Singapore admit itself as a nation that holds its faith firmly on a system called meritocracy. Meritocracy is a system that gives its winning members special rights, previlege or social status by setting up a tight and intense competition in order to find its best people who deserves all of it. In a meritocratic society, one can obtains a high social status, wealth and all the fame and glory, if and only if he/she can proves themself as the best people who deserves all of it. Singapore is one of few countries that put meritocracy as its belief and once again prove itself as a meritocratic nation by a recent announcements made by its government.
In the middle of heavy rains that falls on Monday, Singapore's Minister in charge of the public service announced a salary increase of its civil servants and ministers. A 5% to 33% increase of annual salaries will take place this April and accompanied by an increase of variable portion of their take home pay such as GDP Bonus and car allowance, from 34% to 47%. Such policy like this definitely invites a hot response from Singapore's Parliament members, but it seems that the government always has a right answer to erase all the doubt. "It is needed to maintain Singapore's best talents to keep working for the government and strong civil servants has always been a key factors that drives Singapore from third world country into first class nation", as Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong explains the reason behind the increase of the salaries. Lee itself will receive a 25.5 % increase on its annual salaries that will put him on Singapore's top 102 earners in 2007 and it is reported that the post-increase annual salaries of PM Lee will be at S$ 3,093,200. A benchmarking system to private sectors was used in determining how much an increase will be received by a civil servant.
The increase in Singapore's civil servants salaries is only a way to keep Singapore's best talents willing to stay at government sectors and likely to produce a magnet to attract others graduates from top universities to apply for a job in government sectors. It is true that a starting salary of Singapore's civil servants is not as high as a fresh graduate receives from private sectors, but as the progress will be made and as the competition is going on, the winner of the competition or commonly known as the cream of all creams, will proceed to the next stage and will receive a huge sum of money. Combining with the power that they have as a worker in government sector, the net benefits of becoming a civil servants is better than becoming a worker in private sectors.
Meritocratic system is widely used in Singapore, not only adopted by the government, but many others sectors use it also as their faith. A top student in Primary School will be easily spotted up and will be given a special previleges like a scholarship, as long as they progress to become the best among their respectives competitors. It is known also that Singapore is not a home for a mediocre. A mediocre people will find themself hard to develop, simply because all the chances are given to the top one. Unless they can break the circle by winning a competition, they will progress to become a better one. No chance to develop yourself into a better one if you are a mediocre person.
Meritocratic system is also critized by many of its opponents as a culprit of widening income disparities in Singapore. Singapore watch itself an increase of its Gini coefficient, an indicator of income disparities ranging from 0 to 1, from 0.442 in the year 2000 to 0.468 in 2005. Although Singapore has a staggering rate of economic growth , Singapore is positioned in the same rank with many South America nations and West Africa nations in terms of income disparities level. However, it is wise to consider that income disparities in Singapore is not merely caused by meritocratic system, several others explanations will apply in explaining recent increase in Singapore's Gini Coefficient, such as Asian Financial crisis in 1998 and low replacement rate in Singapore. The later one explains one of current problem that Singapore faces, an ageing population.
Young students in Singapore primary school also face a tight competition and drives them to be a vulnerable one to stress disorders. From the beginning of their early ages, they are forced to compete with each other for the sake of not getting into a cluster of mediocre people. The competition keep going on to the university level and become tighter because they have to compete not only Singaporeans but also with bright students from foreign countries who pursue their degree in Singapore's leading universities.
Despite many arguments about the role of meritocratic system in Singapore, people can not deny that it is meritocracy that pull Singapore from one-tiny-ignorable-nation status in Southeast Asia back in 1965 and transform itself into a nation with a fantastic pool of talents and marvelous governance in the 21th century. In a world of competition like now, big nations like US and Europe countries can not underestimate Singapore, at least because they know that Singaporeans is a bunch people who know what a word competition means by a glimpse of an eye.
Showing posts with label Singapore. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Singapore. Show all posts
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Just Bring Your Passport
Woodlands Immigration Checkpoint (WIC) is an immigration terminal located in the North of Singapore and intendedly as a checkpoint of Singapore-Johor Baru (Malaysia) borderline. WIC is a huge area. It has a checkpoint for bus transportation and train transportation as well. If you travel to Johor Baru (JB) in Malaysia to Singapore by bus or train (vice versa), you need to alight first at the WIC, proceeds to the immigration locket to show your identity (Passport etc.) and then board again in your transportation mode (bus or train) to continue your journey.
Yesterday i went to WIC because i want to know how to go to JB by bus. I need to know because i am going to JB in May and proceed my travel to Kuala Lumpur (KL). I thought the immigration things is very crucial and i feel i need a little preparation, so i decide to go to WIC and learn all the procedures and be prepare for it before my travel to JB and KL actually takes place.
Short story, i arrived in WIC and and i proceeded into the immigration counter to see the procedures. It was only a daily routine for an immigration process, from checking your`passport and everything, so i think there was nothing special that need my extra preparation. End of my mission.
Suddenly i feel something. I need to go to the rest room. The feelings was so strong and i looked around in a hope of a sign of "TOILET", but i just could not find it. And then the worst thing began. A female officer, in grey uniform, grabbing a handy talkie on her hand with an awkward hair style (A female with a KIPLI-Kiamat Sudah Dekat-hair style!! I think that was strange and ridiculous) approached me. She asked me what i was actually doing there, so i tell her that i need to go to the restroom. She said that the restroom is located after the immigration counter, so if i want to go there, i need to proceed to the immigration counter first for the immigration process. I said "Holy Sh**" (of course in my mind only), i did not bring my passport with me, so it was impossible for me to go to the toilet.
The officer-in-Kipli style asked for my ID and i gave her my student card, since it was the only ID that i had at that time. She asked for my passport and i said i did not bring my passport, she was starring at me suspiciously. She said "Please hold on Sir, i need to contact my supervisor first!". I cursed my self how could i got trapped in this kind of situation just because i want to go to the restroom. Every single person that walked pass me to go to the immigration counter started to starring at me, suspiciously, as if i were a drug trafficker-child molester-whatsoever. I hated that kind of situation and to make it worse, my needs to go to the restroom was still in a hurry. I condemned the immigration officer and stupid architect who put the toilet after the immigration counter . What was on your mind when you designed WIC!
After a long long long long time waiting for her supervisor and after she finished checking my identity in their computer database, they allow me to go. To where?Toilet?Of course not!! Since i did not bring my passport, they told me to search a public toilet outside the WIC, not in WIC. I did not want to argue with them so i cross the bridge and headed into the bus station to go to the nearest train station (because all the train station must have a toilet,for sure). The time i spent in the bus on my way to the "nearest" train station was 20 minutes. I said to myself, next time if i want to go to WIC or any immigration center, do not forget to bring your passport, regardless what you want to do there. If you do not bring your passport, funky immigration officer and stupid architect will make fun of yourself.
Yesterday i went to WIC because i want to know how to go to JB by bus. I need to know because i am going to JB in May and proceed my travel to Kuala Lumpur (KL). I thought the immigration things is very crucial and i feel i need a little preparation, so i decide to go to WIC and learn all the procedures and be prepare for it before my travel to JB and KL actually takes place.
Short story, i arrived in WIC and and i proceeded into the immigration counter to see the procedures. It was only a daily routine for an immigration process, from checking your`passport and everything, so i think there was nothing special that need my extra preparation. End of my mission.
Suddenly i feel something. I need to go to the rest room. The feelings was so strong and i looked around in a hope of a sign of "TOILET", but i just could not find it. And then the worst thing began. A female officer, in grey uniform, grabbing a handy talkie on her hand with an awkward hair style (A female with a KIPLI-Kiamat Sudah Dekat-hair style!! I think that was strange and ridiculous) approached me. She asked me what i was actually doing there, so i tell her that i need to go to the restroom. She said that the restroom is located after the immigration counter, so if i want to go there, i need to proceed to the immigration counter first for the immigration process. I said "Holy Sh**" (of course in my mind only), i did not bring my passport with me, so it was impossible for me to go to the toilet.
The officer-in-Kipli style asked for my ID and i gave her my student card, since it was the only ID that i had at that time. She asked for my passport and i said i did not bring my passport, she was starring at me suspiciously. She said "Please hold on Sir, i need to contact my supervisor first!". I cursed my self how could i got trapped in this kind of situation just because i want to go to the restroom. Every single person that walked pass me to go to the immigration counter started to starring at me, suspiciously, as if i were a drug trafficker-child molester-whatsoever. I hated that kind of situation and to make it worse, my needs to go to the restroom was still in a hurry. I condemned the immigration officer and stupid architect who put the toilet after the immigration counter . What was on your mind when you designed WIC!
After a long long long long time waiting for her supervisor and after she finished checking my identity in their computer database, they allow me to go. To where?Toilet?Of course not!! Since i did not bring my passport, they told me to search a public toilet outside the WIC, not in WIC. I did not want to argue with them so i cross the bridge and headed into the bus station to go to the nearest train station (because all the train station must have a toilet,for sure). The time i spent in the bus on my way to the "nearest" train station was 20 minutes. I said to myself, next time if i want to go to WIC or any immigration center, do not forget to bring your passport, regardless what you want to do there. If you do not bring your passport, funky immigration officer and stupid architect will make fun of yourself.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Foreign Labour Issue in Singapore
Friday, March 23, 2007
" Is our Government's fervent bid to attract and retain foreign talent at the expense of quality?"
A Singaporean post that question in a letter that was printed in local newspaper. The letter was a response of a Government policy that seems allowing more foreign "medium-skilled workers" to come and work in Singapore. He worried that if more the so-called medium-skilled workers coming to Singapore and work here, the chances of a domestic labour to be employed are getting less. I feel sorry for his fear or anger, so i decide to calm him down by giving some brief overview of Singapore Labour policy, especially regarding the foreign workers issue.
For a foreign people who want to work in Singapore, they must be granted a "pass". This pass entitled them to work in Singapore in a certain period of time. This pass is issued by Singapore Government on behalf the request of the respective employer. So, if a company in Singapore wants to hire a bright-cute-funny-intelligent Indonesian fresh graduated worker, they have to request a Pass for their respective employee. This medium-skilled workers falls into S Pass holders category in Singapore's Foreign Workers Classifications. Quoted from Singapore Ministry of Manpower official websites, here is some general informations about S-Pass holders:
"The S Pass is for foreigners who earn a monthly basic salary of at least $1,800. S Pass applicants will be assessed on a points system, taking into account multiple criteria including salary, education qualifications, skills, job type and work experience.", and the criteria are:
1. Salary - refers to a minimum basic salary of $1,800.
2. Qualification - generally refer to degree or diploma level educational qualifications. Technical qualifications can be considered and are, very broadly, courses that train the applicant to be a qualified technician or specialist in their chosen field. This should be obtained after at least 1 year of full-time study.
3. Job type - generally refers to professional, specialist or technician level jobs; and
4. Years of Work Experience - generally refers to the number of relevant years of work experience that the applicant has for in the job being applied for.
Work Permit holders who wish to apply for an S Pass must ensure that they meet the above requirement. In addition, the S Pass is given by Singapore government to respective employer by using a quota. A maximum amount of S Pass can be given to an employer is 10 % of total employees working in their company.
So, based on official policy stated on an official website, we can conclude that Singaporeans "medium-skilled" workers are the remaining 90 % of the total workers in a respective company. It is 9 times higher than the foreign workers. If it is the reality then what is the problem? Those Singaporean concerns about the seemingly endless influx of foreign medium-skilled workers into Singapore labour market and hence tighten the competition, regardless the imposition of 10% quota of S-Pass holders. Then one should ask, what cause that influx of this kind of labour into Singapore labour market?
Say hello to wage differences.
Based on UNCTAD database on unit labour cost and manufacturing in 1998, a monthly wage of Singapore worker is 4.5 times higher than in Malaysia, 5.7 times higher than in Philippines and 10.6 times higher than Indonesia. Recent data from Singapore Ministry on Manpower also reveals that during the year 2000 to 2005, medium house-hold class income has increased with a rate of 1.2 % - 2.4 % annually and this increase is likely to widen the disparity of income in Southeast Asia nations because Singapore is the only country with the least effect of Asian financial crisis back in 1998, while many others countries in Southeast Asia have not recovered yet from its fall.
Singapore government is a pool of very talented person. They must have already known this fact, thus they implement a strict labour market regulations in order to manage its labour market. They know that such a wide wage gap between Singapore and its neighbour countries is not likely to be closer in the following year and the only way to manage the influx of labour to Singapore is by imposing a strict labour restrictions, such as a quota for S-Pass holders and many others regulations. But even it is Singapore government, they can have a leakage in its policy also. He reported that not all companies are following the rules in restricting labour market, either they try to hire foreign labour more than 10 %, or they accept foreign labour market with a monthly wage below S$1,800 and drives down local wages as well. Well, if that is the problem then the solution does not lies in economics anymore, even if economics can explain what is the reason behind this fact. Economist, you are out of the game.
Law authority, you can play your cad right now.
" Is our Government's fervent bid to attract and retain foreign talent at the expense of quality?"
A Singaporean post that question in a letter that was printed in local newspaper. The letter was a response of a Government policy that seems allowing more foreign "medium-skilled workers" to come and work in Singapore. He worried that if more the so-called medium-skilled workers coming to Singapore and work here, the chances of a domestic labour to be employed are getting less. I feel sorry for his fear or anger, so i decide to calm him down by giving some brief overview of Singapore Labour policy, especially regarding the foreign workers issue.
For a foreign people who want to work in Singapore, they must be granted a "pass". This pass entitled them to work in Singapore in a certain period of time. This pass is issued by Singapore Government on behalf the request of the respective employer. So, if a company in Singapore wants to hire a bright-cute-funny-intelligent Indonesian fresh graduated worker, they have to request a Pass for their respective employee. This medium-skilled workers falls into S Pass holders category in Singapore's Foreign Workers Classifications. Quoted from Singapore Ministry of Manpower official websites, here is some general informations about S-Pass holders:
"The S Pass is for foreigners who earn a monthly basic salary of at least $1,800. S Pass applicants will be assessed on a points system, taking into account multiple criteria including salary, education qualifications, skills, job type and work experience.", and the criteria are:
1. Salary - refers to a minimum basic salary of $1,800.
2. Qualification - generally refer to degree or diploma level educational qualifications. Technical qualifications can be considered and are, very broadly, courses that train the applicant to be a qualified technician or specialist in their chosen field. This should be obtained after at least 1 year of full-time study.
3. Job type - generally refers to professional, specialist or technician level jobs; and
4. Years of Work Experience - generally refers to the number of relevant years of work experience that the applicant has for in the job being applied for.
Work Permit holders who wish to apply for an S Pass must ensure that they meet the above requirement. In addition, the S Pass is given by Singapore government to respective employer by using a quota. A maximum amount of S Pass can be given to an employer is 10 % of total employees working in their company.
So, based on official policy stated on an official website, we can conclude that Singaporeans "medium-skilled" workers are the remaining 90 % of the total workers in a respective company. It is 9 times higher than the foreign workers. If it is the reality then what is the problem? Those Singaporean concerns about the seemingly endless influx of foreign medium-skilled workers into Singapore labour market and hence tighten the competition, regardless the imposition of 10% quota of S-Pass holders. Then one should ask, what cause that influx of this kind of labour into Singapore labour market?
Say hello to wage differences.
Based on UNCTAD database on unit labour cost and manufacturing in 1998, a monthly wage of Singapore worker is 4.5 times higher than in Malaysia, 5.7 times higher than in Philippines and 10.6 times higher than Indonesia. Recent data from Singapore Ministry on Manpower also reveals that during the year 2000 to 2005, medium house-hold class income has increased with a rate of 1.2 % - 2.4 % annually and this increase is likely to widen the disparity of income in Southeast Asia nations because Singapore is the only country with the least effect of Asian financial crisis back in 1998, while many others countries in Southeast Asia have not recovered yet from its fall.
Singapore government is a pool of very talented person. They must have already known this fact, thus they implement a strict labour market regulations in order to manage its labour market. They know that such a wide wage gap between Singapore and its neighbour countries is not likely to be closer in the following year and the only way to manage the influx of labour to Singapore is by imposing a strict labour restrictions, such as a quota for S-Pass holders and many others regulations. But even it is Singapore government, they can have a leakage in its policy also. He reported that not all companies are following the rules in restricting labour market, either they try to hire foreign labour more than 10 %, or they accept foreign labour market with a monthly wage below S$1,800 and drives down local wages as well. Well, if that is the problem then the solution does not lies in economics anymore, even if economics can explain what is the reason behind this fact. Economist, you are out of the game.
Law authority, you can play your cad right now.
Monday, March 27, 2006
Singapore in a Glimpse
Few weeks ago i went abroad and i spent some of my time there for visiting Chinatown. I was looking for some merchandise to be given to my friends in Indonesia and i captured in my sight a place that sold a Chinese "stempel"with your name on it, of course in Chinese letter. This kind of "stempel"is one of the unusual goods that rarely be found in my place so i decided to have it one for my own. The Chinese seller is little bit old, i think he is in his mid 50's and he can not speak English at all so i communicate with him through my guide. I order my name written in a Chinese Stone "stempel" in both Chinese and English letter and he told me that i have to pay about 150 thousands rupiah..that's fine, and i'll pay him.
He told me what the meaning of my name is and he told me that in Chinese letter my name consists 2 letters, Yo and Chi. Because they don't have "Gi" in Chinese letter so they proxy the "Gï"section by changing my name into Yo-Chi. Yo in Chinese letter means exceptional and Chi in Chinese letter means curious or inquisitive, so if i mix both of it then i will have my name stands for "A man who is exceptionally curious about something /similar with very very curious.." =)
Although he is not able to speak English, he is definitely a good seller.
He told me what the meaning of my name is and he told me that in Chinese letter my name consists 2 letters, Yo and Chi. Because they don't have "Gi" in Chinese letter so they proxy the "Gï"section by changing my name into Yo-Chi. Yo in Chinese letter means exceptional and Chi in Chinese letter means curious or inquisitive, so if i mix both of it then i will have my name stands for "A man who is exceptionally curious about something /similar with very very curious.." =)
Although he is not able to speak English, he is definitely a good seller.
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