Zorro Lim Bad-Mouthed Malaysia & China - Page 8

Aces · 08-09-2015, 09:27 AM

Minimum wage policy won't work: Employers, labour chief
The following article was published in the Straits Times on 13 October 2010.

Minimum wage policy won't work: Employers, labour chief
By Kor Kian Beng
Straits Times, Oct 13, 2010

SINGAPORE'S labour chief and employers have come out strongly against the idea of a minimum wage and debunked recent claims it would be effective in helping the country's low-wage workers.

National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) secretary-general Lim Swee Say and the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) marshalled arguments to show that a minimum wage is hard to implement effectively and failure to do so would trigger negative effects on workers and bosses alike.

The nasty consequences include raising business costs, driving up joblessness, pushing up costs of living and eroding Singapore's competitive edge, while doing little to lessen income inequality.

Mr Lim, who leads 60 affiliated unions with more than 530,000 members, made it clear in an interview with The Straits Times last week that a minimum wage has no place in Singapore - now or in the near future, because 'it will not work'.

He said there was no way to get it right: If the wage was set too low, it would serve no purpose as low-wage workers would continue to earn little. If set too high, it would trigger higher unemployment as companies would cut demand for labour or their investments.

Based on Singapore's workforce of two million, every one percentage point increase in the unemployment rate would mean 20,000 low-wage workers losing their jobs, cautioned Mr Lim, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister's Office.

He dismissed as well the idea of setting different minimum wages for each sector, depending on the type of work done by low-wage workers, as it would be hard to justify why workers in a certain sector should be paid a higher wage.

In response to media queries, the SNEF said a minimum wage would raise costs and force bosses to respond in ways 'none of which are beneficial'.

These include cutting headcount and trimming workers' benefits and training.

Ultimately, a minimum wage would eat away at the competitiveness of the Singapore workforce, said the SNEF, which has 2,000 members employing more than 600,000 workers in total.

It said: 'Jobs will be lost and fewer new jobs will be created as new businesses find the minimum wage an impediment and choose to start up elsewhere.'

SNEF also cited research findings that showed a causal link between a minimum wage and negative effects on employment in countries like the United States.

The robust response from the labour movement and the employers follows a debate on minimum wage last month.

It began with opinion pieces by National University of Singapore economists Lim Chin and Hui Weng Tat - the former opposing, and the latter supporting the idea.

This was shortly after Hong Kong, an economy often compared to Singapore, legislated a minimum wage in July, paving the way for its implementation by next year.

A minimum wage sets a salary floor employers cannot breach. Its key aims are two-fold: Protect low-wage workers from potential exploitation and help them earn higher wages to cope with rising costs of living.

In the latest debate, the idea of a minimum wage appeared to gain more support because of a widening income gap here. Official figures showed top managers earned four times more than cleaners and labourers at the bottom in 1998. It grew to 5.12 times in 2008.

Lending support this time were Ambassador-at-Large Tommy Koh and Mr K. Kesavapany, director of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.

Disagreeing, Mr Lim and SNEF believe the better way to help low-wage workers is to raise their skills through what Mr Lim calls a 'minimum skills' approach.

Developed since the mid-1990s, this includes a training infrastructure with 46 centres islandwide, and a nationally recognised skills certification system.

Over time, higher skills and productivity would lead to higher wages, instead of compelling employers to cough up the extra money through a minimum wage law, said Mr Lim.

'We believe the most effective wage ladder for low-wage workers is the skills ladder,' he said.

Responding to Straits Times queries, the International Labour Organisation said a carefully articulated set of wide-ranging policies is needed to secure 'minimum income' for low-wage workers.

It believes this holistic approach is 'at least implicitly reflected' in Singapore's recent policy measures. But this does not mean there is no need for a minimum wage here because it can help prevent abusive wage practices, it added.

foxwagon · 08-09-2015, 02:43 PM

Min wage wont work for low skilled workers but high pay will work for ministers?

dragon888 · 08-09-2015, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aces

Minimum wage policy won't work: Employers, labour chief
The following article was published in the Straits Times on 13 October 2010.

Minimum wage policy won't work: Employers, labour chief
By Kor Kian Beng
Straits Times, Oct 13, 2010

SINGAPORE'S labour chief and employers have come out strongly against the idea of a minimum wage and debunked recent claims it would be effective in helping the country's low-wage workers.

National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) secretary-general Lim Swee Say and the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) marshalled arguments to show that a minimum wage is hard to implement effectively and failure to do so would trigger negative effects on workers and bosses alike.

The nasty consequences include raising business costs, driving up joblessness, pushing up costs of living and eroding Singapore's competitive edge, while doing little to lessen income inequality.

Mr Lim, who leads 60 affiliated unions with more than 530,000 members, made it clear in an interview with The Straits Times last week that a minimum wage has no place in Singapore - now or in the near future, because 'it will not work'.

He said there was no way to get it right: If the wage was set too low, it would serve no purpose as low-wage workers would continue to earn little. If set too high, it would trigger higher unemployment as companies would cut demand for labour or their investments.

Based on Singapore's workforce of two million, every one percentage point increase in the unemployment rate would mean 20,000 low-wage workers losing their jobs, cautioned Mr Lim, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister's Office.

He dismissed as well the idea of setting different minimum wages for each sector, depending on the type of work done by low-wage workers, as it would be hard to justify why workers in a certain sector should be paid a higher wage.

In response to media queries, the SNEF said a minimum wage would raise costs and force bosses to respond in ways 'none of which are beneficial'.

These include cutting headcount and trimming workers' benefits and training.

Ultimately, a minimum wage would eat away at the competitiveness of the Singapore workforce, said the SNEF, which has 2,000 members employing more than 600,000 workers in total.

It said: 'Jobs will be lost and fewer new jobs will be created as new businesses find the minimum wage an impediment and choose to start up elsewhere.'

SNEF also cited research findings that showed a causal link between a minimum wage and negative effects on employment in countries like the United States.

The robust response from the labour movement and the employers follows a debate on minimum wage last month.

It began with opinion pieces by National University of Singapore economists Lim Chin and Hui Weng Tat - the former opposing, and the latter supporting the idea.

This was shortly after Hong Kong, an economy often compared to Singapore, legislated a minimum wage in July, paving the way for its implementation by next year.

A minimum wage sets a salary floor employers cannot breach. Its key aims are two-fold: Protect low-wage workers from potential exploitation and help them earn higher wages to cope with rising costs of living.

In the latest debate, the idea of a minimum wage appeared to gain more support because of a widening income gap here. Official figures showed top managers earned four times more than cleaners and labourers at the bottom in 1998. It grew to 5.12 times in 2008.

Lending support this time were Ambassador-at-Large Tommy Koh and Mr K. Kesavapany, director of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.

Disagreeing, Mr Lim and SNEF believe the better way to help low-wage workers is to raise their skills through what Mr Lim calls a 'minimum skills' approach.

Developed since the mid-1990s, this includes a training infrastructure with 46 centres islandwide, and a nationally recognised skills certification system.

Over time, higher skills and productivity would lead to higher wages, instead of compelling employers to cough up the extra money through a minimum wage law, said Mr Lim.

'We believe the most effective wage ladder for low-wage workers is the skills ladder,' he said.

Responding to Straits Times queries, the International Labour Organisation said a carefully articulated set of wide-ranging policies is needed to secure 'minimum income' for low-wage workers.

It believes this holistic approach is 'at least implicitly reflected' in Singapore's recent policy measures. But this does not mean there is no need for a minimum wage here because it can help prevent abusive wage practices, it added.

Quote:

Originally Posted by foxwagon

Min wage wont work for low skilled workers but high pay will work for ministers?

really cannot understand....thought Union suppose to help workers but seems like here is not.....never try and start to say hard to implement.....simply lazy to use brain to think or perhaps brain rusty Liao.....

foxwagon · 08-09-2015, 05:09 PM

Last time asian financial crisis labour minister say workers must tighten belts to help companies so that companies can survive.
I was thinking u earn million dollars how to convince blue workers for pay cuts?

hkh · 08-09-2015, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foxwagon

Last time asian financial crisis labour minister say workers must tighten belts to help companies so that companies can survive.
I was thinking u earn million dollars how to convince blue workers for pay cuts?

Yes I wonder Why they never took the lead in pay cuts ??

AlvinLeong · 08-09-2015, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkh

Yes I wonder Why they never took the lead in pay cuts ??

cannot. wait they corrupted or no face talk to CEOs.

hkh · 08-09-2015, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlvinLeong

cannot. wait they corrupted or no face talk to CEOs.

Their face more important than worker's stomach ??

lenghan · 09-09-2015, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tian ya ren

Why GCT and that KBW ( lan pa sor ) never fiak him properly ....

KBW busy preparing his speech no time la...so that he can come up with such wonderful scare tactics that PAP may not be the next govt after 12th sept

But if LHL is their leader, then probably all speeches are sanctioned by LHL himself??
So that being the "logic" LHL is agreeable with what LSS uttered!!!

taygu · 10-09-2015, 11:41 PM

Met a friend whom is a Malaysia PR, she told me they are pissed off by Zorro Lim remarks, including the PRC PR too. Heng ah become a common phrase too..

Imagine if all the new citizen from Malaysia and PRC vote against him..

08-09-2015, 09:27 AM	#71
Aces Arofanatic Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 486	Minimum wage policy won't work: Employers, labour chief The following article was published in the Straits Times on 13 October 2010. Minimum wage policy won't work: Employers, labour chief By Kor Kian Beng Straits Times, Oct 13, 2010 SINGAPORE'S labour chief and employers have come out strongly against the idea of a minimum wage and debunked recent claims it would be effective in helping the country's low-wage workers. National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) secretary-general Lim Swee Say and the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) marshalled arguments to show that a minimum wage is hard to implement effectively and failure to do so would trigger negative effects on workers and bosses alike. The nasty consequences include raising business costs, driving up joblessness, pushing up costs of living and eroding Singapore's competitive edge, while doing little to lessen income inequality. Mr Lim, who leads 60 affiliated unions with more than 530,000 members, made it clear in an interview with The Straits Times last week that a minimum wage has no place in Singapore - now or in the near future, because 'it will not work'. He said there was no way to get it right: If the wage was set too low, it would serve no purpose as low-wage workers would continue to earn little. If set too high, it would trigger higher unemployment as companies would cut demand for labour or their investments. Based on Singapore's workforce of two million, every one percentage point increase in the unemployment rate would mean 20,000 low-wage workers losing their jobs, cautioned Mr Lim, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister's Office. He dismissed as well the idea of setting different minimum wages for each sector, depending on the type of work done by low-wage workers, as it would be hard to justify why workers in a certain sector should be paid a higher wage. In response to media queries, the SNEF said a minimum wage would raise costs and force bosses to respond in ways 'none of which are beneficial'. These include cutting headcount and trimming workers' benefits and training. Ultimately, a minimum wage would eat away at the competitiveness of the Singapore workforce, said the SNEF, which has 2,000 members employing more than 600,000 workers in total. It said: 'Jobs will be lost and fewer new jobs will be created as new businesses find the minimum wage an impediment and choose to start up elsewhere.' SNEF also cited research findings that showed a causal link between a minimum wage and negative effects on employment in countries like the United States. The robust response from the labour movement and the employers follows a debate on minimum wage last month. It began with opinion pieces by National University of Singapore economists Lim Chin and Hui Weng Tat - the former opposing, and the latter supporting the idea. This was shortly after Hong Kong, an economy often compared to Singapore, legislated a minimum wage in July, paving the way for its implementation by next year. A minimum wage sets a salary floor employers cannot breach. Its key aims are two-fold: Protect low-wage workers from potential exploitation and help them earn higher wages to cope with rising costs of living. In the latest debate, the idea of a minimum wage appeared to gain more support because of a widening income gap here. Official figures showed top managers earned four times more than cleaners and labourers at the bottom in 1998. It grew to 5.12 times in 2008. Lending support this time were Ambassador-at-Large Tommy Koh and Mr K. Kesavapany, director of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. Disagreeing, Mr Lim and SNEF believe the better way to help low-wage workers is to raise their skills through what Mr Lim calls a 'minimum skills' approach. Developed since the mid-1990s, this includes a training infrastructure with 46 centres islandwide, and a nationally recognised skills certification system. Over time, higher skills and productivity would lead to higher wages, instead of compelling employers to cough up the extra money through a minimum wage law, said Mr Lim. 'We believe the most effective wage ladder for low-wage workers is the skills ladder,' he said. Responding to Straits Times queries, the International Labour Organisation said a carefully articulated set of wide-ranging policies is needed to secure 'minimum income' for low-wage workers. It believes this holistic approach is 'at least implicitly reflected' in Singapore's recent policy measures. But this does not mean there is no need for a minimum wage here because it can help prevent abusive wage practices, it added.

08-09-2015, 02:43 PM	#72
foxwagon Dragon Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,181	Min wage wont work for low skilled workers but high pay will work for ministers?

08-09-2015, 05:09 PM	#74
foxwagon Dragon Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,181	Last time asian financial crisis labour minister say workers must tighten belts to help companies so that companies can survive. I was thinking u earn million dollars how to convince blue workers for pay cuts?

10-09-2015, 11:41 PM	#79
taygu Arofanatic Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 227	Met a friend whom is a Malaysia PR, she told me they are pissed off by Zorro Lim remarks, including the PRC PR too. Heng ah become a common phrase too.. Imagine if all the new citizen from Malaysia and PRC vote against him..

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