Can Singapore run without blue collar workers? why are we unappreciated?

Originally Posted by Qaz

Bluecollar.. I'm also a malay and wud liek to share with u my journey... started with a mthly pay of 1.1k as a handyman at country club after ns with my ite. then i took part time biz diploma and on the final year kept on applying office jobs with diploma as requirement. I did indicate my graduation date. I got a job at a local shipping company as an exec assistant for 1.4k.

After 1 yr I took a study loan to take my degree in logistics. By the time I graduated I was already promoted to exec in 3 yrs and drawing 1.8K. So with my degree, i change company and got 2.2K. got promoted to Asst Mgr and quit that company at 3.1K mthly.

Joined my current company as asst mgr drawing 3.4K and took part time MSC fm NTU and applied for higher position within my company after graduation.. now drawing 6K/mthly. This journey since I started work took me 11 years... If I can do it, so can !!

If u want to talk to me personally, do drop me a PM

wow how old are you? born in which year??

[Qaz]

1978, why?

[Sam Adams]

ever thought of doing marine inspector course at singapore maritime academy? good money...

[poor and stupid]

somehow these courses seems to make more money then degree, liddat after O lvl straight go take these courses sua, oh wait cannot! need to take those 3-6 courses 1st.

[Qaz]

Sam Adams, u're asking me? At this stage in my life, I value work life balance more so prefer the kind of work I'm doing now.. I dictate when I work..

when i was in operations a couple of yrs back.. work will decide when I'm free and when I'm not.. even when I'm just managing the team.. I still get calls on weekends, after ofc hours etc.. even though I will just call the pic in my team to settle them, my mind is not complete off work... big bosses expect u to know everything that is going on in ur team..

now in support function, weekend and after ofc hours are mine to decide what to do.. i still do bring back work on occasions but its because I choose to.. n its usually those dat require deep thinking and strategizing.. office is just not condusive enuff hahah!

Originally Posted by bluecollarsingaporean

Hi,

I'm a higher Nitec holder of an engineering course earning a gross $1450 per month

Do you think it's too low as compare to blue collars counter parts from other first world country Australia,NZ,US,Europe,Japan ?

To all white collars worker and academics,managements (many poor management skills) and thinkers.

What happens if no one fix your cars,toilet,aircon etc?

Do people look for white collar people when the MRT breaks down?

Oh the engineers only talk and thinks,they don't know how to DO stuff and make it work.

Since the society do not appreciate people like me and my contributions I would like to seek an advice from all the high paying managers and paper pushers

1) Please advice me on how do I get out of engineering and how do I pursue other field? with $1450/month in Singapore 2012 what choice do I have?

2) Any chances for me to work elsewhere (overseas) as I feel my contribution is look down upon and wages are depressed by cheap blue collars from 3rd world countries

I can't fight the trend am I?

I want to be paper pushers too and just point fingers to others (easy say then done right?)

thank you,
bluecollar(malay)Singaporean

p.s: Malay = lagi marginalized...

p.p.s: I hope I somehow represent all the other blue collar workers in Singapore as most of them do not have time for internet or just plain ignorant

I hired a plumber to replace a leaking tap, took half hr and I spent $70. I hired a painter to paint sealant and repaint one mouldy toilet ceiling, took half hr and I spent $400. I hired a locksmith to replace a faulty door lock, took half hr and I spent $140. I hired an air-con tech to wash two indoor air-con units, took an hour and I spent $80. Who said blue collared workers earn very little? It just takes some entrepreneurship to realise that your technical knowledge & skills are valuable and that you can be your own boss and earn more.

I earn $2k per mth as an office admin... yes, I'm a white collar office worker with a diploma BUT think about it, no amount of entrepreneurship will help me get paid more... Why would anyone in this world pay me to go to their house to type a word document for them at $70-$400?

I'm quite jealous of blue collared workers actually... sometimes even jealous of my hairdresser cuz her skills allows her to earn more than me. And you notice all my above examples are basic needs so I'll have to pay whatever price necessary to get the work done.

[Qaz]

Ms Poverty, u're funny... y dont u learn plumbing then? I'm sure it will take u less time than wat u took to complete ur sec school studies...

& I'm sure a female plumber will be in great demand.. some might even call u to turn them on.. oh I meant to turn the tap on

I can fully understand the thread starter's predicament. Blue collar jobs are not appreciated here due to the simple fact that the Govt let loose boatloads of foreign workers into Singapore ! They could work for half our pay simply because they have no family here to support and they have no CPF. Some even live in their company illegally. Toil like hell for a few years and a rich man back home. That's not an option for us !

I'm an aircraft technician, and sad to say, I can only bring back $2.5K after working abt 23 days a month almost 12 hrs each day.( Lots of OT). If I dun do OT, then I'm bringing back 1.9K. My friend who migrated to Australia works as a car mechanic in BMW and he stays in a double storey landed property with 3 kids to boot ! He told me construction workers there make good money.

Those countries understand the importance of blue collar workers when these workers decide to go on strike ! That's when the **** hits the fan. I mean, if ur company can't provide good service due to the workers on strike, the management would be in trouble. That's why the management in those countries are on their toes. I mean, have you seen management go on strike

My advice to you is try to upgrade yourself. Get a Diploma or something. Or vote for the opposition during next election

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I can fully understand the thread starter's predicament. Blue collar jobs are not appreciated here due to the simple fact that the Govt let loose boatloads of foreign workers into Singapore ! They could work for half our pay simply because they have no family here to support and they have no CPF. Some even live in their company illegally. Toil like hell for a few years and a rich man back home. That's not an option for us !

I'm an aircraft technician, and sad to say, I can only bring back $2.5K after working abt 23 days a month almost 12 hrs each day.( Lots of OT). If I dun do OT, then I'm bringing back 1.9K. My friend who migrated to Australia works as a car mechanic in BMW and he stays in a double storey landed property with 3 kids to boot ! He told me construction workers there make good money.

Those countries understand the importance of blue collar workers when these workers decide to go on strike ! That's when the **** hits the fan. I mean, if ur company can't provide good service due to the workers on strike, the management would be in trouble. That's why the management in those countries are on their toes. I mean, have you seen management go on strike

My advice to you is try to upgrade yourself. Get a Diploma or something. Or vote for the opposition during next election

My cousin in Perth (she's 19) makes AU$2900/month as the duty shift manager at the Red Rooster near her house (2min drive). That's about SGD3400 (before taxes)

[poor and stupid]

I work as an "engineer" 9-6, so I guess i am considered white collar bah, I earn less than a lot of blue collar workers and they totally shadow my pay when they do OT, although their title only like technician. So its not the blue collars that are unappreciated, but rather everyone other than certain industries are unappreciated.

BTW: Do NOT trust me, i am an "engineer", my pay is so low it cant be bench-marked.