Minimum Wage - your opinions please

[Ladykillerz]

The PRC has minimum-wage policy set by local provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions.

 

This is because each place has different level of basic standard of living and need.

Source: http://www.china-briefing.com/news/2012/05...age-update.html

 

Good information sharing!

I guess our country leaders prefer to keep the monies into their pockets instead of giving out to the elderly and the needy.

[Wishcumstrue]

The cost of wage is a mere fraction of what the Rental and Top mgmt costs. We should tackle this instead of the low end costs...

 

Growing rich and poor divide?

 

A $50 "increment" to all environmental cleaners and workers?

 

An ex-CEO of SMRT who earns an annual salary of $1.85 million (excluding bonuses and benefits)?

 

Government say no to minimum wage?

 

So I guess there is no maximum wage limit loh?

 

BTW, Afghanistan has minimum wage policy.

[KARTer]

When I was earning above new MP's minimum wage, I was like suicide working pace

In this case ministers are now double or treble suicidal !! You survived, they sure can also

[KARTer]

Good information sharing!

I guess our country leaders prefer to keep the monies into their pockets instead of giving out to the elderly and the needy.

Pxp's definition of serving the people?

[KARTer]

Talk so much about Minimum Wage

I want to reverse the conversation to:

 

Maximum Wage limit.

Good idea worth exploring!

[Good-Carbuyer]

In this case ministers are now double or treble suicidal !! You survived, they sure can also

You may be aware that mine was OMO = one man operation business. They simply malinger for allowance, no need to work.

[KARTer]

You may be aware that mine was OMO = one man operation business. They simply malinger for allowance, no need to work.

In fact, they are MMO = Many Men Operation, eg instead of just one minister for the ministry, they have 2nd minister, maybe 3rd minister, in the same ministry... why hahh??

[Tigershark1976]

"lets face the fact. If the min wages is implemented, and the min level is much higher than the current "market rate". We can presume that there will be another round of hyper inflation waiting for us."

 

 

The above is another common viewpoint which shows a

 

general lack of understanding on the issue of minimum wage.

 

You are not the only one who fear raising/implementing minimum wages would increase inflation.

 

 

 

The reality is that it is a common practice to RAISE exisiting minimum wages

 

as an index to the COST of living that is tied to inflation.

 

Obviously, minimum wages or raising minimum wages do not have a significant impact on inflation

 

but rather increase the purchasing power to match or mitigate inflation.

 

Don't take my word for it, look at the practices of other countries.

 

 

 

In other words, the many people here who "FEAR" implementing minimum wages

 

would lead to hyper inflation, need to realise this is just like all other "FEARS"

 

which are there do cause inaction as opposed to

 

having real, serious and negative consequences of minimum wages in the form of hyper inflation.

 

 

 

 

you just mentioned that... for those countries that implemented an "effective min wages scheme" (forget abt country like Mal, their min wages is as good as nothing) what happen to the cost of living? In SG, water leak, you call plumber, car need servicing, you sent to workshop, aircon need to be clean, call air-con srvicing company... If you try to do the same thing in US, or some european countrty... guess how much a simple aircon servicing could cost you?

 

These is no such thing as free lunch. If the min wages scheme is implemented, someone got to foot the bill, and that got to be the consumer.

Edited May 27, 2012 by Tigershark1976

[Albeniz]

"Nobody will be left behind" literally means if you are a "nobody", you will be left behind

 

[Good-Carbuyer]

In fact, they are MMO = Many Men Operation, eg instead of just one minister for the ministry, they have 2nd minister, maybe 3rd minister, in the same ministry... why hahh??

I believe most to be malingers like the story of the 3 monks

[Good-Carbuyer]

"Nobody will be left behind" literally means if you are a "nobody", you will be left behind

I believe non-elites are nobody, and will be left behind

[KARTer]

"Nobody will be left behind" literally means if you are a "nobody", you will be left behind

Spot on!! .... they did warn us with this 'assurance'.

[Kiadaw]

you just mentioned that... for those countries that implemented an "effective min wages scheme" (forget abt country like Mal, their min wages is as good as nothing) what happen to the cost of living? In SG, water leak, you call plumber, car need servicing, you sent to workshop, aircon need to be clean, call air-con srvicing company... If you try to do the same thing in US, or some european countrty... guess how much a simple aircon servicing could cost you?

 

These is no such thing as free lunch. If the min wages scheme is implemented, someone got to foot the bill, and that got to be the consumer.

 

Actually, it is only half true. Half of the things you mention, most people from US or some European country will fix themselves. Expensive is one part, another part is a person (especially a man)is expected to be able to do to basic home fix & installation. Much like woman are expected to be able to do basic cooking & homework. If you need to call a plumper, chances are you have more serious problem than leak pipes.

 

 

 

In Singapore we are too used to people doing things for us, buy furniture/lighting's etc expect the people to send to you house & fix in at the exact position you wanted. Expect people to help you pump petrol, clear your plate, people to cook for you & look after you kids etc. One reason is it is still relatively cheap, another is that most of us have limited skills.

 

Not saying right or wrong, but if we wanted to moved away from labor intensive economy, then we also have to more independence.

[Zyrofillica]

I thought the min wage is for local labours?

 

Regards,

 

 

If min wage is just for locals. Wouldn't that be counterproductive because everyone will hire foreigners and skip this min wage effects? end up singaporeans all no jobs?

[KARTer]

Actually, it is only half true. Half of the things you mention, most people from US or some European country will fix themselves. Expensive is one part, another part is a person (especially a man)is expected to be able to do to basic home fix & installation. Much like woman are expected to be able to do basic cooking & homework. If you need to call a plumper, chances are you have more serious problem than leak pipes.

 

 

 

In Singapore we are too used to people doing things for us, buy furniture/lighting's etc expect the people to send to you house & fix in at the exact position you wanted. Expect people to help you pump petrol, clear your plate, people to cook for you & look after you kids etc. One reason is it is still relatively cheap, another is that most of us have limited skills.

 

Not saying right or wrong, but if we wanted to moved away from labor intensive economy, then we also have to more independence.

DIY is a good way to avoid paying for services which we could learn. Many first world countries have adopted this and it's not impossibly difficult. Even housewives also fix their our light bulbs or toilet!

For sgp, why not start by clear our own trays at food centers?

[Evillusion]

Actually, it is only half true. Half of the things you mention, most people from US or some European country will fix themselves. Expensive is one part, another part is a person (especially a man)is expected to be able to do to basic home fix & installation. Much like woman are expected to be able to do basic cooking & homework. If you need to call a plumper, chances are you have more serious problem than leak pipes.

 

 

 

In Singapore we are too used to people doing things for us, buy furniture/lighting's etc expect the people to send to you house & fix in at the exact position you wanted. Expect people to help you pump petrol, clear your plate, people to cook for you & look after you kids etc. One reason is it is still relatively cheap, another is that most of us have limited skills.

 

Not saying right or wrong, but if we wanted to moved away from labor intensive economy, then we also have to more independence.

true...most Singaporean have this weird concept of if i have the money i should pay pple to do those things for me. Even installing simple curtain railing call specialist to fix

[Windwaver]

??? if you raise the cost so much, two things will happen.

 

Either the company close down and relocates because they cannot compete internationally,

 

Or if they cater to the local market, they just pass the cost down to the consumer.

 

Or they improve their productivity so they can absorb the increase in labour cost. Ultimately everything still boils down to productivity. REALLY you cannot expect to increase wages without increase in productivity. Some people just want something for nothing.

 

Most bosses I know wants to maximize profits. Who cares about employee benefits or whether they can feed themselves

[Happily1986]

Let me present my opinion. So long as the economy is geared towards being fed on a diet of low-cost and cheap foreign labour, we can all forget about min wage being implemented. It is growth steroids pretty like how the American economy is stimulated and coaxed to grow, albeit with not much success with abysmally low interest rates.