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One
side of Singaporeans are poor.
The other side are Civil Servants. Part 2
of 2
Before
I start, let us recap; The private sector in Singapore is weak because
there are no basic laws to protect the Singaporean worker. This
had caused a reaction where Singaporeans to rely heavily on the
Government for stable jobs. Now this system does bring its own share
of problems, and I intend to hilight some of them, so let us start
with… Say
Good-bye to your Ambitions
If you have not notice yet, there are few positions in the Government
sector. If your goal does not involve being a policeman, firefighter,
paramedic, teacher, soldier, Immigration guy or any other Government
related job, I gotta bluntly say that you are screwed.
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| Yes,
but positions for a designer, programmer, video editor etc. with
the Government are very few and the chances of you getting in are
slim compared to example; the army of teacher positions that the
Government have right now.
Arrogant
Civil Servants
Now this is an interesting problem. What happens when a nation
is divided into 2 parts. One part is struggling to make ends meet,
getting low pay and defending themselves from the barrage of foreigners
and the other part working as Civil Servants getting big bucks?
Arrogant Civil Servants will emerge. I have met and talked with
civil servants. SOME are humble and are thankful that they are
able to provide for their families while SOME on the other hand,
thinks that they are rewarded with a high pay because the rest
of Singaporeans just did not study hard enough. Sometimes their
mannerism makes me laugh to myself but sometimes its just plain
annoying.
And it is worst if you meet a Civil Servant
who have zero experience working in the private sector. The Singapore
they live in is very different unlike the rest of us. Once I was
teaching a class with another teacher (She went straight from
University to teaching) and we told the students to buy some art
materials. And one student said:
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she is right. I know some of the students come from struggling families
and I try my best to give projects that have minimal material costs.
But the other teacher on other hand finds it hard to believe because
she thinks every family receives a teacher’s salary which
is $2.5k* (and that’s just starting
pay mind you. *For degree holders) |
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arrogant can come in all forms. From giving you dirty looks, to
flaunting their cars or gadgets they buy, to even the sentences
they form. They think highly of themselves because of the material
things that they gained.
My advice to arrogant
civil servants is to know your place. After all your salary comes
from taxpayers. A Singaporean that sets up a business, works hard
at making it profitable and hires another fellow Singaporean is
better than any high paying arrogant civil servant. We need more
entrepreneurs; not some hoa lian civil servant who show off material
things he gets off from the peoples’ money.
The Private Sector hates the Government
Sector
When I was working for my boss who runs a small private business,
he would always get angry whenever he reads of the news of the
Government giving bonuses to Civil Servants.
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when I was in Civil Defence and received an angry call from a civilian,
my captain said to ignore the call because he said, she may be someone
who does not like Civil Servants. |
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The
truth is, civil servants are hated by the private sector because
they are sheltered by the Government and are detached from the realities
of Singapore life.
What Entrepreneurial Spirit?
But the most serious problem of all and I do believe the Government
totally overlook is; when you have the majority of University graduates
all working as Civil Servants, you will inevitably create a brain
drain in the private sector. These Singaporeans have already proved
themselves academically but unfortunately, working as civil servants
does not allow them to reach their full potential. Graduates
should get in the game like the rest of the developed nations
and set up businesses or work in their field of expertise…
not sign up with the SAF and be an officer when you have a Business
Degree.
Right
now as I type this, students from other countries especially the
West, who are done with college, are entering the work force,
wrecking their brains coming up with new ideas, researching on
market trends, improving quality of life.. |
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in Singapore, I hear this… |
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| Yes,
I heard that statement 3 times from 3 different civil servants.
So is this how it is right now? You are eyeballs deep in this Government
bubble so much that instead of studying what’s hot in the
world’s market and tapping on that, graduates lives revolves
around Government's policies and Government’s spending habits.
How sad.
Singaporeans who have what it takes, should
always try to set up their own companies first with the hope that
one day a few local SMEs might turn into successful MNCs….
but if everybody’s clawing their way to work for the Government
to survive the constant onslaught of taxes, how can we achieve
this?!
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*MNCs
stands for "Multinational Corporations"
Apple, Google, Nike are all examples of MNCs. Here
is a list. |
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So I am not surprise our graduates cannot
achieve much like I mentioned before in my article "Our
Education System Part 3 of 3" It's not that they are
incapable, I have great faith that Singaporeans are able to do
whatever we aspire to be, regardless you are a University student
or you failed your PSLE. But a messed up private sector together
with a buffet of taxes will make the Singaporeans cling to the
Government for jobs like their lives depended on it!
To
conclude, I just want to say that this is not a civil servant
bashing article cause like I said, some civil servants are humble
and thankful that they have jobs. And why should I condemn anyone
who holds a job that is halal (permissible)? This article is to
educate the Happeepill reader (the majority being students) on
the realities about working life in Singapore. Do what you gotta
do, follow your dreams if you want to. But at the same time know
how things are run in this little island of ours.
And
another thing, I will not judge you if you want to work for the
Government because Singapore is a tough place to live and I doubt
the Government will change its ways. So go ahead and apply for
Government jobs and I wish you the best and I hope you can support
your families. But know your place and don’t get arrogant
when you see the money coming in. |
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To solve this private sector / Government
job fiasco, the solution is simple. The Government needs to improve
the PRIVATE SECTOR so that employment opportunities are just as
attractive. And improving the private sector means having laws
that protect the employee, give business a chance to breathe by
cutting down on taxes, keep a check on unfair business practices
/ unfair competition, cut down the red tape etc.... not like the
cut throat bull crap we have now.. We don’t even have a
freaking minimum wage!
This
is solving the problem at its roots, everything else like; showing
commercials telling employer to treat workers right, pasting posters
everywhere, coming up with slogans, “Treat your workers
right” campaign are temporary band-aids that will not last.
I would like to end all of this with a short sentence:
If your family is poor in Singapore, don’t blame yourself;
it’s just that none of your family members are Civil Servants.
The truth sucks,
Evil Bunny! |
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Note:
I know that some Government jobs are paid low. I have a friend right
now who earns around 1.3k working for the Government. And I have
worked for a private company as a Graphic designer for 1.7k. So
not all Government jobs pay. However, that is not my point. My point
is: Government jobs are STABLE and/or high paying COMPARED to the
private sector. If you disagree with that statement do state your
case below and don't wander off topic.
And before you commit yourself to working with the Government, do
your research first. Example: Being a teacher may pay well but you
have to sacrifice your social life.
To get a better understanding check out the real life cases below:
Case 1
A friend of mine worked for a shopping mall as a window display
artist. He got laid off. Job hop for some years and now working
for the Government for 1.3k and he has been there for almost 2 years
already.
Case 2
Another friend worked as a sales guy for a private company. After
the company shuts down, he transferred to another private company.
Now he is working for the Government still doing sales and he got
a major salary hike.
Case 3
Another guy worked as a Graphic Designer. Decides to change line
and work as a Financial Planner. Then change to Insurance agent
and now he works at ICA (Immigration & Checkpoint Authority)
Case 4
Another guy who was an interior designer. Decides to change line
(design does not pay here in Sg) to be a police officer. Realise
that his diploma was not recognize. Went to MP to have it recognize.
Now a police officer, married, having 1 child and living in a 2
storey HDB apartment (massionette).
Case 5
I know of a guy who is married and also have 1 kid but is now juggling
2 jobs working at Borders and display artist in another shopping
mall. I wish he read my article because he is better off working
for the Government. |
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