Karen Chong was once part of the Republic of Singapore Air Force. A mother of 4, she made the decision to leave the workforce so as to care for her kids full-time. For the past 20 years, she has cared for her four sons and many from her extended family. Finally in August 2016, Karen…
Category: Opinions
What’s on people’s minds
Gems from the Straits Times – UOB Budget 2021 Roundtable
There’re at least 6 gems to take home!
6 Struggles Food Delivery Workers Face They Wish You Knew
A decade ago, Food Panda, GrabFood and the likes did not exist and now they’re thriving essential businesses. Food delivery platforms in Singapore have seen a spike in rider signups following the start of Circuit Breaker, demand for food delivery is booming. Now, on the other end, have you ever wondered how it’s like being a…
A Whole-of-nation Approach to Tackle Unemployment in Singapore
It’s increasingly hard to find reasons to cheer when one listens to the news these days. In the United States, the Covid-19 pandemic has sent the economy into a new recession and nearly cancelled out all of the employment gains of the last decade in mere months. In China, college graduates are facing their toughest…
Working-From-Home Isn’t Completely Sustainable Yet. Why?
It’s good to read that “9 in 10 want to continue working from home (WFH)” (ST 24 May). While many see working from home becoming the new norm, the current mode of WFH may not be ideal for all – employees, managers, or organisations. Each individual has his/her own style of working One may work…
Unfair Workplace Practices That Workers Should Beware Of
NTUC Labour MP Patrick Tay Teck Guan (assistant secretary-general of NTUC and an MP for West Coast GRC) highlighted that companies going through rough patches may use unfair practices to reduce work hours or even to get rid of workers. Here are some unfair workplace practices he highlighted in a Straits Times article. Cutting salaries and changing…
Confessions of a Singaporean Helping Migrant Workers in Singapore
The thoughts below were contributed by an anonymous Singaporean who has been helping migrant workers in Singapore, in both an NGO and now a bank. Photos have been inserted by the editor for context. I don’t often write long posts nor express strong opinions, but having had the privilege to serve Migrant Workers (MWs) in…
MP Louis Ng Asked For More Parent-care and Annual Leave, But…
MP Louis Ng, a Singapore animal welfare activist who was elected MP in 2015, has been advocating for different groups of workers and speaking his mind on several controversial issues, earning him the title “Maverick Politician“. Recently he asked the government for more parent-care leave and annual leave, but was turned down. This is an…
How is Singapore’s healthcare fighting the Wuhan Virus?
The Wuhan Virus now known as nCoV has infected three people in Singapore and caused the lockdown of more than 10 cities in China. The virus doesn’t only affect patients who caught it but also may spread to healthcare workers. The logistics needed to contain the outbreak also involve a heck many different groups of…
Why Does Singapore Import Foreign Talents When Singaporeans Are So Educated & Smart?
Recently the Ministry of Manpower updated its Fair Consideration Framework with stricter penalties for companies which discriminate against Singaporeans during hiring. Stricter penalties on companies not giving Singaporeans fair consideration The minimum period of work pass debarment has increased from 6 months to 12 months. For worse cases, the debarment period can be up to…