Tan Kin Lian's Blog: Views of an unemployed, mature worker

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Views of an unemployed, mature worker

Dear Mr. Tan,
I want to thank you for speaking out for the unemployed people, especially those who are in their middle aged and are unfortunate to be retrenched. I am one of these people. I worked for more than 10 years in a foreign company who decided two years ago, to relocate to China.

It was a big shock to me. I had all along thought that I had a steady job with a large company. But, life is so unpredictable now.

At first, I thought that it would be not difficult for me to find a similar job. After all, I worked hard and had kept up to date with technology. I also had accumulated a wealth of experience that could be applied to other manufacturing companies.

This was not the case. I had difficulty in finding another job, even though I was prepared to take a 50% reduction in salary. Somehow, things do not work out. The human resource managers probably felt that I would not stay long with a big reduction in salary. I never got the chance.

Fortunately, I had some savings, so I am not in debt. But I had to cut down on my expenses drastically, including giving up my car. But, the rejection of my countless applications for a job was difficult to take at first. By now, I got used to being rejected and declined.

It is quite unkind of people to pass remarks that the unemployed are unskilled and not hardworking. This may be true for some people, but it is not true for many others, such as me. When I was younger and during good times, I always had the confidence that I could always have a job, with my skill and education. But not any more.

For people posting unkind remarks, I can only say, "your time will come". Only then will you realise why people like Mr. Tan is asking for employment practices to be changed and for the available work to be shared fairly among the willing workers. There is no point in having people with jobs working long hours, neglecting their families, while other people are unemployed.

Mr. Tan, thank you for suggesting this idea of sharing job opportunities. I hope that the leaders will pay attention to it. It is a good idea.

11 comments:

grove said...: Dear Mature Worker
Indeed, employment is no longer a guarantee. I am 53 yrs old.
I decided to leave my company after 30 yrs.
Why? My work was not appreciated. The people who chose and promoted me through the years either retired, resigned or passed on. Younger ones are now in charge. Their priorities are very different, and focused only on ROI and KPIs.
Well, before I was shown the door, I got up and left.
I am now self employed doing part time training.
Perhaps with your years of experience, you too can share.

Anyone above 45 will feel very insecure.. my opinion is: search within your heart and find your passion, and pursue it. The money will come.. perhaps not in buckets but it will come.

Foremost of all: give up the car.
it will drag you down and make you ever more depressed.
Give up the car.; October 13, 2009 9:54 PM
wjsim said...: I know this post is directed at the free-market advocates. I sincerely apologise if I have offended anyone with my harsh words. Sorry.

However, my opinion on the work hour limit still stands. It is bad economics. People have gone down this path and regretted. France is an example.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2004/jul/21/20040721-092951-1118r/

and http://mises.org/story/1594

Throughout history, superficial intervention on the economy has always contributed negative results. While those countries are progressing (since 2004 to add), I sincerely hope that we, as a hub-of-everything in Asia do not mess ourselves up by repeating history. I doubt the leaders will pay much attention to this if they know what's good for them and the greater society.

If there is anything the central government can do is to encourage employers to cut wages and force wages to go down nationally. Let the workers then decide if this new low wage is still worth working overtime and "neglecting family" etc. The employers will then be left with a larger profit margin to either expand business or spend for personal consumption or save. In all cases, even more employment will be generated. Cutting taxes have similar effects. In any case, I admit I'm as shortsighted as everyone and that I may not be able to see all repercussions of this superficial limit on wages. Replacing the invisible hand of the market with that of the government is seldom a good idea.

Come to think of it, the idea is the same. People already employed just have to accept lower wages. Just that the freedom to choose is there. Who knows? The worker with lower wages now may even work longer hours to cover the shortfall, causing even more "neglect to family" etc...

Again, this is political suicide and I doubt leaders will even risk this move.

We should tap on the wisdom of those who had learnt from their mistakes. I shall quote from the passage what I think is the most important lesson.

Alain Madelin, a former minister of industry, said, "The 35-hour week represents a costly economic mistake for which we have not stopped paying. ... It is an attack on the freedom to work. What right does the state have to prevent someone who wants to work more and earn more from doing just that?"; October 14, 2009 12:25 AM
Anonymous said...: The Jobs Credit Scheme was introduced to cut down on retrenchments but doesn't help. Maybe these $ could be transfer to help people who are unemployed instead?; October 14, 2009 3:03 PM
Anonymous said...: The real problem is not your lack of skills, knowledge, humility or good attitude.

The problem is your age. Or rather the prejudice that employers have against older employees. It's called ageism in the west.

That's why I have problems listening patiently to people (let's not point fingers at you know who) telling us that housing is affordable using the global benchmark of a 30 year housing loan.

I don't know of any employer willing to guarantee you a job for 10 years, let alone 30 years.

But then again, as long as a leader refuses to acknowledge a problem, then the leader is under no pressure to look for a solution.

And so the wayang continues until finally one day ... the chickens come home to roost permanently.

Or if the leader is lucky, he retires first, before the chickens come home.; October 14, 2009 5:03 PM
Anonymous said...: that's why i advocate in my other article not to take excessive loans and stretch to the limit to buy property. i prefer to sit at the side to watch ppl play the game but is invested in some reits (which is a better form of property investment in terms of yield, liquidity and ease of selling - just 1 button, it goes from my cdp). i'm debt free and happy...; October 14, 2009 7:21 PM
Anonymous said...: What is the best age to leave your company and work for yourself? I an 45 now and have amassed a reasonable sum of money over the past 20+ years of working. I may seriously retire at 55 and see the world :); October 14, 2009 11:24 PM
Anonymous said...: To Annonymous at 11.24pm

The best age to retire ?

I've often wondered myself. It's probably best to retire when you are still healthy and able to walk.

If you want to wait 10 years before retiring at 55 to see the world, you are assuming that you will remain healthy and alive until then.

There are no correct answers since none of us can see into the future.

But one thing I do know for sure.

God did not put you into this world to work till you drop for ungrateful employers who will abandon you when you get pregnant, sick or injured. Or whenever the economy is not doing well. But expect loyalty from you when the economy is booming.; October 15, 2009 7:47 AM
Anonymous said...: In Singapore, I guess only the PAP or senior Civil servants can see themselves going through long term employment and wealth. That's why they assume everyone can afford to take 30 years housing loan..
Moreover they anf the MPs also have pension after working for 2 terms? They can really retire early..; October 15, 2009 10:50 AM
Abandon the car said...: Never retire. You may choose to work less but never ever retire! The goal is to be debt free by age 45 or 55..
beyond that, choose a job that you enjoy and be happy with.
Look at the living fossil that we have. He is way past 80 and yet continues to work ( ahem.. what work? i do not really know.)
I agree with an earlier post:
abandon the car.. if only 30% of us would do likewise... just abandon the car.; October 15, 2009 1:49 PM
Anonymous said...: Abandon the car? Gasp! Travel everywhere by bus or mrt? *pengsan*; October 15, 2009 8:06 PM
Anonymous said...: I have a 5 years old car with 2 more years of installatments. I am middle age ex-mgr in a SME and not working for last 2.5 years. Age is the problem why employers refuse to take us in. Already given up hope in applying for a job. With so many foreigners, time will only tells when they will given voting right so that the cabinet can continue their millions dollars salary. Imagine $3.5 million for Sgp president as compared to US$250,000 for US president. One smile and cut ribbon while the other work his butt off and still graciously donated US$1.4 million to charity.

Thought about giving up car, but having to pay for school buses or having children carrying heavy school bags, travelling time to and from school in a public bus puts me off. Anyway, if I keep my car for another 15 years, it will stretch the car cost by half.

Please do not complaint to the regulators or Govt as it is a total waste of time and breath. If I draw millions a year, the problem of those heartlanders who lost money in notes is PEANUT as I can recoup my lost by just working for a month. If a cabinet minister can lose her seat because of washing hand after shaking the fishmonger's hand, hope this election will reflect the heartlanders' anger of regulator's IN ACTION. If nothing change, then this is the WILL of the people. Then I say, good luck to the middle age people in Sgp. Your life will just be like mine or worst. Wonder what are those backbenchers really doing? Raise questions about Beauty Peagent and cost of HDB? Guys, a big bulk of middle age Singaporeans are not working while low paying jobs were taken by foreigners. It hurts more when high end jobs are given to young and educated foreigner known as foreign talent because they are cheaper & young and at the same time, pledge loyalty to their birth land. One wonders whether being a Singaporean is a previlage or a burden....; October 17, 2009 9:01 AM