I am always talking to people about how the size of Singapore work both for and against it. The city/state is just that a city and because of the size the control mechanisms in place works for the most part work pretty well. What works here I do not think could work anyplace else again because of the size of Singapore.
People are informed about items they need to know but all the media sources in English, Chinese and Malay, I am not too sure about India but I would guess the Indian paper covers that area. Flyers are mailed to all house holds and the TV stations / commercials reach everyone daily with what ever the message is.
While I watch all of these some times I feel as if I am being pumped full of sunshine about Singapore. What a great place to live is the message, work hard we will help you, we will train you, be productive, keep learning so the country will not fall behind, all of which is true! The government has programs in place to train anyone wanting it and lots of money set a side to assist in the payment of the courses so there is no reason why the Singaporean should not be the best trained workers in the region if not the world. But when you look at the wages earned the connection is not made. Highly skilled yet earns so little when compared to there counter parts in other developed in the world.
I’m sorry but I don’t buy in to that, “Oh it’s an Asian country and that is what wages are so low” bit! I’m not talking about some underdeveloped, third world country here. You look at how far Singapore has come since 1965 and then tell me there is not a lot of money being made here, spent here and invested here. but for some reason the benefits are not making it down to the lower lever of workers in the form of pay.
Understand I am no financial wizard or even have a clue about the field but I would think it would be something anyone could look at and say, “W.T.F.!” In the local papers you can read about the growing gap between the rich and poor and how each year it widens even more. What is that old saying, “you need money to make money!”. Will that is truly happening here because the 70% without it is just getting by day to day. The top 10% are living great and the bottom 20%, well they are just S.O.L.
The 44 hours work week is the normal work schedule but many put in overtime which could equal several hours a day without getting paid for it and what I find is many do this by choice! While I am sure some of them are repaid in the long run over time for their hours devoted to the company and not their families or social life which suffered due to it.
That drive to make it to the next level in the Singapore social ladder has a strong effect on the workers of Singapore, making S$3,000 to S$5,000 a month is a dream come true if you can clear more then that you have truly made the big time. Os at the end of the year when the 13th month check is given out if you are setting well in the company and they did good that year you could receive from 1 to 60 months pay depending on your companies policy and profit. So lets say you are working in the finance business you could be given 60 months bonus, that right 5 years pay in one shot. Now I am sure not many people fall into that category but wouldn’t it be great! My wife received up to 5 month when she was with her insurance company and me, well I got ½ months once from my training school in the 3 years I was with them.
Doing just find
Don’t misunderstand me I am not saying the average Singaporean is poor, not by any means. Like any one else you learn how to live on what you have and safe at the same time. They do will at both, trust me. Saving for their child education, trips, cars and other needed / wanted items most achieve what they seek unless unforeseen circumstance arise which wipes out their saving.
With the Singaporean dollar gaining strength it make traveling easy since the sing dollar will go much farther now in other countries.
Update March 13, 2008
By Warren Carter
I am always trying to second guess what will happen in Singapore just to see how close I come. Here are some new plans Singapore in the making.
1) 3 more MTR lines
2) a deep water pier to handle the world largest Cruise ships it should be done about the same time as the casinos in 2010/11
3) the formula 1 races is coming in September of this year (2008) and so it will be a matter of time before a track is build for the yearly event.
4) the Orchard Road project to renovate the entire stretch, this has already started
5) the children’s Olympics will be held here in 2010 also.
6) a new terminal at the Changi Airport this will be Terminal 4
7) Marina Bay project
Punggol Beach project
9) the new Central Business District
So here is what I am wondering will come next. This year (2008) China holds the Olympics and in 2012 it will be held in England so will Singapore but a bid in for the 2016 or 2020 games? If you think about it you will see it happening soon. To really make a make on the world, which Singapore is doing they have to go for it. Singapore is gearing up for the tourist in the future, this is were some of the long term money is for the country. With over 8 million visitors a year now just think what an Olympic game will do for the country? Add to that the casinos and bigger cruise liners coming in it will make Singapore one of, if not the best vacation location in the region. Quite a feat for a small place with limited recourse to enjoy at least at the moment that is.
Hotels will be the key to a goal such as this. Having the needed room to handle the hordes visitors and to keep them at a capacity were they can make a profit but I’m sure that will problem over all.
The government has set aside millions of dollars to train thousands of working in the Tourism industry so this is a major clue of things to come and the direction they are heading.
July 2008
This is something I received from a friend that lives here is in Singapore. Since it was not signed by the author I don’t know if the letter was really sent or not but at the same time it shows some of the feeling of the citizens of the country about what is going on and how it affect them.
From the good citizens of Spore………
- ——————————————————————————————————
Try this letter addressed to the PM …sent to me by a lawyer friend this morning …..
Dear Prime Minister
We citizens of Singapore urge you to PLEASE MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS.
We DO NOT NEED your help. Every time, you mention HELP, we have to run for cover!!!
Help the poor? Raise GST!
Help traffic flow? Up ERP!
Help passenger service? Up Bus fare/MRT fare!
Help us get taxi? Raise taxi fare!
Help us get good government? Raise Minister and Civil servant salary!
Everytime YOU WANT TO HELP, we all PAY FOR IT!!!
THANK YOU THANK YOU…TOLONG LAH, please, we will HELP OURSELVES, no need your help liao.
We DARE NOT ask for help any more!!!
Sir, most honoured sir, I urge you NOT TO HELP Singapore INVEST also!
Everytime your wife invest, we all lose money! Kao liao, kum siah!
Just let us have a dose of bad governance, like recently the Mat Selamat case, like dat….so far, it is ok, your incompetence, we ACCEPT!
PLEASE DO NOT help us have better security! Wait we all kena PAY FOR IT!!
I believe ALL SINGAPOREANS PREFER NOT TO HAVE CRUTCH MENTALITY!
I think it is ok lah, please just take your salary and enjoy life ok?
Thank you thank you,
I am very chin chai one, any how any how, no need to help oso can one.
