MOM bars marine firm from hiring foreigners

[thor666]

Ultimately, if Sg remains a high cost country,, as much as the government cannot control illegal practices effectively, Sg also needs to evolve the state of the industries we are in.

Should mom protect or punish prime gold? I prefer the latter. Let the company move to another country. If our maritime sector needs to be reduced due to globalization, then let it be so. Bring it higher value chain companies that can survive. Build better policies to protect Singaporeans who are genuinely hard and clever workers. I am for protecting sectors - but only to a limited extent. In this case, if a company effectively needs to hire all foreign workers to survive as a company, they shouldn't be in Sg at all. It speaks a lot about ineffective internal management.

Cory and big toe, very good advice given here. I myself am learning to delegate more to my colleagues effectively, it is something everyone needs to learn to move up in career and grow new talents for the company. Hunger/passion matters in thriving in an increasingly complicated world.


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[Porkbelly]

Very good points raised by all buddies here.

Yes, there are some professions that will require MBAs, PHDs and not from unknown universities.. and those from Harvard, Standford, Princeton will be in demand.

But anecdotal stories relate how employers prefer people with 'experience". Where did these graduates from Harvard, Standford, get their experience?

Yes, there are industries that will seek out cheaper labour costs.

But why set up here, in Singapore? why not in Vietnam, Phillipines,India, Indonesia? where cost of labour could be cheaper?

What is so attractive here in Singapore that busineses would set up shop and then go out to look for labour that is "cheaper", "more skilled", and "more qualified"?

What is our Universities producing?
What are the polytechnics producing?
What skills are our industries developing for our workers?
How can Singaporeans acquire experience when they cant even get past the door?

What have we been doing for the last 20 or 15 years that improved our GDP but not our local labour?

It is a perplexing situation.

[brattzz]

Let's think how to compete on the globalised front, what is singapore's SWOT and her citizens's SWOT?
I have to think we are the "price-takers" in this global stage... not "price-makers".

We need to set the direction for the next century 2115, or take the easy road, re-merge with malaysia again,

[investor101]

Let's think how to compete on the globalised front, what is singapore's SWOT and her citizens's SWOT?
I have to think we are the "price-takers" in this global stage... not "price-makers".

We need to set the direction for the next century 2115, or take the easy road, re-merge with malaysia again,

If you think you are price taker, then your only way forward is to keep cutting your salary. There will be no end to this path, because no matter how much you offer to cut, your boss would be dissatisfied before long, and wonder if he can still hire someone else even cheaper.

Try doing that in places in Germany or Japan. Demand that the locals accept a massive pay cut, or else they all will be laid off and replaced by foreigners before their very eyes in their own country.

If Singapore feels it is permanently a price taker, then it means we don't have anything worth attracting the foreigners in the first place. They might as well shift to Somalia. The cost of labour there is definitely much cheaper than anywhere in south east asia.

[pianist]

likewise can ministerial pay also adopt a price-taker mode?

[Big Toe]

Having seen how bigwigs make decisions, I can shed a bit of light of the total cost concept.
Why some companies continue to set up operations and some choose to move out.

Before any major corporation set up a company here they usually do a very very detailed analysis of cost of set-up/running cost, among other considerations. They may also have a set of prerequisite even before considering a certain country. The bigger/higher value add companies usually do a much more extensive study compared to smaller/lower skilled ones. The country with the lowest total cost usually wins. Note that it is lowest total cost not lowest cost. Some developing countries are automatically excluded due to political uncertainty, corruption, lack of skilled work force, language, infrastructure, etc

The process is much like choosing a car. Singapore is like a car showroom trying to target affluent car buyers.
It does not solely compete on cost but cost is an important factor to consider even for the affluent car buyer.
And that is why very high property prices is a negative, it makes operations here unattractive for ALL industries. Besides the premises where the company operates, it needs to pay housing for the core employees that are stationed here and these monies are a liability. Corporate tax rate is another important factor these companies consider.

[Behappyalways]

Forum Letters
http://www.straitstimes.com/archive/thur...firms-2015

[CityFarmer]

Let's think how to compete on the globalised front, what is singapore's SWOT and her citizens's SWOT?
I have to think we are the "price-takers" in this global stage... not "price-makers".

We need to set the direction for the next century 2115, or take the easy road, re-merge with malaysia again,

If you think you are price taker, then your only way forward is to keep cutting your salary. There will be no end to this path, because no matter how much you offer to cut, your boss would be dissatisfied before long, and wonder if he can still hire someone else even cheaper.

Try doing that in places in Germany or Japan. Demand that the locals accept a massive pay cut, or else they all will be laid off and replaced by foreigners before their very eyes in their own country.

If Singapore feels it is permanently a price taker, then it means we don't have anything worth attracting the foreigners in the first place. They might as well shift to Somalia. The cost of labour there is definitely much cheaper than anywhere in south east asia.

The key point should be productivity vs salary.

I had cases that European engineers were cut, and replaced by foreign engineers. It was done by closed-up the R&D in Europe, and relocated the jobs to Asia. Why? The foreign engineers can do them, at 1/5 of the salary, with similar qualities. One of them was willing to transfer to Singapore in local term.

With the advances of technology, you might not aware the mobility of the jobs nowadays.

[Behappyalways]

No reply from MOM in the forum after 1 month.

Too busy? Don't bother? Or cannot explain?

Forum Letters
http://www.straitstimes.com/archive/thur...firms-2015

[investor101]

No reply from MOM in the forum after 1 month.

Too busy? Don't bother? Or cannot explain?

Forum Letters
http://www.straitstimes.com/archive/thur...firms-2015

Most people are now talking about the recent Thaipusam incident. The government came out fast to explain, as this could potentially lead to loss of votes in the coming elections.

Most singaporeans have forgotten about this Marine company incident and have accepted that foreigners firing locals and replacing them with their kind as part of the singapore working landscape.

I always tell people that if they are not happy with key government policies, they should vote for opposition. If they are very unhappy but continue to vote for government, then eventually, nobody, including the government they voted for, will ever take them seriously. I have since stopped listening to such people whine too. They deserve their fate!