NMP Laurence Lien: Singapore is in a 'social recession'

[ginfreely]

What he said is very true, PAP shouldn't use workfare scheme to substitute minimum wage and keep salaries of low income workers artificially low.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/nmp-lauren...money-at-singapore’s-problems--100040442.html
NMP Laurence Lien: Singapore is in a 'social recession'

Singapore is still in a “social recession”, and the recent budget announcements are still not sufficient to turn the country around, Nominated Member of Parliament Laurence Lien said in the House on Tuesday.

The CEO of the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) said the non-profit organization has found Singapore had a “negative trend” in five areas – individual well-being, family, income security, healthcare, and housing and transport.

Singaporeans, said Lien, are "neutral" on culture & values, education, and social connectedness and community cohesion, and positive only on civil & political participation.

The worrying results, said Lien, called for a “fundamental rethink of both our economic and social policies”.

He went on to tackle new budget initiatives like the Wage Credit Scheme (WCS) and the enhanced Workfare Income Supplement (WIS).

“There is no guarantee that productivity will increase; or that it will make any difference to wages, which may simply increase on its own steam,” said Lien on the WCS.
Calling the scheme an expensive exercise, Lien expressed doubt that it would work in motivating Singapore’s workforce.

Lien also questioned the efficacy of the WIS, which benefits lower-income workers in Singapore through government hand-outs, likening it to "throwing money at Singapore's problems".

“Few people feel good getting hand-outs. It demoralizes them because they are reminded that they are not good enough to earn enough for their family. It is better for them to perceive that they can earn a just living wage on their steam,” said Lien.

Instead, he suggested that a minimum wage law for lower-skilled workers would be more effective in raising their wages and self-esteem.

With Shah Salimat reporting from Parliament

 

[greenies]

Exactly, it is the feeling and understanding of many awoken S'poreans now.
Many Gov. policies and schemes such as WCS, WIS etc. make people to be beggars, begging for financial assistance at various dept.
Why not straight away providing the poor (started with lowest earners 20% workforce) of minimum wages so that they will be proud of standing on their own feet.
Next step will be for PMETs... minimum salary for diploma/ university holders.

Fine company which did not hire locals after interviewing them, instead hired FTs finally.

 

[songsongpunggol]

to get a few pathetic hundred bucks, how many forms must one fill up?

and how long is the processing time? must one travel often to put all these craps together? can you do it over the internet?

can low income workers do all these things?

or they will say forget it? what is the takeup rate for handouts application?

what is the damage and pyschological effects of applying handouts from garmen?

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Report has been censored.

Laurence Lien said "cannot throw money at SG's problems."

http://www.nvpc.org.sg/Portals/0/EasyDNNNewsDocuments/1204/Budget_6Mar13_Yahoo.pdf

Yahoo reported it as "SG is in a social recession."

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/nmp-laurence-lien--we-cannot-throw-money-at-singapore%E2%80%99s-problems--100040442.html

 

[syclam]

Typical tactic of the government, make you give up before you even get a whiff of the money... At least they can say that they have provided the funding and the means.

 

[Dreamer1]

Report has been censored.

Laurence Lien said "cannot throw money at SG's problems."

http://www.nvpc.org.sg/Portals/0/EasyDNNNewsDocuments/1204/Budget_6Mar13_Yahoo.pdf

Yahoo reported it as "SG is in a social recession."

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/nmp-laurence-lien--we-cannot-throw-money-at-singapore%E2%80%99s-problems--100040442.html

Brother LRD,this rich man son is very good heart,he sure goes to enjoy life in haven.

 

[Marilyn]

Brother LRD,this rich man son is very good heart,he sure goes to enjoy life in haven.

It seems to run in the Lien family. His brother is a senior doctor specializing in geriatric medicine. He really cares for the elderly and is unafraid to go out of his way to speak against the establishment. I only have the deepest admiration (and hots) for him...

 

[Dreamer1]

It seems to run in the Lien family. His brother is a senior doctor specializing in geriatric medicine. He really cares for the elderly and is unafraid to go out of his way to speak against the establishment. I only have the deepest admiration (and hots) for him...

Brother,who is his brother,are they children of Mrs Lien,whio is still around?thank you.

 

[ginfreely]

Exactly, it is the feeling and understanding of many awoken S'poreans now.
Many Gov. policies and schemes such as WCS, WIS etc. make people to be beggars, begging for financial assistance at various dept.
Why not straight away providing the poor (started with lowest earners 20% workforce) of minimum wages so that they will be proud of standing on their own feet.
Next step will be for PMETs... minimum salary for diploma/ university holders.

Fine company which did not hire locals after interviewing them, instead hired FTs finally.

Yeah I also think should fine company that did not hire locals after interviewing them. I think in SG, no law at all, can even don't call locals for interview, the whole company on employment pass also can. It is actually very easy to track down companies not hiring locals and put up requirements to stop such ridiculous practice, just a matter whether the govt has the heart to do so.

Look at other countries that require companies to justify they have put in enough effort to hire locals before they are given pass to hire foreigners. Such effort must be documented like advertise how many times, how many local applicants, how many locals are qualified and get called up for interview, and then why they don't meet the requirement to be hired. By having such rules then companies then will not play punk.

 

[moolightaffairs]

to get a few pathetic hundred bucks, how many forms must one fill up?

and how long is the processing time? must one travel often to put all these craps together? can you do it over the internet?

can low income workers do all these things?

or they will say forget it? what is the takeup rate for handouts application?

what is the damage and pyschological effects of applying handouts from garmen?

this is what they are good with, red tapes. make u give u even u r legally eligible. then they will give all this money budgeted for the people back to gov end of the financial year to show lhl. "see! i save so much for the gov! i deserve grade A for my appraisal and 6 month performance bonus!"

 

[ginfreely]

to get a few pathetic hundred bucks, how many forms must one fill up?

and how long is the processing time? must one travel often to put all these craps together? can you do it over the internet?

can low income workers do all these things?

or they will say forget it? what is the takeup rate for handouts application?

what is the damage and pyschological effects of applying handouts from garmen?

I heard workfare is given automatically through CPF and cash, employees no need to apply or only self-employed need to apply. It is not those real welfare payout so no need to fill up many forms. But I just think that govt should not subsidise companies, who will simply maximise profit instead of paying reasonable wages. Why the govt love to subsidise companies and foreigners. Why don't they just spend the same money to subsidise Singaporeans directly so that Singaporeans pay lower in health care, housing, transport etc. Throwing money to the companies indeed.

Just like why increase the fees that PRs pay in healthcare, schools etc, how does it benefit Singaporeans directly? The money should be used to reduce the fees that Singaporeans pay in healthcare, schools etc then got meaning, if not, the money just goes to increase the govt coffers but no impact to cut cost of Singaporeans.

 

[Marilyn]

Brother,who is his brother,are they children of Mrs Lien,whio is still around?thank you.

Christopher Lien...an amazing doctor with great compassion for his elderly patients.

 

[Confuseous]

Worth reading to the end, I think...an email making the rounds at the moment...

Cup of Coffee on the Wall>

I sat with my friend in a well-known coffee shop in a neighboring town of
Venice, the city of lights and water. As we enjoyed our coffee, a man entered and sat on an empty table beside us.

He called the waiter and placed his order saying, Two cups of coffee, one of them there on the wall. We heard this order with rather interest and
observed that he was served with one cup of coffee but he paid for two. As soon as he left, the waiter pasted a piece of paper on the wall saying A
Cup of Coffee.

While we were still there, two other men entered and ordered three cups of coffee, two on the table and one on the wall. They had two cups of coffee
but paid for three and left. This time also, the waiter did the same; he pasted a piece of paper on the wall saying, A Cup of Coffee.

It seemed that this gesture was a norm at this place. However, it was something unique and perplexing for us. Since we had nothing to do with the
matter, we finished our coffee, paid the bill and left.

After a few days, we again had a chance to go to this coffee shop. While we were enjoying our coffee, a man entered. The way this man was dressed did
not match the standard nor the atmosphere of this coffee shop.

Poverty was evident from the looks on his face. As he seated himself, he looked at the wall and said, one cup of coffee from the wall. The waiter
served coffee to this man with the customary respect and dignity.

The man had his coffee and left without paying. We were amazed to watch all this when the waiter took off a piece of paper from the wall and threw it
in the dust bin. Now it was no surprise for us the matter was very clear.

The great respect for the needy shown by the inhabitants of this town
welled up our eyes with tears.

Coffee is not a need of our society neither a necessity of life for us. The point to note is that when we take pleasure in any blessing, maybe we also
need to think about those people who appreciate that specific blessing as much as we do but they cannot afford to have it.

Note the character of this waiter, who is playing a consistent and generous role to get the communication going between the affording and the needy
with a smile on his face.

Ponder upon this man in need. He enters the coffee shop without having to lower his self-esteem he has no need to ask for a free cup of coffee without asking or knowing about the one who is giving this cup of coffee to him he only looked at the wall, placed an order for himself, enjoyed his coffee and left.

When we analyze this story, along with the other characters, we need to remember the role played by the wall that reflects the generosity and care
of the dwellers of this town. What a way to show compassion and maintain human dignity for all.

 

[moolightaffairs]

Worth reading to the end, I think...an email making the rounds at the moment...

Cup of Coffee on the Wall>

I sat with my friend in a well-known coffee shop in a neighboring town of
Venice, the city of lights and water. As we enjoyed our coffee, a man entered and sat on an empty table beside us.

He called the waiter and placed his order saying, Two cups of coffee, one of them there on the wall. We heard this order with rather interest and
observed that he was served with one cup of coffee but he paid for two. As soon as he left, the waiter pasted a piece of paper on the wall saying A
Cup of Coffee.

While we were still there, two other men entered and ordered three cups of coffee, two on the table and one on the wall. They had two cups of coffee
but paid for three and left. This time also, the waiter did the same; he pasted a piece of paper on the wall saying, A Cup of Coffee.

It seemed that this gesture was a norm at this place. However, it was something unique and perplexing for us. Since we had nothing to do with the
matter, we finished our coffee, paid the bill and left.

After a few days, we again had a chance to go to this coffee shop. While we were enjoying our coffee, a man entered. The way this man was dressed did
not match the standard nor the atmosphere of this coffee shop.

Poverty was evident from the looks on his face. As he seated himself, he looked at the wall and said, one cup of coffee from the wall. The waiter
served coffee to this man with the customary respect and dignity.

The man had his coffee and left without paying. We were amazed to watch all this when the waiter took off a piece of paper from the wall and threw it
in the dust bin. Now it was no surprise for us the matter was very clear.

The great respect for the needy shown by the inhabitants of this town
welled up our eyes with tears.

Coffee is not a need of our society neither a necessity of life for us. The point to note is that when we take pleasure in any blessing, maybe we also
need to think about those people who appreciate that specific blessing as much as we do but they cannot afford to have it.

Note the character of this waiter, who is playing a consistent and generous role to get the communication going between the affording and the needy
with a smile on his face.

Ponder upon this man in need. He enters the coffee shop without having to lower his self-esteem he has no need to ask for a free cup of coffee without asking or knowing about the one who is giving this cup of coffee to him he only looked at the wall, placed an order for himself, enjoyed his coffee and left.

When we analyze this story, along with the other characters, we need to remember the role played by the wall that reflects the generosity and care
of the dwellers of this town. What a way to show compassion and maintain human dignity for all.

self esteem and human dignity is what pap dont want us to have. they want broken souls that will do anything for them just to survive!
they want the slave to BEG for help when u r dying because of bills and hunger.
then pap will throw some loose change for you on the floor after some tedious paper work(some did not survive!)and as you pick it u, u still got to kiss the toes of pap and sing the praise on 154th media like a broken records.

 

[Confuseous]

self esteem and human dignity is what pap dont want us to have. they want broken souls that will do anything for them just to survive!
they want the slave to BEG for help when u r dying because of bills and hunger.
then pap will throw some loose change for you on the floor after some tedious paper work(some did not survive!)and as you pick it u, u still got to kiss the toes of pap and sing the praise on 154th media like a broken records.

Exactly my point, sir. They make you grovel for $$$ which belong to Singaporeans. They make you feel that it is the PAP's money, via their various devious schemes which will need the help of their porlampars to navigate. They want you to feel eternally grateful to them for giving you OTHER PEOPLE'S (citizens' money). They make sure that your relatives know that you are in dire straits via their "means testing" evil schemes - they make sure that you have no human dignity left by the time you go through half-way through the process.

 

[ginfreely]

Worth reading to the end, I think...an email making the rounds at the moment...

Cup of Coffee on the Wall>
..................................... The waiter
served coffee to this man with the customary respect and dignity.

The man had his coffee and left without paying. We were amazed to watch all this when the waiter took off a piece of paper from the wall and threw it
in the dust bin. Now it was no surprise for us the matter was very clear.

The great respect for the needy shown by the inhabitants of this town
welled up our eyes with tears.

Coffee is not a need of our society neither a necessity of life for us. The point to note is that when we take pleasure in any blessing, maybe we also
need to think about those people who appreciate that specific blessing as much as we do but they cannot afford to have it.

Note the character of this waiter, who is playing a consistent and generous role to get the communication going between the affording and the needy
with a smile on his face.

Ponder upon this man in need. He enters the coffee shop without having to lower his self-esteem he has no need to ask for a free cup of coffee without asking or knowing about the one who is giving this cup of coffee to him he only looked at the wall, placed an order for himself, enjoyed his coffee and left.

When we analyze this story, along with the other characters, we need to remember the role played by the wall that reflects the generosity and care
of the dwellers of this town. What a way to show compassion and maintain human dignity for all.

Is this real story? Very good leh, real transfer of wealth, not the fake one like our case the waiter pocketed the extra coffee and people have to beg for the coffee and the waiter then dished out some leftover coffee in disdain.

Somehow this story reminds me of one that we studied in school long time ago about a poor man ordered all he can afford and the waiter shouted the order across said "this gentleman here wants one meatball!" something like that.

 

[ginfreely]

Exactly my point, sir. They make you grovel for $$$ which belong to Singaporeans. They make you feel that it is the PAP's money, via their various devious schemes which will need the help of their porlampars to navigate. They want you to feel eternally grateful to them for giving you OTHER PEOPLE'S (citizens' money). They make sure that your relatives know that you are in dire straits via their "means testing" evil schemes - they make sure that you have no human dignity left by the time you go through half-way through the process.

This means testing is the brain child of smart alec Khaw Boon Wan, once your address is private property, sure don't meet the criteria and have to pay through the nose. They said they going to increase the medifund for the elderly in the budget 2013? The question is who will qualify for medifund? Must be really really really poor and destitute? What about the not poor not rich ones??

 

[soIsee]

In simple words Lien is saying :

The common Sinkie has been screwed so hard and for so long that now their lives suffered both on the monetary front as well as on the well being front.

But really if you read inbetween the lines, you will see all he said was that Sinkie is being screwed so hard that the only real cause is having not enough money to meet the high living cost.

And that being such, all other aspects suffered.

With exception of those in the ivory towers and their cronies.