Movement for change Improve productivity with better wages
I share this observation to show the importance of improving productivity by paying better wages to local workers. We should not ask for all work to be outsourced through the public tender.

The lamp posts at Cactus Park was being replaced. The productivity of the foreign workers assigned to do the job was low. I saw many of them idling during the afternoon, watching their mobile phone. Maybe it was too hot?

On Saturday morning, they seemed to be working harder. I wonder if they are being paid at overtime rate? 

If the same work is being done by productive workers, say local workers who are paid better wages, I guess that the work could be completed in half the time. 

It is likely that the govt agency is paying more for the outsourced contractors to hire the foreign workers to do the job. 

I prefer the old days where most of the work is done by local workers who are employed directly by the govt agency. Surely there must be sufficient work to keep a department of employed workers?

I prefer each agency to have its own staff of employed workers, including the outdoor workers, and to engage contractors only for the big jobs that are more difficult or that are beyond the normal capacity of their employed workers.

The govt agency may have to manage their own workers and ensure that they are productive and meet the standards. This is a necessary task that should be done by the supervisors. 

Our problem is that in recent years, the people in charge of the govt agencies do not want to take this responsibility. They prefer to outsource the work and the supervising responsibility.

The outsourcing approach, which is prevalent under LHL's government, is not working well. It leads to high cost and low quality of work. It also cause many locals to be displaced and unemployed.

LHL - are you listening?

Tan Kin Lian

Vote - should our govt agency keep a core team of employed workers to do the maintenance and repair work?


 

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