We continue our online survey for local PMETs who are currently jobless and looking for work. I must say that it’s an employer’s market out there right now as companies are flushed with manpower from all over SE Asia. They are indeed faster, fitter and cheaper. How can local PMETS compete with such massive competition? Read how one recently-jobless PMET cope with his unemployment situation.
Transitioning (T): First of all, thanks Jack for allowing us to interview you online and can you provide us with some background information on yourself?
Jack (J): I am 41 years of age. Obtained a diploma in business (polytechnic) and a bachelor degree (SIM – UOL program).
Working since graduation in 1996. My classmate who’s still with MOM lamented the economy(jobs) has never been too kind to our cohort.
1998 Asian financial crisis, 2000 dotcom crisis, 2011 Sep-11, 2003 SARS, 2008 Lehman crisis, 2010 Euro crisis, in his words, “you can be sure it’s not the end”.
People of my generation are lucky to just have a job. A volatile market economy does us no favours.
T: What was your last occupation and you have told me that you were unemployed for 3 months, can you tell us more about this and also your job search experience?
J: Most of the companies I worked for are Distribution Centers. Singapore’s hub status means it’s easy to bring stuff in and out.
MNCs value a strong regulatory framework and an efficient infrastructure.
I wasn’t unemployed for so long. But it’s very hard to get a job once you lose the old one.
The most recent case being I have been sending CVs since 1 Apr. Already 3 months.
Do get calls from job agents. But interviews are scarce. First interview with Jap MNC didn’t work out.
Second interview with agency didn’t get me the interview by their European MNC.
Third interview was with a semi-Government entity. 1 month ago they didn’t shortlist me.
Then they decided to see me. Two dept heads are hiring one person to assist them both. Cautioned about red-tape and irregular hours.
However, the indicative salary is a big knock-down and my fate is yet undecided. Pre-empted about burnt weekends and some weekday nights.
My sense is that a SGD 2 bil turnover entity could afford to be more humane. But who am I kidding. This is a country where any talk of welfare (health, family, mental well-being) is brushed off as being soft and unproductive and unsustainable and..you fill in the blanks.
T: You have told me that you are currently jobless for more than three months, what did you do in order to survive? Did you also approach the CDC for assistance?
J: The government always remind us to be responsible for ourselves regardless of circumstances.
They own 60% of the resources (land) but when it comes to welfare, it’s “many helping hands”.
Picture this. A huge table (welfare needs). All and sundry are asked to help lift it. Smart but callous attitude.
T: Did you attend any interviews during the past 3 months and why do you think you are unsuccessful so far?
J: The economy is not as good as it’s made out to be. SMEs always stay lean to live. MNCs always find ways to stay lean.
T: Tell us abit more about what you have learnt from your jobless experience and how it has impacted your family.
J: I have learnt that Singapore is hard to call home. In time to come, GST 14%, our jobs are going faster, ageing issue…
T: What do you think you could have done to shorten the unemployment period?
J: A de facto guide would be 6 months is the period it takes to land a new job.
T: Do you think that Singapore is now a more difficult place to make a living?
J: Not if you’re what PAP is going for. Talents to make the PM’s dream of a global city a reality.
So all the Indians and Chinese who possess the special knowledge will make it.
Going by the attitude of PRC scholars, they “feel the locals aren’t their equals in intellect”.
Last week, I had the honour of witnessing the new-found confidence of new Indian PRs.
A middle-class Indian PR with 3 young kids was at a mall. I was behind him in a queue.
Reading a brochure, I was rudely awakened by someone bellowing, “WHERE IS SCIENCE CTR?” (twice or thrice).
Looked up and his eyes bore down at me. I meekly gestured and responded,”over there, turn right, etc”
He hollered,”WHERE?”. I said,”It’s hot and with kids, better you take a cab. Need to walk about 600m”.
After getting his reward, he turned and didn’t bother to thank nor acknowledge the citizen. Hullo..?
Reason for such condescending attitude. They have seen how the PAP tramples on citizens and gets away with it.
T: What do you think the government can do to alleviate the current employment situation?
J: I am not paid millions to figure that out. Go ask the PAP.
They masterly engineered this fix or feat.
T: Many people have blame foreigners for competing jobs with us, what is your view on this?
J: In a way it happens. But what manner of citizens are we? We have no rights on political assembly, unions are officially neutered, and our graduates’ pay are depressed for 15 years.
We are paid whatever the employers deem equitable. Private companies benchmark the Civil service.
My salary as a polytechnic grad in 1995 was $1,600.
My salary as a SIM graduate in 1996 was $2,500.
Guess what? It still is today!
T: Lastly, what’s your advice for those who are still jobless and feeling down
J: It’s all in the papers. Go figure. “Bedok reservoir”,etc.
Sorry for being morbid. Try emigration…
End of interview and thank you.
I suggest you come to UK to do your Master degree
Or go to Germany to do your MBA (cheap uni fees and
Possibly conducted in English for MBA)
You can bring your spouse and children with you.
Your wife can work here and free education for
Your below age 18.
Is a stepping stone to migration.
So dont just talk , do it !
If you want to discuss your options, skype me at:
Swechua
I am in UK now.
We fellow sg must network to survive.
Hi Swechua,
I am responding to your invitation for a conversation.
Tried to msg you on Skype, but, apparently you’re offline.
Do let me know when is a good time to chat/msg on Skype.
I was the 41-year-old interviewee on Transitioning.org.
Currently I’m seriously considering emigration.
Thanks.
Jack
Before 1990, you cannot imagine to become
A professional such as an accountant or lawyer
Or an engineer , etc unless you have recognised
Qualifications that allow you to be registered
With the respective professiOnal boards, now
Any bloody degree from india, china, phillipines
Can made those foreigners an accountant,
An engineer and maybe even a temporary registered
Doctor.
How did UK, USA , Australia , NZ held by
Sg citizens lose out to the Asian degrees.
So obviously your GCE O and A levels are
Not as recognized as those who took their
Equivalent exam in those countries.
I hear foreigners can enter local Universities
Without even passing O level English Language.
In Philippines, they enter Universities at the age
Of even 16 and China chinese are swarming
UK and USA postgraduate courses with their
Chinese degrees , just by passing TEFL
Even though they can hardly speak English.
They are even getting scholarships to do PhD
In local universities.
I read on some of the postings here, they can even
Plagiarise or local reseachers are force to help
Them publish their articles, etc, etc
How is this happening?
China had the mOney! The oveseas universities
Want their money,
If you go overseas or send our children overseas,
Overseas universities dont give a shit to you.
They rather help chinese students and let them
Do PhD so that their own people can help bring
In more chinese students and therefore more money!
I do not know what is the agenda in Sg universities,
Of giving more of everything to them.
So all Sg regardless of race, well this is
Your Sg world, fair or not ,
So would you like to be a second class citizen
In your own country or prefer being a second class
Citizen in another country. At least, you will
Get the same benefits as your adopted country
By the their govt as all other countries protect their
Citizens from foreigners.
Oh, is the Sg companies employing foreigners,
Not the govt,
First, the foreigners in charge bring in their own
People, then they get PR , etc
I remember even as long as 12 years ago, a
Malaysian with sg PR works for the Ministry
Of Finance and tell me that all sort of shit !
How did PR work as civil servants to
Provide services to sg citizens insult us.
If malaysians can do this to us 15 years ago,
What is happening to the new wave of foreigners
5 to 10 years ago.
Oh , you are waiting for year 2016 election,
There will be no change ! Is too late
Sure you can survive till 2016 ?
Is about your children’s future, not you.
I agree, some foreigners got no manners. When they ask me stuff, I Just say don’t know.
When I was attending a NTC3 course at SDC(e2i)1999/2000 with other jobless S’poreans. We commented on the problems of too many PRs & foreigners in S’pore & the salary for blue collar workers or non-PME is too low. The CDC, CDAC & SDC officers are unhappy with our comments & started criticised us & also sing the praises of PAP.
Only after losing one GRC to the WP, then the PAP, MOM, WDA, E2i realise the problems & agree to do something about it. But so what have they done so far?
When i was working as security guard sup in st regis residence, the indian or pakistanis foreigners drove in luxury cars will shout at us “WHERE IS THE CARPARK?” & drove off after we gave them the direction. Once, one for them even parked a big black rolls royce along the drive way & went up for the party held in one of the apartment. Other cars can’t squeeze thru to come out of the drive way as it is a big car.
Please lah, don’t bring your caste system into S’pore, foreigners.
I was born as a British subject as I was born before
1959, before Singapore gained self government
Rule.
However, I had to be a Singapore citizen by default
When Singapore became independent.
Nowadays, I believe many Sg do not feel they
Are citizens in their hearts.
The govt can force male Sg citizens to do national service
And interfere with their livelihood for another 13 years
Or so, but only daft Sg will feel allegiance in
Their hearts.
Yes, there are many daft Sg or they have no choice
To be anywhere else to survive even though they
Can be unemployed.
I really have no sympathy for my peers who were
Arrogant to me during those years. How many
Of them are rich and are successful employers.
Yes, Singaporeans are not cohesive as one people,
Is my opiniOn from my personal experience.
For those sucessful employers, many have decided to
Employers foreigners, so they basically do not
Give a shit to their fellow Sg if they live or die !
Hahaha
It is really ludicrous to imagine that foreigners, sg pr
think that they have built the fundamental pillars of
Sucesss of Singapore. The fundanental construct of
success of Singapore was developed from 1950 to 1980.
Those were the difficult years. Is not about the physical
Construction and manpower and foreign labour.
It is the construct of legal, political, social and economic
Systems being put in place.
Maybe a comment by a pinoy that Sg are morons by
Disagreeing that any “Tom, Dick and Harry” foreigner
Can easily come and work in Sg in Singapore is right
As Sg are morons since their forefathers built the
Fundamental structures of Sg, the men serve NS for
Half their lifetime and employers are reluctant to
Employ them as their yearly training will eat away their
Thin Profit margins as much as their CPF contributions
Will affect their profits.
No companies in their right mind would say that they
Do not employ Sg for these reasons.
So if the reasons are that current foreigners are more talented than
Sg, may I ask who are the ones who built Sg initially?
I cannot imagine how the govt do not know that
Sg citizens over the middle age group who are professionals
And degree graduates and even
Many recent UK, USA and other English speaking countries
overseas graduates are losing out for employment with Asian
Foreign workers.
There is no unemployment benefits for Sg and
Not only are Sg losing their HDB flats, many are
Getting into jail by being forced to be loan shark runners by obtainIng
LOan from loan sharks as their last resort to
Feed their children and forced to become runners
As they could not afford to pay back their loan.
Their children suffer. I am reading this kind of
News frequently.
OK, why do I fucking care, after all I am not paid hundreds
Of thousands to solve citizens problems?
True, I don’t fucking care, I am not even a social worker nor
Am I was in that kind of sad situation,
but I still am An Sg although I am overseas.
I feel Sg belong to me as my forefathers have given
Me Sg and I feel is unfair for the govt not to see
What is happening or pretend not to see.
I do not have to pray like what pinoys do, time will
Solve the problem by itself but yes there is a lot
Of suffering. All our forefathers’ toil is lost.
I can only say that Sg forefathers are rising up from
Their graves to show their unhappines as they
Still care for their children. Who cares ?
Nobody, as they are not in our dimension and
Who knows; they may have the power to do
It right for their Sg children as even though they
Are dead they care ! Pray to your ancestors for
Guidance to your honest way of survival.
Many employers in S’pore are cunning & ruthless, regardless is SME or MNC or gov sectors.
They outsourced this service and outsourced that service, and like to accept the lowest bid & hope to have the best service quality. In order to make more money, bidders will only pay the workers the minimum wages, as low as possible. The companies & bidders will try to detain some of the experienced workers & forced them to accept the new wage system.
Some companies also don’t give the so called 13th month wage (AWS). In order to save on CPF contribution, some companies changed the AWS into contractual bonus so that no need to pay CPF contribution. E.g. HG Metal Manufacturing.
In the past, employers don’t have to pay you OT money if your salary has hit $1600, so they will paid you $1600 & forced you to work OT. Even when MOM rise the amount from $1600 to $2000, still the employers won’t pay you $2000. They will paid you less than $2000 & gave you empty promises that there is a lot of OT. But in order to save cost, they will not let you work OT or limit the OT. E.g. YCH, Fujifilm Hunt.
Besides paying the workers low wages, some employers will also try to cut down manpower turnover rate by stating that a worker must give one month notice before comfirmation; two months notice after comfirmation in the employment letters. E.g. Fujifilm Hunt, candid water cooler.
Hi Jack,
It is very heavy hearted to hear your plight and truely feel sorry for your situation.
I am now at 37 and was out of jobs for a year plus, and also, i have under-emploted for 5yrs in the govt stat board. And the dept i have worked with have outsourced, which only left my scholarship boss there…
IF i were you, yes, i would also seriously consider emigration to other countries. But you need to know that it is also not a bed of roses out there in overseas. Still, you need to prepare for a BIG changes.
If you are interested to migrate to Australia, you could check out with fellow singaporeans who have successfully migrated to Australia. You could join in the club in Facebook. .
Or you could email me to keep intouch at: heavencoins@yahoo.com
Cheers and take care
Owen
When I graduated from a London polytechnic in 1983 (university
Status in 1991)
With an Honours degree (4 yr course) and returned to
Singapore, I was not getting anywhere. Many of my peers
Holding local degrees and even those without degrees
Were doing well. Some of them were arrogant, the behaviour
Of some Sg.
Fast forward, I wonder if those who graduated in the
1980s who are in their late 40s and early 50+ are still
Doing well like before.
I have no sympathy for those who were arrogant because
They thought the good times will never end.
I do not have to hope that they be replaced by foreigners.
The time will come or has already to serve justice
On them.
Aust. Is not as great as what some people think, esp
For asians.
I migrated to Aust. In early 1990s after obtaining a UK degree
& Aust. Postgrad study. I left Aust after a few years.
When you become a PR, you may face hurdles for employment.
I do not want to discourage anybody about other sensitive
Matters.
However, I advise you, even if you have studied in Aust. Before,
Do not just cut your bridges from Sg so quickly.
If you do, you have to make it in Aust whether you
Like it or not.
Generally ladies can do better than men.
Some Sg think they become superior when they
Become Aust citizens, hahahaha….
I agree with many of you people here that Singaporeans are being cast aside by our own employers. Time and time again, I have stressed that jobs given to foreigners are not because they are cheap but because employers have the perception that all foreigners can do a better job than Singaporeans. That is more apparent for older singaporeans in their 40′s and 50′s. That is the reason why so many PMETs of this age range are unemployed. Our government needs to do something more for this age group. They need to provide free relevant training for these people to get them hired. Most of the up-grading courses are totally irrelevant and geared towards lower income groups. Its no wonder many citizens are dissatisfied.
As Singapore aged, the senior citizens of Singapore will end up as the poorest group because they have no means of supporting themselves. CPF is definately not enough. This will happen sooner than what we can envision.
I was an overseas grad, stayed abroad for 5 years, but returned home to Singapore with full of hope. That was back in 1989. Now at 49 years of age, I am jobless. Even though I have many years of working experience, and physically very fit, computer savvy, I am still being pass over for younger people and foreigners who asked for higher pay and compensation. It just makes me feel like a third class citizen in my own country. That is really sad.