It seems that the MIW Clowns will
believe that it is important for their performance records to have
the jobless rate at all time lows - regardless of the quality of
employment that Singaporeans are getting.
Are we being misled by numbers ?
During the last recession, the Government and the NTUC encouraged
Singaporeans to change our mindset from an iron rice bowl to one
that will allow Employers more flexibility to make adjustments
without hurting everyone all around.
The solution was for Singaporeans to be employed on short term
contracts - from six months to 3 year renewable contracts.
How has this worked out for Singaporeans ?
Employed but exposed to being short-changed in times of
retrenchments.
With the Singapore Government Linked Companies being the biggest
employer of Singaporeans, this policy has surely helped the
Government to short change Singaporeans.
With employment contracts based on short terms contracts of between
6 months to 3 years, any Singaporean who will be retrenched will
get peanuts retrenchment payout if working compared to earlier
arrangements.
With employment contracts based on short terms contracts of between
6 months to 3 years, can Singaporeans make any long term financial
plans for long term mortgages to pay for home purchases - even HDB
units ?
Many young entrants into the job market are employed on short term
contracts that continuously keep them in limbo - unable to get out
of the present short term contracts, when some new and more
permanent opportunities come up before the expiry of the present
contract.
The jobless rate maybe at 10-year low, except that Singaporeans are
mostly employed on the short term contracts, that will even out the
spikes in employment rates.
Statistics are no better than window dressing to achieve some
intended goals.
