parliament.

4. Many other crude and laughable gaffe he has made being a Minister.

Anonymous said...

The Tripartite in Singapore should be known as the Gang Of Three Cyclops with only one eye. This is more appropriate. Cyclops are giants that eat human beings and drink human blood. Their single eye can only see others at a near distance. It is unable to see far ahead. Their hunger for human meat and thirst for human blood can never be satisfied. The more they eat human flesh, the more they yearn for human flesh. The more they drink human blood, the more they want human blood. This is a vicious cycle.