Tan Kin Lian's Blog: The wage gap

Monday, July 02, 2012

The wage gap

Read the views of Minister Chan Chun Seng
http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC120702-0000018/Dissecting-the-wage-issue

12 comments:

yujuan said...: "The salary of the low wage worker now is enough to buy milk power and other basic necessities".

The word "enough", please ah, Minister Chan, stop singing first, explain if the worker's wage is enough, then why need to mobilize NUS undergraduates, spending their Sundays stationing themselves at supermarkets, persuading shoppers to contribute canned milk powder, instant noodles, etc. to poor families.
Fed up with cheap talking. So the wool still comes from the sheep's back, better off Singaporeans still have to open their wallets to help, while Govt just step aside to watch, engaging in "Cheap talk".
Anybody ever saw rich Minister Chan opening up his wallet too?
Dun feel good seeing an almost 90 degree bent woman clearing dirty dishes at a hawker centre, at all places in PM Lee's ward at AMK.
Or seeing an eldery uncle hovering around diners' tables at a coffee shop, waiting to collect empty
cans. Oh boy, here we have a rookie Minister, echoing his masters' tweeting against a minimum wage policy.; July 02, 2012 10:41 AM
Anonymous said...: I believe that whatever the views of Minister Chan, he will most likely still win his seat at the next election.

And whatever the policies of the PAP govt, most likely it will still form the govt after the next election.

What do you think?; July 02, 2012 11:52 AM
See Lai How said...: yeah and they spend 1 billion on some dumb ass garden project which makes the elite pat each other on the back.

I just cannot understand how the average sporean worker can continue to vote for these people.; July 02, 2012 12:08 PM
Anonymous said...: We would not know if ministers have "opened" their wallets, if they choose to remain silent.

If they reveal, we may accuse them: "not enough!"

If they keep quiet, we may accuse them:
"you don't give!"

I feel the Gov must take a very proactive role in providing for the lower income groups.

Create new employment opportunities for these people by alowing them to supervise their own.
If they do not have the skills, train them, pay for their training.

Create a department that oversees these people, create jobs, train, and release them back into the private sector.. they would now have skills that employers would want.

If the private sector declines, then, questions will now focus on what are the skills that was taught?

Revelations; July 02, 2012 1:02 PM
Raymond said...: Dear Mr Tan,
I am very disappointed that our union leaders who claim to be looking out for Singpore workers welfare have not done anything regarding increasing their basic salary of their workers.
They have been shouting about improving productivity, efficiency - "faster, better and cheaper", etc. for the last 10 years or more but NO ONE whispers about the increment of basic salary of the workers until you and some other mentioned a minimium wages is necessry for Singapore workers. Is it funny??
So, my point is as long Union Chiefs are ok, the workers can take care of themselves especially in Basic Salary negotiation!; July 02, 2012 5:39 PM
Anonymous said...: more affordable housing. statistically, that has proven to work.

higher income didn't lead to more babies because of uncertainty of that income.; July 02, 2012 6:07 PM
Anonymous said...: in this day and age, it is necessary to see how one can do the same or more with less. to accept far lower or no economic growth. (the extreme highs and lows in spore's growth figs actually show poor control of the economy.)

it is absurd to keep on perpetually growing population, perpetually upping consumption. this is such last century thinking.; July 02, 2012 7:38 PM
Weng Mao Fa said...: I recieved MOF letter - GST Voucher $90 (U-Save).

My wife received another letter - GST Voucher $90 (U-Save)

My daugther receved her letter - GST Voucher $90 (U-Save)

Three of us are staying in one HDB flat. I thought the household received $90 x 3 Vouchers?!; July 02, 2012 8:55 PM
Anonymous said...: We can all help.

Those of us who frequent hawker centres or food courts should tip the cleaners.

Instead of using packs of tissue paper, tip the cleaners to reserve your table, tip them to clean them too.

If the tips are large enough from regular customers, the cleaners will be able to earn more and the incentive may add value: provision of tissue papers, reading material and even ordering and serving drinks.

I tip the cleaner at kreta ayer food centre.. my table is always available.; July 02, 2012 11:39 PM
C H Yak said...: @"yeah and they spend 1 billion on some dumb ass garden project which makes the elite pat each other on the back."

They spent this 1 billion to get back more billions from Marina land sales...so what is 1 billion? MBT was aiming for 2015 but he was kicked out in 2011...that's why u see him walking behind PM Lee during opening ceremony...if not he would be hiding in his GRC for retirement. All the properties there will appreciate and pay higher property tax soon. LOL.

But to implement Minimum Wage system, Minister Chan said all Singaporeans just need to pay $2 from his pocket money, and all the lowest paid can ahve minimum wages. LOL.; July 03, 2012 5:01 PM
Anonymous said...: Gardens built for tourists.

Its not built with you & I in mind.
Same as RWS and Sands.

You & I get bishan.. and even then you were not supposed to get free wild boars to enjoy. They will remove them. Alas, you will have to pay to see them under the moonlight in night safari.

You & I get to run around the jungles in Brunei and breath the dust in Queensland and India... march into the floating platform representing :

"a rugged society built on equality."; July 04, 2012 11:12 AM
Tan Choon Hong said...: Whenever the minimum wage is proposed, there is a chorus of objections from government and industry on grounds of economic competitiveness. Despite the world’s highest concentration of scholars, there are no concrete figures advanced by the thinkers, for example, how much more a plate lunch, a train ride or a roof over your head will cost. All we get are wishy washy “it will raise inflation, investors will leave in droves and the country will be plunged into chaos.”

I think the vested interests are more concerned about keeping the fruits of others’ labour for themselves than allowing for a more equitable sharing. If the powerless continue to be exploited all in the name of competitiveness, the undercurrent of discontent isn’t going to help maintain the stability so prized by investors.; July 07, 2012 1:59 AM