Latest: Mr Fernandez has just found a part-time job in Jurong – congrats! We wish him the best in everything – Gilbert.
To
The Honorable Prime Minister of Singapore
Mr. Lee Hsien Loong
Dear Sir,
I appeal to your kind office to assist me. My Name is Robertson Fernandez, 60 years old, married and with two children.
I am unemployed since 3/1/2012. I have sent almost 75 applications for a job suited to my current skill.
I am a Safety Coordinator, MOM Accredited trainer since 2006 whilst employed as a contractor with Shell ( P. Bukom).
My testimonials attached does put me in a positive light and that I carried out my duties to the best of my ability. I also have about 13 years of experience in workplace safety.
Recently when I was called for a number of job interviews, I was told that the preferred age must not be more than 55 years old..
I am requesting that, since the government has raised the age of retirement, LTA and MOM should consider giving me an opportunity to work even though I am 60 years old as I am still fit and healthy.
I am sure with my experience and passion for safety I will be able to contribute to making Singapore a safer workplace.
Sir, I have requested to be given an audience wih your good self but was not granted. I request once again to have an audience with you at the Meet The People session.
I am living in Ang Mo Kio in a rental HDB 2+1 room. The reason for the personal meeting is that I believe you will see, hear and understand what my plight is and how urgently I need help.
I have approached HDB HQ, for rental flat but was told that my salary did not meet the criteria. I explained to the officer my problems but it is the rules he pointed out.
This period of unemployment will definitely affect my payment of the rent. I have written to National Development Board, MCYS, Bishan HDB Office and other departments of my predicament and how badly I need it.
My last drawn salary was, after CPF deduction, $2795 (approx) and the rental is $2,100. After paying that, I don’t have much of a saving left.
HDB and Bishan Office Ms.Chua has helped me much and we are waiting for the rental flat. Eventually, we hope to purchase a 2+1 room unit for the family.
Sir, my wife is a PR for the past 8 years and working at NTUC ( Cheers) and earning about $900 per month. With the daily household expenditure, transportation and pocket money for the children, whatever left is very minimal.
Other AMK MPs have fortunately helped to get me some fund through the COM CARE aid.
Please don’t misunderstand me that the relevant authorities did not assist. Most did, it is the situation that I am in right now - having to worry for my next rental payment of $2,100, the school expenditure, transportation. water and electricity bills – that perplexed me.
This is very stressful as my family will be left without a home soon if our money dries up and we can’t pay the rental.
I am not placing preferences in what I want - I hope that the relevant authorities can match me a job in Workplace Safety that I have experience in and much to offer.
I will repay what ever amount is loaned on instalment basis once I am employed.
I hope your good office and all the authorities will assist me.
Thanking You
Yours Sincerely
Robertson Fernandez
Editor’s Note: We have assigned Mr Fernandez a volunteer career coach and look into providing a small financial aid to him without any repayment.
Hi Gilbert,
You may advise him to apply to my school.
School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Safety Officer (Infrastructure & Facilities)
I think there are much more urgent cases than this one. this guy was only unemployed for barely 2 weeks and he already written to the PM. Resources to help the unemployed should be prioritise accordign to urgency. Besides his wife is still working.
Agencies and self help organisation really need to classify the urgent ones from the impatient ones.
His situation merits help probably, but I think the letter did not reach to the PM. It might have been filtered to his secretaries. I should know coz the same thing happened to me.
@ Continental:
I don’t think he is being impatient. If you know that your water & electricity is going to be cut off soon due to unpaid bills, how are you going to wait? How can you survive without drinking water & food when the pocket is empty & you have to give the children the minimal water & food to survive? How can someone endure thirst & hunger for more than a day? Maybe we can survive the hot weather without showering for 1 day, but how to survive without water for 1 day? Maybe he has no trusted relative/ friend to turn to for short term financial help just in case he cannot repaid them given his plight.
I think the main problem here is the high rent which eats into his savings. It is never a good move to rent a flat unless you really cannot afford one. I have a few suggestions to Robertson:
1) Downgrade to 2-room rental flat to cut costs.
2) If he has a driving licence, he can be a taxi driver. Or he can apply to be a security guard. I know it is a waste of his talents, but when survival is of paramount concern, we have to accept a job with a lower salary.
3) Seek MP’s help no matter how much you may dislike him/her. From Get Rea!, I knew about the ComCare fund which you can apply up to 3 times in your lifetime, but it can only disbursed max S$300 each time. Maybe you can also apply for educational financial aid for your children.
4) Maybe his wife can upgrade her skills and get promoted to get a higher salary. She can ask her employer for funding for her courses or even get paid while attending courses.
5) Call MCYS hotline and they will direct you to the right authorities for help. I forgot the number, but you can ask around, start with 1800-###.
6) Maybe he can take out a small amount of CPF $$ to tide over the short term of unemployment.
7) When he has found a job and settled his debts, he can try to invest some $$. This part I cannot help becos I am no expert. But I believe you have to start saving bit by bit for rainy days.
8) Pray to God.
9) Get free meals from temples. But I don’t know where they are. Or else I could have save a lot of $$ for food.
10) Try not to eat outside often due to the high prices. It is cheaper to cook simple meals at home.
11) Take public transport or walk for short distances.
Singapore needs to eradicate age discrimation like it was denque! Even though its officially banned, employers systematically discriminate against people above 40s. And as a society we turn a blind eye to this – we accept it when HR people say so and so is too old…its a shame.