Many SMEs closing, moving or scaling down becos Sinkies demands lesser FT

[RonRon]

Well we were unhappy about overcrowding at our public spaces. This unhappiness was magnified many fold during the 2011 General Election by the opposition parties riding on anti-immigrants sentiment among some Singaporeans. One opposition candidates, Nicole Seah, famously said: "Now, everytime I take the train, I feel I am in a different country. It’s like taking a holiday, I don’t even need to bring my passport". The alternative websites have been fanning anti-immigration sentiment ever since. The opposition and alternative websites defended it as reflecting ground sentiment.

So now the DRC had been reduced and foreign workers levies had been raised to limit the number of immigrants. When The Straits Times did a quick check of 25 SMEs with annual sales revenues of between $10million and $100million, it found half expected the resulting labour shortages and higher wage costs to affect their expansion plans. Two-thirds said they had been hit when foreign worker levies were raised in 2010 and last year.

The 160,000 SMEs, which account for the bulk of employment here, when faced with labour crunch and higher cost could be moving, scaling down or closing. Some Singaporeans may lose their jobs. Such is the price to pay for less crowding.

Excerpt:
Many of them are already having trouble filling vacancies, and are bracing themselves for the worst. Some construction firms have put projects on hold or prepared to scale down operations, while several manufacturers are considering moving to cheaper locations like Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam. And some are wondering whether they might be forced to close down altogether.

Such worst-case scenarios are being floated as Singapore moves to reduce its reliance on foreign labour.

Mr Warren Teh, general manager of an IT retailer, says he has tried to hire more Singaporeans, but they do not stay for long.

He also tried to hire older workers past the age of 62, but only one person expressed interest - and did not turn up for the interview.

And when locals quit, it effectively reduces the number of foreigners he can hire. 'If we can get some Singaporeans in, it's like striking the lottery,' he says

 

[RonRon]

Everyone say jobs are being taken by foreigners, but when my company advertise for job vacancy, only 1 out of 10 applications come from Singaporeans. Same comments from other company's who has vacancy.
it is really striking lottery like what the articles say if we manage to hire Singaporeans

 

[QXD]

Rubbish to say that they cannot find Singaporeans to employ when they offer salaries the Singaporeans CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE!

To hell with these slave labour reliant companies, better they be bankrupted now rather than face a public lynching someday.

 

[congo9]

Better pay higher salary then ! It work in this way !

Everyone say jobs are being taken by foreigners, but when my company advertise for job vacancy, only 1 out of 10 applications come from Singaporeans. Same comments from other company's who has vacancy.
it is really striking lottery like what the articles say if we manage to hire Singaporeans

 

[congo9]

If the labor cost rise, the land cost has to go down. This is what the govt dread looking at. It not just the revenue is lost, but also politically dynamite for them to handle. Try to console those who bought HDB flat at 600K !!

For example,

Rubbish to say that they cannot find Singaporeans to employ when they offer salaries the Singaporeans CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE!

To hell with these slave labour reliant companies, better they be bankrupted now rather than face a public lynching someday.

 

[limpeh2]

These useless whinging SMEs again! If their business model is shit, no amount of cheap (foreign or not) labour abuse will save them.
Only 1 out of 10 applications come from Sporns BECAUSE most recruitment ads INSIST on foreigners. The 1 out of 10 applied only through sheer desperation even though their applications were probably considered ineligible & thrown out. The question is, how many of the Sporns who applied were even selected for the jobs?

Very likely, none. Thanks to these disingenuous, foreigner-loving SMEs.

 

[mark.l]

If the labor cost rise, the land cost has to go down. This is what the govt dread looking at. It not just the revenue is lost, but also politically dynamite for them to handle. Try to console those who bought HDB flat at 600K !!

For example,

Mr Congo 9,

100 % agree. Almost all the contentious components of cost in SG boils down to that. Many Singaporeans have not yet thought through & critically assessed such issues.

 

[borom]

A company like Ocean Pearl Shipping that still use human beings for the "backbreaking task of moving goods up and down staircase to lorries"
deserves to be closed.Obviously they have not heard of cranes or forklifts.
Even domestic house movers uses lorries with mechanised fork lifts -and I see them still mostly hiring Singaporeans.
A first world country with third world working conditions but one of the highest land price .

 

[The_Hypocrite]

Please let me have the job description and pay...

Everyone say jobs are being taken by foreigners, but when my company advertise for job vacancy, only 1 out of 10 applications come from Singaporeans. Same comments from other company's who has vacancy.
it is really striking lottery like what the articles say if we manage to hire Singaporeans

 

[STUCK_HERE]

So what? Every country faces the same problem. Eg. In Korea and Japan, the govt and the SME will have to come up with creative ways to hire their locals. The employers and the PAP have it too good for the longest times already. More foreigners means more income for the employers and even more income for the PAP. It is good that these SMEs are crushed. Then they will have time to contemplate who to vote for in 2016. I hope tons of them go bust. Join me.

 

[Char_Azn]

'If we can get some Singaporeans in, it's like striking the lottery,' he says

Quick, go tell the guys at transitioning.org and let this guy strike lottery everyday.

 

[toolanliao]

haha.. rubbish from the shit time again. if art director holding s-pass (min salary 2k) better not call herself art director. what a joke.

 

[SinghSons]

What Rubbish? u think we are blind is it?

 

[halsey02]

What Rubbish? u think we are blind is it?

Yes!, the 60% are blind, daft & dumb & no balls ( bothe sexes)...

 

[Cestbon]

Another Stupid Times news. Employer only wanted to hire cheap labor. Is not that cannot find worker. Unless those very skill job need to pay $5k and above.

Those cleaner,guard, F&B, ....................employer still reluctant to up the wage to more than $1k basic pay not included benefit and OT.