- Joined
- Jun 2, 2011
- Messages
- 15,193
- Points
- 113
Sir John why never jio us to your private party?
Things that will happen after Polling Day (10 Jul)
- Thread starter LITTLEREDDOT
- Start date
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2008
- Messages
- 6,578
- Points
- 113
nothing will change after 10 July
the same old shit
the same old thing
the same old problems
the same old kpkb
another five years of kpkb
sammyboys will remain the same
some brothers will go awol
some will just disappear
some will continue to bite with no teeth
some will try to listen with no ears
some will have lost their sense of smell
many will have to be readmitted to imh
so after the grand erections , nothing will change
but sammyboys will still continue as the bestest forum around
good luck brothers, take care, stay safe and safe alive
the same old shit
the same old thing
the same old problems
the same old kpkb
another five years of kpkb
sammyboys will remain the same
some brothers will go awol
some will just disappear
some will continue to bite with no teeth
some will try to listen with no ears
some will have lost their sense of smell
many will have to be readmitted to imh
so after the grand erections , nothing will change
but sammyboys will still continue as the bestest forum around
good luck brothers, take care, stay safe and safe alive
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2020
- Messages
- 9,153
- Points
- 113
u sound like someone i use to know
are u?
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2014
- Messages
- 36,768
- Points
- 113
There's no enough mangoes and peaches to go around. My grassroots adviser said we should keep the party small.
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2020
- Messages
- 9,153
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- 113
will you distribute free angpaos at polling station today?
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2011
- Messages
- 15,193
- Points
- 113
Sir John will distribute free KY to all Singaporeans outside polling station today.
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2008
- Messages
- 14,867
- Points
- 113
1. All the pre-Polling Day euphoria experienced by the Opposition will evaporate as, once again, the euphoria that they always feel before Polling Day is not reflected in the polling results.
2. Leong Sze Hian will be found guilty of defaming PM Lee Hsien Loong.
3. Li Shengwu will be found guilty of contempt of court.
4. The number of new covid-19 cases will increase sharply.
5. GST will increase (how else to make up for the $93 billion spent on Resilience, Solidarity and Fortitude budgets)?
6. Ministry of Manpower will increase the number of employment passes close to pre-covid-19 level, citing that a severe shortage of foreign talent is seriously throttling the economic recovery and is not in Singapore's best interests.
7. Bus and train fares will increase.
8. Lee Hsien Yang will run for the next Presidential election.
9. Chan Chun Seng will become the next PM, a seat-warmer for the next member from the familee.
10. Singapore's population will increase, first to 6.9 million, then to 9,999,999 (NOT 10 million).
11. E-commerce tax.
12. Usage-based Electronic Road Pricing (ERP)
2. Leong Sze Hian will be found guilty of defaming PM Lee Hsien Loong.
3. Li Shengwu will be found guilty of contempt of court.
4. The number of new covid-19 cases will increase sharply.
5. GST will increase (how else to make up for the $93 billion spent on Resilience, Solidarity and Fortitude budgets)?
6. Ministry of Manpower will increase the number of employment passes close to pre-covid-19 level, citing that a severe shortage of foreign talent is seriously throttling the economic recovery and is not in Singapore's best interests.
7. Bus and train fares will increase.
8. Lee Hsien Yang will run for the next Presidential election.
9. Chan Chun Seng will become the next PM, a seat-warmer for the next member from the familee.
10. Singapore's population will increase, first to 6.9 million, then to 9,999,999 (NOT 10 million).
11. E-commerce tax.
12. Usage-based Electronic Road Pricing (ERP)
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2008
- Messages
- 14,867
- Points
- 113
1. All the pre-Polling Day euphoria experienced by the Opposition will evaporate as, once again, the euphoria that they always feel before Polling Day is not reflected in the polling results.
2. Leong Sze Hian will be found guilty of defaming PM Lee Hsien Loong.
3. Li Shengwu will be found guilty of contempt of court.
4. The number of new covid-19 cases will increase sharply.
5. GST will increase (how else to make up for the $93 billion spent on Resilience, Solidarity and Fortitude budgets)?
6. Ministry of Manpower will increase the number of employment passes close to pre-covid-19 level, citing that a severe shortage of foreign talent is seriously throttling the economic recovery and is not in Singapore's best interests.
7. Bus and train fares will increase.
8. Lee Hsien Yang will run for the next Presidential election.
9. Chan Chun Seng will become the next PM, a seat-warmer for the next member from the familee.
10. Singapore's population will increase, first to 6.9 million, then to 9,999,999 (NOT 10 million).
11. E-commerce tax.
12. Usage-based Electronic Road Pricing (ERP)
13. Economy will worsen.
14. Companies promoted by the govt/PAP will announce retrenchments.
2. Leong Sze Hian will be found guilty of defaming PM Lee Hsien Loong.
3. Li Shengwu will be found guilty of contempt of court.
4. The number of new covid-19 cases will increase sharply.
5. GST will increase (how else to make up for the $93 billion spent on Resilience, Solidarity and Fortitude budgets)?
6. Ministry of Manpower will increase the number of employment passes close to pre-covid-19 level, citing that a severe shortage of foreign talent is seriously throttling the economic recovery and is not in Singapore's best interests.
7. Bus and train fares will increase.
8. Lee Hsien Yang will run for the next Presidential election.
9. Chan Chun Seng will become the next PM, a seat-warmer for the next member from the familee.
10. Singapore's population will increase, first to 6.9 million, then to 9,999,999 (NOT 10 million).
11. E-commerce tax.
12. Usage-based Electronic Road Pricing (ERP)
13. Economy will worsen.
14. Companies promoted by the govt/PAP will announce retrenchments.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2008
- Messages
- 14,867
- Points
- 113
Resorts World Sentosa to retrench staff amid 'devastating impact' of Covid-19 pandemic
1 of 2
RWS said that it fully understands the difficulty and anxiety this means to affected team members and their families.ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
Toh Ting Wei
Cheryl Teh
SINGAPORE - Integrated resort operator Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) will be laying off a significant number of staff as it struggles to cope with the impact to tourism brought about by Covid-19.
The Straits Times has contacted RWS to verify the number of staff retrenched.
In a statement on Wednesday (July 15), RWS said it has been streamlining its operational resources to stay agile and respond quickly to situations in the current "unpredictable climate".
"Over the past few months, we have reviewed all costs, eliminated non-essential spending, and reduced the salaries of management by up to 30 per cent," said RWS.
"In this latest round of review, we have made the difficult decision to implement a one-off workforce rationalisation. This decision was made after a thorough process of careful deliberation and consultation."
All affected workers will get "fair compensation". The vast majority of local staff have also been retained.
RWS said that it fully understands the difficulty and anxiety this means to affected team members and their families.
It said it is also committed to working with the Government to help identify new career opportunities for retrenched workers.
"Our human resources team is working closely with the Ministry of Manpower, Attractions, Resorts and Entertainment Union (AREU) and Singapore National Employers Federation to ensure the exercise is carried out in a responsible, transparent and sensitive manner," said RWS.
It has also worked with a multi-agency task force comprising AREU, the National Trades Union Congress’ Employment and Employability Institute, the Public Service Division, Workforce Singapore and SkillsFuture Singapore to identify and match job openings to team members based on their skills and experience.
RWS added: "With the support and expedient assistance from the task force, at least two to three job opportunities have been successfully identified and shortlisted for every affected local team member."
In explaining the need for a review of its operations, RWS said the Covid-19 pandemic has had "a devastating impact" on the tourism industry.
"Its pervasive and lasting effects will accelerate shifts in the tourism industry that require significant adjustments by all travel and tourism players," it added.
"RWS will begin the journey to adapt and transform as we stand united with Singapore to weather this crisis and prepare for the recovery of Singapore's tourism."
NTUC’s e2i and AREU said in a joint statement that they were given advance notice of RWS’ retrenchment plans in light of the impact of Covid-19.
They added that RWS had decided on the exercise as a last resort, having fulfilled its obligations, and has helped workers in the past few months.
e2i confirmed that retrenched workers will get at least two to three job opportunities matched to their skills based on information provided by the company.
The workers can also look for more opportunities at physical job fairs at e2i.
Mr Gilbert Tan, assistant director-general of NTUC and chief executive officer of e2i, said e2i is also working with RWS to conduct employability workshops for affected workers.
He added: “We strongly urge businesses to tap on the NTUC Job Security Council ecosystem to provide greater job security for workers, shorten their unemployment period when there are job losses, and to help workers transit quickly into new employment.”
1 of 2
RWS said that it fully understands the difficulty and anxiety this means to affected team members and their families.ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
Toh Ting Wei
Cheryl Teh
SINGAPORE - Integrated resort operator Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) will be laying off a significant number of staff as it struggles to cope with the impact to tourism brought about by Covid-19.
The Straits Times has contacted RWS to verify the number of staff retrenched.
In a statement on Wednesday (July 15), RWS said it has been streamlining its operational resources to stay agile and respond quickly to situations in the current "unpredictable climate".
"Over the past few months, we have reviewed all costs, eliminated non-essential spending, and reduced the salaries of management by up to 30 per cent," said RWS.
"In this latest round of review, we have made the difficult decision to implement a one-off workforce rationalisation. This decision was made after a thorough process of careful deliberation and consultation."
All affected workers will get "fair compensation". The vast majority of local staff have also been retained.
RWS said that it fully understands the difficulty and anxiety this means to affected team members and their families.
It said it is also committed to working with the Government to help identify new career opportunities for retrenched workers.
"Our human resources team is working closely with the Ministry of Manpower, Attractions, Resorts and Entertainment Union (AREU) and Singapore National Employers Federation to ensure the exercise is carried out in a responsible, transparent and sensitive manner," said RWS.
It has also worked with a multi-agency task force comprising AREU, the National Trades Union Congress’ Employment and Employability Institute, the Public Service Division, Workforce Singapore and SkillsFuture Singapore to identify and match job openings to team members based on their skills and experience.
RWS added: "With the support and expedient assistance from the task force, at least two to three job opportunities have been successfully identified and shortlisted for every affected local team member."
In explaining the need for a review of its operations, RWS said the Covid-19 pandemic has had "a devastating impact" on the tourism industry.
"Its pervasive and lasting effects will accelerate shifts in the tourism industry that require significant adjustments by all travel and tourism players," it added.
"RWS will begin the journey to adapt and transform as we stand united with Singapore to weather this crisis and prepare for the recovery of Singapore's tourism."
NTUC’s e2i and AREU said in a joint statement that they were given advance notice of RWS’ retrenchment plans in light of the impact of Covid-19.
They added that RWS had decided on the exercise as a last resort, having fulfilled its obligations, and has helped workers in the past few months.
e2i confirmed that retrenched workers will get at least two to three job opportunities matched to their skills based on information provided by the company.
The workers can also look for more opportunities at physical job fairs at e2i.
Mr Gilbert Tan, assistant director-general of NTUC and chief executive officer of e2i, said e2i is also working with RWS to conduct employability workshops for affected workers.
He added: “We strongly urge businesses to tap on the NTUC Job Security Council ecosystem to provide greater job security for workers, shorten their unemployment period when there are job losses, and to help workers transit quickly into new employment.”
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2020
- Messages
- 9,153
- Points
- 113
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2016
- Messages
- 2,410
- Points
- 83
erp will definitely resume service very soon.
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2008
- Messages
- 14,867
- Points
- 113
The bad news are released only after Polling Day
NTUC warns of possible retrenchments and cutbacks despite financial support from the Government
by Rubaashini Shunmuganathan
3 August 2020
in Current Affairs
While workers have been protected from the worst economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic due to financial aid from the Government, there is still possibility of more retrenchments and difficult days ahead, said labour chief Ng Chee Meng.
While speaking at his National Day message on Monday (3 August), Mr Ng said that the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) is prepared to help workers during this testing times by protecting every worker, preserving jobs for all, and offering care and support to those who need it.
“This year has been a year like no other. We are amidst great change and upheaval. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted Singapore and many countries economically and socially. The health risks are still at our doorstep,” said Mr Ng, who is NTUC’s secretary-general.
“Although the Government’s substantial financial aid has shielded us from the very worst economic effects at the onset of the pandemic, we must be prepared for retrenchments, cutbacks, and more difficult days ahead,” he added.
If that’s not all, Mr Ng also expressed his thanks to front-line workers, given that they have selflessly put others ahead of themselves to protect communities and keep Singapore going.
To explain further on preserving jobs, he stated that NTUC is in talks with companies to keep jobs of employees by exploring all cost-cutting options.
“I trust that both unions and employers will approach these exercises with transparency and in mutual good faith,” said Mr Ng.
Additionally, the secretary-general of NTUC encouraged businesses to consider seconding employees to sectors that are still hiring. This is so the workers are still employed and the businesses can preserve their own manpower capabilities.
As for employers who are in industries that can still train workers, they can tap into the enhanced Union Training Assistance Programme and the NETF (NTUC-Education and Training Fund) Collaborative Fund.
For cases in which retrenchment is not avoidable, Mr Ng stressed that the priority is to make sure the companies treat workers fairly with dignity, based on the Fair Retrenchment Framework that NTUC proposed in July.
One of the things that is part of the framework is protecting the Singaporean core of the workforce, while foreigners with special or critical skills can be retained as well.
Mr Ng pointed out that unions, along with NTUC’s Job Security Council and Employment and Employability Institute, will do everything in their power to match affected workers to jobs and make sure they get the right training required for them to take on new jobs.
Separately, he also mentioned about unfair retrenchment exercise in a Facebook post last week, in which he revealed that three unions were permitted to go on strike, if needed, to stop aircraft maintenance firm Eagle Service Asia from going ahead with its plan of retrenching more than 140 workers unilaterally.
Thankfully, the retrenchment plans was not carried out after the company fixed its retrenchment process and reached an amicable agreement with the unions.
On top of that, Mr Ng said in his message that NTUC is deploying its network to support the Government in coming up with new jobs and traineeships for young and old Singaporeans.
NTUC will push for digital transformation and innovations in its union, membership and training models. This is so it can represent workers properly and be relevant to them, he noted.
Mr Ng went on to say that this comes as COVID-19 has led to global uncertainties and significantly changed the way working and business is done.
He also requested employers and Government to continue working with the labour movement “in the spirit of shared responsibility and common understanding, to ensure that we pull through this crisis together”.
“Now, more than ever, Singaporeans must unite. NTUC promises to work together with you to emerge stronger and build a Singapore that we can be proud to call home,” Mr Ng concluded.
NTUC warns of possible retrenchments and cutbacks despite financial support from the Government
3 August 2020
in Current Affairs
While workers have been protected from the worst economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic due to financial aid from the Government, there is still possibility of more retrenchments and difficult days ahead, said labour chief Ng Chee Meng.
While speaking at his National Day message on Monday (3 August), Mr Ng said that the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) is prepared to help workers during this testing times by protecting every worker, preserving jobs for all, and offering care and support to those who need it.
“This year has been a year like no other. We are amidst great change and upheaval. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted Singapore and many countries economically and socially. The health risks are still at our doorstep,” said Mr Ng, who is NTUC’s secretary-general.
“Although the Government’s substantial financial aid has shielded us from the very worst economic effects at the onset of the pandemic, we must be prepared for retrenchments, cutbacks, and more difficult days ahead,” he added.
If that’s not all, Mr Ng also expressed his thanks to front-line workers, given that they have selflessly put others ahead of themselves to protect communities and keep Singapore going.
To explain further on preserving jobs, he stated that NTUC is in talks with companies to keep jobs of employees by exploring all cost-cutting options.
“I trust that both unions and employers will approach these exercises with transparency and in mutual good faith,” said Mr Ng.
Additionally, the secretary-general of NTUC encouraged businesses to consider seconding employees to sectors that are still hiring. This is so the workers are still employed and the businesses can preserve their own manpower capabilities.
As for employers who are in industries that can still train workers, they can tap into the enhanced Union Training Assistance Programme and the NETF (NTUC-Education and Training Fund) Collaborative Fund.
For cases in which retrenchment is not avoidable, Mr Ng stressed that the priority is to make sure the companies treat workers fairly with dignity, based on the Fair Retrenchment Framework that NTUC proposed in July.
One of the things that is part of the framework is protecting the Singaporean core of the workforce, while foreigners with special or critical skills can be retained as well.
Mr Ng pointed out that unions, along with NTUC’s Job Security Council and Employment and Employability Institute, will do everything in their power to match affected workers to jobs and make sure they get the right training required for them to take on new jobs.
Separately, he also mentioned about unfair retrenchment exercise in a Facebook post last week, in which he revealed that three unions were permitted to go on strike, if needed, to stop aircraft maintenance firm Eagle Service Asia from going ahead with its plan of retrenching more than 140 workers unilaterally.
Thankfully, the retrenchment plans was not carried out after the company fixed its retrenchment process and reached an amicable agreement with the unions.
On top of that, Mr Ng said in his message that NTUC is deploying its network to support the Government in coming up with new jobs and traineeships for young and old Singaporeans.
NTUC will push for digital transformation and innovations in its union, membership and training models. This is so it can represent workers properly and be relevant to them, he noted.
Mr Ng went on to say that this comes as COVID-19 has led to global uncertainties and significantly changed the way working and business is done.
He also requested employers and Government to continue working with the labour movement “in the spirit of shared responsibility and common understanding, to ensure that we pull through this crisis together”.
“Now, more than ever, Singaporeans must unite. NTUC promises to work together with you to emerge stronger and build a Singapore that we can be proud to call home,” Mr Ng concluded.
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2008
- Messages
- 14,867
- Points
- 113
Coronavirus pandemic
Job cuts hard to avoid for SIA amid Covid-19 pandemic, say experts
SIA expects passenger capacity at the end of the second quarter of the 2020/2021 financial year to be at 7 per cent.PHOTO: ST FILE
With air travel battered by pandemic and no end in sight, they say cost cutting is inevitable
Toh Ting Wei
Job cuts could be in the pipeline for Singapore Airlines (SIA), which is now overstaffed for current demand, experts said yesterday.
SIA could also try to cut costs in other areas, or possibly receive additional government support to tide it through the crisis, they added.
The airline had last week announced a net loss of $1.12 billion in the quarter ending June 30 - its worst quarterly showing. It also said it is reviewing the shape and size of its network over the longer term, given the impact of Covid-19 on air travel.
The International Air Transport Association has said it will take until 2024 for global passenger traffic to return to the level last year.
Mr Nicholas Wyatt, head of research and analysis in travel and tourism at analytics firm GlobalData, said the recovery of international flights depends on how quickly the pandemic can be brought under control, but "there are few signs that this is happening".
But if airlines cut jobs excessively, they will be shorthanded should the market rebound quicker than expected, he added.
Other options to manage costs could include renegotiating deals with suppliers or cutting in-flight amenities, said Mr Wyatt.
Ms Joanna Lu, Asia's head of consultancy at Ascend by Cirium, said that cutting staff costs, including through retrenchments, seems inevitable with continued low demand for air travel.
"If there is no major breakthrough in containing the virus in the next couple of months, it is extremely challenging for SIA to sustain its business scale."
While SIA has registered strong demand for cargo transport and could benefit from green lane arrangements, Ms Lu said these avenues are only small parts of its business compared with before Covid-19.
It is not uncommon to see airlines worldwide cutting staff costs through measures like voluntary retirements, furloughs and leaves of absence, she added.
Associate Professor Walter Theseira, an economist with the Singapore University of Social Sciences, noted that the crew manpower costs for SIA would have come down, given that crew are paid for the time spent in the air.
He said: "For SIA and other international airlines, it is really about whether their contracts allow them to pay crew the bare minimum and whether the crew want to stay on.
"I think what could work is if aircrew find outside jobs that take up a substantial portion of their time and be rostered to fly enough so as to keep their skills up, but that is easier said than done."
SIA expects its passenger capacity at the end of the second quarter of the 2020/2021 financial year to be at just 7 per cent compared with the level before Covid-19.
Separately, its chief executive Goh Choon Phong announced last week pay cuts for all management and rank-and-file staff, as well as early retirement for ground staff and pilots. He also told staff to brace themselves for additional measures.
In the last few months, SIA has also been boosting its balance sheet. It has raised $11 billion since its financial year started in April.
CIMB Private Banking economist Song Seng Wun said the Jobs Support Scheme, which subsidises up to 75 per cent of wages for local workers in the aviation sector, will be key to helping SIA retain workers. The scheme is set to stop after this month.
"I would say that there are compelling reasons for JSS to be extended for some industries which are still finding it extremely difficult to get back on their feet through no fault of theirs," he said.
"I think SIA value-adds to the economy and contributes to Singapore's role as a transport hub... It is a national icon that must be protected and must be helped."
Mr Alan Tan, president of the Singapore Airlines Staff Union, noted that unlike some other carriers that have retrenched cabin crew, SIA has managed to hang on to its crew so far. "We will work with the company to continue to do what we can, but given how badly the global air travel industry is doing, it will honestly take a miracle for us to keep all of them indefinitely," he said.
Job cuts hard to avoid for SIA amid Covid-19 pandemic, say experts
SIA expects passenger capacity at the end of the second quarter of the 2020/2021 financial year to be at 7 per cent.PHOTO: ST FILE
With air travel battered by pandemic and no end in sight, they say cost cutting is inevitable
Toh Ting Wei
Job cuts could be in the pipeline for Singapore Airlines (SIA), which is now overstaffed for current demand, experts said yesterday.
SIA could also try to cut costs in other areas, or possibly receive additional government support to tide it through the crisis, they added.
The airline had last week announced a net loss of $1.12 billion in the quarter ending June 30 - its worst quarterly showing. It also said it is reviewing the shape and size of its network over the longer term, given the impact of Covid-19 on air travel.
The International Air Transport Association has said it will take until 2024 for global passenger traffic to return to the level last year.
Mr Nicholas Wyatt, head of research and analysis in travel and tourism at analytics firm GlobalData, said the recovery of international flights depends on how quickly the pandemic can be brought under control, but "there are few signs that this is happening".
But if airlines cut jobs excessively, they will be shorthanded should the market rebound quicker than expected, he added.
Other options to manage costs could include renegotiating deals with suppliers or cutting in-flight amenities, said Mr Wyatt.
Ms Joanna Lu, Asia's head of consultancy at Ascend by Cirium, said that cutting staff costs, including through retrenchments, seems inevitable with continued low demand for air travel.
"If there is no major breakthrough in containing the virus in the next couple of months, it is extremely challenging for SIA to sustain its business scale."
While SIA has registered strong demand for cargo transport and could benefit from green lane arrangements, Ms Lu said these avenues are only small parts of its business compared with before Covid-19.
It is not uncommon to see airlines worldwide cutting staff costs through measures like voluntary retirements, furloughs and leaves of absence, she added.
Associate Professor Walter Theseira, an economist with the Singapore University of Social Sciences, noted that the crew manpower costs for SIA would have come down, given that crew are paid for the time spent in the air.
He said: "For SIA and other international airlines, it is really about whether their contracts allow them to pay crew the bare minimum and whether the crew want to stay on.
"I think what could work is if aircrew find outside jobs that take up a substantial portion of their time and be rostered to fly enough so as to keep their skills up, but that is easier said than done."
SIA expects its passenger capacity at the end of the second quarter of the 2020/2021 financial year to be at just 7 per cent compared with the level before Covid-19.
Separately, its chief executive Goh Choon Phong announced last week pay cuts for all management and rank-and-file staff, as well as early retirement for ground staff and pilots. He also told staff to brace themselves for additional measures.
In the last few months, SIA has also been boosting its balance sheet. It has raised $11 billion since its financial year started in April.
CIMB Private Banking economist Song Seng Wun said the Jobs Support Scheme, which subsidises up to 75 per cent of wages for local workers in the aviation sector, will be key to helping SIA retain workers. The scheme is set to stop after this month.
"I would say that there are compelling reasons for JSS to be extended for some industries which are still finding it extremely difficult to get back on their feet through no fault of theirs," he said.
"I think SIA value-adds to the economy and contributes to Singapore's role as a transport hub... It is a national icon that must be protected and must be helped."
Mr Alan Tan, president of the Singapore Airlines Staff Union, noted that unlike some other carriers that have retrenched cabin crew, SIA has managed to hang on to its crew so far. "We will work with the company to continue to do what we can, but given how badly the global air travel industry is doing, it will honestly take a miracle for us to keep all of them indefinitely," he said.
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2008
- Messages
- 14,867
- Points
- 113
SMRT held back the announcement of the reduction in bus services until after GE2020
MPs hit back at LTA over 'drastic changes' to Bukit Panjang bus services connecting residents to city
The changes to the bus services will take effect from Aug 16, 2020.ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG
Christopher Tan
Senior Transport Correspondent
SINGAPORE - The planned removal of key bus services in Bukit Panjang - including the only two linking the area to the city - has touched a raw nerve among residents.
From Aug 16, bus services 700 and 700A - which link Bukit Panjang to areas such as Orchard, Bras Basah and Shenton Way - will stop plying, while service 171 - which links Yishun to Marina Centre and passes Bukit Panjang - will be shortened.
Service 972 - which links Bukit Panjang to Orchard Road - will be re-routed to Newton MRT station.
The changes to these services, which ply along the MRT Downtown Line - which runs from Bukit Panjang to Expo in the east - were announced by operator SMRT on Monday afternoon (Aug 3).
Since Monday, three petitions have been put up to halt the planned changes. As of Tuesday afternoon, they have garnered more than 1,000 names.
Members of Parliament have weighed in on the issue, which has drawn more than 400 comments and been shared more than 900 times on Facebook as of Tuesday afternoon.
Bukit Panjang MP Liang Eng Hwa said on Facebook that he was "very disappointed" that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has decided to go ahead with the changes, which he described as drastic.
"We have been engaging LTA to find alternative solutions that will balance accessibility concerns for residents and optimal routes for bus service providers," Mr Liang added. "Unfortunately, the bus planners at LTA are not open to our alternative suggestions. I am saddened that they have no regard on how these changes will impact our residents' lives.
Mr Liang's newly-minted fellow parliamentarian Edward Chia said many residents had expressed to him their disappointment regarding the bus service changes.
Mr Chia said on Facebook that these changes have a deep impact on the daily lives of the residents.
"Hence, I hope that LTA will reconsider, delay these changes and review their plans," he added.
Bukit Panjang resident Elliot Lin noted that Bukit Panjang, along with neighbouring Choa Chu Kang, had long been having poor public transport connectivity.
Relief came when the Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP) - funded by more than $1 billion in tax monies - was rolled out some six years ago. Bus service 972 was one such addition from the programme.
"Now, we are back to square one," Mr Lin, 35, said. "I understand there is sometimes a need to rationalise bus services, but for this area, there are only two services going to town."
He said his wife's journey to her workplace in Singapore General Hospital will take at least 20 more minutes with the changes.
Mr Lin, a real estate agent, said the impact of the changes is not insignificant. "There are 35,000 residents living here," he said.
Rationalisation of bus services plying along MRT lines has been a way for the LTA to avoid duplication of resources.
For instance, several services were halted when the North-East Line started operating in 2003, causing huge unhappiness among residents.
Former transport minister Raymond Lim revised this unpopular approach by allowing bus services to run along MRT lines during his tenure. His successor, Mr Lui Tuck Yew, continued to do so when the BSEP rolled out. Mr Lui also introduced city-direct bus services, which competed directly with the MRT.
Responding to queries from The Straits Times, the LTA, which plans all bus routes, said the latest change “has been a difficult decision”.
It said since Phase 2 of the Downtown Line opened in December 2015, ridership for bus services plying parallel to the line has fallen.
Ridership for service 171 dropped by more than 30 per cent, and Service 700, more than 50 per cent. As such, LTA has been subsidising the services – to the tune of $5 million a year for service 700.
The authority added that it is aware the changes will lead to longer travel time for some residents, but it “needs to balance the needs of different groups of commuters”.
“If this is the only transport option in the area, we can justify the public spending. But given that DTL is available as an alternative, we need to exercise prudence in the use of public funds,” it added.
MPs hit back at LTA over 'drastic changes' to Bukit Panjang bus services connecting residents to city
The changes to the bus services will take effect from Aug 16, 2020.ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG
Christopher Tan
Senior Transport Correspondent
SINGAPORE - The planned removal of key bus services in Bukit Panjang - including the only two linking the area to the city - has touched a raw nerve among residents.
From Aug 16, bus services 700 and 700A - which link Bukit Panjang to areas such as Orchard, Bras Basah and Shenton Way - will stop plying, while service 171 - which links Yishun to Marina Centre and passes Bukit Panjang - will be shortened.
Service 972 - which links Bukit Panjang to Orchard Road - will be re-routed to Newton MRT station.
The changes to these services, which ply along the MRT Downtown Line - which runs from Bukit Panjang to Expo in the east - were announced by operator SMRT on Monday afternoon (Aug 3).
Since Monday, three petitions have been put up to halt the planned changes. As of Tuesday afternoon, they have garnered more than 1,000 names.
Members of Parliament have weighed in on the issue, which has drawn more than 400 comments and been shared more than 900 times on Facebook as of Tuesday afternoon.
Bukit Panjang MP Liang Eng Hwa said on Facebook that he was "very disappointed" that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has decided to go ahead with the changes, which he described as drastic.
"We have been engaging LTA to find alternative solutions that will balance accessibility concerns for residents and optimal routes for bus service providers," Mr Liang added. "Unfortunately, the bus planners at LTA are not open to our alternative suggestions. I am saddened that they have no regard on how these changes will impact our residents' lives.
Mr Liang's newly-minted fellow parliamentarian Edward Chia said many residents had expressed to him their disappointment regarding the bus service changes.
Mr Chia said on Facebook that these changes have a deep impact on the daily lives of the residents.
"Hence, I hope that LTA will reconsider, delay these changes and review their plans," he added.
Bukit Panjang resident Elliot Lin noted that Bukit Panjang, along with neighbouring Choa Chu Kang, had long been having poor public transport connectivity.
Relief came when the Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP) - funded by more than $1 billion in tax monies - was rolled out some six years ago. Bus service 972 was one such addition from the programme.
"Now, we are back to square one," Mr Lin, 35, said. "I understand there is sometimes a need to rationalise bus services, but for this area, there are only two services going to town."
He said his wife's journey to her workplace in Singapore General Hospital will take at least 20 more minutes with the changes.
Mr Lin, a real estate agent, said the impact of the changes is not insignificant. "There are 35,000 residents living here," he said.
Rationalisation of bus services plying along MRT lines has been a way for the LTA to avoid duplication of resources.
For instance, several services were halted when the North-East Line started operating in 2003, causing huge unhappiness among residents.
Former transport minister Raymond Lim revised this unpopular approach by allowing bus services to run along MRT lines during his tenure. His successor, Mr Lui Tuck Yew, continued to do so when the BSEP rolled out. Mr Lui also introduced city-direct bus services, which competed directly with the MRT.
Responding to queries from The Straits Times, the LTA, which plans all bus routes, said the latest change “has been a difficult decision”.
It said since Phase 2 of the Downtown Line opened in December 2015, ridership for bus services plying parallel to the line has fallen.
Ridership for service 171 dropped by more than 30 per cent, and Service 700, more than 50 per cent. As such, LTA has been subsidising the services – to the tune of $5 million a year for service 700.
The authority added that it is aware the changes will lead to longer travel time for some residents, but it “needs to balance the needs of different groups of commuters”.
“If this is the only transport option in the area, we can justify the public spending. But given that DTL is available as an alternative, we need to exercise prudence in the use of public funds,” it added.
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Shitty Times helping to soften resistance. Publishing this article to help SIA justify job cuts in the coming months.
Most airlines expect job cuts over next 12 months: IATA survey
US carrier United Airlines has announced that it could lay off up to 36,000 employees.PHOTO: REUTERS
GENEVA (AFP) - Most airlines are considering downsizing their staff over the next 12 months due to the coronavirus crisis, the International Air Transport Association said, citing an internal survey.
"With the recovery in demand likely to be slow, 55 per cent of respondents expect to have to decrease employment levels over the coming 12 months," global aviation body IATA said in a statement on Wednesday (Aug 5) following a quarterly business confidence survey of more than 300 airlines.
Some 45 per cent reported having already reduced their staff numbers in the second quarter of 2020 due to cost-cutting measures following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile 57 per cent expect passenger yields to fall over the next 12 months and think ticket prices could fall due to the weak recovery in demand.
Some 19 per cent expect to see a gradual increase in fares once the balance between supply and demand is restored.
Geneva-based IATA represents some 290 airlines comprising 82 per cent of global air traffic.
It expects air traffic to return to pre-crisis levels in 2024 and estimates that traffic will fall by 63 per cent in 2020 compared to 2019, with a shortfall of US$419 billion (S$573.9 billion) in the sector due to the coronavirus crisis.
Europe and the Asia-Pacific region are expected to be the first to return to 2019 traffic levels, while the Americas are expected to experience a slower recovery, according to IATA.
The aviation sector has been hit hard by the crisis, with almost all aircraft fleets grounded and tens of thousands of jobs lost.
US carrier United Airlines has announced that it could lay off up to 36,000 employees. American Airlines has cited the figure of 25,000 redundancies.
Germany's Lufthansa wants to cut 22,000 jobs, Air Canada 20,000, British Airways 12,000, Air France-KLM up to 12,500, Australia's Qantas 6,000, Scandinavia's SAS 5,000 and Britain's easyJet 4,500.
LATAM, the largest airline in Latin America, has announced the loss of 2,700 jobs.
Virgin Australia announced on Wednesday that it would close budget subsidiary Tigerair Australia and lay off 3,000 staff as it prepares to relaunch under new owners.
Virgin Atlantic has applied for bankruptcy protection in the United States, court filings showed Wednesday, as the British airline - which has not flown since April due to the virus - seeks to tie up a rescue deal in Britain.
Most airlines expect job cuts over next 12 months: IATA survey
US carrier United Airlines has announced that it could lay off up to 36,000 employees.PHOTO: REUTERS
GENEVA (AFP) - Most airlines are considering downsizing their staff over the next 12 months due to the coronavirus crisis, the International Air Transport Association said, citing an internal survey.
"With the recovery in demand likely to be slow, 55 per cent of respondents expect to have to decrease employment levels over the coming 12 months," global aviation body IATA said in a statement on Wednesday (Aug 5) following a quarterly business confidence survey of more than 300 airlines.
Some 45 per cent reported having already reduced their staff numbers in the second quarter of 2020 due to cost-cutting measures following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile 57 per cent expect passenger yields to fall over the next 12 months and think ticket prices could fall due to the weak recovery in demand.
Some 19 per cent expect to see a gradual increase in fares once the balance between supply and demand is restored.
Geneva-based IATA represents some 290 airlines comprising 82 per cent of global air traffic.
It expects air traffic to return to pre-crisis levels in 2024 and estimates that traffic will fall by 63 per cent in 2020 compared to 2019, with a shortfall of US$419 billion (S$573.9 billion) in the sector due to the coronavirus crisis.
Europe and the Asia-Pacific region are expected to be the first to return to 2019 traffic levels, while the Americas are expected to experience a slower recovery, according to IATA.
The aviation sector has been hit hard by the crisis, with almost all aircraft fleets grounded and tens of thousands of jobs lost.
US carrier United Airlines has announced that it could lay off up to 36,000 employees. American Airlines has cited the figure of 25,000 redundancies.
Germany's Lufthansa wants to cut 22,000 jobs, Air Canada 20,000, British Airways 12,000, Air France-KLM up to 12,500, Australia's Qantas 6,000, Scandinavia's SAS 5,000 and Britain's easyJet 4,500.
LATAM, the largest airline in Latin America, has announced the loss of 2,700 jobs.
Virgin Australia announced on Wednesday that it would close budget subsidiary Tigerair Australia and lay off 3,000 staff as it prepares to relaunch under new owners.
Virgin Atlantic has applied for bankruptcy protection in the United States, court filings showed Wednesday, as the British airline - which has not flown since April due to the virus - seeks to tie up a rescue deal in Britain.
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2008
- Messages
- 14,867
- Points
- 113
This is announced only after the elections
47 employers placed on watch list for possible discriminatory hiring practices; most from financial and professional services sectors
Thirty of the employers are from financial and professional services sectors.ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
Grace Ho
Senior Political Correspondent
SINGAPORE - Another 47 employers have been placed on the Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) watch list for potentially discriminatory hiring practices.
They will have their Employment Pass (EP) applications closely scrutinised, and those who are recalcitrant or uncooperative will have their work pass privileges cut back.
The 47 are on top of 1,200 employers previously put on the watch list, said the Manpower Ministry (MOM) in a statement on Wednesday (Aug 5).
Of the 47, 30 are in the financial services and professional services sectors, and the rest are in administrative and support services, manufacturing and education.
They comprise both large and small companies, with the largest employing almost 2,000 professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs).
Among them are banks and fund managers, as well as management consulting firms and firms providing project management and engineering services.
"While these firms were supporting local PMET employment, their workforce profiles raise concerns when compared to industry peers," said the MOM, explaining that they were put on the watch list because of their exceptionally high shares of foreign PMETs compared with their industry peers.
For example, 18 firms have foreigners comprising more than half of their PMET workforce. In addition, 30 employers from the financial and professional services sectors have a high concentration of PMETs from single nationalities.
"We will subject their hiring to closer scrutiny to ensure that there is no nationality bias against locals, which is unacceptable and not in line with fair, merit-based hiring," said the ministry.
The move follows Manpower Minister Josephine Teo's Facebook post on Monday, when she said, among other issues, that there would be updates to the framework to ensure fairness for workers.
She announced in January that employers would face stiffer penalties for discriminatory hiring practices, and could be prosecuted in court if they make false declarations on fair hiring consideration.
Under the updated framework, employers found guilty of workplace discrimination will not be able to renew the work passes of existing employees during the period of debarment. In the past, debarment applied largely to new work pass applications.
Errant employers also cannot apply for new work passes for at least 12 months - up from the previous minimum of six months. The debarment period can extend to 24 months for the most egregious cases.
The FCF was introduced in August 2014 after Singaporeans voiced unhappiness about foreigners taking away good-paying PMET jobs from locals.
The MOM said on Wednesday that of the 190 employers from the financial and professional services sectors put on the watch list since 2016, more than 100 have been taken off after showing a strong commitment to improve their hiring practices.
It added that the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (Tafep), in its initial engagement with these employers, found they were often not familiar with the skillset of local job seekers and the Government's support measures to help locals reskill and upskill.
For example, the ministry said, some firms claimed they were not able to find local workers with the required expertise or experience, including for more technical roles such as senior software engineers and UX designers.
But the fact is they had not cast their net wide enough, like tapping Professional Conversion Programmes, it noted.
They then adjusted their hiring process to actively reach out to more local candidates and tap Workforce Singapore and NTUC-e2i's services, as well as programmes for training and upskilling, like free workshops for emerging technologies.
"As a result, these employers found they were able to hire local employees to meet their manpower needs, and they now have in place a more sustainable recruitment and development strategy to drive their growth in Singapore," said the ministry.
It also said that in these challenging times, "we will be extra vigilant against unfair hiring, to ensure that local job seekers are treated fairly".
The ministry urged people to report specific instances of discriminatory behaviour for investigation at this website.
The identity of whistle-blowers will be kept confidential, it added.
47 employers placed on watch list for possible discriminatory hiring practices; most from financial and professional services sectors
Thirty of the employers are from financial and professional services sectors.ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
Grace Ho
Senior Political Correspondent
SINGAPORE - Another 47 employers have been placed on the Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) watch list for potentially discriminatory hiring practices.
They will have their Employment Pass (EP) applications closely scrutinised, and those who are recalcitrant or uncooperative will have their work pass privileges cut back.
The 47 are on top of 1,200 employers previously put on the watch list, said the Manpower Ministry (MOM) in a statement on Wednesday (Aug 5).
Of the 47, 30 are in the financial services and professional services sectors, and the rest are in administrative and support services, manufacturing and education.
They comprise both large and small companies, with the largest employing almost 2,000 professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs).
Among them are banks and fund managers, as well as management consulting firms and firms providing project management and engineering services.
"While these firms were supporting local PMET employment, their workforce profiles raise concerns when compared to industry peers," said the MOM, explaining that they were put on the watch list because of their exceptionally high shares of foreign PMETs compared with their industry peers.
For example, 18 firms have foreigners comprising more than half of their PMET workforce. In addition, 30 employers from the financial and professional services sectors have a high concentration of PMETs from single nationalities.
"We will subject their hiring to closer scrutiny to ensure that there is no nationality bias against locals, which is unacceptable and not in line with fair, merit-based hiring," said the ministry.
The move follows Manpower Minister Josephine Teo's Facebook post on Monday, when she said, among other issues, that there would be updates to the framework to ensure fairness for workers.
She announced in January that employers would face stiffer penalties for discriminatory hiring practices, and could be prosecuted in court if they make false declarations on fair hiring consideration.
Under the updated framework, employers found guilty of workplace discrimination will not be able to renew the work passes of existing employees during the period of debarment. In the past, debarment applied largely to new work pass applications.
Errant employers also cannot apply for new work passes for at least 12 months - up from the previous minimum of six months. The debarment period can extend to 24 months for the most egregious cases.
The FCF was introduced in August 2014 after Singaporeans voiced unhappiness about foreigners taking away good-paying PMET jobs from locals.
The MOM said on Wednesday that of the 190 employers from the financial and professional services sectors put on the watch list since 2016, more than 100 have been taken off after showing a strong commitment to improve their hiring practices.
It added that the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (Tafep), in its initial engagement with these employers, found they were often not familiar with the skillset of local job seekers and the Government's support measures to help locals reskill and upskill.
For example, the ministry said, some firms claimed they were not able to find local workers with the required expertise or experience, including for more technical roles such as senior software engineers and UX designers.
But the fact is they had not cast their net wide enough, like tapping Professional Conversion Programmes, it noted.
They then adjusted their hiring process to actively reach out to more local candidates and tap Workforce Singapore and NTUC-e2i's services, as well as programmes for training and upskilling, like free workshops for emerging technologies.
"As a result, these employers found they were able to hire local employees to meet their manpower needs, and they now have in place a more sustainable recruitment and development strategy to drive their growth in Singapore," said the ministry.
It also said that in these challenging times, "we will be extra vigilant against unfair hiring, to ensure that local job seekers are treated fairly".
The ministry urged people to report specific instances of discriminatory behaviour for investigation at this website.
The identity of whistle-blowers will be kept confidential, it added.
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2008
- Messages
- 14,867
- Points
- 113
SIA take billions from shareholders in a rights issue but still fire employees. And the retrenchment is done only after the general elections.
Coronavirus: SIA offers cabin crew early retirement and release as part of further cost-cutting measures
Cabin crew members who successfully apply for the scheme will get payouts and benefits.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Toh Ting Wei
SINGAPORE - National carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) is offering its cabin crew early release or retirement as it continues efforts to cut costs amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
It told The Straits Times on Wednesday (Aug 12) that the voluntary retirement scheme was introduced in view of the impact of Covid-19 "as well as a slower projected recovery trajectory in international air travel".
Cabin crew members who successfully apply for the scheme will get payouts and benefits. They will have until end-August to apply. Trainee crew will not be eligible, said SIA.
The outcome of the applications will be made known by mid-September.
"Each application will be considered on its merits, and SIA will also take into account operational requirements in the review of applications," said a spokesman.
"We continue to work closely with our unions on the way forward where staff measures are concerned. We will announce any additional measures, if necessary, at the appropriate time."
The SIA Group, which comprises SIA, budget arm Scoot and regional arm SilkAir, has about 11,000 cabin crew in total.
According to an e-mail announcing the move seen by ST, SIA said the early retirement and release scheme aims to mitigate the "debilitating business impact of Covid-19".
It said the terms and benefits have been determined in collaboration with the Singapore Airlines Staff Union.
Crew members will receive different benefits based on their employment status.
For example, crew who are still serving their bond as of Aug 1 will be granted a waiver of any outstanding bond repayment if they successfully apply to leave early.
SIA will also waive any outstanding settling-in loan and give them a notice pay-in-lieu, based on the basic salary at the point of departure. Crew members who are still on probation get one month's pay, while confirmed crew will get three months' pay.
Meanwhile, crew members in the last year of their contract as of Aug 1 who successfully apply to leave early will receive pro-rated gratuity without having to complete the current contract.
Like all other airlines, SIA has also been hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The carrier is currently operating at just 7 per cent of its scheduled capacity as compared with before the pandemic. Some cabin crew have yet to take to the air in months.
Pay cuts of at least 10 per cent have already been introduced for all staff, along with no-pay leave schemes. Early retirement has also been offered to ground staff and pilots.
Last month, the SIA Group reported a $1.12 billion net loss in the quarter ended June 30, its largest quarterly loss on record.
Air travel demand is expected to remain low for the foreseeable future, with the International Air Transport Association saying that it will be until 2024 before demand returns to last year's levels.
Experts have said the various measures, which include raising $11 billion so far this financial year, will help the SIA Group - but not likely to the extent that it can avoid eventual job cuts. This is so given that airlines are overstaffed for current demand levels, and a quick recovery is nowhere in sight.
Coronavirus: SIA offers cabin crew early retirement and release as part of further cost-cutting measures
Cabin crew members who successfully apply for the scheme will get payouts and benefits.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Toh Ting Wei
SINGAPORE - National carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) is offering its cabin crew early release or retirement as it continues efforts to cut costs amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
It told The Straits Times on Wednesday (Aug 12) that the voluntary retirement scheme was introduced in view of the impact of Covid-19 "as well as a slower projected recovery trajectory in international air travel".
Cabin crew members who successfully apply for the scheme will get payouts and benefits. They will have until end-August to apply. Trainee crew will not be eligible, said SIA.
The outcome of the applications will be made known by mid-September.
"Each application will be considered on its merits, and SIA will also take into account operational requirements in the review of applications," said a spokesman.
"We continue to work closely with our unions on the way forward where staff measures are concerned. We will announce any additional measures, if necessary, at the appropriate time."
The SIA Group, which comprises SIA, budget arm Scoot and regional arm SilkAir, has about 11,000 cabin crew in total.
According to an e-mail announcing the move seen by ST, SIA said the early retirement and release scheme aims to mitigate the "debilitating business impact of Covid-19".
It said the terms and benefits have been determined in collaboration with the Singapore Airlines Staff Union.
Crew members will receive different benefits based on their employment status.
For example, crew who are still serving their bond as of Aug 1 will be granted a waiver of any outstanding bond repayment if they successfully apply to leave early.
SIA will also waive any outstanding settling-in loan and give them a notice pay-in-lieu, based on the basic salary at the point of departure. Crew members who are still on probation get one month's pay, while confirmed crew will get three months' pay.
Meanwhile, crew members in the last year of their contract as of Aug 1 who successfully apply to leave early will receive pro-rated gratuity without having to complete the current contract.
Like all other airlines, SIA has also been hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The carrier is currently operating at just 7 per cent of its scheduled capacity as compared with before the pandemic. Some cabin crew have yet to take to the air in months.
Pay cuts of at least 10 per cent have already been introduced for all staff, along with no-pay leave schemes. Early retirement has also been offered to ground staff and pilots.
Last month, the SIA Group reported a $1.12 billion net loss in the quarter ended June 30, its largest quarterly loss on record.
Air travel demand is expected to remain low for the foreseeable future, with the International Air Transport Association saying that it will be until 2024 before demand returns to last year's levels.
Experts have said the various measures, which include raising $11 billion so far this financial year, will help the SIA Group - but not likely to the extent that it can avoid eventual job cuts. This is so given that airlines are overstaffed for current demand levels, and a quick recovery is nowhere in sight.
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2008
- Messages
- 14,867
- Points
- 113
Of course, Warren Fernandez and Chua Mui Hoong are not affected by the retrenchment exercise.
SPH retrenches 140 employees as Covid-19 hits advertising revenues
Affected staff will receive compensation on terms negotiated and agreed with the Creative Media and Publishing Union.PHOTO: ST FILE
Aw Cheng Wei
SINGAPORE - Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) will be laying off 140 employees from its media sales and magazines operations as it addresses the impact Covid-19 has had on advertising revenues.
The retrenchment will affect about 5 per cent of its Media Group's headcount and is part of SPH's media transformation roadmap, it said in a statement on Tuesday (Aug 18).
Affected staff will receive compensation on terms negotiated and agreed with the Creative Media and Publishing Union (CMPU).
SPH has also been working closely with the union and the National Trades Union Congress' (NTUC) Employment and Employability Institute to ensure that the staff get the help and support they require during this period, the statement said.
Chief executive Ng Yat Chung said that the economic downturn has "significantly impacted" SPH's advertising revenue, although subscriptions and readership of the group's news titles have increased since the onset of Covid-19.
Digital circulation of its news titles, including The Straits Times, has grown 52.6 per cent so far this year, compared with a year ago, boosting overall circulation of these titles by 9.8 per cent in the same period.
Newsroom staff and journalists are not affected by this exercise.
Mr Ng said: "A more integrated approach of producing and selling our content across our various platforms will allow us to deal more efficiently and effectively with the new level of demand we are seeing from our advertisers and audience."
Besides media, SPH's portfolio includes property, purpose-built student accommodation and nursing homes. It owns malls such as Paragon, Clementi Mall and the Rail Mall.
Last year, the company started a review of its media business to provide advertisers with more effective marketing solutions by adopting an integrated sales approach across its different platforms and titles, the statement said.
SPH had brought together the specialist appeal of its magazine titles and radio audiences with the broader mass market audiences of its newspaper titles, and progressively rolled out self-service options for advertisers to customise their campaigns.
"SPH has also intensified its efforts to share its content resources across its print, digital and voice platforms," the statement said.
"The streamlining of operations for greater efficiency and synergy has led to the redundancy of some roles."
SPH said on Tuesday that it has exited its magazine business in Malaysia, and that Cleo and Young Parents' magazines have ceased publication.
The company had earlier informed the Ministry of Manpower, CMPU and NTUC of the retrenchment exercise, which will cost about $8 million.
CMPU president David Teo said the union is providing affected employees with strong support.
"Amid the economic uncertainties brought about by the Covid-19 outbreak and companies' restructuring efforts to streamline operations, retrenchments may be inevitable," he said.
CMPU’s key priority is to stand by its members, protect their interests and ensure that they are treated with dignity, he added.
Last year, the company shed 130 jobs from the group's media solutions division and magazines and smaller subsidiaries to rein in costs. In 2017, it trimmed 130 jobs, which affected newsrooms and its integrated marketing division.
In its statement on Tuesday, the company noted that since the Covid-19 pandemic, it has reviewed its costs, cut back on discretionary spending and instituted pay cuts for senior management.
In March, SPH announced that its directors, including the CEO and senior management, would take voluntary pay cuts of 10 per cent and 5 per cent respectively.
SPH retrenches 140 employees as Covid-19 hits advertising revenues
Affected staff will receive compensation on terms negotiated and agreed with the Creative Media and Publishing Union.PHOTO: ST FILE
Aw Cheng Wei
SINGAPORE - Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) will be laying off 140 employees from its media sales and magazines operations as it addresses the impact Covid-19 has had on advertising revenues.
The retrenchment will affect about 5 per cent of its Media Group's headcount and is part of SPH's media transformation roadmap, it said in a statement on Tuesday (Aug 18).
Affected staff will receive compensation on terms negotiated and agreed with the Creative Media and Publishing Union (CMPU).
SPH has also been working closely with the union and the National Trades Union Congress' (NTUC) Employment and Employability Institute to ensure that the staff get the help and support they require during this period, the statement said.
Chief executive Ng Yat Chung said that the economic downturn has "significantly impacted" SPH's advertising revenue, although subscriptions and readership of the group's news titles have increased since the onset of Covid-19.
Digital circulation of its news titles, including The Straits Times, has grown 52.6 per cent so far this year, compared with a year ago, boosting overall circulation of these titles by 9.8 per cent in the same period.
Newsroom staff and journalists are not affected by this exercise.
Mr Ng said: "A more integrated approach of producing and selling our content across our various platforms will allow us to deal more efficiently and effectively with the new level of demand we are seeing from our advertisers and audience."
Besides media, SPH's portfolio includes property, purpose-built student accommodation and nursing homes. It owns malls such as Paragon, Clementi Mall and the Rail Mall.
Last year, the company started a review of its media business to provide advertisers with more effective marketing solutions by adopting an integrated sales approach across its different platforms and titles, the statement said.
SPH had brought together the specialist appeal of its magazine titles and radio audiences with the broader mass market audiences of its newspaper titles, and progressively rolled out self-service options for advertisers to customise their campaigns.
"SPH has also intensified its efforts to share its content resources across its print, digital and voice platforms," the statement said.
"The streamlining of operations for greater efficiency and synergy has led to the redundancy of some roles."
SPH said on Tuesday that it has exited its magazine business in Malaysia, and that Cleo and Young Parents' magazines have ceased publication.
The company had earlier informed the Ministry of Manpower, CMPU and NTUC of the retrenchment exercise, which will cost about $8 million.
CMPU president David Teo said the union is providing affected employees with strong support.
"Amid the economic uncertainties brought about by the Covid-19 outbreak and companies' restructuring efforts to streamline operations, retrenchments may be inevitable," he said.
CMPU’s key priority is to stand by its members, protect their interests and ensure that they are treated with dignity, he added.
Last year, the company shed 130 jobs from the group's media solutions division and magazines and smaller subsidiaries to rein in costs. In 2017, it trimmed 130 jobs, which affected newsrooms and its integrated marketing division.
In its statement on Tuesday, the company noted that since the Covid-19 pandemic, it has reviewed its costs, cut back on discretionary spending and instituted pay cuts for senior management.
In March, SPH announced that its directors, including the CEO and senior management, would take voluntary pay cuts of 10 per cent and 5 per cent respectively.
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2008
- Messages
- 14,867
- Points
- 113
Lawyer Lee Suet Fern suspended for 15 months, found guilty of misconduct in handling of Lee Kuan Yew's will
A disciplinary tribunal had found Mrs Lee Suet Fern guilty of grossly improper professional conduct in February this year.
PHOTO: MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP/YOUTUBE
Tham Yuen-C
Senior Political Correspondent
NOV 10, 2020
SINGAPORE - Senior lawyer Lee Suet Fern has been suspended for 15 months by the Court of Three Judges over her handling of the last will of her late father-in-law Lee Kuan Yew.
In a written judgment released on Friday (Nov 20), the highest disciplinary body for the legal profession found Mrs Lee guilty of misconduct unbefitting an advocate and solicitor, saying that she had “blindly followed the directions of her husband, a significant beneficiary under the very will whose execution she helped to rush through”.
The case centred on the role Mrs Lee played in the preparation and execution of the senior Mr Lee’s last will, which was signed on Dec 17, 2013.
His last will differed from his sixth and penultimate will in significant ways, including the distribution of his estate among his three children as well as the demolition of his house at 38 Oxley Road. It also did not contain some changes he had wanted and discussed with his usual lawyer Kwa Kim Li four days earlier.
A disciplinary tribunal (DT) had found Mrs Lee guilty of grossly improper professional conduct in February this year.
The Court held a virtual hearing in August, where the Law Society set out its arguments for why Mrs Lee should be disbarred over her handling of the will. Mrs Lee's lawyers called for all charges to be dropped.
An 'unseemly rush'
In its 98-page judgement, the court, comprising Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, Judge of Appeal Judith Prakash and Justice Woo Bih Li, said Mrs Lee had acted at the behest of her husband to push through the execution of the will in an “unseemly rush”.
The will was signed just 16 hours after Mrs Lee first sent a draft of it to the senior Mr Lee.
The court said Mrs Lee had forwarded the draft, which was to have been based on the first will, without verifying if it was the correct version.
In fact, Mrs Lee knew she was in no position to verify it since she had not been involved in the execution of the first will, the court added.
Even then, she acquiesced to the senior Mr Lee’s lawyer, Ms Kwa Kim Li, being left out of the arrangements regarding the last will, the court said.
Ms Kwa was the lawyer who had executed the first will.
Despite these factors, Mrs Lee had allowed the senior Mr Lee to proceed to execute the last will, arranging for her law Stamford Law colleagues Bernard Lui and Elizabeth Kong to be the witnesses.
The court said Mrs Lee had done so even though she conceded that the senior Mr Lee would have believed and relied on her representations.
It added that after the last will was executed, Mrs Lee did not update Ms Kwa fully and frankly about all that had transpired.
Mrs Lee’s conduct was made worse by the fact that she knew her husband was a significant beneficiary under the last will, said the court, adding that she had faced divided loyalties.
“On the one hand, (she) was loyal to her husband, who was a significant beneficiary under the last will and who was evidently keen to rush its execution.
“On the other hand, (she) had a responsibility to act honourably and to ensure that (Mr Lee Kuan Yew), who she would reasonably have regarded as her client, was fully apprised of the factual position before he proceeded to execute the last will.
“Even in the absence of an implied retainer, the potential conflict of interest presented by these divided loyalties must have been patent to the respondent,” said the court.
It added that had there been a lawyer-client relationship between Mrs Lee and the senior Mr Lee, her conduct would have “constituted a grave breach of her duties”, even without regard to the conflict of interest that would have arisen.
In this case, the court said, she “not only failed to act with prudence, but in fact acted with complete disregard for the interests of (Mr Lee Kuan Yew)”.
“In those circumstances, her failure to put a stop to her husband’s efforts to procure the execution of the last will with unseemly haste can only be described as improper and unacceptable,” the court added.
But the court said it did not agree with some of the tribunal’s findings, in particular that there was an implied retainer between Mrs Lee and the senior Mr Lee and that they were in a solicitor-client relationship.
The court also said Mrs Lee did not receive instructions or directions directly from the senior Mr Lee.
Lee Suet Fern responds
In a statement posted on Facebook by her husband Lee Hsien Yang on Friday, Mrs Lee said she disagreed with the decision.
“There was no basis for this case to have even been initiated. This was a private will,” she said.
“Lee Kuan Yew knew what he wanted. He got what he wanted. The Court of Three did not find that he was of unsound mind or that he was not in control. He made the decision to revert to his landmark 2011 will following discussions with his lawyer Kwa Kim Li before I was tasked to find a witness. Anyone can revoke their own will while they are alive.”
The home of former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew at 38 Oxley Road. PHOTO: ST FILE
Mrs Lee's role in the handling of the last will had triggered a complaint by the Attorney-General's Chambers to the Law Society in January last year about possible professional misconduct.
Deputy Attorney-General Lionel Yee had asked that the case be referred to a disciplinary tribunal, and a two-man tribunal, comprising Senior Counsel Sarjit Singh Gill and lawyer Leon Yee Kee Shian, was appointed by CJ Menon.
The tribunal had said in its 206-page grounds of decision that the facts exposed an "unsavoury tale" of how Mrs Lee and her husband had misled the senior Mr Lee to sign a new will without the advice of his usual lawyer, Ms Kwa, who had prepared all six of his previous wills.
The senior Mr Lee was then aged 90 and in poor health.
In August, the court reserved judgment after the virtual hearing.
The Law Society, represented by lawyer Koh Swee Yen, had argued that Mrs Lee had been involved in the will's preparation and execution despite knowing her husband stood to gain from it.
It also said the lawyer of 37 years had hurried her father-in-law through the process of signing it without the advice of his usual lawyer, who had prepared his earlier wills.
Countering the society's arguments before the court, Senior Counsel Kenneth Tan and Professor Walter Woon, a former attorney-general, said Mrs Lee was acting out of affection and concern as a daughter-in-law in assisting Mr Lee Kuan Yew, and was merely performing an administrative role.
They added that there could not have been any conflict of interest because Mr Lee Kuan Yew, "a brilliant lawyer", was fully aware of what he wanted and had consented to Mrs Lee handling the will for him. They called for all charges to be dropped.
A disciplinary tribunal had found Mrs Lee Suet Fern guilty of grossly improper professional conduct in February this year.
PHOTO: MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP/YOUTUBE
Tham Yuen-C
Senior Political Correspondent
NOV 10, 2020
SINGAPORE - Senior lawyer Lee Suet Fern has been suspended for 15 months by the Court of Three Judges over her handling of the last will of her late father-in-law Lee Kuan Yew.
In a written judgment released on Friday (Nov 20), the highest disciplinary body for the legal profession found Mrs Lee guilty of misconduct unbefitting an advocate and solicitor, saying that she had “blindly followed the directions of her husband, a significant beneficiary under the very will whose execution she helped to rush through”.
The case centred on the role Mrs Lee played in the preparation and execution of the senior Mr Lee’s last will, which was signed on Dec 17, 2013.
His last will differed from his sixth and penultimate will in significant ways, including the distribution of his estate among his three children as well as the demolition of his house at 38 Oxley Road. It also did not contain some changes he had wanted and discussed with his usual lawyer Kwa Kim Li four days earlier.
A disciplinary tribunal (DT) had found Mrs Lee guilty of grossly improper professional conduct in February this year.
The Court held a virtual hearing in August, where the Law Society set out its arguments for why Mrs Lee should be disbarred over her handling of the will. Mrs Lee's lawyers called for all charges to be dropped.
An 'unseemly rush'
In its 98-page judgement, the court, comprising Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, Judge of Appeal Judith Prakash and Justice Woo Bih Li, said Mrs Lee had acted at the behest of her husband to push through the execution of the will in an “unseemly rush”.
The will was signed just 16 hours after Mrs Lee first sent a draft of it to the senior Mr Lee.
The court said Mrs Lee had forwarded the draft, which was to have been based on the first will, without verifying if it was the correct version.
In fact, Mrs Lee knew she was in no position to verify it since she had not been involved in the execution of the first will, the court added.
Even then, she acquiesced to the senior Mr Lee’s lawyer, Ms Kwa Kim Li, being left out of the arrangements regarding the last will, the court said.
Ms Kwa was the lawyer who had executed the first will.
Despite these factors, Mrs Lee had allowed the senior Mr Lee to proceed to execute the last will, arranging for her law Stamford Law colleagues Bernard Lui and Elizabeth Kong to be the witnesses.
The court said Mrs Lee had done so even though she conceded that the senior Mr Lee would have believed and relied on her representations.
It added that after the last will was executed, Mrs Lee did not update Ms Kwa fully and frankly about all that had transpired.
Mrs Lee’s conduct was made worse by the fact that she knew her husband was a significant beneficiary under the last will, said the court, adding that she had faced divided loyalties.
“On the one hand, (she) was loyal to her husband, who was a significant beneficiary under the last will and who was evidently keen to rush its execution.
“On the other hand, (she) had a responsibility to act honourably and to ensure that (Mr Lee Kuan Yew), who she would reasonably have regarded as her client, was fully apprised of the factual position before he proceeded to execute the last will.
“Even in the absence of an implied retainer, the potential conflict of interest presented by these divided loyalties must have been patent to the respondent,” said the court.
It added that had there been a lawyer-client relationship between Mrs Lee and the senior Mr Lee, her conduct would have “constituted a grave breach of her duties”, even without regard to the conflict of interest that would have arisen.
In this case, the court said, she “not only failed to act with prudence, but in fact acted with complete disregard for the interests of (Mr Lee Kuan Yew)”.
“In those circumstances, her failure to put a stop to her husband’s efforts to procure the execution of the last will with unseemly haste can only be described as improper and unacceptable,” the court added.
But the court said it did not agree with some of the tribunal’s findings, in particular that there was an implied retainer between Mrs Lee and the senior Mr Lee and that they were in a solicitor-client relationship.
The court also said Mrs Lee did not receive instructions or directions directly from the senior Mr Lee.
Lee Suet Fern responds
In a statement posted on Facebook by her husband Lee Hsien Yang on Friday, Mrs Lee said she disagreed with the decision.
“There was no basis for this case to have even been initiated. This was a private will,” she said.
“Lee Kuan Yew knew what he wanted. He got what he wanted. The Court of Three did not find that he was of unsound mind or that he was not in control. He made the decision to revert to his landmark 2011 will following discussions with his lawyer Kwa Kim Li before I was tasked to find a witness. Anyone can revoke their own will while they are alive.”
The home of former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew at 38 Oxley Road. PHOTO: ST FILE
Mrs Lee's role in the handling of the last will had triggered a complaint by the Attorney-General's Chambers to the Law Society in January last year about possible professional misconduct.
Deputy Attorney-General Lionel Yee had asked that the case be referred to a disciplinary tribunal, and a two-man tribunal, comprising Senior Counsel Sarjit Singh Gill and lawyer Leon Yee Kee Shian, was appointed by CJ Menon.
The tribunal had said in its 206-page grounds of decision that the facts exposed an "unsavoury tale" of how Mrs Lee and her husband had misled the senior Mr Lee to sign a new will without the advice of his usual lawyer, Ms Kwa, who had prepared all six of his previous wills.
The senior Mr Lee was then aged 90 and in poor health.
In August, the court reserved judgment after the virtual hearing.
The Law Society, represented by lawyer Koh Swee Yen, had argued that Mrs Lee had been involved in the will's preparation and execution despite knowing her husband stood to gain from it.
It also said the lawyer of 37 years had hurried her father-in-law through the process of signing it without the advice of his usual lawyer, who had prepared his earlier wills.
Countering the society's arguments before the court, Senior Counsel Kenneth Tan and Professor Walter Woon, a former attorney-general, said Mrs Lee was acting out of affection and concern as a daughter-in-law in assisting Mr Lee Kuan Yew, and was merely performing an administrative role.
They added that there could not have been any conflict of interest because Mr Lee Kuan Yew, "a brilliant lawyer", was fully aware of what he wanted and had consented to Mrs Lee handling the will for him. They called for all charges to be dropped.
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