Discussion Forum

http://business.asiaone.com/Business/News/Story/A1Story20120326-335855.html


Employment period of foreign workers to be extended



The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will be extending the maximum
period of employment for foreigners holding unskilled work permit
holders.
From July, the maximum period of employment will be extended from the current six years to 10 years for all sectors.
Only foreign workers from Bangaldesh, China, India, Myanmar, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand will be affected.






This
measure does not impact foreign workers from Malaysia, North Asian
countries and foreign domestic workers as they do not face an employment
period restriction and can work up to 60 years old.
The new measure is in response to calls by Members of Parliament during the recent Budget debate and feedback from industries.
MPs Ang Wei Neng and Tin Pei Ling suggested allowing companies to
keep experienced foreign workers who have been trained for longer
periods, as long as the company is still within its dependency ratio
ceiling limits.
This ceiling refers to the maximum permitted ratios of foreign
workers to the total workforce that a company in a stipulated sector is
allowed to hire.
MOM said that there has been feedback from many companies, especially
those in the construction sector, for the period of employment of
unskilled workers to be extended to help businesses retain their
trained, experienced, and therefore, more productive workers for longer
periods.
The ministry stated that this extension will not lead to an increase
of foreign workers in Singapore as businesses are still required to keep
within their sectoral dependency ratio ceilings.
MOM said in a statement that it will also consider allowing
businesses greater flexibility in the deployment of their existing
foreign workers across job duties within the same firm.
Sectors such as the hotel and F&B industries could utilise their
staff for other functions, which could help in boosting efficiency and
productivity.
A pilot run will be carried out later this year for the hotel
industry. If successful, the MOM could extend it to other services
industries.









The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will be extending the maximum
period of employment for foreigners holding unskilled work permit
holders.
From July, the maximum period of employment will be extended from the current six years to 10 years for all sectors.
Only foreign workers from Bangaldesh, China, India, Myanmar, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand will be affected.






This
measure does not impact foreign workers from Malaysia, North Asian
countries and foreign domestic workers as they do not face an employment
period restriction and can work up to 60 years old.
The new measure is in response to calls by Members of Parliament during the recent Budget debate and feedback from industries.
MPs Ang Wei Neng and Tin Pei Ling suggested allowing companies to
keep experienced foreign workers who have been trained for longer
periods, as long as the company is still within its dependency ratio
ceiling limits.
This ceiling refers to the maximum permitted ratios of foreign
workers to the total workforce that a company in a stipulated sector is
allowed to hire.
MOM said that there has been feedback from many companies, especially
those in the construction sector, for the period of employment of
unskilled workers to be extended to help businesses retain their
trained, experienced, and therefore, more productive workers for longer
periods.
The ministry stated that this extension will not lead to an increase
of foreign workers in Singapore as businesses are still required to keep
within their sectoral dependency ratio ceilings.
MOM said in a statement that it will also consider allowing
businesses greater flexibility in the deployment of their existing
foreign workers across job duties within the same firm.
Sectors such as the hotel and F&B industries could utilise their
staff for other functions, which could help in boosting efficiency and
productivity.
A pilot run will be carried out later this year for the hotel
industry. If successful, the MOM could extend it to other services
industries.


Mr Tan Jee Say's comment

What does this long extension tell us about the direction of the
Singapore economy under the PAP? Isn't it obvious that unskilled foreign
workers are virtually becoming a permanent part of the Singapore
workforce? Whatever has happened to the promise of economic upgrading
and restructuring that PAP constantly talked about since 1979? Remember
the so-called Second Industrial Revolution that was to usher in high
tech jobs that would pay high wages to Singaporeans?



But after 33 years, PAP has failed to deliver the promised economic
upgrading and Singapore remains stuck with a virtual Third World economy
that relies heavily on unskilled workers to sustain its growth. They
have pulled down the wages of Singapore workers in the last 10 years and
more. Yet PAP continues with the same economic development strategy,
talking big about upgrading but not walking the talk. Clearly PAP is
clueless on what to do to move Singapore forward and upward. Can we
afford to waste another 33 years waiting and hoping for the PAP to
improve its performance? A non-PAP team with a different vision to take
Singapore forward is long overdue.


BECAUSE OF THE DRAFT 60.1%, the rest of Singapore had to suffer!!!