Dear Mr Tan,
Please help me publicise the following poll in your blog. It will be much appreciated.
http://cliftonphua.blogspot.com/2010/05/orphaned-insurance-policy-poll.html
Clifton Phua
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Why no need to worry about dying
Extract from Tommy Wong's book, "Wisdom on How to Live Life"
Tom: How are you, Guru Harry?
Guru: I’m very well, Tom.
Tom: I thought the doctor said that you only have a few more days to live.
Guru: Yes, that’s true. But that only means I’ll leave my body in a few days time.
Tom: You mean you’re not worried about dying?
Guru: Well, dying means the soul is separated from the body but the soul will continue to live while the body is left behind. You know we are souls and not bodies, so why should I worry?
Tommy Wong's book can be purchased here.
Tom: How are you, Guru Harry?
Guru: I’m very well, Tom.
Tom: I thought the doctor said that you only have a few more days to live.
Guru: Yes, that’s true. But that only means I’ll leave my body in a few days time.
Tom: You mean you’re not worried about dying?
Guru: Well, dying means the soul is separated from the body but the soul will continue to live while the body is left behind. You know we are souls and not bodies, so why should I worry?
Tommy Wong's book can be purchased here.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Toxic fumes in industrial building
Dear Mr. Tan
I work in an industrial estate complex belonging to a listed industrial REIT in Ang Mo Kio Ave 10. Since late last year, a unit next to the ground floor lift lobby have been discharging a foul smelling air. This pervades the lift lobby and on cold days, drifts up to even the third and fourth floor. The smell of this discharging is nauseating although the discharge is intermittent and the intensity varies from time to time.
I was wondering if the gas is toxic or carcinogenic. So I sent a mail to NEA and also notified the management of the building. After much tai-chi and wayang, the situation did not change significantly and I think no real measurements and test of the air was done after a full 6 months.
What can we do to these people especially the NEA? Are they not supposed to act like civil servants looking after the people's health and interest? Must we wait until someone dies or get cancer before something happens?
HW
I work in an industrial estate complex belonging to a listed industrial REIT in Ang Mo Kio Ave 10. Since late last year, a unit next to the ground floor lift lobby have been discharging a foul smelling air. This pervades the lift lobby and on cold days, drifts up to even the third and fourth floor. The smell of this discharging is nauseating although the discharge is intermittent and the intensity varies from time to time.
I was wondering if the gas is toxic or carcinogenic. So I sent a mail to NEA and also notified the management of the building. After much tai-chi and wayang, the situation did not change significantly and I think no real measurements and test of the air was done after a full 6 months.
What can we do to these people especially the NEA? Are they not supposed to act like civil servants looking after the people's health and interest? Must we wait until someone dies or get cancer before something happens?
HW
Jobs Central
I have posted two job openings at this portal:
https://secure.jobscentral.com.sg/
a) Business development
b) Developer - Nokia Qt or C++
Interested candidiates should visit the portal and respond.
https://secure.jobscentral.com.sg/
a) Business development
b) Developer - Nokia Qt or C++
Interested candidiates should visit the portal and respond.
Posting an article in my blog
I invite readers to send their article to me at kinlian@gmail.com for posting in my blog. If you do not wish to disclose your name, I can use your initials. I have posted the views of TY who sent it to me by e-mail.
Employment and older workers
Hi Mr Tan,
I refer to one of blog's article titled "Wages of older workers".
The survey done by SNEF/MOM/NTUC is merely a red herring and a public relation exercise by the govt. Which employer in their right mind would tell the surveyors that they automatically cut the wages of workers who are 60 or older?? Do SNEF/MOM/NTUC verify or audit what the employers tell them? Of course not. This survey only tells us the percentage of employers who are stupid enough to admit that they automatically reduce the wages of older workers! The best part is, our govt is leading the charge with depressing our wages by reducing the employer CPF contribution rate for older workers.
Notice that shortly after the survey results were published, Capt James, who heads the pilots union at SIA, recently criticised SIA for discriminating against S'porean pilots (who face pay cuts and/or placed on pay-if-you-fly contract when they get older) in favour of expat pilots who are provided with a generous package. I am not disputing that pilots are paid well and most can retire comfortably, but the pertinent point is the fact that S'poreans are being discriminated against in our own country!
I can empathise with the your friend's plight. He must have felt betrayed by his employer. The govt claims that S'pore is a meritocratic nation and so by natural extension, employers will find the best talent for the job without any discrimination. Frankly, that is just wishful thinking on the part of out govt. It is extremely naïve to believe that personal relations don't play a part in employment. Say a company hires a Filipino manager.....he will try his best to hire his countrymen since they share the same cultural background and mother tongue. This is not meritocracy. This is pure stupidity of our national policies.
Like you said, how can S'poreans have more babies when our livelihood is in danger? I guess that the a key downside to paying our ministers and senior civil servants outrageous salaries......they begin to live in their own world.
TY
I refer to one of blog's article titled "Wages of older workers".
The survey done by SNEF/MOM/NTUC is merely a red herring and a public relation exercise by the govt. Which employer in their right mind would tell the surveyors that they automatically cut the wages of workers who are 60 or older?? Do SNEF/MOM/NTUC verify or audit what the employers tell them? Of course not. This survey only tells us the percentage of employers who are stupid enough to admit that they automatically reduce the wages of older workers! The best part is, our govt is leading the charge with depressing our wages by reducing the employer CPF contribution rate for older workers.
Notice that shortly after the survey results were published, Capt James, who heads the pilots union at SIA, recently criticised SIA for discriminating against S'porean pilots (who face pay cuts and/or placed on pay-if-you-fly contract when they get older) in favour of expat pilots who are provided with a generous package. I am not disputing that pilots are paid well and most can retire comfortably, but the pertinent point is the fact that S'poreans are being discriminated against in our own country!
I can empathise with the your friend's plight. He must have felt betrayed by his employer. The govt claims that S'pore is a meritocratic nation and so by natural extension, employers will find the best talent for the job without any discrimination. Frankly, that is just wishful thinking on the part of out govt. It is extremely naïve to believe that personal relations don't play a part in employment. Say a company hires a Filipino manager.....he will try his best to hire his countrymen since they share the same cultural background and mother tongue. This is not meritocracy. This is pure stupidity of our national policies.
Like you said, how can S'poreans have more babies when our livelihood is in danger? I guess that the a key downside to paying our ministers and senior civil servants outrageous salaries......they begin to live in their own world.
TY
Monday, May 24, 2010
Security of employment
Jobs are no long secure in Singapore due to the following reasons:
a) global competition
b) outsourcing of jobs in public sector
c) easy entry of foreign workers
d) pro-business environment
e) weak protection of workers and managers
I cite the case of a friend who lost a job after 11 years due to a change of management, as the new management wish to bring in his buddies. The friend had a good testimonial from the previous management. He was given only 3 months of salary as a severence package. He has a family and an elderly mother to support.
In an environment where jobs are not secure, it is important to avoid making financial commitment, such as:
a. buying an expensive home on mortgage
b. raising a family.
Perhaps, it is not necessary for me to raise these points, as many Singpoareans are aware about the sitaution and have decided not to get married or to have children. This is probably the reason why Singapore has perhaps the lowest birth rate among all countries in the world. This is due to the lack of employment security and the high cost of living in Singapore.
It is important for each person to have a large emergency fund, comprising of personal savings of up to six months of earnings. This fund may have to be drawn down in an emergency. It should be kept in liquid form, and not invested in a inflexible investment, such as a life assurance policy. Read my tips in my book, Practical Guide on Financial Plannng.
For older people who are already committed to a expensive mortgage and a family, it is time to stop further commitments and to build up the emergency fund early. Search Youtube for the videos by Suze Osman, who is a presenter in CNBC programme. She has been giving the same advice for the past two years, i.e. build an emergency fund.
Tan Kin Lian
a) global competition
b) outsourcing of jobs in public sector
c) easy entry of foreign workers
d) pro-business environment
e) weak protection of workers and managers
I cite the case of a friend who lost a job after 11 years due to a change of management, as the new management wish to bring in his buddies. The friend had a good testimonial from the previous management. He was given only 3 months of salary as a severence package. He has a family and an elderly mother to support.
In an environment where jobs are not secure, it is important to avoid making financial commitment, such as:
a. buying an expensive home on mortgage
b. raising a family.
Perhaps, it is not necessary for me to raise these points, as many Singpoareans are aware about the sitaution and have decided not to get married or to have children. This is probably the reason why Singapore has perhaps the lowest birth rate among all countries in the world. This is due to the lack of employment security and the high cost of living in Singapore.
It is important for each person to have a large emergency fund, comprising of personal savings of up to six months of earnings. This fund may have to be drawn down in an emergency. It should be kept in liquid form, and not invested in a inflexible investment, such as a life assurance policy. Read my tips in my book, Practical Guide on Financial Plannng.
For older people who are already committed to a expensive mortgage and a family, it is time to stop further commitments and to build up the emergency fund early. Search Youtube for the videos by Suze Osman, who is a presenter in CNBC programme. She has been giving the same advice for the past two years, i.e. build an emergency fund.
Tan Kin Lian
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