154 ST Editorial: Increase local Bus Driver salary FURTHER

[elephanto]

Once in a blue moon, the Straits Times Editorial got it right.

A few days ago, chanced upon ST Editorial, in very 'paiseh' manner, arguing for further increasing local bus driver's pay to attract Singaporeans.

Implying that low pay is the reason our citizens account for only about 30+% of bus drivers, St reasoned that China drivers need extra 15 mths training to get them to be familiar with driving 'right-hand drive' as opposed to in China, not including local lingo & landmarks. All these are costs which may be avoided by paying more local bus drivers.

Only recently, bus drivers starting pay adjusted from approx 1.1k to 1.3k.

Which I think is an insignificant adjustment aiming to prove to public, locals just dun want to take up vacancy & reverting to employing more China/Msians.

Considering their shift work, waking up around 5am, traffic/road conditions, One Man operation, long bendy buses .... surely starting at 1.6 or 1.7k at least more meaningful mah !

For once, ST editorial got it right ...... by accident i suppose.

 

[Cestbon]

Adding some other benefit the driver get more than $1600/month not included OT.

 

[Einfield]

This is the typical repercussion on our "Profit Above All" policies and mindset, sadly, we don't have many wise man in power.

Once in a blue moon, the Straits Times Editorial got it right.

A few days ago, chanced upon ST Editorial, in very 'paiseh' manner, arguing for further increasing local bus driver's pay to attract Singaporeans.

Implying that low pay is the reason our citizens account for only about 30+% of bus drivers, St reasoned that China drivers need extra 15 mths training to get them to be familiar with driving 'right-hand drive' as opposed to in China, not including local lingo & landmarks. All these are costs which may be avoided by paying more local bus drivers.

Only recently, bus drivers starting pay adjusted from approx 1.1k to 1.3k.

Which I think is an insignificant adjustment aiming to prove to public, locals just dun want to take up vacancy & reverting to employing more China/Msians.

Considering their shift work, waking up around 5am, traffic/road conditions, One Man operation, long bendy buses .... surely starting at 1.6 or 1.7k at least more meaningful mah !

For once, ST editorial got it right ...... by accident i suppose.

 

[Blazars]

Is it possible for the bus companies to hav 2 set of wages? One for local, say a basic of 1.6k and another for FT at 1.1k. Like dat, the companies stil able to attract locals and can "save" some money on the FTs. Of cos the FTs must cap at 30-50% la.
!&!!

 

[Einfield]

Good idea but since the bus company is a listed company, share holder will not agree to it as and the biggest share holder is......

Is it possible for the bus companies to hav 2 set of wages? One for local, say a basic of 1.6k and another for FT at 1.1k. Like dat, the companies stil able to attract locals and can "save" some money on the FTs. Of cos the FTs must cap at 30-50% la.
!&!!

 

[Char_Azn]

Is it possible for the bus companies to hav 2 set of wages? One for local, say a basic of 1.6k and another for FT at 1.1k. Like dat, the companies stil able to attract locals and can "save" some money on the FTs. Of cos the FTs must cap at 30-50% la.
!&!!

I think its a freaking bad idea. Having 2 sets of wages, especially one that is lower then locals will encourage local companies to hire FTs coz they are cheaper.

 

[elephanto]

Honestly, I would rather those fucking highly-paid elite management forget about throwing good money after highfalutin schemes like satellite tracking, TVMobile & new age bus stop etc that consumers don't want anyway

AND instead, channel the money into better wages (local or foreign) as bus drivers deserve more for delivering an essential public service.

Consider the occupational hazards:-
The long hours, fatigue etc
a small mistake in any other line may not be as vital compared to that for bus drivers on busy roads these days....
so more must tolerate bullies who hum-tum bus drivers;
PRCs with wheelchair who harassed drivers ....

the list goes on....

 

[Blazars]

I think its a freaking bad idea. Having 2 sets of wages, especially one that is lower then locals will encourage local companies to hire FTs coz they are cheaper.

Of cos with 2 sets of wages, companies will choose the lower ones. But the FTs employment of the bus captains can only max at 30-50% of total bus captains. This way, locals got higher salaries and the bus compaines can also "save" some money while employing the FTs.

On another note, do the bus companies really expect singaporean to hold a 1.1k jobs while staying in SG, starting a family??
!&!!

 

[Einfield]

It is not the duty of the bus company to ensure you earn enough to start a family.
If they can lower the salary to $900 and some Ah neh fill the job, they will lower it.
It's corporate policy "Profit above all". To ensure share holder reap maximum profit.

Of cos with 2 sets of wages, companies will choose the lower ones. But the FTs employment of the bus captains can only max at 30-50% of total bus captains. This way, locals got higher salaries and the bus compaines can also "save" some money while employing the FTs.

On another note, do the bus companies really expect singaporean to hold a 1.1k jobs while staying in SG, starting a family??
!&!!

 

[scroobal]

SIA and a number of companies do that. But it requires confining such staff to segments that does not mix with other other segments. Unfortunately, bus driving does not allow such variations. A better way is to have quotas so that Singaporeans needs are met as well as those of the country, something that you have commendably suggested. It stops companies abusing the current situation.

The fact that GLC and the govt has stake in 65% of the economy by various companies that it controls, the lobby to have a free rein and meet company targets as opposed to country targets is too just to strong.

Is it possible for the bus companies to hav 2 set of wages? One for local, say a basic of 1.6k and another for FT at 1.1k. Like dat, the companies stil able to attract locals and can "save" some money on the FTs. Of cos the FTs must cap at 30-50% la.
!&!!

 

[kingrant]

SIA and a number of companies do that. But it requires confining such staff to segments that does not mix with other other segments. Unfortunately, bus driving does not allow such variations. A better way is to have quotas so that Singaporeans needs are met as well as those of the country, something that you have commendably suggested. It stops companies abusing the current situation.

The fact that GLC and the govt has stake in 65% of the economy by various companies that it controls, the lobby to have a free rein and meet company targets as opposed to country targets is too just to strong.

Quotas as in dependency ratio now applied by MOM in certain sectors of mfg and F&B. For every 5 locals you can take 1 foreigner kind of thing.

Abuse must be checked, as I have heard that some employers deliberately hire some local oldies and pay them peanuts just to sit around, or make coffee etc. so they can increase the no. of foreign workers.

 

[Char_Azn]

Of cos with 2 sets of wages, companies will choose the lower ones. But the FTs employment of the bus captains can only max at 30-50% of total bus captains. This way, locals got higher salaries and the bus compaines can also "save" some money while employing the FTs.

On another note, do the bus companies really expect singaporean to hold a 1.1k jobs while staying in SG, starting a family??
!&!!

If we set a quota, Companies will always hit the Max before being forced to hire locals. A better way is to force the companies with FTs to have the same salary or higher. Any advantage of hiring foreigners over SG due to pay scale will be removed. And forcing them to pay more for FTs will force them to always look for locals first.

On top of that, in place of that 13.5% CPF contribution, they will instead need to pay 15% to a special CPF fund to be re-distributed amount the rest of the population. The FT gets nothing from all of this. It will give them less incentive to hire foreigners in the first place and even if they do, locals will still benefit.

 

[kingrant]

If we set a quota, Companies will always hit the Max before being forced to hire locals.

Wrong. Based on current MOM guidelines, employers can only recruit foreigners up to a percentage of the locals they have - not the other way around. E.g. if company already has 100 locals, and dependency ratio is 65, then they can take up to 65%, so 65 foreign labour.

 

[scroobal]

MOM from the top to the bottom knows about Tua Peng Kong but powerless because the bigs boys are sitting as grassroots leaders and cadres. Same with the quota. The recent crackdown was in the coffeeshop trade and not in the major sectors. The only reason they went for the coffeeshops was because, patrons(voters) can see there are no locals at all - too obvious.

Quotas as in dependency ratio now applied by MOM in certain sectors of mfg and F&B. For every 5 locals you can take 1 foreigner kind of thing.

Abuse must be checked, as I have heard that some employers deliberately hire some local oldies and pay them peanuts just to sit around, or make coffee etc. so they can increase the no. of foreign workers.

 

[Cestbon]

The best solution is each FT hire by company need to pay min $500 LEVY/month/head.

 

[kingrant]

MOM from the top to the bottom knows about Tua Peng Kong but powerless because the bigs boys are sitting as grassroots leaders and cadres. Same with the quota. The recent crackdown was in the coffeeshop trade and not in the major sectors. The only reason they went for the coffeeshops was because, patrons(voters) can see there are no locals at all - too obvious.

But coffee boys and girls are considered as petty jobs shunned by locals already, so why are locals up in arms over this sector that MOM has to crack down on? Unless MOM is doing it for sake of wayang, instead of touching those big TPKs; but still Singaporeans can see thru --the jobs lost in the PMET sector are probably the most excruciating, and having foreigners take away these jobs is like salt rubbed into wounds caused by the economic downturn created by the global fin crisis.

 

[scroobal]

MOM primary policy is hinged on the fact that no sector becomes totally dependent on FTs. However the coffeeshops abused it. In this sector and the cleaning sector, wages in 1996 was averaging 750 to 900. After the FTs were brought, it fell to below 700 and thus the locals were driven out. Typically the locals would take home $1,100 after OT and weekend. All those opportunities have gone.

The TPK story reminds me of the time when CPIB in the 70s were told to stay away from Shipping and Port sectors.

You are spot on about the PMET sector where the basic educational level is much higher and impact is devastating. How do you explain that to a Singaporean who went thru formal education and yet displaced in a robust economy ie job done by foreigners.

But coffee boys and girls are considered as petty jobs shunned by locals already, so why are locals up in arms over this sector that MOM has to crack down on? Unless MOM is doing it for sake of wayang, instead of touching those big TPKs; but still Singaporeans can see thru --the jobs lost in the PMET sector are probably the most excruciating, and having foreigners take away these jobs is like salt rubbed into wounds caused by the economic downturn created by the global fin crisis.

 

[kingrant]

MOM from the top to the bottom knows about Tua Peng Kong but powerless because the bigs boys are sitting as grassroots leaders and cadres. Same with the quota. The recent crackdown was in the coffeeshop trade and not in the major sectors. The only reason they went for the coffeeshops was because, patrons(voters) can see there are no locals at all - too obvious.

There are big names in the SME sector, captains of industry in food mfg and F&B who are clan heads, grassroots leaders, probably unashamed PAP card carriers..who are close to the PAP echelon, and who can count on cronyism to work around the bureaucrats using Ministerial discretion. They can get hold of permits, licences, employ passes above the quota. They are also very busy come general elections and they can be seen as part of the coterie accompanying the MPs/Ministers during campaigning. case of you scratch my back, then I'll scratch yrs. Only those hardworking honest people working inside the civil service knows but are powerless to blow the whistle. Rice bowls at stake.

 

[elephanto]

There are big names in the SME sector, captains of industry in food mfg and F&B who are clan heads, grassroots leaders, probably unashamed PAP card carriers..who are close to the PAP echelon, and who can count on cronyism to work around the bureaucrats using Ministerial discretion. They can get hold of permits, licences, employ passes above the quota. They are also very busy come general elections and they can be seen as part of the coterie accompanying the MPs/Ministers during campaigning. case of you scratch my back, then I'll scratch yrs. Only those hardworking honest people working inside the civil service knows but are powerless to blow the whistle. Rice bowls at stake.

Both of you are spot on .... esp Scroo on kopitiam aunty/uncle pay

Don't forget another characteristic : likely to have some PBM, BBM ... one glassloot leader in Jurong GRC once kenna jailed due to overdoing the quota for his shipyard foreign workers, sub out his excess entitlement to others for $...

Also another industry avoided in the recent crackdown on F&B/kopitiam scene : Hair Salons ! The big name & medium name salon chains all have foreign worker tricks & problems ...

 

[kingrant]

You are spot on about the PMET sector where the basic educational level is much higher and impact is devastating. How do you explain that to a Singaporean who went thru formal education and yet displaced in a robust economy ie job done by foreigners.

And to top it all, this group of people is also likely to be the ones who want to settle down, raise a family and buy that HDB flat, and having gotten almost there, to see their dreams vaporise into thin air, and Ministers aloof and oblivious of the ground in their Bukit Timah/Nassim/Holland GCBs, and giving inane replies in the Press and Parliament. Nothing short of a bloody revolution ala French style with real head chopping will satisfy these chaps!