November 30, 2009 by admin
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Written by Our Correspondent
The unemployment rate for Singapore residents hit 5.9 per cent
in June this year, up from 4 per cent a year ago.
The rise was felt across all occupations and industries,
according to the Labour Force Survey carried out in mid-2009 by the
Ministry of Manpower’s Research and Statistics Department, which
released the key findings on Monday morning.
For some strange reasons, the Ministry has grouped citizens and
PRs together under the “resident” category meaning that the figures
for unemployment rate among Singapore citizens remains a
mystery.
According to Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng, there were
over 20,000 new citizens and 90,000 PRs last year.
In total, there are about 530,000 PRs in Singapore. It is not
known if the inclusion of PRs in the “resident” category has helped
to depress the unemployment figures to make it more
“respectable”.
If PRs are taken out of the equation, the unemployment rate
among Singapore citizens may be higher than 5.9 per cent.
The survey also found that among those in employment, the median
income stabilised after rising significantly over the preceding two
years.
It was not revealed the if the income of the high or low income
group had risen the most.
Singapore has the highest income gap among developed countries
after Hong Kong.
While the median wages of ordinary Singaporeans have not
increased by much, the cost of living has sky-rocketed in the last
few years, particularly that of public housing.
The price of HDB resale flats hit a record high in June this
year, fueled partly by the influx of PRs into the market. An
Indonesian PR forked out $653,000 for a 4-room HDB flat in
Queenstown when he could have easily afforded a condominium.
The Manpower Ministry said the employment rate of older
residents aged 55 to 64 remained at the record high of 57.2 per
cent reached in 2008.
This may be attributed to the fact that many Singaporeans have
to continue working beyond their retirement age in order to support
themselves.
The government has provided few social welfare benefits for
Singaporeans on the ground that it will create a “crutch”
mentality.
Singaporeans are encouraged to work for as long as their health
permits and to start their families young so that they will have
children to take care of them when the grow old.
For those who are unable to work and have no children or
relatives to support them, they are put on “Public Assistance”
scheme which pay them a monthly living allowance of $330 a
month.
When asked by PAP MP Dr Lily Neo a few years ago to
increase the allowance which is then only $290 a month, Minister
for Community, Youth and Sports Dr Vivian retorted:
“How much do you want? Do you want three meals in a hawker
centre, food court or restaurant?”
Dr Vivian has recently unveiled a $10-million dollars mega
Community Integration Fund to make the new citizens feel “welcomed”
in Singapore.
The Ministry should consider breaking down the national
unemployment rate into three categories: locals, new citizens and
PRs to better reflect the situation on the ground.
Only then will Singaporeans know if PRs and new citizens are
indeed “snatching” away their “rice-bowls” as is widely
perceived.
“How much do you want? Do you want three meals in a
hawker centre, food court or restaurant?”
Why don't the government provide Food Voucher thru NTUC or thru
wet market? That way its directly addressing basic food
needs. (hand to mouth)
U kinda of wonder what is the emotional maturity of the people
who came up with the ideas to change the criteria of the
report just to make it look good? Singapore is not that
big....to hide.
