Daily Lessons from Life 03 February 2013 - ASME proposes National Jobs Index

"

ASME proposes National Jobs Index - CNA 3 February 2013   SINGAPORE: The Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (ASME) has proposed the setting up  of a National Jobs Index, in response to the White Paper on Population. The association explained that jobs shunned by Singaporeans, but are necessary for Singapore's growth,  like construction workers, be rated higher. Thus, higher indexed jobs should be assigned a lower levy and given a higher quota. In addition, ASME questioned if Singaporean's discontent towards foreigners is more directed at higher  skilled workers. It argued if it is, then foreign labour quota for lower skilled workers should be re-examined. ASME said although the average Singaporean has been urging the government to reduce the influx of foreign labour and foreign talent, these two separate groups should be examined in greater detail. The quick response from the government to slow down the inflow of both foreign labour and foreign talent has not only made it highly challenging and difficult for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore to hire foreign workers but equally challenging when renewing the passes of their existing  well-trained foreign workers. ASME also added if SMEs are unable to function optimally, they will be forced to downsize or shut down, further reducing the number of job positions available to professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMET), perpetuating a vicious cycle. ASME also urged the government to be prepared to relax its manpower policies, if productivity gains do not materialise. The association added that the White Paper places overly optimistic demands that productivity gains will far outstrip the historical trend. In the past 10 years, Singapore's productivity gain has only been 1.8 per cent, compared to the projected productivity gain of 3 per cent in this decade and up to 2 per cent in the next, which the White Paper envisages. Although there is clearly scope for productivity growth, squeezing out productivity gains in the face of shrinking margins and resources only leads to rising costs, prices and inflation. On the population increase, the association said this will mean a larger domestic market, and thus more  business opportunities. But, it said it will be a challenge if the workforce growth is artificially prevented to meet the growing demand."    Well, the ASME folks got it right this time!   Lessons for me are:   1. as I have always maintained whenever I talk about Foreigners - we need to look at them in 3 big categories - Foreign Talent (Real and Fake), Foreign Workers (those not wanted by Singaporeans, those low-waged service type, the Construction Type that can be on project basis), and Foreign Bosses (those who hire Singaporeans vs. those who hire from home country mainly);   2. if the government believes that SMEs are the MAIN employers of workers, then this National Job Index thing may just be something the government has not looked at previously BUT need to now. As long as the skilled FWs doing jobs that Singaporeans shunned AND not depressing wages for Singaporeans WHO are ABLE AND WILLING to do these jobs, not an issue;   3. as for Productivity improvement, suffice to say that we HAD our Productivity Movement way back in the 70s and 80s with great successes. Just that it was a MOVEMENT. A FLAVOUR of the year or decades BUT NEVER really become a CULTURE of Singapore. The culture of Pride in Own Work, Respect for own work, knowing that the best ideas CAN COME from the rank and file workers instead of JUST relying on the Top Honchos!, etc. The use of 'creative thinking tools' like brainstorming, mind-mapping, etc taught and used successfully in many corporates, for-profit and not-for-profit, and PUBLIC organizations were FLOURISHING then.   Will this Productivity Call be just another flavour of the day? Hope NOT. So, I have to agree with the government that the Productivity Goals have to be HIGHER as we have slacked and we CAN catch up IF we BELIEVE it can be done and KEEP AT IT.