Support Site for The Unemployed

Minimum wage law works

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:28:04 +0000

Sep 2, 2010

Minimum wage law works

By Hui Weng Tat, For The Straits Times

IN A surprising departure from its usual free market orientation, Hong Kong lawmakers recently voted in favour of a minimum wage law for vulnerable low-wage workers. It may be time for Singapore to consider a minimum wage law; such a policy may be preferable to raising the levy on foreign workers to reduce the country’s dependence on these workers.

A growing influx of low-skilled, low-cost foreign labour has effectively increased Singapore’s overall labour supply. There is an ongoing debate as to whether this has depressed domestic wages at the bottom. I believe the available evidence for this link between the influx of foreign labour and depressed wages at the bottom is compelling.

Between 1998 and 2008, the number of foreign workers employed, most of them lower-skilled, rose by about 438,000 or 48 per cent of total new employment over the period. Over the same period, real wages of employed residents in the lowest 20 per cent of the wage distribution were virtually stagnant while those in the upper half experienced real growth of at least 20 per cent.

If one takes an international perspective, mobility of labour leads to greater efficiency and higher productivity. The national perspective can be different: For example, in response to low wages in certain jobs, some local workers may withdraw from the labour market. Others might prefer to work part-time instead of full-time. In short, the full-time employment rate of local workers may be lower as the result of the influx of foreign labour. This would represent an underutilisation of scarce labour resources, a situation that Singapore can ill afford.

The introduction of the Workfare Income Supplement scheme in 2007 to encourage older workers to stay employed in the face of wage stagnation; the lower employment rate among women in Singapore compared to other developed countries; and the steady rise in part-time employment rate in Singapore – all these suggest that low wages at the bottom may have restricted the size of the labour force.

How might a minimum wage improve the situation?

For a start, it will raise the incentive to work among the lower-skilled. For example, a 50-year-old worker may not want to work for $5 an hour, calculating that an eight-hour work day, five days a week, will net him $800 gross a month or about $622 in cash after factoring in CPF contributions ($118) and a transport cost of $3 a day ($60 a month). On the other hand, a minimum wage of $7 per hour would give him a gross salary of $1,120, CPF contribution of $187 and a take-home pay of $873. That difference could nudge him into taking a job.

Without a minimum wage, the current system of low wages for some local workers has created a need for remedial measures such as Workfare. The scheme is expected to cost $400 million this year and benefit 400,000 recipients. The subsidy will increase in future if local wages at the bottom continue to be depressed. A minimum wage law can stave off the need for higher government subsidies of low-wage jobs.

A minimum wage law would also have the salutary effect of making employers more efficient in using their workers. It would encourage them to hire better-quality workers with the requisite skills or those who can be trained to acquire such skills, so as to justify the higher wages. Employers will thereby be compelled to boost productivity, move up the value chain, thus increasing the demand for higher-paid jobs.

Detractors of a minimum wage would argue that it will reduce employment by raising the wage bills of firms. In Singapore, however, demand for low-wage workers exceeds supply, which is why there is a large inflow of foreign labour. Companies naturally favour a continued influx of cheap foreign labour. But it should be remembered that a large foreign worker population generates significant negative externalities. A minimum wage policy would help moderate the excessive inflow of foreign workers.

As for the argument that mandating a minimum wage goes against the ethos of a free market, the truth is that intervention in the labour market is not new. The foreign worker levy system, which has been in place since 1980, is calculated to increase employer costs and reduce dependence on foreign labour. Minimum salary levels have also been set for certain types of employment passes, such as the S-pass and employment pass.

But levies do not raise productivity if the higher wage cost is passed on by employers to workers in the form of lower wages. Foreign work permits often tie workers to a specific employer, leaving them powerless to protest against low wages. Such a regime would not only de-motivate existing workers but also end up attracting even less productive workers to our shores.

In contrast, a mandatory minimum wage would boost wages and morale. Workers who benefit from a mandated minimum wage will feel better and more fairly treated. This would help build goodwill towards the nation among transient foreign workers who will eventually return to their home countries.

When all these factors are considered, it becomes clear that a minimum wage would raise productivity and improve workers’ welfare. Hong Kong took a decade to debate the issue. Perhaps it is time for Singapore to start.

The writer is an associate professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, NUS.

The school of hard knocks

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:14:46 +0000

The school of hard knocks

Obtaining a diploma is only the first step; you’ll need a great work ethic and determination to make it

05:55 AM Sep 02, 2010

Felipe Herriges of Brazil asks: “I understand that you chose not to continue school after age 16 but created your own path to success. Do you think getting a university diploma is necessary to become a successful person? I am a university student and sometimes I wonder whether I would do better without it. What are your thoughts?

“I believe I have some great and even innovative ideas for new businesses but face the difficulty of turning an idea into something real. What advice would you give me to overcome this step?”

Education is a wonderful thing. I am fortunate that at this stage of my career, I have the opportunity to learn about many new subjects, ranging from the impact of climate change to the possibility of colonising Mars.

I am also lucky in that I meet so many interesting people and have the opportunity to exchange ideas with them – everyone from former leaders such as Kofi Annan, Nelson Mandela and Mary Robinson to scientist and environmentalist James Lovelock to Burt Rutan, the engineer leading our Virgin Galactic project.

Indeed, since Virgin’s projects and industries are so varied and our foundation Virgin Unite challenges us to try to solve some of our generation’s biggest problems, my job provides me with an experience I often compare to an extended university course. I’m enjoying every minute of the journey.

But when I was young, school wasn’t easy. I was not a great student, partly because of my dyslexia (which was not diagnosed until later) and partly because of my restless nature. I found it hard to concentrate in class and spent much of my time in school dreaming up and setting up new businesses.

The first few businesses I created – including one focused on growing Christmas trees – did not succeed, but those experiences did give me a taste for business and a knowledge of the all-important art of delegation.

By the time I was 16 I was ready to leave school but my father, Edward Branson, was reluctant to approve my decision. One weekend he came to visit my boarding school and tried to persuade me to continue my studies. He hoped I’d become a lawyer like him. I reluctantly agreed; he drove home to explain “our” decision to my mother, Eve.

She was not happy! She told him to make the long drive back immediately, to reassure me that it was okay to leave. He did and I left school that summer. I never once looked back, first setting up Student magazine and, a few years later, the Virgin record stores. My father sometimes jokes that the second return trip was the “best drive of his life”.

ONLY THE FIRST STEP

However, my story is a very personal one; my strategy will not work for everyone. A diploma can be very useful, since it shows that you have gained the skills and other building blocks required to start your career.

But obtaining a diploma is only a first step, and in no way guarantees success. You’ll need a great work ethic and determination to make it – both in business and life. You also need your fair share of good luck.

I would advise tackling your studies with a positive attitude – try to enjoy your time at university. Try a few new things while you are there, and maybe even start a business, if this is where your interests lie.

In Johannesburg, we have set up the Branson School of Entrepreneurship to help foster budding entrepreneurs and their fledgling companies. Most of our students are young men and women, determined to study hard and build their businesses. One of the most important things we impart to them is the importance of enjoying your work.

This is one of the enduring lessons of my career. I have always tried to have fun in all ventures and adventures, as I feel this is the best way to go through life. So when you’re setting up your first business, make sure both the business and entrepreneurship itself are things that you enjoy.

When you reach the launch stage, don’t be afraid to make that first leap.

Most entrepreneurs’ first ventures fail – I know, because mine did – but the lessons you learn from failure are invaluable and will help you with your next attempts. You have to be very determined and accept that the early stages of launching any business are mostly about just surviving.

Turning an idea into reality is a key step that all entrepreneurs have to master. Try to see your ideas through your customers’ eyes – it’ll help you determine which ideas have a chance of succeeding.

The high-speed service offered by Virgin Trains’ West Coast line in the United Kingdom is a classic example.

When we were bidding for our franchise in 1996, we saw that rail passengers were fed up with our future competitors, since their trains were slow, crowded and uncomfortable. They wanted faster trains, airline-style seats, entertainment services and good food. We designed our train service to fit this bill and introduced modern trains – recently with wireless Internet access.

There were some delays, mostly caused by a need to upgrade the tracks for our tilting trains, but I’m proud to say that our record has greatly improved and our passenger numbers are growing quickly.

Good luck, Felipe! If you complete your education, throw everything into your studies and remember, whether you’re working for a company or setting up your own business, to work hard, persevere and smile, you will be on the road to success.

The writer is the founder of the Virgin Group and companies such as Virgin Atlantic, Virgin America, Virgin Mobile and Virgin Active.

URL http://www.todayonline.com/Commentary/EDC100902-0000067/The-school-of-hard-knocks

Government’s Latest Measure To Curb Property Speculation Is The Right Move

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 05:59:08 +0000

I applaud the government’s move to curb property speculation.

This move is timely as the red-hot raging property market has created the risk of a unhealthy bubble asset which if left uncheck may create alot of damage on the economic front.

A property is meant to be a long-term valuable investment and more importantly it provides a reasonable shelter for the whole family. Some families I know have treat their homes like blue-chip stocks and traded them whenever thee is any slight appreciation in value.

I know of a family, staying in a condo in the eastern part of Singapore, who has shifted homes three times in two years literally living their lives in boxes in order to make a small gain from every move.

Such regular residental shifts not only destabilise the routine of the whole household but also particularly affect children who will prefer a more stable living environment.

Singaporeans have all along treat their property as an investment tool and though many people have reap enormous financial benefits out of their homes, there are also others who were ruined if it was an ill-timed one. Some may even have to sell their cherished homes at a loss when the turbulent economy turns and people go out of work.

More importantly, we also lost the friendship factor with our neighbours when we move houses too often. Good neighbours are hard to come by and it takes many years for the relationship to build. Once we move, it is difficult to maintain the relationship after that.

I am also sure that those who chased and bought properties the last few months will be hoping that they have waited for a few months more. I am still amazed how people can pay cash-over-valuation (COV) of $100,000 to buy a resale HDB flat!

I am thus glad that the government has introduced sufficient measures to curb property investment among the masses. Dwellers of HDB flats have to stay in their homes for at least five years instead of the usual three years in order for them to sell their flats for a profit.

Let the super-rich invests their millions in property but the general population should adopt the attitude of simply having a good roof over their head.

The financial ruin of a badly-timed property purchase is just too much for many people to bear.

Written by: Gilbert Goh

My HDB 4-room flat valuation appreciated 10% in 6 months!

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 22:06:55 +0000

Posted by: willieregister - Asiaone forum

http://forums.asiaone.c om/showthread.php?t=32444&page=2

I bought my resale 4-room flat at Geylang East Central at $385k (valuation) + $42k COV, in March this year. I remember drawing the cash from my bank… the feeling is shiok at the bank counter and painful at the HDB payment counter. Total value for flat was $425k.

It’s barely 6 months, and I have pamplets in my letterbox citing that they are willing to pay $70k more for my unit.

And it seems that the valuation of my flat suddenly jump from $385k to about $420k. 10% increase! My goodness!

In total, on paper, my flat is worth about $480-$500k now – nearly 15-20% in 6 mths!

if this is not a bubble, tell me what is it?

My pay increment is only 2.75% in 12 mths.

Going by this rate, no matter how the government is curbing speculation, it’s still the market forces at work here. Let’s say govt impose a levy for COV, the middle income family cannot afford it then… but then again, the affulent families will come in. Then we will see those ultra rich families from China swopping in to purchase flats @ $700k for a 4 room resale flat at before 2011. What nexts? $1 million for 4-rm flat before 2020 (where LTA’s master plan for transport had already kicked over then).

I remember when I was 16 years old, my pay as a waiter was $1050. HDB price for a 3- room flat was about $80k.

Fast forward 17 years (I’m 33 now), HDB price for a 3-room is about $250-300k. But the pay for a waiter is still around the same price!

I believe as FT comes in and economical forces pressure onwards, in year 2020, the pay for a waiter will still be around $1000. Why? As neighbouring countries and China work permits become more expensive, we will turn to other countries like Africa, South Amercia, etc.. where there will have cheaper labour. This is good for what PM Lee says: we need them to build infrastrutures and do jobs that Singaporeans don’t want to do. True. But on the filp side of the coin, the pay of blue collar workers are been capped. What an irony!

How to Overcome the Unemployment Blues

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:27:09 +0000

Written by Caity Collins – exclusive to transitioning.org

Pounding the Pavement

How to Overcome the Unemployment Blues

The recession has hit hard – as the unemployment rate continues at somewhat dismal levels, more and more people are finding it difficult to both find and keep jobs. The loss of a position can be rough for anyone, but it can also be an unexpected opportunity for change, growth, and new prospects. Learning to make the most of your new circumstances will help you maintain a positive, healthy attitude while you continue your job search. Below are some helpful tips and ideas about how you can overcome those unemployment blues.

“I’m not unemployed, I’m FUNemployed!”

There isn’t nearly as much time in your adult life as there should be to just have FUN. Being temporarily unemployed gives you some immensely valuable freedom to do things that bring you joy – so take advantage of the time you have and learn to play the guitar, paint, join a kickball league, take your dog on more walks, have a Seinfeld marathon. Whatever makes you smile – DO IT.

Networking – “Make like a tree and branch.”

Your dad’s friend’s sister manages a company in your same line of work? Call her up! See an ad for a position that seems above your skill level? Call the head of HR and inquire anyway. When you’re unemployed, networking is often your best chance of landing a new job. There is absolutely no shame in being unemployed; tell your friends, family, old coworkers, peers, and other acquaintances that you’re looking for work and use those connections to your advantage.

Take some money out of savings and travel.

Life is short! You’ve now got the time, and if you also have the money in your savings to pull it off, TRAVEL. The things you’ll learn, places you’ll see, and people you’ll meet will undoubtedly be some of the most enriching experiences of your life. Whether it’s to a neighboring city you’ve never gotten around to visiting, a new state, or another country halfway around the world, time spent traveling is never wasted. Especially in an economy like the present one, gaining worldly experience and expanding your horizon can only benefit you. You may even discover an interest that could lead to a new career field.

Do some soul-searching.

Use this time to think about what you want in a job. Make a list of your talents, training, education, background, and skills. Then make lists of what sorts of jobs these traits apply well to. Be open-minded and creative in your thinking, and you may well learn that you are qualified and enthusiastic about something you’d never even considered. Learn to communicate these skills clearly in a cover letter and resume, too.

Simplify.

Being unemployed often means that people are more restricted in their financial resources. Use this time to simplify your life in easy but effective ways. Take a close look at what your wants versus your needs, and you may well come to realize that many of those can’t-live-without-‘em “needs” are actually just desires. Simplifying one’s life is often a freeing process, and many find that their stress and anxiety levels decrease when they do things like get rid of their cable television, take the bus to get around town, and spend less money on things like going out and shopping.

Give back – volunteer.

Helping others is also a way to help you. Volunteering often provides people with much-needed perspective on their own lives. Realize that there are a lot worse things that can happen in life than losing a job. Whether you work in a homeless shelter, tutor children, coach a soccer team, or help out at a soup kitchen, try to connect with the people you’re there to help. You’re guaranteed to feel better know that you’ve made someone else’s life easier with your presence and your time.

Practice living in the moment.

Live in the present moment – remind yourself that being unemployed is a temporary situation. In the scheme of your entire life, this is a short period that will pass, just like all others do. Living in the present is a way to end your worries about the past and future, and focus on the only thing you can control – the here and now. Exercise, meditation, and yoga are all great ways to learn to hone our awareness and ability to live in the present, and to control stress levels.

Pick up a new hobby, or revisit an old one.

Always had a thing for the viola? Get back to it. Or learn to play the piano. Start collecting old records. Redecorate your home. Join a water polo team. Make some scrapbooks. Train for a marathon. Whatever it is, it will be great to look back at your period of unemployment (once you have found that awesome job) and see something solid and tangible to show for your time.

———————————————————————————————————————

Caity Collins is guest blogger for Pounding the Pavement and a writer on vocational schools for Guide to Career Education.

Thoughts of a foreigner reader on Singapore

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:23:17 +0000

I am in the UK now. Prior to that I had not left Singapore for almost three years so I had observed all sorts of things through what was an incredibly depressing recession.

My wife flies around internationally and my job has been to look after our 6-year old boy and get him started in UK state school – my parents are retired and wish to look after him, as we can’t get cheap speech therapy in Singapore.

I tend to do contract work and so my life is a little more flexible than the wife. Plus we got through three maids (one a fundamentalist, one wanted to go back and have a baby, one resigned and returned to Indonesia because she hated Singapore).

Wife is Malay-Chinese mix yet staunchly Christian, and I am Caucasian. I am ex-Navy so bobbed in and out of Sembawang for years. Surviving in banking as Malay-mix has been difficult and she now works for an online firm doing banking. If you are a Malay-speaker brush up on conversational Mandarin to get on well (this is true – majority Chinese are fully entitled to chit-chat over a cigarette in Mandarin!)…

The decade before last we regretfully decided to withdraw CPF regarding the wife, and give up citizenship, but giving up a passport does not mean giving up friends, places, former jobs, schools and colleges in Singapore. Everything is intact.

The vetting of an ex-Citizen on returning (the wife) is rightly significant, but she is treated like any other accepted National by MOM. We are 100% politically neutral as we have no stake in Singapore politics. We just happen to be in Singapore, and as she is an amazing professional she has created lots of jobs on the projects she has ran. As this has been a sharp-V recession there are now lots of jobs for Singaporeans abroad who wish to return (last 6 months have been an amazing turnaround after the traditionally quiet Christmas and Chinese New Year on the jobs front).

This is a personal view, but it also includes those who may have taken on a new Citizenship abroad who wish to return (MOM is very accommodating, but full history and payslips, and letter explaining reasons for renunciation, will be required) provided they have been productive and bring in the Singaporean ethos combined with overseas “benefits and value gained from firms”. May be worth applying from abroad first for ex-Citizen and getting sponsored by a firm – this is how the wife did it…

I think to be frank even people who were simply born in Singapore are part of a greater team of people who have some link, some association, some connection with Singapore.

Dare I say also, a hell of a lot of retired Royal Navy personnel for whom their time in Singapore was a cherished leg of the project which is “life”. Just Sunday night, another ex-Navy conversation in a pub, where the conversation turns to Sembawang and HMS Terror, almost immediately.

I hope you find my honesty OK as the economy is returning to normal, and I appreciate people like you, through to the civil servants in the MOM who provide excellent information on who’s hiring (there are some good PDFs on their site), for simply contributing to motivating those who may have been losing hope.

Kind regards,

Henry (not his real name)

Interview with man who changed 10 jobs in 14 years

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 06:35:32 +0000

Some, rather most organizations reject his CV today because he has changed jobs frequently (10 in 14 years). My friend, the ˜job hopper™ (referred here as Mr. JH), does not mind it. well he does not need to mind it at all. Having worked full-time with 10 employer companies in just 14 years gives Mr. JH the relaxing edge that most of the ˜company loyal™ employees are struggling for today. Today, Mr. JH too is laid off like some other 14-15 year experienced guys “ the difference being the latter have just worked in 2-3 organizations in the same number of years. Here are the excerpts of an interview with Mr. JH:

Q: Why have you changed 10 jobs in 14 years?

A: To get financially sound and stable before getting laid off the second time.

Q: So you knew you would be laid off in the year 2009?

A: Well I was laid off first in the year 2002 due to the first global economic slowdown. I had not got a full-time job before January 2003 when the economy started looking up; so I had struggled for almost a year without job and with compromises.

Q: Which number of job was that?
A: That was my third job.

Q: So from Jan 2003 to Jan 2009, in 6 years, you have changed 8 jobs to make the count as 10 jobs in 14 years?

A: I had no other option. In my first 8 years of professional life, I had worked only for 2 organizations thinking that jobs are deserved after lot of hard work and one should stay with an employer company to justify the saying ˜employer loyalty™. But I was an idiot.

Q: Why do you say so?

A: My salary in the first 8 years went up only marginally. I could not save enough and also, I had thought that I had a ˜permanent™ job, so I need not worry about ˜what will I do if I lose my job™. I could never imagine losing a job because of economic slowdown and not because of my performance. That was January 2002.

Q: Can you brief on what happened between January 2003 and 2009.

A: Well, I had learnt my lessons of being ˜company loyal™ and not ˜money earning and saving loyal™. But then you can save enough only when you earn enough. So I shifted my loyalty towards money making and saving “ I changed 8 jobs in 6 years assuring all my interviewers about my stability.

Q: So you lied to your interviewers; you had already planned to change the job for which you were being interviewed on a particular day?

A: Yes, you can change jobs only when the market is up and companies are hiring. You tell me “ can I get a job now because of the slowdown? No. So one should change jobs for higher salaries only when the market is up because that is the only time when companies hire and can afford the expected salaries.

Q: What have you gained by doing such things?

A: That’s the question I was waiting for. In Jan 2003, I had a fixed salary (without variables) of say Rs. X p.a. In January 2009, my salary was 8X. So assuming my salary was Rs.3 lakh p.a. in Jan 2003, my last drawn salary in Jan 2009 was Rs.24 lakh p.a. (without variable). I never bothered about variable as I had no intention to stay for 1 year and go through the appraisal process to wait for the company to give me a hike.

Q: So you decided on your own hike?

A: Yes, in 2003, I could see the slowdown coming again in future like it had happened in 2001-02. Though I was not sure by when the next slowdown would come, I was pretty sure I wanted a ˜debt-free™ life before being laid off again. So I planned my hike targets on a yearly basis without waiting for the year to complete.

Q: So are you debt-free now?

A: Yes, I earned so much by virtue of job changes for money and spent so little that today I have a loan free 2 BR flat (1200 sq.. feet) plus a loan free big car without bothering about any EMIs. I am laid off too but I do not complain at all. If I have laid off companies for money, it is OK if a company lays me off because of lack of money.

Q: Who is complaining?

A: All those guys who are not getting a job to pay their EMIs off are complaining. They had made fun of me saying I am a job hopper and do not have any company loyalty. Now I ask them what they gained by their company loyalty; they too are laid off like me and pass comments to me “ why will you bother about us, you are already debt-free. They were still in the bracket of 12-14 lakh p.a. when they were laid off.

Q: What is your advice to professionals?

A: Like Narayan Murthy had said “ love your job and not your company because you never know when your company will stop loving you. In the same lines, love yourself and your family needs more than the company’s needs. Companies can keep coming and going; family will always remain the same. Make money for yourself first and simultaneously make money for the company, not the other way around.

Q: What is your biggest pain point with companies?

A: When a company does well, its CEO will address the entire company saying, ˜well done guys, it is YOUR company, keep up the hard work, I am with you. But when the slowdown happens and the company does not do so well, the same CEO will say, It is MY company and to save the company, I have to take tough decisions including asking people to go. So think about your financial stability first; when you get laid off, your kids will complain to you and not your boss.

” One life, Live it !! “

Dad killed himself due to prolonged unemployment

admin — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:11:41 +0000

My dad, S, killed himself on March 16, 2009 because he ran out of money and could not find work. My whole family had been devastated by the economy. He was 61 years old and could not take it anymore. He could not figure out how to keep the electric on, buy food, or keep a roof over his head. A day before his electric was to be shut off, and 2 weeks away from eviction, my dad took the hardest walk of his life. He left a note on the dining room table for my sister and I. His suicide letter said “I love you. I had to do this. I ran out of money. I wish you both luck in your lives”. He left the door unlocked with the door key left in the lock. He carefully laid out two suits for us to pick from to bury him in.

I almost caught my dad in time, maybe another 10 minutes and I could have saved him Senator. Dad walked 2 blocks down to the Belmont Memorial Pier in Long Beach at 10:15 am, and walked into the men’s restroom midway down the pier. He took a glock hand gun and shot himself in the head. We called the police when we found the suicide notes.

I cannot explain to another human being the depth of pain I feel inside. I will never forget the image of police and coroner’s cars in front of my dad’s condo. I will never forget the looks on the officer’s faces when I walked in. I will never forget hearing the words “they found your dad’s body”. I could not believe what they told. I made the coroner show me his face.

They argued and warned that I shouldn’t see this. But I had to, it was my dad, I wanted to understand what was going on. After shifting through many frames cautious so I wouldn’t see the death scene photos she found one with just his face showing, his head was wrapped in a towel. He looked sad and old and asleep.

I will never forget the spectator I crossed paths with as he walking out of the restroom laughing because there was not enough of my dad on the restroom wall to entertain him. I will live with horror of this in my head forever. The beach and piers are a really bad place to me now. I avoid the pain they remind me of. I remember looking in my dad’s refrigerator to see how much food he had left.

I was desperate to understand what happened at 10:00 am that led us into this horror. There wasn’t much food there. The lights were going off soon, the heat and so on. He must have been terrified. How do you take your last walk knowing you will never touch earth again? How do you walk in that restroom door knowing you will never see daylight or the ocean or your family?

I have a million questions Senator. Did he pray? Was he feeling alone and hurt? I will never know the answer to any of these. All I know is that dad left a note in his pant pocket with my phone number for the police to call me when they found him. I know that I will feel really lousy every March 16th and every Father’s Day. On top of this my family could not afford to bury dad. Thank God distant family helped us do what we could not here. Most of congress will never have to figure out how to bury their loved one after a suicide because they have no money.

Read the rest of the letter here

NB: If you harbour suicidal thoughts because of your prolonged unemployment, email me at gilbert@transitioning.org. We have a team of career coaches and counsellors who can support you during this tough journey of yours. Don’t suffer alone – seek help.

Death and Joblessness

admin — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:49:13 +0000

Death and Joblessness

Suicide Dogs the Long-Term Unemployed. What Can Be Done to Help Them?

By Annie Lowrey 8/17/10 4:30 AM

http://washingtonindependent.com

He hit “publish” on the last Wednesday in July, in the middle of a long afternoon. “I also have become homeless and am on the verge of suicide. I slept out in the wood last night and didn’t gett very much sleep. I hate to bring you people down with my problems but I thought you would like to know this. I don’t know what else to say except I’m very sorry it turned out like this but I can take the strain of living like this very much longer.” (All posts are reproduced as published.)

The post went up as part of a conversation about homelessness on Unemployed-Friends, a popular online forum for the unemployed to connect with one another. Most were discussing how to live in homeless shelters after eviction or foreclosure. But his post went further. “This is killing me physically and emotoinally. I am at the end of my rope and getting to the point of letting go. I have tried everything I know to get help. DHS won’t help’ Salvation Army won’t help. 211 won’t help. I have no idea as to where to go from here. If you don’t hear from me by tomorrow I probably will be dead.”

Thousands of users visit the web site daily, offering one another everything from advice about applying for unemployment insurance benefits to emotional support. It is one of dozens of such sites helping the nation’s 14.6 million unemployed — particularly the long-term unemployed, the 6.6 million Americans who have been out of work for more than six months. “I am very tempted to walk in front of an oncoming semi right now. Sorry to go on ranting but I am getting to the point where I feel I have no choice. For those of you that want to know I am currently in Grand Rapids. I appreciate your words of encouragement but right now it doesn’t seem to be enough to keep me going.”

The post ended, “I will try to tough out another night. Goodbye for now.”

***

The unemployed commit suicide at a rate two or three times the national average, researchers estimate. And in many cases, the longer the spell of unemployment, the higher the likelihood of suicide.

On online fora such as Unemployed-Friends, the topic comes up often, users finding news reports or hearing tell of deaths in their community, and mourning them. There was the Staten Island suicide, where an emergency medical services employee who thought himself about to be fired posted his final words on Facebook: “I can’t go on anymore. I just hung myself.” In Anaheim, Calif., there was the man underwater on his mortgage and awash in credit card debt who shot his wife and and one of his children before himself. His two children survived. His wife did not. In Indiana, there was the middle-aged mother who sent her daughter out to buy soda and killed herself before her daughter came back. That happened the day after the repossession of her Chevy Malibu.

Other stories are more apocryphal. In a post that ginned up dozens of comments and thousands of views on Unemployed-Friends, someone reported a father of three in Michigan had killed himself, writing in his final letter, “I am sorry, I have now lost every ounce of pride I ever had. You will be better off without me.” (The report of the suicide is unconfirmed.) A colleague told me he knew of a local man who killed himself when his unemployment insurance ended, because when his unemployment insurance ended he had no way to pay his child support.

The stories appear in letters to Congress as well. “My dad, S, killed himself March 16, 2009 because he ran out of money and could not find work. My whole family had been devastated by the economy. He was 61 years old and could not take it anymore. He could not figure out how to keep the electric on, buy food, or keep a roof over his head. A day before his electric was to be shut off, and 2 weeks away from eviction, my dad took the hardest walk of his life. He left a note on the dining room table for my sister and I. His suicide letter said ‘I love you. I had to do this. I ran out of money. I wish you both luck in your lives’. He left the door unlocked with the door key left in the lock. He carefully laid out two suits for us to pick from to bury him in,” one person from Forest Hills, N.Y., wrote to Rep. Anthony Weiner (D). “I almost caught my dad in time, maybe another 10 minutes and I could have saved him.”

The stories show the deeper wounds of unemployment, and especially long-term unemployment. It is not just the loss of a job, but the loss of community, routine and purpose. It means worse health. It means higher rates of divorce. It means alcohol abuse. All of these are also risk factors for suicide.

***

The users of Unemployed-Friends knew these stories. And they knew this shame and suffering, knew it well enough to take it seriously, for fear of what it can make people do. The web site goes so far as to keep suicide prevention hotline numbers at the top of every page. So when the note from user Vidirian2001 published to the forum, the virtual community realized it had little time to prevent a real-world death. The first reply begged Vidirian to call emergency services. Others suggested a clinic or the hospital.

“Please take the advice of the posters here – we care about you – even if we don’t know you personally – anyone can feel the way you are feeling – we are all facing hard times,” one wrote. “Please Please – I am in tears reading your story.” They said they were crying and praying for the anonymous poster, and told their own stories of survival. One posted Psalms.

Some asked if any fellow Michiganders would go find the user, to help him or her.

Vidirian2001 did not respond until the next morning. “Hello people. Today doesn’t seem to be much better. For those of you that would like to know I am in Grand Rapids MI . If I can’t get any help soon I will follow through with my plans. I also have tried calling suicide prevention and they just transferred me to some one else who then dropped the call. I have no blood relatives I can count on. The friends I do have are supportive but can’t/won’t help me. I am crying right now because I feel there is no way out.”

***

There is no saying how many suicides the recession has caused.

During the Great Depression, the suicide rate increased about 20 percent, from 14 to 17 per 100,000 people. The Asian economic crisis in 1997 led to an estimated 10,400 additional suicides in Japan, Hong Kong and Korea, with suicides spiking more than 40 percent among some demographic groups. But such statistics can mislead, social scientists say. Joblessness does not cause suicide. Rather, it correlates: Depressed persons tend to lose their jobs due to poor work performance, and a few also commit suicide. Jobless people tend to turn to alcohol, worsening their depression, and increasing the chances that they harm themselves. Still, academic studies show that suicide rates tend to move with the unemployment rate. Researchers in New Zealand found that the unemployed were up to three times as likely to commit suicide, with middle-aged men the most likely.

So how many suicides are associated with the recession? Nobody knows, not yet. The statistics lag about three years, so the official Center for Disease Control numbers still predate the financial crisis. Right now, therefore, the reports remain anecdotal.

But looking at individual counties’ or cities’ data, there are ominous signs of a real spike. Some counties show no change. Others show dramatic climbs. In rural Elkhart County, Ind., where the unemployment rate is 13.7 percent, there were nearly 40 percent more suicides in 2009 than in a normal year. In Macomb County, Mich., where the unemployment rate is also 13.7 percent, an average of 81 people per year committed suicide between 1979 and 2006. That climbed to 104 in 2008 and to more than 180 in 2009.

The suicide prevention hotlines also show signs of stress. In Jan. 2007, as the recession started, there were 13,423 calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a nationwide toll-free hotline. A year later, there were 39,467. In Aug. 2009, the call volume peaked at 57,625. Last year, the government granted the group an extra $1 million to increase programs in places with high unemployment rates.

***

By Thursday, the posters on Unemployed-Friends knew more about the user known as Vidirian2001. They had gone back to his first post, which went up in June. “Hello everyone. I am Scott I am 45 years old. I have been out of work for over 3 1/2 years. I am getting to the end of my rope. Yesterday, the postman came to the door with a letter for me to sign for. I thought it was something to do with my parents property which is in forclosure. It turns out my wife of 7 years is filing for divorce and is kicking me out of the apartment.”

Rapidly, they pieced identifying details together: Scott, male, 45, estranged. They knew he lived in Grand Rapids, Mich., where the unemployment rate is 11.1 percent. They knew that he posted from a library somewhere in Grand Rapids. They knew he was suicidal, but still reaching out. They knew they had to help him.

Users started calling all of the libraries in Grand Rapids in real time, asking the workers to go find him. Another called the Grand Rapids Police Department’s non-emergency line, providing them with all of the information about Scott and his known whereabouts. Another called the Michigan suicide prevention office. Along with the librarians and the police, they managed to get Scott, still suicidal, to a hospital for urgently needed medical care.

And one user living in Traverse City, hours from Grand Rapids but within driving distance, offered Scott a place to stay to get him off of the streets. “I think it would be better for someone(my son) to pick him up than have him travel alone by bus- he is too vulnerable at this point for the trip alone. We are already rearranging our dining area so we can make him a make shift room of his own so he will have some kind of privacy. My hubby is hoping he likes to fish cause that will give him a new fishing partner!” she wrote.

“For all offering to help pay for this I will get back with you if we need any help with gas money but I think we have enough gas in our van to make the trip I am 126 miles away and I get really good mileage and a couple of my kids are willing to help with money if we need it.”

***

The governmental statistics on suicide, unemployment and the relationship between the two are surprisingly thin.

Amy Rowland, a spokesperson for the CDC Injury Center, acknowledges as much, noting a bump in the suicide rate for older male workers. “Studies done by other researchers show that economic strain and loss are risk factors for suicide.” she says. “However more studies need to be done to better understand what might be occurring in this age group that is contributing to these increases and how we can best control and prevent it.”

Economists Richard Dunn of Texas A&M University and Timothy Classen of Loyola University Chicago are conducting some of those studies. They wanted to pinpoint the effect joblessness had on suicide rates. The problem was sorting out correlation and causation, as many people lose their jobs for depression or alcoholism or drug abuse, which in turn increase the risk of suicide. The economists, of course, could not fire people at random and then track them. So they looked for natural experiments, where workers were fired for reasons other than job performance. They zeroed in on mass layoffs, like when a factory closes and thousands of workers find themselves suddenly unemployed.

Unemployment, they found, does increase the risk of suicide. And not just once, but twice: First, just after the factory shuts down, and then again, about six months later, when unemployment insurance ends. The impact is strongest among men. Dunn explains: “If you had laid off 4,000 [men] initially, one would have killed himself immediately, within a month, and six months later, another person would have killed himself.”

“We don’t expect all 4,000 people to remain unemployed in month six,” Dunn continues. “It is probably 2,000 or 1,000 people who are. So the research suggests that the impact of losing your unemployment benefits is actually stronger than the impact of losing your job. How much stronger? We don’t know. But twice as strong, three times as strong. Some significant difference.”

That is to say, duration of unemployment and loss of unemployment benefits are more important determinants of suicide risk than job loss itself.

***

I spoke with Scott on the phone this week, his voice affectless, his sentences matter-of-fact and declarative, his mood impossible to read. The first thing he told me is that he continues to struggle with suicidal thoughts.

He explains what happened on the day of his post: He was sitting at a kiosk on the computer, considering whether to throw himself in front of a semi or to go “dance with a train,” the words delivered to me as if he were noting the weather. Suddenly, the police approached him in the library and took him to a nearby hospital. Most persons threatening suicide must remain in the hospital for at least 24 hours of observation. Scott says that the hospital released him in an hour, with numbers for services to call. He promised them that he would go get counseling. He spent another night homeless, sleeping on a cement slab in the back of his former apartment building. “There was a patio back where I used to live, so I went there,” he says.

“After that, the people I’m staying with — well, their sons — they came and got me. I had counseling set up in Grand Rapids, but I’m in Traverse City now. I’m not going to go 150 miles –150 each way, a two and a half hour drive — for counseling.” He is not currently in therapy, and does not have ready access to medical care.

We talk about his former life. He has struggled with depression for decades. It runs in his family. His mother and father both suffered from it, too. He was a wood worker and furniture maker, but the industry has left Michigan for China and Malaysia. Still, he had a wife and an apartment, food on the table. But he lost his job. Earlier this summer, his wife left and evicted him, leaving him destitute and homeless. Now, he is living with a family that found him on a message board, in a makeshift bedroom in their home. Both the husband and wife are unemployed themselves. They are hoping to sell their house if they can, and move out of Michigan to somewhere warmer, somewhere with jobs. Scott is waiting on food stamps and possible disability payments for a wrist injury.

He is disappointed with the state of Michigan — he has no caseworker, no hospital stay, no counseling, no Medicaid — disappointed “to say the least. That’s just putting it mildly.” He also feels disappointed with Congress. “The — the system is broken, as far as I’m concerned,” his voice breaking for a moment. “It’s broken and it needs to be repaired drastically and urgently, but the people in Congress could care less as long as they’ve got theirs. I’m not even the worst off. On the forum, one guy sold his computer to buy some milk for his kid, then got in his van and shot himself. I’m better off than many.”

When the Unemployed-Friends rescue happened, he posted: “All I have to say to you people on this forum is: YOU PEOPLE ARE A GODSEND. Not only for me but for others who need a helping hand and someone to talk to. I am crying tears of joy because someone who doesn’t even know me is willing to help me in my time of need.”

I ask him how he is feeling now. He replies, “Like a burden. I have no money. I have no job. I’m not going to lie to you. I still think about it.”

For people in distress, there is help: Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on (800) 273 TALK.

http://washingtonindependent.com/94925/death-and-joblessness?utm_campaign=twitter&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitter

Govt acts to curb speculators (ST 31 Aug)

admin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:43:02 +0000

Aug 31, 2010

Govt acts to curb speculators

New restrictions expected to cool property market; prices tipped to soften

By Joyce Teo, Property Correspondent

A SERIES of sweeping measures designed to take the heat out of the booming property market and rein in investors and speculators were announced yesterday.

The buy-at-any-cost sentiment that has been boiling away in recent months is expected to take an immediate hit, with prices tipped to soften.

The restrictions, like cooling measures last September and in February, are designed to stop a housing bubble forming.

They target owners who try to sell – or flip – their properties for a quick buck, while those aiming to buy investment properties in addition to their existing home will find it far more costly.

The new rules – which came in yesterday – also make it harder for Housing Board and private home owners to dabble in each other’s markets.

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan, who announced the moves, told a briefing: ‘We think that if we do nothing, there’s going to be a bubble.’

He said the ‘calibrated’ steps would stabilise the private property market and prevent it from overheating.

With Singapore’s strong economic growth expected to moderate in the second half, a property bubble will likely form if the current momentum in the market continues, said Mr Mah.

‘And when the bubble bursts – not if – there will be severe implications for individuals as well as for the economy as a whole,’ he said.

‘Furthermore, the very low interest rates we are seeing today are not sustainable. And when they eventually rise… there will be severe implications for buyers who have overextended themselves.’

He said the Government had taken several small steps to cool buying sentiment, unlike its ‘big-bang approach’ in 1996, when tough measures like a capital gains tax caused a market crash.

‘All the measures are meant to affect people who intend to buy and sell … the speculators in the market,’ he added. ‘If you are a genuine buyer, if you are an owner-occupier, to all intents and purposes, these measures will not affect you.’

Property experts believe the new rules will hit sentiment instantly, with buyers likely to hold back while prices of private homes and resale flats stabilise or even fall over the longer term.

‘We may have an extended Hungry Ghost Festival this year,’ said Knight Frank chairman Tan Tiong Cheng.

But first-time buyers will have reason to celebrate, as they may find fewer potential buyers competing with them and, possibly, softer prices.

Civil servant Joshua Yap, 28, is one: ‘I will definitely resume my house search after putting it on hold for the past few months. I am very thankful for the measures because they will serve to cool the irrational market.’

The Government is also bumping up the supply of public housing, including executive condominiums.

The private housing market has so far resisted two earlier rounds of cooling measures. Private home prices surged 38.2per cent in the year to June, exceeding the historical peak of 1996.

Experts say many local buyers have been maxing out loans, but the new measures may prove a spanner in the works.

Buyers already servicing mortgages must now fork out double the cash amount to buy a second property, so the mass market private homes segment will be hit, say experts.

‘The impact will be huge for the mass market as this is where the buyers do not have that much cash,’ said a developer, adding that the market for newly-launched, uncompleted private homes will be harder hit.

‘For new project sales, I would say that the bulk of the buyers are those getting a second home. Now, upgraders will not be able to buy properties under construction if they don’t have the cash and CPF savings for the 10 (per cent) and 20 per cent down payment respectively,’ he said.

DTZ’s head of South-east Asia research, Ms Chua Chor Hoon, said: ‘Developers are likely to lengthen the period of ongoing previews and soft launches to test the market.

‘The impact will be felt more in the public resale and mass market segments due to the double whammy of a cutback in demand and increase in supply.’

The Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore said the new measures may affect affordability due to the higher upfront cash component, but will not hit genuine home buyers.

Cash-over-valuation levels in the HDB resale market are expected to dip, thanks largely to the huge upcoming supply of flats and a move barring private home owners from buying a resale flat while holding on to their private property.

Jones Lang LaSalle’s head of research for South-east Asia, Dr Chua Yang Liang, believes yesterday’s measures were motivated largely by the unabated rise in public housing prices. But demand should cool for HDB resale flats.

Some property consultants expect price rises for private homes to moderate. Jones Lang LaSalle forecasts that prices will now rise by 2-3 per cent per quarter for the rest of the year.

Others are less optimistic. Ms Chua believes mass-market prices will slip by a few percentage points over the next six months, citing the backdrop of uncertainty in the global economy, slower sales activity and growing price resistance.

Mr Tan added: ‘When things are moving fast, there are people who feel that they are priced out of the private market. Now, their opportunity has arrived if prices flatten out or move south.’

Property share prices fell by about 4-5 per cent in reaction to the changes.

Asked if the new measures had to do with the upcoming general election, Mr Mah said: ‘Housing has been a hot topic for as long as I can remember. (It is a) hot topic before all elections, and will be a hot topic in the next election, whenever that is.’

joyceteo@sph.com.sg

‘All the measures are meant to affect people who intend to buy and sell, … the speculators in the market. If you are a genuine buyer, if you are an owner-occupier, to all intents and purposes, these measures will not affect you.’

Mr Mah Bow Tan

**************

Aug 31, 2010

‘Targeted’ cooling has wider implications

Home-owners who wish to upgrade, downgrade or move are affected too

By Fiona Chan, Assistant Money Editor

THE Hungry Ghost month is almost over, but the property market got a new scare yesterday. To rein in soaring home prices, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan unveiled an array of measures to temper demand for both private homes and Housing Board (HDB) flats.

He stressed that the steps, while ‘comprehensive’, were ‘calibrated’ to target those who already own a home and are buying another for investment or speculative purposes.

First-time buyers and those buying for their own stay, Mr Mah added, would be generally unaffected by the new rules.

But would this be always the case?

Yes and no. It is true that if you are buying a home for the first time, none of the curbs will directly affect you.

But if you are the average home-owner paying off a mortgage, chances are you could be stuck in your current home for some time.

This is because a genuine home-buyer who already owns a home and wants to upgrade, or downgrade, or simply move house, will have to jump through many more hoops than in the past.

Take the new rule that home-owners with outstanding mortgages must fork out a higher downpayment for a new property. They will now have to pay at least 30 per cent of the purchase price upfront, up from 20 per cent previously.

This restriction is meant to deter property investors or speculators from owning more than one property. But it will also, inadvertently perhaps, make life difficult for people moving house.

Many people buy their dream home first before selling their existing one, to make sure they have plenty of time to move, and banks ease these back-to-back transactions by providing bridging loans.

But now home-owners who still have a mortgage will have to sell well before they buy, if they want to avoid paying the higher downpayment for their new home.

They then have to obtain a bank letter saying their existing home has been sold, and the mortgage will be paid off at a certain date, before they can apply for a loan for their new home – and even then they will get only an in-principle approval.

Because property transactions take about three months to complete, these buyers may have to find somewhere to stay in between selling and buying.

Aspiring upgraders or home-owners who want to buy and live in newly launched private homes, which take about three years to build, will have to stay somewhere else for even longer.

The new rules don’t mean that these owner-occupiers cannot buy new homes to live in, but it does make the timing of when they buy and sell their homes absolutely crucial.

One wrong step and they will need to fork out more cash and CPF savings in upfront downpayments. That risk alone will make anyone think twice about swopping their homes for better ones.

But this is not the only curb that casts a wider net than it appears to at first. There is also the new maxim that private property owners must sell their homes within six months if they buy a HDB resale flat.

The aim of this is to dissuade would-be property investors from dabbling in the market for HDB flats – which should be prioritised for owner-occupiers – and pushing up their prices.

But any HDB owner who already owns a private property for investment may now find himself stuck as well.

If he wants to move, say to another HDB flat closer to his parents, he will have to sell his current flat first before buying a new one.

But the moment he sells the flat, he becomes classified as a private property owner because of his investment property. That means that if he then buys another HDB flat, he will have to sell his private property within six months – even though he is just moving house.

In effect, he may now never be able to move to another HDB flat for the rest of his life unless he is willing to sell both his current properties.

This makes private property a particularly risky investment asset for HDB flat-owners, for reasons completely unrelated to affordability.

Even buyers of private properties, while free of HDB restrictions, must now put more thought into their purchases.

Whatever home they buy, they must be prepared to live in it for at least three years – or pay a penalty in the form of a sellers’ stamp duty, which can go up to 3 per cent of the purchase price.

This could affect shoebox apartments, many of which are bought as starter or investment homes, to be resold after a year or two.

So however you slice and dice it, it seems that the latest measures really leave only two groups of people completely unaffected.

The first are those rich enough to be unfettered by the new rules. By throwing various obstacles in the way of owning more than one home, the Government is sending a very clear signal that property is an investable asset class – with no restrictions – only for those who can afford it with money to spare.

The other group of people who will view the measures with equanimity are those who plan to buy only one home and stay in it for the rest of their lives.

Indeed, one of the main aim of the measures, said Mr Mah yesterday, is to ensure that all Singaporeans are able to secure a home – not an investment – for themselves. As Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said, ‘property is for people to buy to live in’, meant as a nest egg and not as an easy way to make a quick buck.

If you subscribe to this view, and also think that property buyers should be a lot more prudent to start with, then the new measures tick all the right boxes.

But if you like the idea of moving from one home to another as your needs and lifestyle change, the slew of curbs would restrict your options, unless you are willing to stump up more upfront cash and accept lower levels of loan financing.

Buying a home will now be more of a long-term commitment than ever, and buyers must really think about their life plans for at least the next few years before taking that leap.

The housing market may become more stable, but it is also likely to be much less vibrant. And with the cooling moves coming just as Singapore’s economy is entering an uncertain second half, there is a risk of the property market paling precipitously.

The important thing now is for the Government to closely watch if the impact of the measures turns out to be more widely felt than expected, and adjust them accordingly.

fiochan@sph.com.sg

Jobless Man Happy To Be a House-dad

admin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:46:00 +0000

Hi Gilbert,

Thanks for the prompt reply. Attached is my resume for your better understanding.

I’m a Diploma holder in HRD and possessed a ITC (Higher Nitec) in Electrical Engineering. Spent the early part of my career in plant maintenance but move towards training and development in the later stage of my career. Looking for jobs like trainer, training specialist among others.

I left my last job in Company A due to a lack of safety culture and did not regretted this decision despite the long unemployment. I don’t want to go to work every day fearing for my personal safety.

I have a turbulent employment history and job instability seemed to mark my career the past few years. Let me briefly summarised what I meant:-

Company B – Closed down Singapore Office as HQ decided to focus on North Asia.

Company C – Took me ten months to secure this job after Company A’s shut-down. Escaped the first lay-off one year into this job. My supervisor advised me to seek for another job as more lay off was expected. I decided to join my last company A which had been seeking me to join them.

I have two teenage daughters and a younger son. They managed to get school fee waiver due to my current circumstances.

My wife, who was a housewife before, is now working as a stall assistant for $900 – more out of necessity than choice.

I do the housework fulltime and take care of my youngest son. Last year, I applied for financial assistance from ComCare but was rejected. Seeked my MP’s help and they gave me $100 per month for 3 months. Had not gone back to them since …

On being a house-dad, frankly, I enjoy it and would like to continue if given the choice.

Being the only son with 5 sisters, I have been doing housework since young and is pretty good at it. The only thing which I dislike is that neighbours keep asking me why I am staying at home.

No hurry to slot in my coaching session. Let your volunteer contact me when they are free.

Have a nice week ahead!

Danny (not his real name)

PS: We have assigned Danny a career coach – Christine to assist him in his re-employment planning.

Hong Kong stages march

admin — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 23:51:42 +0000

Aug 29, 2010

MANILA HOSTAGE AFTERMATH

HK stages march

HONG KONG – THOUSANDS of people joined a rally in Hong Kong on Sunday to demand justice for victims of the Manila hostage bloodbath, as the city’s Filipino community staged its own memorials for the dead.

Demonstrators voiced their anger over the Philippine government’s handling of the siege in the heart of Manila on Monday, which left eight Hong Kong tourists dead amid widespread complaints of police bungling.

‘It’s too late for the governments to do anything, but Hong Kong people hope that, at the very least, the Philippine authorities could tell us the truth,’ Daisy Kwong, a telecoms firm project manager, told AFP. ‘I cried for hours after watching the tragedy played out live on TV,’ she said.

The sea of demonstrators observed three minutes of silence as they gathered in a Hong Kong park, many wearing yellow ribbons and carrying white flowers, the traditional Chinese colour of mourning. The Hong Kong political parties organising the rally, the latest in a series of events marking Monday’s tragedy, said it could draw as many as 50,000 people.

‘I am furious,’ 56-year-old Law Wai-hing said. ‘I don’t think we will ever be told the truth when the (Philippine) president (Benigno Aquino) is as appalling as he is. I hope the Chinese government and the United Nations can exert pressure on the Philippine government.’

Rally organisers asked demonstrators not to carry racially charged placards or chant discriminatory slogans. — AFP

**********************

Filipinos in HK fearful

HONG KONG – JOY Fajardo likes to spend her Sundays meeting friends from her home town in Chater Garden, a famous gathering spot for the Philippine community at the heart of Hong Kong’s financial centre.

But this Sunday was an exception. The 30-year-old said she was warned to stay away from Chinese crowds for fear of retribution over the dramatic hostage crisis that left eight Hong Kong tourists dead in Manila on Monday. ‘We are very worried to be living in a Chinese community now,’ Ms Fajardo told AFP.

In a sign that feelings are running high, the message ‘Stop hiring Filipino domestic workers!!!’ has sprung up on Facebook sites set up by Hong Kong people to mourn the hostage victims.

The hostage drama has whipped up a frenzy of fear and rumours in the 200,000-strong Philippine community in Hong Kong, where most are employed as domestic helpers. A series of unconfirmed reports of Hong Kong employers trying to vent their anger by sacking or attacking their helpers has been widely circulating among Filipinos.

Ms Fajardo said text messages had been exchanged saying that more than 30 Filipina maids have been sacked following the tragedy, including one whose contract was terminated allegedly because her family name was the same as the gunman’s.

On Friday, Ms Fajardo said she received reports that three maids had been killed, with one of them having acid splashed over her face. ‘We don’t know if these cases are true. But we are very scared,’ she said.

Another Filipina worker, Julie, said her 60-year-old employer, for whom she has worked for 14 years, did not speak to her after the hostage crisis. ‘She watched news on TV about the hijacking. She did not talk to me and did not give me dinner on Wednesday,’ she said. ‘I was worried because she’s not happy and I didn’t understand what the Chinese news was about.’

Many also complained about being berated on public transport in the aftermath of the siege. — AFP

*****************

Filipino helpers worry but deliver solidarity message

Around 400 domestic helpers – all of them sad and some of them fearful – gathered in Central’s Chater Road yesterday to mourn the eight tourists killed in Manila last week.

Lina Leung
- The Standard

Monday, August 30, 2010

Around 400 domestic helpers – all of them sad and some of them fearful – gathered in Central’s Chater Road yesterday to mourn the eight tourists killed in Manila last week.

Looking at the backlash against his country, Filipino Migrant Workers’ Union vice-chairman Eman Villanueva said there have been few cases of ill- treatment and dismissals of helpers and the union did not expect many.

There have been reports of two dismissals, one of a employer not renewing a contract and one of backing out of a contract. There was also a case of an elderly man spitting on a maid, but the circumstances were unclear.

Many Filipinos expressed sympathy, and some cried during a program of prayer, a “speak-out” session and forum and then a candle-light vigil.

“We feel ashamed,” said Leonila Bermudez. “The Philippine police were stupid and slow. The Philippine president lacks experience, or maybe he is just incompetent.”

Cynthia Amistad said Manila obviously lacked the resources to tackle the crisis situation. “I was angry,” she said.

Amistad also said she is not too worried about attacks on Filipinos here because the majority of Hong Kong people are open-minded.

Elma Oliva, who has been working in Hong Kong for 20 years, agreed: “I don’t think Hong Kong people will harm us. Having worked here for such a long time, I have confidence in the people.”

But others expressed fear and anxiety.

Vicky Casia said some employers have changed their attitudes toward their helpers.

Leny Galima said her employer was understanding but she experienced hatred on the street. “Someone shouted `Filipinos are rubbish’ at me,” she said. “I felt bad and sad.”

Lucy Aquino said she tried to hide the fact she was Filipino when she took her employer’s parents to hospital.

“My employer’s family understands Filipinos in Hong Kong are innocent, but some people may question us,” she said.

*****************

Aug 29, 2010

Cops ‘certain’ gunman shot tourists

MANILA – PHILIPPINE police said on Sunday they were certain that Hong Kong tourists who died in a hostage siege last week were killed by the gunman, amid continuing investigations into the botched rescue. Ballistics tests showed that the eight victims’ wounds were from a high calibre weapon fired inside the bus where they were held for 12 hours last Monday, national police spokesman Senior Superintendent Agrimero Cruz said.

’With a degree of certainty we can say that the victims were shot by Rolando Mendoza,’ Sr Supt. Cruz said, referring to the sacked policeman who hijacked the bus in a bid to win his old job back and was killed in the bloody end to the siege. ‘The result of the autopsy showed that all the bullets that hit the victims came from a high powered firearm,’ he said on DZBB radio.

Sr Supt. Cruz said Hong Kong forensics police were scheduled to comb through the wreckage of the bus on Monday, denying reports that they were being blocked from conducting their own investigation. He said the Hong Kong investigators were not able to do their work earlier because of miscoordination between the two sides.

Sr Supt. Cruz said that further investigation of Mendoza had found in addition to charges of extortion that led to his dismissal from the force early this year, he was also accused of other crimes.

He said Mendoza had been charged in the 1990s with robbery and rape but that the case was dismissed because the alleged victims failed to show up in court. — AFP

Top Paying Jobs in Australia

admin — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 23:02:37 +0000

Top Paying Jobs in Australia

SunSeven - hubpages.com

One of the popular countries located in the southern hemisphere is Australia which is among those providing a lot of opportunities to overseas job seekers and a favorite destination of people who wants to migrate in order to have a better living. This country is the 23rd largest exporter in the world. Australian jobs are much sought after along with high paying jobs in USA, UK, Dubai, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada, South Africa, Norway, Malaysia, Philippines, Japan, and India.

Australia’s economy is composed mainly of its service sectors, mining and agriculture as well. The current scenario in Australia suggests that economic status of the country is rising along with more and more job opportunities for those who are searching for best paying overseas jobs. Lets have a look at the various career sectors in Australia at the moment.

IT jobs are in popular demand in Australia. They pay well if the candidate has the desired skills and experience. Though the recession period had adversely hit this sector in Australia like many other countries, now the trends of up growth in this industry are extremely likely. This sector gives a good start in several career options for people who have just graduated or who already have experience in the relevant field. So, people who are from this background can have a good start as it shall provide them with the desired job as well as money. Specialized technical people are often benefited as they are being highly paid by various MNC’s.

Most of the IT people who are in demand are the people who are good at web designin g and are specializing in other programming for web. This is one such sector where people can reach to higher positions only with the help of their skills and knowledge.

Engineers in management positions are also quiet well paying in Australia. The sole criteria of working as a manger in this field is either having a technical degree that supports the relevant field which one is looking forward to, or have experience of four to six years in the desired fields. Such candidates are not only paid well by their organizations but are also given extra benefits of accommodations, medical insurances and other perks that help them in saving their salary a lot.

The engineering mangers are expected to plan, organize, coordinate and control other technical engineering procedures. It is expected from them that they do maintain law and safety at the work stations.

Besides the engineers and IT people, other most upcoming field in Australia is the tourism industry. This industry is being promoted internationally as Australian government finds that tourism industry can fetch great economic support. This sector is a great hub for different people as diverse career options are available. People with good skills in the relevant posts are eligible for managerial level supervisors, clerks and other positions which can be acquired depending upon one’s own skills.

The tourism industry requires lots of technical people ranging from chefs, waiters, office attendants, supervisors managers and so on. So, this sector can give options to both skilled and non skilled people.

The people who are academically well versed and have interest in research and development can find good options in Australia. People wishing to work in this field must have good academic background in their relevant field as this file requires a lot of brainstorming skils.The research and development staff are mostly involved in creating and finding out information on skills that can be implemented in daily life and which are safe and cost effective. Due to the hard work involved in such type of work, these fields are very rewarding. Such people not only get high salaries but also get opportunities to travel around the world and get to meet celebrities. Once their project is successful, it gives them a lot of recognition.

People from medical field also have good scope in Australia, especially the surgeons. Anesthesiologists are in great demand there

Finance and accounting are two other upcoming fields in Australia. Financers and accountants are working for various organizations or can even work individually by providing advice to the clients. People from finance sectors can work with organizations dealing with foreign exchanges, insurance companies, stock markets and many such options. People having sound knowledge and good command over foreign languages can find even better options in Australia.

Other good options available to people can be from the manufacturing sector. This sector requires qualified people at higher positions with good salaries and people who are not technically well aware do get some labor or other jobs that can fetch good amount on daily wages basis.

Australia is surely a great country having diversity in choices. People who would like to settle here can search for several options for jobs in various sectors mentioned above.

Finding a good career option in Australia depends basically on one’s skills and interests and the deserving candidates are paid really well for their hard work.

http://hubpages.com/hub/Top-10-Hot-Jobs-in-Australia-for-2010

Young docs shy away from going solo

admin — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 22:40:47 +0000

With one neighbourhood sometimes having a few GP clinics within walking distance of one another, the competitive market is yet another reason young doctors are thinking twice about going it alone, since there is only so much of the pie to go around. — ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM

Aug 28, 2010

Young docs shy away from going solo

More join clinic chains, citing work-life balance, lack of financial worries

By Salma Khalik , HEALTH CORRESPONDENT

MORE young doctors opting for private sector work are joining established health-care groups as salaried professionals rather than going it alone with their own clinics.

They cite work-life balance, lack of financial worries and having senior doctors to turn to as their main reasons for forgoing being their own boss.

More than 900 non-specialist doctors entered the market as general practitioners (GPs) between 2005 and last year, yet the number of single-doctor GP clinics fell from 1,245 to 1,232. This means that older doctors who retire from their solo practices are not being replaced.

The number of GPs in group practices, however, rose from 1,238 to 1,408 over the same four-year period. The rest of the 900 joined hospitals and polyclinics or became locums doing part-time work.

Dr Koh Hau Tek, 36, has been with Singapore’s largest clinic chain, Healthway, for five years.

The foremost reasons for his choosing to join a group practice are access to mentoring by senior doctors and freedom from worry over keeping the practice in the black.

Besides the $150,000 or so he would have needed to start a solo practice, the father of ‘a very active four-year-old boy’ said going it alone would have meant ‘almost zero family time’.

Most neighbourhood clinics are open at night and on weekends, when residents are back from work and school and likely to consult the doctor. A struggling new GP, probably unable to afford a locum to take on some shifts, would end up working long hours.

In a group practice, however, Dr Koh works sensible hours and gets paid leave and childcare leave.

Dr Felix Tan, who has been with the Parkway Shenton clinics for three years, says going solo ‘is a very risky business’: ‘I was just out of training, with no experience of the private sector. It’s a whole new frontier. I would have had to figure out how to survive.’

Now, he does not need to fret over inventory, or by how much to mark up medicines. The group also gives him continuing medical education, which he needs to retain his right to practice. He got time off – a week a month for six months – to attend a graduate diploma course in occupational medicine, for example.

Had he been on his own, he would have had to pay a locum around $70 an hour to stand in while he hit the books.

Dr Chng Shih Kiat, who as deputy medical director with the Raffles Medical Group recruits doctors for the group, has noticed that younger doctors now put a bigger premium on work-life balance than on fat salaries.

But that said, the medical groups are competitive in pay, he said. A fresh graduate can expect to earn about $10,000 a month, and get a 13th-month bonus.

This is likely more than what they would earn if they had struck out on their own in the early years. To be sure, a highly successful solo practitioner can earn twice that or more, but a less successful one may make $8,000 to $9,000 or less, said Dr Chng.

It does not help that the market is competitive. There is only so much of the pie to go around in a neighbourhood with four or five GP clinics within walking distance of one another.

Another factor which makes survival more certain for GP chains is that they get the bulk of corporate accounts and look after the entire staff of companies. Patients new to an area are also more likely to choose a ‘brand name’ clinic, he said.

Dr Chng noted, however, that some doctors start their own clinics after gaining experience within a group, especially when the economy is booming.

Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan, asked about the trend, said it is fuelled by the bigger role GPs now play in helping people manage their chronic diseases over the long term.

He said this requires a team approach with nurses, physiotherapists and counsellors, which in turn means running a larger clinic; to justify that, a larger clientele is needed to share the overheads.

He added that landlords like the Housing Board should take this trend into account when tendering out clinic space by providing larger units for group practices.

salma@sph.com.sg

RISKY BUSINESS

‘I was just out of training, with no experience of the private sector. It’s a whole new frontier. I would have had to figure out how to survive.’

Dr Felix Tan, who has been with the Parkway Shenton clinics for three years

Views sought on white-collar dispute process

admin — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 22:30:53 +0000

Aug 28, 2010

Views sought on white-collar dispute process

THE Manpower Ministry is asking for feedback on proposals for a less cumbersome way for white-collar executives to resolve pay and other disputes with their employers.

Designed for a growing pool of executives, the new dispute resolution process incorporates two changes:

Raising of the salary cap from the current $2,500 to $4,500.

This means more executives can qualify for access to the Government’s dispute resolution mechanism, which includes mediation and a legal process called adjudication for salary claims.

Setting up a new mediation panel.

This means it will be mandatory for both parties in a dispute – employee and employer – to turn up for negotiations. But executives who wish to use this new mediation panel – made up of tripartite partners from the labour movement, employer groups and the Government – must be union members, even if they work in non-unionised companies.

These refer to executives who are general branch members – which means there are no unions recognised by their companies – and are not eligible for the full range of benefits such as coverage under collective agreements negotiated by unions.

Workers in unionised companies, on the other hand, have their own internally negotiated form of dispute settlement.

The ministry has estimated that 500,000 professionals, managers and executives (PMEs) – half of the total number in the workforce – will potentially have access to the new mechanism.

In addition, one other change has been proposed which was not in the Government’s original dispute resolution scheme that was unveiled in January.

This is a $20,000 cap on the amount which the ministry’s Labour Court can order for successful salary claims.

According to the ministry’s data, all claims lodged by PMEs so far fall under this cap. If the amount in dispute is more than $20,000, the employee in question should pursue the case in civil court.

The consultation document summarising key features of the new process was put up yesterday on the Reach website (www.reach.gov.sg), the Government’s feedback portal. The consultation period will end on Sept 9.