http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/forum/story/0,5562,364286,00.html?
As a small business owner who intends to support the employment of
NSmen and Singaporeans, I am often forced to consider Permanent
Resident passholders as they do not have to do reservist
training.
Many NSmen have to attend three weeks of in-camp training yearly
and this is very disruptive to a small business.
A business employs a person for his contribution to the company and
while it does not have to pay the NSmen salary (it still has to
contribute to the CPF), the company loses its potential income for
the period of training.
Many companies will typically pay NSmen higher than PRs, but
because of the 'disincentive', it is no longer viable. Larger
companies can probably absorb the 'losses' but for how long and how
many NSmen do they employ? Has it become more attractive to employ
PRs or workers other than NSmen?
NSmen are essential for the security of our country but has the
system put a penalty on our NSmen and turn them into a liability,
especially to small companies?
Have the SAF studied various methods to compress the training and
reduce the training period to reduce to the minimum the disruption
to businesses?
Have the military men gone overboard with their plans for training
to increase their importance without taking into consideration the
economics involved?
In the first place, can these military men empathise with the
business world when they have not operated a business in their
lifetime?
Our employee with the 427th SAR recently went for a two-day
stint that involved rehearsals for a parade to welcome the new
commanding officer. Essential? You decide?
Sylvester Lim Teck Hee
The last sentance what a joke! 