Smrt Chinese Bus Drivers Strike

[Guest Guest]

About 60 mainland Chinese bus drivers in Singapore stayed off work, the second day of a stoppage in the island.

State transport firm SMRT said that of the 102 who refused to work yesterday over a pay dispute, 60 did not turn up today despite an agreement, AFP reports.

“Some 60 did not turn up for work in the morning, some of whom have valid medical reasons,'' SMRT said in a statement. “We continue to keep our communications open... and are also working with the relevant authorities to find an amicable resolution.''

The mainland Chinese drivers refused to board a shuttle bus from their dormitory to a nearby depot. One of them, who declined to be named, said they felt aggrieved over a disparity in pay between Chinese and Malaysian bus drivers.

After talks with SMRT management, with police on standby, the protesting drivers said they would report for work today.

SMRT is 54 percent owned by state investment firm Temasek Holdings. Singapore has been hiring bus drivers from China and Malaysia because of a chronic shortage of manpower.

Strikes and other forms of industrial action are rare in Singapore. The labor movement works closely with the government and private business, making the city-state an attractive place for foreign investment.

The last strike in Singapore was in 1986, local media said.

The Ministry of Manpower Monday issued a stern warning to the drivers, saying it “takes the workers' actions very seriously’’ and was closely monitoring the situation.

Three police patrol cars were parked near the drivers' dormitory today, witnesses said, in contrast with the day before when four riot police trucks were seen.

[Guest Guest]

It is not that Singaporeans r lazy or unwillingly to do low paying jobs. This example shows that it is across any nationality.

We were unable to do these jobs becos the cost of living is too high. China workers were able becos the Salary was still better than what they receive back home. However when it drops (relative) to some level where they consider low (be it to cost of living or other peers), they too will complain

[Guest maxiplay]

then nvm, fxxk BACK TO CHINA!!!! dun spoil our peaceful country, NOBODY FORCE THEM TO WORK HERE!!!!! IF THEY DUN LIKE THE SYSTEM HERE, THEN Y COME TO HERE WORK IN THE FIRST PLACE AND STEAL ALL OUR RICE BOWL, EVEN THOUGH IS LOW PAY JOB, AT LEAST!!!! I BELIEVE THER STILL ALOT WAITING AND WANT THE JOB, fxxk THE CHINAMAN, fxxk THE PROTEST!!!! DUN KNOW HOW TO TALK SIMPLE ENGLISH YET STILL WANT fxxkING HIGH PAY?? WHERE GOT SUCH THINGS!!!! 吊!!!!!!

[Guest Guest]

then nvm, fxxk BACK TO CHINA!!!! dun spoil our peaceful country, NOBODY FORCE THEM TO WORK HERE!!!!! IF THEY DUN LIKE THE SYSTEM HERE, THEN Y COME TO HERE WORK IN THE FIRST PLACE AND STEAL ALL OUR RICE BOWL, EVEN THOUGH IS LOW PAY JOB, AT LEAST!!!! I BELIEVE THER STILL ALOT WAITING AND WANT THE JOB, fxxk THE CHINAMAN, fxxk THE PROTEST!!!! DUN KNOW HOW TO TALK SIMPLE ENGLISH YET STILL WANT fxxkING HIGH PAY?? WHERE GOT SUCH THINGS!!!! 吊!!!!!!

:clap:

The mainstream media is deliberately avoiding the use of the terms 'strike' and 'industrial action' to describe the actions of these PRC bus drivers.

According to Singapore's Trade Disputes Act (Chapter 331), these PRC bus drivers are already guilty of industrial action.

Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the Trade Disputes Act.

Interpretation

2. In this Act — “award” means an award made by an Industrial Arbitration Court and includes a collective agreement a memorandum of the terms of which has been certified by the President of the Industrial Arbitration Court in accordance with the provisions of the Industrial Relations Act (Cap. 136);

“industrial action” means —

(a) any act or omission by a body of persons employed in any trade or industry, acting in combination or under a common understanding, which would result in any limitation or restriction on, or delay in, the performance of any duties connected with their employment; or

(b) a strike, that is to say, the cessation of work by a body of persons employed in any trade or industry acting in combination, or a concerted refusal, or a refusal under a common understanding of a number of persons who are, or who have been so employed, to continue to work or to accept employment;

...

Illegal industrial action and lock-out

3.—(1) An industrial action shall be illegal if —

(a) it has any other object than the furtherance of a trade dispute within the trade or industry in which the persons taking part in the industrial action are engaged;

(b) it is in furtherance of a trade dispute of which an Industrial Arbitration Court has cognizance; or

© it is designed or calculated to coerce the Government either directly or by inflicting hardship on the community.

And the penalties are......

Penalties in relation to illegal industrial action and lock-out

5.—(1) Any person who commences, continues or otherwise acts in furtherance of an illegal industrial action shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.

:clap:

[Guest Guest]

CNA reported that SMRT said this is a "sit in", not a law and order problem.

When the fcuk did SMRT become an authority on the interpretation of the law??

The actions of the PRC bus drivers have already amounted to industrial action as per the Trade Disputes Act, not a mere 'sit-in'.

Obviously SMRT is trying to protect these PRC bus drivers by watering down the impact of their actions.

[Guest Guest]

Police on standby

[Guest maxiplay]

Obviously SMRT is trying to protect these PRC bus drivers by watering down the impact of their actions.

妈的吊!!!! 没有中国人司机SMRT会死是吗???SMRT的CEO没有COCO BIRD???是怕这班“乌和之众”做什么？？这样他们就会得寸进尺，笨蛋！！！！

[Guest Guest]

Just thinking back to the source of problem, who went all the way to Chengdu, Chongqing to bring them to work in Singapore ?! Thinking that they can be manipulated and squeezed out of their sweat and blood. Now that the drivers compared themselves with others in the same company and found that they have been short-changed. That's the real problem starts ! If you were them, what will you do?

I personally don't blame the drivers. I think is the approach of this company when they announced the news "their OT hours are controlled to minimum" that became the "last straw to collapse the camel". Is there a way for the company to "hear the voices" of the workers and adjust accordingly?

Questions to think: Is it Singaporean do not want to do the job? Or, the salary is too low that nobody want to work in this job? What's the "reasonable" salary for a local bus driver considering the cost of living, inflation rate etc.? If you have a family to feed and housing loan to pay, $1000 per month with OT controlled ... ok for you?

Strangely is that, no matter how bad the economy situation, these big companies always have big profits at the end of financial years and the high ranking officers have big pay package. Remember the big mouthed CEO from the sushi joint? He claimed that no Singaporean want to work as his dishwasher even he's willing to pay them $3000. Later, when further questioned, he hided himself overseas and claimed that $3000 was not approved by his board of directors. It's just his assumption. @#$%^&

[Guest maxiplay]

Remember the big mouthed CEO from the sushi joint? He claimed that no Singaporean want to work as his dishwasher even he's willing to pay them $3000. Later, when further questioned, he hided himself overseas and claimed that $3000 was not approved by his board of directors. It's just his assumption. @#$%^&

Oop!!!! u mean Douglas Foo from Sakae Sushi ?? 哎呀, he also one kind 的........ 要博宣传不是这样的........ :yuk: :yuk: :yuk:

[EasleyLim]

That's what you get when you offer shit pay for undesirable jobs.

[Guest Guest]

SINGAPORE: 102 SMRT bus drivers, all China nationals, refused to turn up for work on Monday over pay dispute, and on Tuesday morning, over half of those involved did not show up for work again.

There's been a lot of talk about why the media and even the Manpower Ministry and SMRT have not been calling the wage protest a strike.

Instead, terms like "sit-in", "sit-out", "protest", "did not show up for work" were used.

There are several reasons for this and they have to do with the law.

As this has to do with an essential service - in this case, transport - the law is very specific on what is considered a strike.

Under Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act, it is a strike only when the worker gives his employer at least 14 days' advance notice of his intention to do so.

This notice has to be signed by at least seven fellow workers involved in the strike or by at least seven union representatives of the workers.

The notice then needs to be acknowledged and signed by the employer, after which, that notice needs to be put up in at least three conspicuous places where the workers are employed.

That's a legal strike, if rules are followed.

Anything else, it's an illegal strike and there are consequences. A person involved in that could be fined up to S$2,000 and jailed up to 12 months.

A person who instigates or finances an illegal strike also faces the same penalties.

The last strike in Singapore was in 1986 by shipyard workers.

- CNA/ck

CNA and mainstream media attempting to divert the attention?

The PRCs' actions amount to an industrial action pursuant to a trade union dispute.

[Guest Guest]

When Singaporeans don't do these jobs, they say we unwilling to take hardship, wants comfort yet unhappy Tt foreigners take such jobs. Now foreigners are PROTESTING & ON STRIKE, they kept quiet.....

Don't dare to say the same to these pple?

Now these foreigners get a taste of what we went thru.

[XiaoMessy]

It is not that Singaporeans r lazy or unwillingly to do low paying jobs. This example shows that it is across any nationality.

We were unable to do these jobs becos the cost of living is too high. China workers were able becos the Salary was still better than what they receive back home. However when it drops (relative) to some level where they consider low (be it to cost of living or other peers), they too will complain

Totally agree.

[Guest Zhi Jiang]

After this episode, I know where is Chinamen's dom...hehehe

[RatedG]

then nvm, fxxk BACK TO CHINA!!!! dun spoil our peaceful country, NOBODY FORCE THEM TO WORK HERE!!!!! IF THEY DUN LIKE THE SYSTEM HERE, THEN Y COME TO HERE WORK IN THE FIRST PLACE AND STEAL ALL OUR RICE BOWL, EVEN THOUGH IS LOW PAY JOB, AT LEAST!!!! I BELIEVE THER STILL ALOT WAITING AND WANT THE JOB, fxxk THE CHINAMAN, fxxk THE PROTEST!!!! DUN KNOW HOW TO TALK SIMPLE ENGLISH YET STILL WANT fxxkING HIGH PAY?? WHERE GOT SUCH THINGS!!!! 吊!!!!!!

Lol chill

[Guest Guest]

When Singaporeans don't do these jobs, they say we unwilling to take hardship, wants comfort yet unhappy Tt foreigners take such jobs. Now foreigners are PROTESTING & ON STRIKE, they kept quiet.....

Don't dare to say the same to these pple?

Now these foreigners get a taste of what we went thru.

Where are those "official spokesmen" now? --- those who claimed that Singapore needs more foreign workers to fill the jobs to get the economy running. Time for them to speak, why they suddenly so quiet?

[Guest Kevin]

妈的吊!!!! 没有中国人司机SMRT会死是吗???SMRT的CEO没有COCO BIRD???是怕这班“乌和之众”做什么？？这样他们就会得寸进尺，笨蛋！！！！

This is a typical stupid Sporean at work here.

Beside your hot-blooded self-thought patriotrism, just be realistic about these:

Be grateful that you have lower-paid foreigners to serve you, when they are gone, you only have Sporeans to do the job.

When that day happens, (assume that you can find locals doing such jobs), their pay will not be low.

If that is the case, expect your bus fare to go up, not a little but quite substantial.

Now multiply this effect with other aspect of service industry - the foreigner who sells u breakfast, the foreigner who clean the thrash, the foreigner who clears the lunch table, the foreigner who waits at the restaurant, etc etc. Imagine how your cost of living will increase. DO you think your pay will go up at the same rate?

Don't blame anyone. The fact is, Spore is too small, economiy fairly developed and too few people. No one's fault, but thats the destiny of our country.

Make the best of the situation.

Lastly, if a Sporean actually 'fights' with foreigners over such jobs *fighting for rice bowl* - then I must say you must belong to the category of the "below average" in this society.

In meritocratic and elitist Spore, I do not see how your life will be better and improved under such an environment in Spore.

[merlinkun]

Hey this have been floating around facebook lol

Chill everyone, don't get all overly excited over China guys.

[abang]

I want to be impartial on this case.

From what I read, these PRC drivers were actually seeking equal remuneration like their Malaysian counterparts.

同工同酬。。

Did SMRT 大小眼 when they gave increment to their hordes of drivers?

SMRT may have erred in this area.. who knows, right?

[Guest Guest]

The PRCs don't deserve equal remuneration like their Malaysian counterparts.

At least the Malaysians can understand and speak basic English and are much more culturally attuned to Singapore.

The PRCs can't be bothered to learn English, and they have been the cause of widely-publicised communication breakdowns with the non-Mandarin speaking population (the Malays, Indians and tourists).

What makes them think they deserve equal pay as the Malaysians?

[sgboy82]

The PRCs don't deserve equal remuneration like their Malaysian counterparts.

At least the Malaysians can understand and speak basic English and are much more culturally attuned to Singapore.

The PRCs can't be bothered to learn English, and they have been the cause of widely-publicised communication breakdowns with the non-Mandarin speaking population (the Malays, Indians and tourists).

What makes them think they deserve equal pay as the Malaysians?

The PRC drivers here were comparing their salary to the PRC drivers in Malaysia, not the Malaysians.

[alien]

These prc drivers tot they are in china? Can anyhow go on strike? High chance they will lose in tis case if they doesnt give in.

[Guest Guest]

After this episode, I know where is Chinamen's dom...hehehe

Yes I was thinking some guys will be saying this when I watched the news. But if u watched the news too, those "goods"…not nice one haha

[Guest Money is Evil]

Some malaysian drivers have to pay their own rent, china drivers probably stay in their dorm for free. Who knows right? Besides, going by the current exchange rate and cost of livings factored between china and malaysia, end of the day malaysian may be shortchanged though their pay is slightly more than the PRC drivers. Equal pay? is just a relative subjects depends on where you came from. All I know is that many Singaporean cleaners are still drawing lesser than $1000, if china driver complained too litte back home, you can imagine how the cleaners struggled to make a livings here.

[fenghou]

I'm more concern on how the government is gonna react

if the people who were on striker were Singaporeans, I'm sure a very hard-handed approach would be dished out already.

Someone would be invited to "lim kopi" as they might say

There should not be any double standards when dealing with issues in this nature.

Moreover, Singapore's reputation for being strike free and generally being a highly peaceful and cooperative workforce has already been compromised

if things aren't properly dealt with, what' there to stop future strike incidents???

I hope the image of Singapore has not be tarnished, Singapore is after all our home.

On the other hand, there's a reason why locals and now foreigners are not taking up the job

the pay's just too low for locals to fend off the cost of living here

Perhaps the organization should re-structure, and increase the wages of the average worker on the ground, like what an observer described in a article a month ago as the "shock wage therapy".

If done correctly, it will solve the manpower issue they have, and commuters would not suffer from a hike in fares.

my 2 cents

Edited November 27, 2012 by fenghou

[Guest Kevin]

I'm more concern on how the government is gonna react

if the people who were on striker were Singaporeans, I'm sure a very hard-handed approach would be dished out already.

Someone would be invited to "lim kopi" as they might say

There should not be any double standards when dealing with issues in this nature.

Moreover, Singapore's reputation for being strike free and generally being a highly peaceful and cooperative workforce has already been compromised

if things aren't properly dealt with, what' there to stop future strike incidents???

I hope the image of Singapore has not be tarnished, Singapore is after all our home.

On the other hand, there's a reason why locals and now foreigners are not taking up the job

the pay's just too low for locals to fend off the cost of living here

Perhaps the organization should re-structure, and increase the wages of the average worker on the ground, like what an observer described in a article a month ago as the "shock wage therapy".

If done correctly, it will solve the manpower issue they have, and commuters would not suffer from a hike in fares.

my 2 cents

You will need to get real on labour issues and representation in Spore.

All the peace we had in the past is good, but it is not necessarily good for an increasingly globalised Spore.

All the tripatrite relationship extolled by NTUC may sound good to some, but the fact of the matter is, there are groups of labour which are unrepresented. And hence they are out of this "beautiful" balance which the government wants.

If you think only foreign labor falls under this category, you are wrong. There are groups of Sporean employees who work in small firms which are unfairly represented or not even represented.

I am on neither side. But the incident brings about the 'normalisation' of labour relations of what a normal country should have.

The government (who loves to control) is trying to grapple with increasingly more incidents which really, may be out of its control.

The people, the Sporeans, are witnessing something which they rarely hvae on Spore soil. Hopefully, some will wake up thinking peace shoudl and must prevail in Spore.

Putting labour relations aside, rightly or not, the PRCs expressed anguish by taking actions. Sporeans will only lament, complain endlessly, but have fear within them.

In this aspect, I think the the PRCs have more guts and nuts than law-abiding Sporeans.

[Guest 杀一警百]

Should sack all who r involved in the strike... 杀一警百... If our government is not firm with this issue, 1.6BILLION prc will come to Singapore and strike! Should warn them Singapore means business!

[Friendly]

then nvm, fxxk BACK TO CHINA!!!! dun spoil our peaceful country, NOBODY FORCE THEM TO WORK HERE!!!!! IF THEY DUN LIKE THE SYSTEM HERE, THEN Y COME TO HERE WORK IN THE FIRST PLACE AND STEAL ALL OUR RICE BOWL, EVEN THOUGH IS LOW PAY JOB, AT LEAST!!!! I BELIEVE THER STILL ALOT WAITING AND WANT THE JOB, fxxk THE CHINAMAN, fxxk THE PROTEST!!!! DUN KNOW HOW TO TALK SIMPLE ENGLISH YET STILL WANT fxxkING HIGH PAY?? WHERE GOT SUCH THINGS!!!! 吊!!!!!!

Cannot agreed more to that... this time they just worst the situation they already have with us... We would be looking for other countries labour to do the job and Chinaman would be going home soon...

[Friendly]

Should sack all who r involved in the strike... 杀一警百... If our government is not firm with this issue, 1.6BILLION prc will come to Singapore and strike! Should warn them Singapore means business!

True...

[Guest Guesty]

The PRC drivers here were comparing their salary to the PRC drivers in Malaysia, not the Malaysians.

No... the PRC drivers here were comparing their salary to the Malaysian drivers here.

One of the Chinese drivers, who declined to be named, told reporters the dispute arose because they felt aggrieved over a disparity in pay between Chinese and Malaysian bus drivers.

Drivers from China earn a basic salary of Sg$1,075 ($879), while those from Malaysia earn $1,375, the driver said. The dispute was also about the lack of bonuses for Chinese bus drivers, he added.

[Guest Guest]

This news of the PRC drivers' strike is now spreading like wildfire throughout the major China news portals like SINA, Xinhua, Boxun, CRI, etc.

Look at the downright disdainful comments from Chinetizens:

“罢工是应该的，这也是一种歧视,就应该同工同酬!”

Should go on strike. This is a form of discrimination. Should be equal pay for equal work!

“新加坡就是一个瘪三国家”

Singapore is a fcuking lousy country

“新加坡一直就是亲美反中的”

Singapore has always been kissing the ass of the United States and anti-China

“派人民海军去把他灭了！”

Sent the PRC Navy to finish Singapore off!

“新加坡就是反华的敌对国”

Singapore is an anti-China hostile country

“新加坡人本来就歧视中国人”

Singaporeans always discriminate against the Chinese people

[Guest Guest]

Latest news - those PRC drivers kuai kuai returned to work on Wednesday morning!

End of strike!

[Smarty Pants]

I am honestly disappointed by the way SMRT dealt with this strike. I mean all the problem originated from different standards of treatment. Like how Malaysians are given a different salary from locals and also from the Chinese. I guessed it is inevitable that there would be such difference in treatment but the least SMRT could do is to make it fairer and more transparent. I can see that SMRT is rather passive and the fact that such a strike took place goes to show that there is really something wrong with the way they deal with their drivers. I strongly suggest that they make things clearer and more transparent. And finally a simple solution... Hire locals

[gstc82]

I am honestly disappointed by the way SMRT dealt with this strike. I mean all the problem originated from different standards of treatment. Like how Malaysians are given a different salary from locals and also from the Chinese. I guessed it is inevitable that there would be such difference in treatment but the least SMRT could do is to make it fairer and more transparent. I can see that SMRT is rather passive and the fact that such a strike took place goes to show that there is really something wrong with the way they deal with their drivers. I strongly suggest that they make things clearer and more transparent. And finally a simple solution... Hire locals

yes hire local, how much shd a bus driver be paid?

[Smarty Pants]

yes hire local, how much shd a bus driver be paid?

hmm... I think if they take away the agent fee and any lodging fee, they can give maybe thousand nine... but the idea is there are locals out there who seeks a job and to them the pay need not be high. of course who want low pay.

[gstc82]

Usually workers from china need to pay their middlemen in china thousands of sg dollars to allow them to work overseas. Could these fees could be deducted from their salary? We shd not jump to our own theory that smrt is not "transparent" as contracts btw employer n employees need not be made public. We also cannot expect foreign workers be paid the same wage as locals as Singaporeans will again create another "uproar" if this happens. It's also ludicrous to say local media is "covering" this incident up as its on front pages of local papers. Anyway, Critics of pap lead govt always accuse them of being "barbaric" but some people expect the police to immediately lock these workers up immediately? Where is the compassion? Foreigners must follow the laws of any country they chose to work in, period. Happy, stay, not happy return. However this incident should not be an excuse to be racist, I wonder how these racist spread their racist comments here? Thru their made in china smart phones, iPads and buy china produce from ntuc?

[gstc82]

This news of the PRC drivers' strike is now spreading like wildfire throughout the major China news portals like SINA, Xinhua, Boxun, CRI, etc.

Look at the downright disdainful comments from Chinetizens:

“罢工是应该的，这也是一种歧视,就应该同工同酬!”

Should go on strike. This is a form of discrimination. Should be equal pay for equal work!

“新加坡就是一个瘪三国家”

Singapore is a fcuking lousy country

“新加坡一直就是亲美反中的”

Singapore has always been kissing the ass of the United States and anti-China

“派人民海军去把他灭了！”

Sent the PRC Navy to finish Singapore off!

“新加坡就是反华的敌对国”

Singapore is an anti-China hostile country

“新加坡人本来就歧视中国人”

Singaporeans always discriminate against the Chinese people

so? Scroll up n read what Singaporean said abt the Chinese. Are u affected by some faceless fool typing anti singapore messages overseas? Are u as upset by some Singaporeans calling their own country sillypore?

[Guest Guest]

LOL, the PAP lapbitch is back barking as loudly as ever.

Too bad no one bothers to respond to the rabies-infected bitch.

[gstc82]

LOL, the PAP lapbitch is back barking as loudly as ever.

Too bad no one bothers to respond to the rabies-infected bitch.

u just did:).

[fenghou]

You will need to get real on labour issues and representation in Spore.

All the peace we had in the past is good, but it is not necessarily good for an increasingly globalised Spore.

All the tripatrite relationship extolled by NTUC may sound good to some, but the fact of the matter is, there are groups of labour which are unrepresented. And hence they are out of this "beautiful" balance which the government wants.

If you think only foreign labor falls under this category, you are wrong. There are groups of Sporean employees who work in small firms which are unfairly represented or not even represented.

I am on neither side. But the incident brings about the 'normalisation' of labour relations of what a normal country should have.

The government (who loves to control) is trying to grapple with increasingly more incidents which really, may be out of its control.

The people, the Sporeans, are witnessing something which they rarely hvae on Spore soil. Hopefully, some will wake up thinking peace shoudl and must prevail in Spore.

Putting labour relations aside, rightly or not, the PRCs expressed anguish by taking actions. Sporeans will only lament, complain endlessly, but have fear within them.

In this aspect, I think the the PRCs have more guts and nuts than law-abiding Sporeans.

I am aware of the non-existent Unions in Singapore, it is also a well known face that "unions" like NTUC supports cooperation and the government mores so than the workers on the ground.

http://theonlinecitizen.com/2012/10/smrt-drivers-we-are-frustrated-over-ntucs-incompetency/

Sad to say I feel that Singaporean workers aren't very protected in the workplace. Any tripartite organization or movements are often nothing more than pure "wayang" as they would call it in the army.

And hence precisely my first post on the issue, how the government react and handles the situation far outweighs the current welfare of the bus drivers currently on strike.

I was suggesting that we need to look at this issue from a more macro socio political sense.

I did not put or suffixed any negative adjectives for the PRC, so your sudden defense on their side is unfounded.

You also shouldn't assume that I think this matter only concern foreigners, by suggesting a "wage shock therapy" , I have already acknowledge that this issue is not isolated to mere immigrants.

Lastly, if you want to repute a point in a public forum, kindly do use a registered account.

Or should I expect a hoards of "-Guest-" with similar stance to refute me ???

You need to wise-up a little on forum etiquette

Edited November 28, 2012 by fenghou

[fenghou]

I am honestly disappointed by the way SMRT dealt with this strike. I mean all the problem originated from different standards of treatment. Like how Malaysians are given a different salary from locals and also from the Chinese. I guessed it is inevitable that there would be such difference in treatment but the least SMRT could do is to make it fairer and more transparent. I can see that SMRT is rather passive and the fact that such a strike took place goes to show that there is really something wrong with the way they deal with their drivers. I strongly suggest that they make things clearer and more transparent. And finally a simple solution... Hire locals

I refer you to this article here:

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/smrt-bus-drivers-speak-up-on-china-co-workers%E2%80%99-pay-172843952.html

SMRT have grounds to adopt a different wage scheme with respect to PRC employees. Whether the grounds are fair and just is up for debate though.

SMRT has also recently have a change in CEO (ex-chief of defense), this incident involves politics, I think if you or me were placed in his shoes, the passive role would have been the most viable option, considering the many various types of implications that might arise, the CEO would have to consult all the way up (possibly to Temasek and beyond) before any radical actions are employed.

[Guest Guest]

Nobody promise them that their pay will be the same as Malaysian. All that is promised is the pay that was offered to them before they take on the jobs.

This type of job discrimination is common around the world and even in China. All they can decide is whether Singapore is giving them a better deal than China or anywhere else before they take the job. Not after they take the job then use strike to push for a better deal than they signed for.

This is a free market, the employer can do that because there are many others from China or other countries who are more than willing to take their jobs. Supply is greater than demand then you get lower price. That is simple economics. We prefer to pay Malaysians more because we value their easier integration for training and independence.

But we can't get enough Malaysians too, so we employ those from China as a3rd choice. But these are so different from us that they have difficulty understanding many things that we and Malaysians take for granted. So who do we pay more?

These are intangible things until the bus captain has to deal with our local uncles and aunties then problems as reported in the papers arise.

[gstc82]

Who takes bus 198? If u do, u will surely come across this local Chinese driver who never failed to greet ever single passanger with a gd aft n a smile. Sadly most people just ignore his kind gesture. Lets take this moment to return the smile if any driver gives u one.

[gstc82]

Who takes bus 198? If u do, u will surely come across this local Chinese driver who never failed to greet ever single passanger with a gd aft n a smile. Sadly most people just ignore his kind gesture. Lets take this moment to return the smile if any driver gives u one.

[Guest yy]

Nobody promise them that their pay will be the same as Malaysian. All that is promised is the pay that was offered to them before they take on the jobs.

This type of job discrimination is common around the world and even in China. All they can decide is whether Singapore is giving them a better deal than China or anywhere else before they take the job. Not after they take the job then use strike to push for a better deal than they signed for.

This is a free market, the employer can do that because there are many others from China or other countries who are more than willing to take their jobs. Supply is greater than demand then you get lower price. That is simple economics. We prefer to pay Malaysians more because we value their easier integration for training and independence.

But we can't get enough Malaysians too, so we employ those from China as a3rd choice. But these are so different from us that they have difficulty understanding many things that we and Malaysians take for granted. So who do we pay more?

These are intangible things until the bus captain has to deal with our local uncles and aunties then problems as reported in the papers arise.

You speak like a NTUC General Secretary who squeeze out some tears to win hearts (who ah? LOL) or the SMRT spokesman.

[gstc82]

You speak like a NTUC General Secretary who squeeze out some tears to win hearts (who ah? LOL) or the SMRT spokesman.

what he says is true.

[mature chn]

It is indeed nice to read different perspectives about the same issue....

It is also surprising that it is the Chinese from mainland china who "dare" to stand up for their rights??? hahah...see what happened in Tian An men?

I for one knows of one person who wants to be a bus driver....and guess what....he was interviewed by one from PRC....

Our society is getting "more and more ppl from the big brother...china....be it in food courts, even when i go for a hair cut...which cost less but the treatment i get is so different from someone from Malaysia....

I really think our govt should really spend some time to rethink about opening up and taking in workers overseas...jus becos they cost less....

I really wonder....can we do without these foreign labourers or not? like we did many yrs ago....

just my thoughts....

[MobyDick]

Now we have more FTs.... Foreign Talents and Foolish Thugs

[Guest maxiplay]

This is a typical stupid Sporean at work here.

Beside your hot-blooded self-thought patriotrism, just be realistic about these:

Be grateful that you have lower-paid foreigners to serve you, when they are gone, you only have Sporeans to do the job.

When that day happens, (assume that you can find locals doing such jobs), their pay will not be low.

If that is the case, expect your bus fare to go up, not a little but quite substantial.

Now multiply this effect with other aspect of service industry - the foreigner who sells u breakfast, the foreigner who clean the thrash, the foreigner who clears the lunch table, the foreigner who waits at the restaurant, etc etc. Imagine how your cost of living will increase. DO you think your pay will go up at the same rate?

Don't blame anyone. The fact is, Spore is too small, economiy fairly developed and too few people. No one's fault, but thats the destiny of our country.

Make the best of the situation.

Lastly, if a Sporean actually 'fights' with foreigners over such jobs *fighting for rice bowl* - then I must say you must belong to the category of the "below average" in this society.

In meritocratic and elitist Spore, I do not see how your life will be better and improved under such an environment in Spore.

u talk cock huh??? :whistle: :yuk: :yuk: :yuk:

[Guest Guest]

u talk cock huh??? :whistle: :yuk: :yuk: :yuk:

He eat shit more like it