Labour
Non-resident workers account for 100% of job growth in 2Q 2024: MOM labour report
The Labour Market Report for Q2 2024, released by Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower on Tuesday, 17 September, revealed that all job growth during the quarter was attributed to non-resident workers. Resident employment, which includes Singaporeans and permanent residents, declined by 600.
According to the Labour Market Report for Q2 2024, released by Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM), total employment increased by 11,300 jobs in the second quarter. However, non-resident workers accounted for all of this growth, while resident employment—comprising both Singaporeans and permanent residents—declined by 600.
The job growth was largely driven by Work Permit holders in Construction and Manufacturing, sectors where residents are less inclined to work due to the lower wages and physically demanding conditions, especially in light of Singapore’s rising cost of living.
Despite ongoing efforts to boost resident employment, structural challenges remain. The MOM report noted that residents are generally not keen to take up these lower-paying, labor-intensive jobs, leading to a continued reliance on non-residents for filling such roles.
Underemployment and Retrenchment Challenges
The report also highlighted a slight rise in time-related underemployment among residents, from 1.9% in Q1 2024 to 2.2% in Q2 2024. This refers to residents who are employed part-time but would prefer to work more hours, indicating some level of job dissatisfaction or mismatch between available opportunities and their needs for full-time work.
Retrenchments increased from 3,030 in Q1 2024 to 3,270 in Q2, with Professionals, Managers, Executives, and Technicians (PMETs) and older workers among the most affected. More than half (55.0%) of residents retrenched in Q4 2023 managed to find new jobs within six months. However, a significant portion of these workers had to accept lower wages.
Of the residents who were re-employed, 41.4% had to settle for jobs that paid less than their previous roles. This figure is derived from the fact that 58.6% of re-employed residents managed to secure jobs with the same or higher wages. Therefore, the remaining 41.4% took up jobs with reduced pay.
Even more concerning is that only 32.2% of all retrenched residents were able to find jobs with wages comparable to or better than their previous positions. This figure is derived from the re-employment rate (55.0%) multiplied by the proportion of those who secured similar or higher wages (58.6%), highlighting that less than one-third of retrenched workers ended up in roles offering similar financial compensation.
Re-Employment Struggles for Older Workers
Older workers, particularly those aged 40 and above, faced even greater challenges. The re-employment rate for residents aged 40 to 49 dropped from 60.6% in Q1 to 54.4% in Q2. For workers aged 50 to 59, the re-employment rate saw a sharp decline from 52.8% to 41.6%, indicating that older workers not only faced difficulties in securing new roles but were also more likely to accept jobs with lower pay.
This situation reflects broader trends where older workers often struggle to match their previous earnings when transitioning to new jobs, contributing to financial strain, especially given Singapore’s high cost of living.
Non-Resident Employment Drives Growth
Non-resident employment increased by 12,000 in Q2 2024, mainly driven by Work Permit holders in Construction and Manufacturing. These sectors continue to rely heavily on non-residents for jobs that residents are generally unwilling to take up due to the nature and wages of the roles. Resident employment saw some growth in outward-oriented sectors such as Financial & Insurance Services, Information & Communications, and Professional Services, but these gains were outweighed by seasonal declines in Retail Trade and Administrative & Support Services, resulting in a net decline in resident employment.
The MOM report did not distinguish between Singapore citizens and permanent residents, so it is unclear how each group was specifically impacted. However, the fact that non-residents accounted for all job growth suggests continued challenges in attracting residents to certain sectors.
Tight Labour Market and Job Vacancies
The labour market remained tight in Q2 2024, with the ratio of job vacancies to unemployed persons increasing from 1.56 in March 2024 to 1.67 in June 2024. Job vacancies held steady at 81,200, while unemployment rates improved slightly. The overall unemployment rate fell to 2.0%, and the resident unemployment rate dropped to 2.7%, with long-term unemployment among residents remaining low at 0.8%.
Despite the high number of job vacancies, the declining re-employment rates among retrenched older workers and rising underemployment rates indicate ongoing difficulties in matching available jobs to residents’ skills and wage expectations.
Impact of Foreign Workforce Policies
The MOM report also reflects the impact of foreign workforce policies aimed at raising the quality and standards of non-resident workers. Declines in Employment Pass (EP) and S Pass holders were seen in several sectors, in line with government efforts to raise qualifying salaries and reduce reliance on foreign workers for mid-skilled positions.
However, the continued growth in non-resident employment, particularly among Work Permit holders, suggests that Singapore still depends on foreign workers to fill roles that residents are not willing or able to take up, especially in sectors offering lower wages.
Labour
44-year-old Bangladeshi worker dies in worksite accident at Resorts World Sentosa
A Bangladeshi worker died after being struck by a collapsed steel structure at a worksite in Resorts World Sentosa. The accident occurred during lifting operations on 29 September. Authorities confirmed no foul play is suspected, and the contractor has been ordered to halt all lifting activities as investigations continue.
SINGAPORE: A 44-year-old Bangladeshi worker tragically died following an accident at a construction site within Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) on Sunday (29 September).
According to Lianhe Zaobao, the worker, whose identity has not been disclosed, was fatally struck by a steel structure that collapsed during lifting operations at the site, which is part of the former Maritime Experiential Museum area.
Authorities were alerted to the accident at approximately 8 a.m. at 8 Sentosa Gateway. When police and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) personnel arrived, the worker was found unconscious.
A paramedic from the SCDF pronounced the man dead at the scene, according to the Singapore Police Force.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) confirmed that part of the steel structure collapsed while it was being lifted, causing it to strike the worker.
MOM has instructed Sunray Woodcraft Construction, the contractor responsible for the site, to halt all lifting activities immediately.
The ministry stressed the importance of ensuring that lifting equipment and supporting structures are properly designed, installed, and inspected as a general safety measure.
RWS said the incident took place in a section of the resort where the public does not have access. The area had previously housed the Maritime Experiential Museum, which was shut down in March 2020 to make way for the expansion of the S.E.A. Aquarium.
This project, part of the broader Resorts World Sentosa expansion, began in 2022. When completed, the rebranded Singapore Oceanarium is expected to be three times the size of the original aquarium and will include a research and learning centre.
In a statement, RWS acknowledged that it was informed of the accident by the contractor on the morning of 29 September and confirmed its cooperation with the authorities as investigations continue.
The police have ruled out foul play but have noted that the investigation is still ongoing.
The Manpower Ministry’s statistics show that there were 36 fatal workplace accidents in 2023, down from 46 in 2022 and 37 in 2021.
Community
Singaporean influencer faces online backlash for berating domestic worker over chore logs
A Singaporean influencer faced intense online backlash after a video emerged of her berating her domestic worker. She allegedly complained about the helper’s English proficiency and work pace, expressing dissatisfaction with her failure to consistently fill out a chore notebook that recorded tasks down to the minute. The Centre for Domestic Employees (CDE) has since escalated the case to the Ministry of Manpower for further investigation.
A Singaporean influencer, identified only as “L,” has sparked controversy after filming herself berating her domestic worker for being “slow” and sending the footage to Regent Maid Agency.
The video, later shared by the agency on Facebook on 16 September, revealed L’s dissatisfaction with the worker’s performance, prompting public backlash.
In a statement, the agency explained that the woman had expressed her frustration with the helper’s language proficiency and work performance shortly after hiring her.
In the video, L is seen sitting in front of a table with the domestic worker standing beside her.
L initially insists that she is not scolding the worker, but confronts her for not responding to a question, claiming the helper had remained silent for “a minute and 46 seconds.”
“Are you gonna to answer?” L asked the helper twice in the video.
At around 50 seconds into the video, L loses her temper, slamming the table and shouting, “Halo! You think what? My time is very what? What do you think you are?”
Subsequent footage shows L flipping through a booklet detailing household chores, with specific times down to minutes logged next to each task, such as vacuuming and cleaning.
L Enforces Strict Chore Documentation System for Helper
The domestic worker, a 25-year-old from Myanmar, began working with L on 12 July.
According to Regent Maid Agency, L had requested a worker who spoke English well, despite opting for the salary range of a fresh worker.
The agency claims they had managed L’s expectations prior to confirming the worker.
However, L reported that the helper did not meet her expectations in terms of English proficiency and work pace.
The agency revealed that Ms. L implemented a system requiring the helper to document completed chores and the time taken for each task, which ultimately caused further dissatisfaction.
While the agency’s agent worked to manage Ms. L’s expectations regarding the helper’s abilities and salary, they provided continuous support to both parties, including counseling sessions aimed at addressing performance and communication issues.
However, the helper allegedly experienced significant stress due to the work environment, which included instances of verbal abuse. She sought assistance from the agency and even considered repatriation due to the challenging conditions.
The agency noted that Ms. L complained about the helper’s failure to consistently fill out the chore notebook as instructed and also raised concerns over communication difficulties.
According to Mothership, the worker was reportedly required to refold clothes repeatedly until they met L’s standards, with the training session extending until midnight.
Regent Maid Agency reminded Ms. L that workers are entitled to a minimum of eight hours of rest each day.
L Allegedly Threatens to Involve Government Ministers and Leverage Public Influence
According to the agency, L expressed her intent to escalate her concerns to several high-ranking government officials, including Dr Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower, and Mr. K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs.
Additionally, as an influencer, L threatened to publicly highlight her experience to discourage others from facing similar issues.
L also requested to replace the domestic worker. However, Regent Maid Agency explained that, per the service agreement, third-party fees are applicable for a replacement.
L reportedly claimed that her friends were not charged similar fees by other agencies, but Regent Maid Agency emphasized that L was made aware of the terms when signing the agreement.
“We do not recycle helpers who are unsuitable. Our goal is to find the best fit for both employers and helpers, avoiding unnecessary frustration,” the agency explained.
“While employers have the right to express their concerns, it is also important to recognize the challenges faced by agencies and helpers. We are committed to handling each case with professionalism and fairness.”
Agency and CDE Respond
Despite numerous attempts to address L’s feedback and concerns, including counselling sessions for the worker, the situation did not improve.
Regent Maid Agency disclosed that L allegedly continued to file complaints, including after operating hours, sometimes as late as midnight.
Since the video was posted, the Centre for Domestic Employees (CDE) has contacted the agency to assist with the issue.
The CDE has escalated the matter to the Ministry of Manpower for further investigation.
CDE encourages any migrant domestic worker in need of assistance to reach out via their 24-hour helpline at 1800-2255-233 or through their Facebook page.
Netizen Criticized the Influencer for Demanding “Butler’s Standards” from Her Helper
Netizens widely condemned the influencer’s behavior towards her domestic worker, with many expressing outrage over the disrespectful treatment and unreasonable expectations.
Some criticised whether the influencer for expecting “butler’s standards” from a helper, pointing out that tracking tasks down to the minute and shouting at the worker was excessive and unfair.
Several netizens were disturbed by the influencer’s tone, slamming the table and shouting at the worker, calling it a clear form of verbal abuse. Some urged the agency to support the worker and file a formal complaint.
Many netizens expressed empathy and heartbreak for the domestic worker, highlighting how the public humiliation and harsh treatment were unjustifiable.
They criticised the culture of entitlement some employers display toward their helpers.
A Netizen Recalls Stressful Experience of Documenting Every Chore While Working for a Family
A netizen shared her personal experience of working for an family, highlighting the stress caused not by the workload but by the need to meticulously document all chores.
She was were required to write down the start and finish times for each task, including cooking, and provide detailed explanations of how the food was prepared, step by step.
“Everytime I cook food I also write it the down and you need to explain what you put first in order until the food cooked.. imagine I make food 3 to 4 times a day and 3 types of food even roti prata or rice need to record in the piece of paper”
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