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Latest Posts By pharoah88 - Supreme      About pharoah88
First   < Newer   8601-8620 of 13894   Older>   Last  

11-Aug-2010 11:12 User Research/Opinions   /   ^ Productivity ^ [Effecacy Efficiency Economy]       Go to Message
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Incomprehensible comprehension

Letter from Chan Wai Piew Daniel

I AM a tuition teacher; among the subjects I teach is English Language. I have students from the age of 10 (Primary 4) to those preparing for the O-Level examinations.

For a long time, I have been amused and puzzled by the comprehension component of test papers, in which students are to read a passage and answer some questions on it. While the questions are straightforward at the primary school level, they become increasingly “difficult” at higher levels.

The problem is that the student must know the specific words a teacher is expecting, rather than answering the question directly and succinctly.

For example, in a Secondary 3 paper I came across, there was this question:

“In what way did Charlie move to the scene?”

The answers “ran” and “rushed” were marked as wrong; the correct answer was:

“In a quick way.”

What rigidity!

What does a student achieve doing such an exercise?

At best, he proves he can read the teacher’s mind.

However, such an uncompromising manner is undesirable in everyday life.

In my view, comprehension should be administered as an oral test, in which a student can be given an opportunity to explain his answer. In the process, he learns how to reason in a conversational setting.

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11-Aug-2010 11:05 SMRT   /   SMRT       Go to Message
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How are bus, train delays reported?

Letter from Bryan Ong

LAST Monday, at about 7.15pm, I was among the many commuters at Raffles Place who had to shove our way on board the train in the direction of Yishun. I realised that it was so crowded as trains were arriving at a frequency of about four minutes, although it was still peak hour.

The train continued to pack in more commuters gathered at City Hall, Dhoby Ghaut and Somerset. There was barely enough standing space anywhere inside the cabin, contrary to SMRT’s claims that commuters like to crowd the area around the doors. At Orchard Station, many commuters were left stranded, unable to board.

The above episode comes after several recently reported disruptions, including an incident last month in which all 800 passengers on a train were asked to disembarked after sparks were seen coming from its undercarriage.

Apart from these woes with MRT trains, I would also like to add that the Friday before, at around 5.40pm, I had to wait at Suntec for 40 minutes for bus service No 36.

The Public Transport Council’s yearly review of SMRT and SBS Transit service levels seem to paint a glowing picture of their compliance with the PTC’s standards, although anecdotal evidence suggests there are numerous SBS services that perpetually see overcrowding and delays during peak hours, among them Services 14, 16, 21, 60 and 66.

SBS Transit and SMRT continue to emphasise that service disruption rates are still below the threshold set by the Land Transport Authority, and that the delays are a result of traffic congestion. Yet here I faced service disruptions during both the morning and evening peak hours, on consecutive working days.

In this regard, I would like to ask the LTA and the PTC:

Are all train and bus service disruptions reported to the authorities?

What qualifies as a service disruption warranting a report to the authorities?

A train delay of five minutes may appear inconsequential, but given the massive overcrowding thatalways arises from these disruptions, it is a veritable nightmare for commuters.

How do the LTA and PTC independently ensure the public transport operators report all service disruptions?

How do they monitor the daily bus delays?

Finally, the PTC stated in its Press Release on Public Transport Customer Satisfaction Survey 2009 Results that the introduction of the Circle Line (CCL) would alleviate overcrowding on the existing train lines.

What do the figures so far show?

Based on my experience since the CCL started operation, I have seen little evidence of the new line having the desired results.

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11-Aug-2010 10:48 User Research/Opinions   /   %%%% WORLD ECONOMIC SUMMIT %%%%       Go to Message
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8 in 10 would ‘perform at a higher level’ if given share of profits: Survey

SINGAPORE

The survey involved about 2,700 workers in Singapore and was conducted as part of a global survey focusing on workers’ attitudes on productivity and their well-being.

When the respondents were asked if profit sharing or employee ownership was “something that would motivate you to perform at a higher level”, 78 per cent replied in the affirmative.

The survey also found that 53 per cent of the respondents had part of their pay tied to performance targets.

For those who were not under such an arrangement, more than half said they would be more productive if their earnings were linked to their work performance, Commenting on the findings, Kelly Services Singapore managing director Mark Sparrow said: “Many employees are actually quite comfortable about some element of their compensation being tied to their individual or group performance. This indicates that many are confident in their ability to perform their jobs well and believe they can share in the rewards of improved workplace productivity.”

The survey also found a “real groundswell of opinion urging employers to not only support, but to actively promote healthy employees and healthy workplaces”, Mr Sparrow noted.

Almost three-quarters of the respondents felt employers should provide incentives to encourage a healthier lifestyle, including for quitting smoking, losing weight or taking up exercise.

Outside of salary, the respondents rated training as the most important benefit at their workplace, followed by health benefits, flexible hours, and vacation or personal time-off.

Among the health benefits provided by employers, the respondents felt health insurance was the most attractive, followed by gym access or discounts, corporate exercise programmes, and a smoke-free environment.— Amid the Government’s call to raise productivity, the responses of Singapore workers to a survey by recruitment agency Kelly Services could provide some pointers: Almost 8 in 10 of those surveyed said they would be motivated to “perform at a higher level” if they were able to share in profits or have an ownership stake in their employer’s business.

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11-Aug-2010 10:42 User Research/Opinions   /   %%%% WORLD ECONOMIC SUMMIT %%%%       Go to Message
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Action taken by the Ministry Of Manpower against errant companies

Case 1

A worker told MediaCorp his construction company owed him three months’ wages ($2,650) and to 23 other workers, and yet was hiring more workers under another business. When contacted, the company director admitted he owned both firms but said the second one was inactive — after being set up in October — and that he was not hiring any more workers.

“It was just unfortunate that payments were delayed,” he said. He added that the arrears were only for May’s wages and amounted to $35,000.

The ministry told MediaCorp it was investigating the construction company for alleged phantom worker offences. The company has been barred from applying for or renewing work permits.

• Case 2

The MOM said it is investigating one firm and “two other related companies” for “possible violations” under the Employment Act after the ministry found in February that some 100 workers were owed salaries for two to four months. It said the workers subsequently accepted an offer by the employer’s representatives to settle the arrears and chose to be repatriated.

According to the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics, the workers went home with 40 per cent of their wages of about $700 to $800.

• Case 3

According to Transient Workers Count Too, the director of a hairdressing salon closed his salon and opened another company last year. Three workers allegedly paid him $14,000 but when he applied to the MOM for work permits, it was refused. The MOM told MediaCorp it is investigating the company for allegedly collecting kickbacks from its foreign workers’ employment.

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11-Aug-2010 10:35 User Research/Opinions   /   %%%% WORLD ECONOMIC SUMMIT %%%%       Go to Message
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the government could tap the fund to pay workers their wages.

The MOM did not respond as to whether it would consider implementing a similar fund but it told MediaCorp that “educating employers and workers on their rights and responsibilities is key in ensuring responsible behaviour”.

The ministry said it regularly conducts dialogues and focus group sessions with companies through business associations:

“This provides a two-way communication — for MOM to share updates on policies with these companies, and at the same time, for these companies to provide feedback and suggestions to MOM directly.”

Last year, 226 employers were prosecuted for various offences, including unpaid salaries and phantom worker scams, under the Employment Act and Employment of Foreign Manpower Act. The incidence of violations involving salary disputes made up less than 0.8 per cent of the total work permit population.

From January this year, employers who fail to pay salaries on time will have their $5,000 work permit security bond forfeited.

They can also be fined up to $5,000, jailed up to six months or both.

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11-Aug-2010 10:18 User Research/Opinions   /   %%%% WORLD ECONOMIC SUMMIT %%%%       Go to Message
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Errant companies still able to hire foreign workers under different name

ESTHER NG

estherng@mediacorp.com.sg

SINGAPORE

Now, there may be another trick up the sleeves of the few errant employers here, according to migrant welfare groups.

Some companies who owe wages to their workers are apparently able to continue hiring and advertising for foreign labour under a different name, said Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) and the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (Home).

And workers who were owed salaries may get just a portion of their money and be repatriated even as another company is set up by the same employer.

Checks with the Ministry of Manpower have found that its taskforce, set up in January last year, has intensified efforts to tackle illegal labour supply syndicates and “shell companies”, among other cases (see box).

But some are wondering if more can be done upstream to prevent such practices.

Member of Parliament Madam Halimah Yacob, who is also a National Trades Union Congress Deputy Secretary-General suggested that the ministry maintain an alert list of directors and partners who open companies under different names.

She said: “MOM could check against this list when companies apply for work permits.

Only those with good track records should be given work permits.”

Work permit applications are being scrutinised more closely for those “who do not have legitimate or regular work” for their workers, and “suspicious employers” are investigated, MediaCorp’s checks with the ministry have found.

An industry source, who declined to be named, said: “Every industry has its black sheep, and these usually tend to be small or shell companies. Big companies have their reputations to maintain and won’t indulge in such shady practices.”

But it is not easy to separate the wheat from the chaff, though, as industry players pointed out.

Established firms and some condominium developers also open businesses under different names for legitimate reasons, such as to “spread” their risk, said directors at three construction companies who declined to be named because of the “sensitive” nature of the topic.

Nishimatsu Construction general manager (commercial) Philip Khoo suggested that workers be paid weekly instead of monthly to weed out financially-suspect companies.

Home executive director Jolovan Wham said Singapore could set up a fund much like Hong Kong’s Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund, where, should a company go under,— There have been unpaid salaries, kickbacks and phantom worker scams.

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11-Aug-2010 10:04 User Research/Opinions   /   %%%% WORLD ECONOMIC SUMMIT %%%%       Go to Message
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Companies should make MVC a bigger component in wage structure

It would serve as a buffer against future economic SHOCKS, says Manpower Minister Gan

S RAMES H

rameshs@mediacorp.com.sg

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11-Aug-2010 09:45 User Research/Opinions   /   ~~~~ CORPORATE GOVERNANCE ~~~~       Go to Message
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Blemishes in local charities . . . . continues

He hopes the Charity Accounting Standards and the refined Code of Governance, which are scheduled to be rolled out by the end of this year, take into account the varying resources of charities.

The COC’s office is also looking to enhance oversight of fund-raising appeals conducted by commercial and third-party fund-raisers.

The Commissioner reported yesterday other steps to promote good governance and best practices: A pilot shared services programme has seen 21 organisations signing up and 89 others in discussion to do so. More than 800 charities have also been trained to better use the functions and resources of the Charity Portal.

To enable the public to continue to donate with confidence, COC introduced a pilot service to allow the public to send an SMS to check if an organisation has a permit to solicit donations in public.

This, after the COC Office, at times, received complaints from the public about for donations by possibly dubious charities.

Under the scheme, the public can send a SMS to 74688, using the format “FR<space><license/certificate number or organisation name>” to verify a fundraiser’s authenticity.

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11-Aug-2010 09:39 User Research/Opinions   /   ~~~~ CORPORATE GOVERNANCE ~~~~       Go to Message
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Blemishes in local charities

Charities Commissioner spots some flaws in internal controls

Leong Wee Keat

weekeat@mediacorp.com.sg

SINGAPORE

Namely, the way charities manage conflicts of interest and their internal controls in areas such as the provision of loans and handling of cash donations.

Not quite a clean bill of health, but after 100 governance reviews done last year by Mr Low Puk Yeong and his office — an increase from the 74 and 56 conducted in 2008 and 2007, respectively — only one charity, Sri Siva Krishna Temple at Marsiling, was cited as a serious concern.

The formal inquiry on the charity — for suspected forgery of payment vouchers and misappropriation of funds — is complete. The case, which marks the first time the COC has sought to remove a charity’s trustee under the Charities Act, has been referred to the police.

Otherwise, charities were “receptive” to the governance reviews and took the necessary action to strengthen their controls, said Mr Low.

For example, Bizlink — a voluntary welfare organisation that encourages the employment of people with disabilities — now requires its staff to take the additional step of signing administrative forms when helping disabled clients cash their cheques at banks.

The new procedure is “more cumbersome” and did not go down well with longtime staff, Bizlink chief executive Alvin Lim acknowledged. But, he said, “we are a charity, and we have to live up to the utmost level of good practices, including down to something minor like that”.

Common findings will be shared later with other charities to identify governance gaps and develop plans to address them.

Nearly 500 charities and Institutions of Public Character already took their own steps last year to build up governance and management capabilities by tapping $3 million worth of grants under the VWOs-Charities Capability Fund.

Down Syndrome Association chairman Ong Chin Wah noted, though, that smaller charities find it harder to practice segregation of duties due to their limited manpower.— After placing charities and their practices under the most intense scrutiny for a year since the old National Kidney Foundation saga, the Commissioner of Charities (COC) has spotted some blemishes:

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11-Aug-2010 09:34 User Research/Opinions   /   %%%% WORLD ECONOMIC SUMMIT %%%%       Go to Message
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Last month, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that about 100,000 foreign workers will be needed this year to sustain the breakneck economic growth.

Besides this 100,000 jobs created fOr foreigners in 2010, how many jobs are created fOr  SINGAPOREANS in 2010 ? ? ? ?

SHOW the TALENT PROFILE of these 100,000 foreign workers.

PROVE that nO SINGAPOREANS [WHO are UNemplOyed] are CAPABLE Of  dOing these 100,000 jObs ? ? ? ?

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11-Aug-2010 09:23 User Research/Opinions   /   %%%% WORLD ECONOMIC SUMMIT %%%%       Go to Message
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Compared to what’s happening in their home countries, Singapore’s as attractive a place to work as it can get.

Ms Peony Lim of Robert Walters

Singapore's population did not increase but foreigners have increased by at least one million already.

All the investments created jobs for foreigners and nOt for Singaporeans ? ? ? ? 

 

 

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11-Aug-2010 09:17 User Research/Opinions   /   %%%% WORLD ECONOMIC SUMMIT %%%%       Go to Message
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A Western invasion?

Recruiters here see surge in job applications from UK , North America

Teo Xuanwei

xuanwei@mediacorp.com.sg

SINGAPORE

In the past year, resumes from outside Asia — particularly North America and the United Kingdom — have surged between 20 and 50 per cent, recruiters and headhunters told MediaCorp.

The Singapore economy grew by 17.9 per cent between January and June, and while economic growth is expected to moderate in the second half of the year, officials yesterday maintained the full-year growth forecast at 13 to 15 per cent. This outstrips estimates of around 10 per cent growth in regional powerhouse China.

In contrast, governments in the West are embarking on austerity programmes to cut budget deficits. “Compared to what’s happening in their home countries, Singapore’s as attractive a place to work as it can get,” said Ms Peony Lim from recruitment consultancy Robert Walters.

Ms Lim, who is Robert Walters’ associate director (sales and marketing, engineering and supply chain), said jobs in Singapore — particularly in IT, finance and biomedical sciences — were in higher demand compared to the rest of Asia.

“Many multinational corporations base their regional headquarters here, so it’s only logical that many want to workat the hub,” she said.

Mr George McFerran, of online job portal eFinancial-Careers, said the number of Singapore job openings posted on his website have shot up by more than 50 per cent in the past year. A Hudson survey in late June also found 57 per cent of companies here saying they intend to hire.

Last month, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that about 100,000 foreign workers will be needed this year to sustain the breakneck economic growth.

The demand for new hires here “has not gone unnoticed”, said Mr McFerran, who oversees the Asia-Pacific region.

On top of Singapore’s abundant job opportunities, headhunters pointed out that job seekers, who often relocate with their families, find Singapore an attractive prospect because of its low crime rate, strong infrastructure and good education system.

In particular, banks are looking abroad for people with specific skills to fill their vacancies in back- and middle-office positions, said Mr McFerran. He said: “They need a high volume of people with these particular skills, and it may be difficult to find enough within Singapore.”

Still, employers are not blindly taking in jobseekers because of the manpower crunch, recruiters said. Said Ms Lim: “We see many applications from Eastern European countries, too, but they may not make the cut because of the language barrier or other prerequisites prospective employers are looking for.”— As the world’s economic activity shifts from West to East, so too, are the masses of jobseekers — and an increasing number of them are looking for opportunities in Singapore, which has been tipped to be the world’s fastestgrowing economy this year.

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11-Aug-2010 08:58 Others   /   Falling DOW       Go to Message
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SINGAPORE is in the SAME BOAT  as US ? ? ? ?

SINGAPORE dId everythIng  eXcept  RAiSiNG  iNTEREST  RATES ? ? ? ?

SINGAPORE's InflatIon  by  year end  cOuld  be  5% ? ? ? ?



handon      ( Date: 10-Aug-2010 22:46) Posted:



BOSS SAY MARKET DOWN THIS WEEK....

BOSS SAY FED DO ANYTHING  IS NO GOOD EXCEPT RAISE INTERESTS RATES....

ANYTHING IS HYPER INFLATION IN THE MAKING...

DIE EARLY OR LATE ONLY.... hehe... Smiley

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10-Aug-2010 21:03 Olam Intl   /   Ramping up its capex       Go to Message
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Will  USD  recover  in TEN  YEARS ? ? ? ?

When USD RECOVER in TEN YEARS ? ? ? ?

There  will  be  USD  EXHANGE  RATE   RISK  ? ? ? ?

 
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10-Aug-2010 21:00 Olam Intl   /   Ramping up its capex       Go to Message
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OLAM  will be  wOrkIng  fOr  the

bOnd hOlders  Over  the  neXt  tEn  yEars  ? ? ? ?

At  7.5%  per annum  for  bOnd hOlders,

there wIll  be  nOthIng  lefT  fOr  sharehOlders  ? ? ? ?
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10-Aug-2010 20:53 Others   /   GIC and Temasek       Go to Message
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BUY  One  Get  TWO  FREE ? ? ? ?
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10-Aug-2010 20:42 Informatics   /   Road to recovery in next 1-2 years       Go to Message
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HEARD:

Info will take over Raffles ? ? ? ?
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10-Aug-2010 20:24 GentingSMBeCW130603   /   GENTiNG SMBLeCW 130603 Expiring 2013       Go to Message
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GentingSMBLeCW130603 Symbol:
L0QW
Currency:
Singapore Dollar
Last: 0.11 No Change Vol (K): 600.0
Trading
Updated Time 10-Aug 17:00
Open 0.11 High 0.11 Low 0.11
Prev Close 0.11 Buy - Sell -
Volume(K) 600.0 Buy Vol(K) - Sell Vol(K) -
All Time High 0.11 All Time Low 0.11    

Intraday Chart

 
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10-Aug-2010 20:20 GentingSMBeCW120402   /   J2UW Genting SP Covered Warrant Expirty 2 Apr 2012       Go to Message
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GentingSMBLeCW120402 Symbol:
J2UW
Currency:
Singapore Dollar
Last: 0.11 + 0.0050 Vol (K): 200.0
Trading
Updated Time 10-Aug 17:00
Open 0.11 High 0.11 Low 0.11
Prev Close 0.105 Buy - Sell -
Volume(K) 200.0 Buy Vol(K) - Sell Vol(K) -
All Time High 0.13 All Time Low 0.055    

Intraday Chart

 
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10-Aug-2010 20:17 Genting Sing   /   GenSp starts to move up again       Go to Message
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Genting SP Symbol:
G13
Currency:
Singapore Dollar
Last: 1.28 + 0.02 Vol (K): 75088.0
Trading
Updated Time 10-Aug 17:05
Open 1.27 High 1.29 Low 1.26
Prev Close 1.26 Buy - Sell -
Volume(K) 75088.0 Buy Vol(K) - Sell Vol(K) -
52 Wk High 1.3 52 Wk Low 0.815 52 Wk Avg Vol 46685.691
All Time High 1.32 All Time Low 0.295    
Comments Near 52 wk high

*Reporting Currency in SGD
Important: ShareJunction obtains our finance data from a third party. Check financial year before use. EPS values are recorded up to two decimal points.
Financials
Date Updated 30-Jul-2010 Financial Year 31-Dec-2009
Current Year Profit
(After Tax) $'000,000
-277.565 Previous Year Profit
(After Tax) $'000,000
-124.804
Net Asset Per Share 0.22 Turnover $'000,000 2010.9
Current Year EPS
(After Interest and Tax)
-0.02 Previous Year EPS
(After Interest and Tax)
-0.01
PE Ratio (After Tax) -63.5 Times Covered 0.0
Price (at update time) 1.27 Dividend Yield 0.0

*Technical Analysis Information is updated Daily
Technicals
RSI 63.58 Williams %R -38.46
Comments (RSI) No Info Comments (W%R) No Info

Intraday Chart

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