Grow GDP at all costs like cancer approach by the PAP is:
- Housewives go out work = more disposable income to spend = GDP up
- Hire maids or put kids in childcare = spending up = GDP up
- Hired caregivers buy & use toilet paper = GDP up
Housewives aside, this tiny island is ridden with fear among much of the populace. Following 2 quotes by Seth Godin pretty much sums up the fear contagion among sinkie workers:
"A workaholic lives on fear. It's fear that drives him to show up all the time. The best defense, apparently, is a good attendance record".
Many stupid sinkie workers think by not utilising their leave days, they will be less likely retrenched than their colleagues - 8 in 10 cleared less than three quarters of their annual leave.
"Are you going to succeed because you return emails a few minutes faster, stay at work 1 hour longer than anyone else? I think that's unlikely. When you push to turn intellectual work into factory work (which means more showing up & more following instructions) you're racing to the bottom".
A race to the bottom is what the ruling elites are good at- suppressing worker salaries in 1st world costs of living to compete with low wage countries.
Their mentality is not so much pro business but is more about pro factory instead.
Would be good if you can backup your comments with illustrations or real life examples. Anyway, I like your blog.
ReplyDeleteYour observation is supported by a recent survey.
ReplyDeleteBosses in S’pore expect overtime work and more: survey
http://news.insing.com/tabloid/employers-singapore-expect-workers-overtime-weekends/id-8d733f00
"About seven in 10 employers say they believe it is important their employees work over the weekends or after office hours.
And about six in 10 employers say it is important that workers remain contactable, whether they are on vacation or not."
"But whether or not they have good or bad relations with their bosses, employees say they would not leave their jobs if they were unhappy with work, chiefly because they have financial commitments (29 per cent) and are afraid that they would not be able to find a better job (25 per cent)."