Try COE-style bidding for productivity boost

The Straits Times; Published on Dec 07, 2012
FOREIGN LABOUR
Try COE-style bidding for productivity boost
THE current system of a fixed percentage quota with an algorithm of escalating tax levies does not promote competition and the efficient use of scarce manpower ("Forum gathers public views on next year's Budget"; last Friday).

Foreign worker levies to increase, says MOM

Foreign worker levies to increase, says MOM
By Saifulbahri Ismail, S Ramesh | Posted: 21 February 2011 1654 hrs
SINGAPORE: Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is sending a strong signal to businesses to invest in productivity changes and reduce their reliance on low-skilled foreign workers.

A lesson from HK maid ruling

A lesson from HK maid ruling
Letter from Liew Kai Khiun 04:46 AM Oct 06, 2011
The recent ruling by a Hong Kong court on the right of foreign domestic workers (FDWs) to apply for permanent residency is a legal landmark for a city that already has policies on minimum wages, rest days and the right to unionisation for its estimated 250,000 maids.

2011Feb: Target white-collar foreigners instead

HOME > ST FORUM > STORY
February 23, 2011 Wednesday,
Target white-collar foreigners instead 
WHILE the Government's decision to lessen reliance on foreign labour to raise productivity is laudable, the wrong sector is being targeted ('Worker levy increase shocks businesses'; last Saturday).
The Government should not focus on tightening blue-collar foreign labour as such migrant workers are needed in transient work.

2011 Mar: 'MOM, about that $575 chair...' & another

HOME > ST FORUM > ONLINE STORY
Mar 29, 2011
MOM, about that $575 chair...
I AM puzzled and perturbed by Friday's report ("MOM staff to get ergonomic chairs") in which a Ministry of Manpower (MOM) spokeman rationalised the $271,400 allocation for 472 Herman Miller chairs (at $575 each) for its staff.

Check the work, not the title

ST Forum
HOME > ST FORUM > ONLINE STORY
Jul 22, 2011
Check the work, not the title
ON THE issue of misuse of the employment pass facility ("Foreigners offer to 'pay' for employment passes"; Tuesday), we focus only on whether the declared salary is paid or not, but there is another form of cheating.
This happens mostly in restaurants.

Foreigners offer to ‘pay’ for employment passes

Foreigners offer to ‘pay’ for employment passes
July 19th, 2011 | Author: Your Correspondent (By Melissa Kok & Amanda Tan)Straits Times, 19 July 2011
EMPLOY us and we will ‘pay’ you.
That offer was made to Mr Henn Tan, owner of a local technology firm, when he interviewed two men – a Myanmarese and a Filipino in their 20s. They had applied to work as a webmaster and a software engineer respectively.

2011 Mar: Ergonomic chairs offer best value for money: MOM

HOME > ST FORUM > ONLINE STORY
Mar 31, 2011
Ergonomic chairs offer best value for money: MOM
WE REFER to Mr Lee Seck Kay's letter on Tuesday ('MOM, about that $575 chair...').
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) conducted an open tender in accordance with government procurement guidelines for the purchase of office chairs for our employees at the Kim Seng premises. The brand of the chairs was not specified in the tender invitation.

Is $575 chair too expensive for civil servants?

Health @ AsiaOne
Is $575 chair too expensive for civil servants?
MOM paying $575 for Herman Miller chair that retails for $1,200. -TNP
Mon, Mar 28, 2011
The New Paper, By Ng Wan Ching
A CHAIR is not as simple as it looks. Take the Herman Miller chairs, renowned for their ergonomic design.
Photos: A $1,200 ergonomic chair for $575

2011Mar: 'MOM staff to get ergonomic chairs'

HOME > BREAKING NEWS > SINGAPORE > STORY
Mar 25, 2011
MOM staff to get ergonomic chairs
STAFF at the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) headquarters in Kim Seng Road can expect designer chairs at their workplace soon.

(02/11): Foreign worker levies to increase, says MOM

CNA:
Foreign worker levies to increase, says MOM
By Saifulbahri Ismail, S Ramesh | Posted: 21 February 2011 1654 hrs
SINGAPORE: Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is sending a strong signal to businesses to invest in productivity changes and reduce their reliance on low-skilled foreign workers.

Disclose More Information On Foreign Labour

Disclose More Information On Foreign Labour
The Business Times, 9th February 2006
I refer to the article “Employment hits all-time high of 2.3 million” by Anna Teo (The Business Times， 2nd Feb 2006).
It has often been asked whether the inflow of cheap, low-skilled foreign workers into Singapore over the years has depressed wages at the bottom end.

SG: Levies & quotas for hiring foreign workers

Levies & quotas for hiring foreign workers
(Last updated on 18 February 2011 02:59 PM)The Foreign Worker Levy is a pricing mechanism to control the number of foreign workers (including Foreign Domestic Workers) in Singapore.