TR EMERITUS

Written by Our Correspondent According to the latest Robert Walters Asia Job Index report, employer confidence has returned in Singapore with all its banks hiring again. Besides the financial industry, IT, fast moving consumer goods, healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors continue to employ "top talent" in Singapore. The Manpower Ministry claimed that the unemployment rate for locals have decreased to 3 per cent, but the exact figure for Singapore citizens remains unknown since "locals" include both citizens and PRs. Neither does the figure includes those on contract jobs or have given up looking for a job altogether and therefore can be considered as unemployed technically. A quick search on Singapore's online job portals reveals that quite a substantial number of ads are looking specifically for foreigners:                     Some job portals like gumtree resembles more like those in China than in Singapore: The above job ad is seeking for PRC or Malaysian Chinese to fill the position of bakery and kitchen supervisor. This is not a position requiring special skills nor will Singaporeans shun it and so why are foreigners preferred over Singaporeans? In the second ad above, the employer is looking for a PRC candidate to become a sales promoter and one condition is that he/she must speak English! Won’t the employer stand a higher chance of finding a Singaporean who can speak English? The company above is looking specifically for a China driver with valid Singapore driving licence. It will be easier if it recruits Singaporeans instead. Are workers from China better drivers than Singaporeans. Such discriminatory ads against Singaporeans are ubiquitous throughout Singapore's online job portals. Though MOM forbids such ads, they are still put up either overtly or covertly (in the form of euphemisms) to recruit foreign workers. While other countries like Australia are cracking down on migrant workers to protect the livelihoods of their own citizens, the ruling party of Singapore continues to welcome foreigners. Ministry of Youth Development, Community and Sports Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said lately that the government cannot "shield" Singaporeans from competition with foreigners though it will "try" to equip them with the skills to do so. Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said last year that there will be no "turnaround" in the ruling party's pro-foreigner policy and that the number of foreign workers may actually increase in the next few years. With more than one third of Singapore's populations being foreigners and an undisclosed number of the "local" workforce being PRs, it matters little to Singaporeans if the number of job ads are actually increasing or decreasing.  Read More →

From todayonline.com, 9 February 2010 SINGAPORE - Lim Wai Sian's family has only one wish this Lunar New Year. Dad Lim Lai What, mum Tan Lai Ngoh and elder brother Lim Peng Thian want the basketball player to spend the holidays at home in Yishun. Right now, that seems unlikely, as the Singapore Slingers forward, a final year electrical and electronic engineering student at Singapore Polytechnic, remains in the intensive care unit (ICU) at the National University Hospital (NUH) under an induced coma. The 21-year-old fell during a training session at the Tanglin Trust School on Friday, two days ahead of the Slingers' crucial semi-final Game 3 clash against Indonesia's Satria Muda BritAma in the Asean Basketball League, which they lost 86-76. Lim hit his head against the floor, and while he appeared fine at first, he subsequently complained of a headache and blurry vision, before vomiting. Team-mate and medical student Marcus Ng attended to him, and he was subsequently sent to Alexandra Hospital by ambulance. He was then transferred to NUH to undergo surgery for a blot clot in his brain on Friday night. Speaking to MediaCorp at NUH yesterday, brother Peng Thian, 26, said: "My mum is hoping he'll wake up and go home for Chinese New Year, but we're going to spend it here with him as doctors say he is likely be in hospital for two to three weeks. "They've just finished the CT Scan and it's clean so we're waiting for the brain surgeon to see if they can remove the breathing tube. He's improved the last few days, and his rate of movement is increasing." Family, friends rally Some 20 family members and friends were keeping vigil outside the hospital's ICU yesterday, including Wai Sian's father. The 52-year-old lorry driver could not stop the tears from flowing as he watched the nurses wheel his youngest son out for his CT Scan yesterday. "He's loved sports since he was young," he said. "It's so upsetting for a parent to see your child like this. I just hope he wakes up and recovers." Doctors are not certain if the injury will affect Lim's mental and physical capabilities. The former ITE College West student was gunning for his polytechnic's Sportsman Award to help in his university application. "He loves basketball very much," said Peng Thian, a research officer at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research. "His movement could be affected after the surgery. That will upset him, but we hope he will get well soon and continue training." Slingers general manager Michael Johnson gave the assurance that the club would foot Lim's medical bills. Belinda Au Yong of Fly Entertainment, the Slingers' representatives, told MediaCorp: "We have no confirmed details to release with regard to insurance details ... we don't know the prognosis from doctors yet, and expect to find out in a few days' time." Slingers team-mate a Hong Wei Jian has known Lim since their days playing basketball in their Yishun neighbourhood. He said: "Before our match against Satria Muda, we were all thinking of him, and we missed his jokes ... it was definitely sad for me especially when I was pushing him into the operating theatre, but I want him to get well soon." -todayonline.com Editors' Note: We wish Wai Sian the most speedy of recoveries. Any well wishes on the comments thread will surely be appreciated.  Read More →

作者：四川新闻网-成都商报08/02/2010 旨在“推动新加坡的经济并在新加坡沉静的性格中注入活力”的“开设赌场”计划是新加坡政府思虑再三之后的选择，所暗指的是动力澎湃的上海，是引入迪士尼乐园的香港，是博彩业发达的澳门，它背后则是通过“另类”旅游拉动国内经济的期许。 新加坡政府赌场监管机构6日向新加坡圣淘沙名胜世界有限公 (Resort World Sentosa) 司颁发赌场执照。后者将在旗下“圣淘沙名胜世界”综合娱乐城内开办新加坡首家赌场。目前圣淘沙名胜世界综合娱乐城的赌场已经在布置春节装饰，外媒称可能即将营业。 这是40年来新加坡第一次撤销赌禁，此举在国内外引发种种争议。 开始布置 有望春节营业 新加坡赌场监管机构当天在网站上发表一份简短声明，宣布这一消息。圣淘沙名胜世界有限公司所属的马来西亚云顶有限公司总裁林国泰说：“我们非常高兴获得 赌场执照。”圣淘沙名胜世界有限公司一名发言人说，公司正在为赌场开业作准备，但他未说明赌场开业时间。新加坡“亚洲新闻频道”报道，一些庆祝春节的装饰 已布置于赌场大厅内。另有外媒报道，开业时间应该就在春节前。 新加坡先前禁止赌博，2005年破除这一禁令。圣淘沙名胜世界有限公司是新加坡第一家获得赌场执照的企业。美联社报道，美国拉斯韦加斯一家博彩企业已向新加坡赌场监管机构递交开办赌场申请，赌场有望于今年5月开业。 吸引游客 新加坡首破例 一向以谨慎刻板形象示人的新加坡，一直把赌博列为非法活动。近年来，新加坡旅游业的魅力大不如前，论旅游资源，它不如很多东南亚国家，发展新兴旅游产业也落于人后，看到马来西亚的赌场成为该国最旺的旅游热点后，新加坡政府也决定借助建赌场“拉客”。 新加坡总理李显龙称：“这个世界改变了，新加坡要吸引更多游客，就应该考虑设立赌场。外面有数以百万计的游客，新加坡必须重新考虑对赌场直接说‘不’的立场。”一向禁赌的新加坡内阁资政李光耀也改了主意。他认为，新加坡应该与世界各国竞争，发展流行文化产业。 按美联社的说法，新加坡政府预计两家赌场可促进当地旅游业发展，增加3.5万个就业岗位，推动国内生产总值上升1个百分点。另有分析人士指出，新加坡赌场的开张或将造成澳门赌客的流失。 是否合法 差点全民公决 新加坡开设赌场的历程并非一帆风顺，自2004年赌场计划出台便备受争议。人们担心，赌博合法化会引发各种相关的社会问题和犯罪。开设赌场的计划还引发了一场有关公民选择权的辩论。一时间，全国上下就全民公决的讨论沸沸扬扬。直到新加坡总理李显龙在一次国会上发言，才正式拒绝了就此事进行全民公决的要求。李显龙表示，新加坡政府是在收集了民众与各社会团体的意见及全面考虑建赌场的利弊之后，才做出这个决定的。但他同时表示，政府无意把新加坡变成像中国澳门这样的赌城，也不会像马来西亚云顶赌场，允许当地人赌钱。考虑到香港迪士尼乐园开放带来的冲击，以及新加坡国内已很多年没有发展大型的旅游设施项目， 新加坡这次才做出赌场开禁的决定。 分析指出，旨在“推动新加坡的经济并在新加坡沉静的性格中注入活力”的“开设赌场”计划是新加坡政府思虑再三之后的选择，所暗指的是动力澎湃的上海，是引入迪士尼乐园的香港，是博彩业发达的澳门，它背后则是通过“另类”旅游拉动国内经济的期许。 外国人免费入场 本国人门票收费 为了降低反对声浪，新加坡政府承诺设立机制处理赌博带来的社会问题。新加坡政府官员明确表示，这个赌场不欢迎本国人来玩。为此，政府为这个将建的赌场制 定了独特的规则：外国游客免费入场；新加坡人进入赌场需花100美元购买门票。在圣淘沙名胜世界的网站上，还有“负责任赌博”的条款，提醒人们不要沉迷赌 博。 据悉，新加坡人可向政府申请“家属禁入令”，阻止亲人进入赌场；另两种赌场禁入令则分别是当事人为自己申请的“自愿禁入令”，及由政府授权执行的“第三方禁入令”。自动接获第三方赌场禁入令的新加坡人，包括领取公共援助金或特别津贴、尚未脱离穷籍者。在新加坡，一旦宣告破产，就会被法院判入穷籍。目前，已分别有19人拿到“家属禁入令”、138人拿到“自愿禁入令”，受到“第三方禁入令”限制者则有28661人。 此外，新加坡警方5日再发公告，称曾犯严重罪行者也禁入赌场，这包括涉及非法放贷、黑社会、洗钱、拉皮条和贩毒的罪犯。此项禁制令并无最长或最短期限，有效期可长达数年，不服者可以提出上诉。禁制令的范围日后也可能涉及被怀疑严重犯罪者。 此外，在新加坡赌场管制法条文下，新加坡警察总监有权通过签发书面禁令，禁止任何人进入或逗留赌场，违抗者将面对高达一万新元罚款或最高一年监禁，或两者兼施。而赌场管制局及赌场经营者也有权禁止任何人进入赌场。 每年吸引1300万人  赌场只是个开始 新加坡首个合法赌场建在上月20日揭幕的大型综合娱乐城“圣淘沙名胜世界”。其中，率先开业的4间酒店首晚逾5000间房间已被预订，预计城内赌场和环球影城、主题公园开业后，每年可吸引1300万游客。 圣淘沙名胜世界作为亚洲最耀眼的家庭旅游目的地，也是全球项目最丰富、投资额最高的综合娱乐城，耗资约300亿人民币。这个超级旅游胜地坐落于新加坡的热带小岛圣淘沙，占地49公顷。 除了拥有多家风格迥异的酒店，更设有两大世界级主题公园、世界级娱乐设施、六星级ｓｐａ度假村、世界名厨餐馆和名牌店铺等。娱乐城的第二阶段工程，包括号称全球最大的海洋生物公园、海事博物馆及两间酒店等，将在未来2年完工，共可提供500间客房。 圣淘沙名胜世界房间预订部副主管希基透露，4间酒店逾5000间房间首晚已被预订。虽然开业首周的房客源百分之九十为当地人，相关负责人表示，娱乐城主攻英美及邻近地区旅客，包括中国及印尼。在环球影城和赌场开业后将有更多的外国游客前来，振兴新加坡旅游业。 观点交锋　　经济利益VS社会成本 政府不得不面对的难题 自从新加坡政府决定开放赌场后，各方辩论已持续近一年。如何在经济利益和社会成本之间获得平衡是新加坡政府不得不面对的问题。 正方：博彩业拉动经济 新加坡管理大学经济与社会科学院的许朝福副教授估计，目前全球赌博业的生意总值每年可达4500亿美元（约7600亿新元）。一旦设立赌场，新加坡政府每年可以多征收13亿新元的博彩税，增加3.5万个就业机会，同时可把国内生产总值提高至少1％或2％。 此外，赌场还能把新加坡人流失到国外或地下赌博活动的花费留在国内。据美国创新集团调查，新加坡人每年在海外赌场要消费16亿新元赌金。日本野村证券则估计，新加坡人每年光在邻国马来西亚的云顶赌场就消费2.455亿新元。 投资银行美林认为，兴建赌场度假胜地，将使投资者改变对新加坡经济能否变得更有活力的看法。投资者会开始接受新加坡正脱离以往的经济结构，迈入更着重于服务业的经济。 反方：赌场将破坏国家形象 较早时，新加坡内阁一反常态鼓励国民讨论这个赌场计划，市民纷纷在媒体、网站、办公室甚至家中就此讨论，民意显示支持及反对的意见参半。相当一部分民众对此持反对态度，其中的一些议员和部长们也有异议。 批评者表示，虽然现时新加坡已有赌马、彩票及体育赌博活动，但与其他赌博形式不同，24小时营业的赌场会带来更多病态赌徒，对家庭和社会产生不利影响，并会影响新加坡的形象。 一直以来，新加坡给外界的印象是整洁、守法、舒适、安全、廉洁，反对者认为，这也是新加坡吸引投资者和外来人才的优势。 同步播报　　日本心动 想开赌场特区 眼见新加坡圣淘沙名胜世界综合度假胜地的赌场即将开业，日本开始心动，金融部长龟井静香倡议在美军基地冲绳设“赌场特区”。 龟井表示，将在近日向首相鸠山提交开赌方案。 龟井的建议已经引起冲绳方面的兴趣，冲绳市长仲井真弘多说：“这样的提议，之前在县里也拿出来讨论过。倘若现政权有此新意，冲绳也会积极响应。” 据了解，日本目前有10个县城对建赌场一事态度积极，它们是冲绳、北海道、东京、大阪、长崎、爱知、宫崎、静冈、秋田和德岛。据悉，希望政府早点放宽条例的大阪府知事桥下彻，趁目前新加坡赌场即将开幕，5日已启程前往新加坡，想要就地取经。 本组稿件据新华社、新京报、杨筱亦 热点透视　　“豪赌”只因“怕输”？ 针对新加坡宣布开赌，对其邻国和周边国家及地区产生了不小的影响，多个国家及地区的媒体纷纷对此做出分析和解读。 据马来西亚媒体报道，马来西亚柔佛州务大臣阿都干尼劝告马来西亚人不要把新加坡赌场当作旅游景点。 阿都干尼说，新加坡赌场将有某些限制，使马来西亚人觉得不容易进入赌场。另外，马来西亚柔佛州反对党民行党青年团团长巫程豪认为，新加坡以经济作为出发 点开设赌场，将吸引一些马国人到新加坡，表面上是促进新加坡经济，然而这毕竟是一种“泡沫经济”。他也指出新加坡开设赌场是基于“怕输心态”，而且漠视社 会文化的影响。他说，新加坡开设赌场或许正中赌客下怀，美其名曰阻止资金外流，但是多少个家庭将沉沦赌桌尚不得而知。 对此，香港舆论普遍认为，这显然是有鉴于邻近地区的旅游事业发展迅速，担心形势落后于人，而开赌从来不是新加坡的国策。 新加坡总理李显龙2005年曾在国会上解释，若不提高国家竞争力的话，新加坡便会远远落后。他当时表示：“亚洲区内，上海动力澎湃，香港的迪士尼乐园快将开幕，那么20年后我们会在哪里？” 来源： http://news.sina.com.cn  Read More →