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

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

go aussie. migrate there. see their skills in demand like welding all this. if you fit pay a bit more migrate there then work. there got minimum wage. 15 bucks per hour onwards. better to be there than nth

Hi there, BlueCollar...

I do not want to be in your situation in this country. Yes, the wage difference is unfair. But we have become a city churning money through contracts, M&A lawyers, trades, bonds, financing and corporate deals. None of that will need blue collar people. So blue collar people will not see their wages increase when the economy does well.

On the other hand, you have the hands-on skills to start a business in a niche area. So maybe you need to take that entrepreneurial plunge. You have the practical skills that even university graduates do not have. I know it is easier said than done. But I think striking out is a better option than to depend on wage increments that never seem to beat inflation.

Aussie and NZ,which country is better for blue collars?

What other alternative does blue collar have besides the entrepreneurial path? how do they switch field?

I don't think everyone is entrepreneurial

join SCDF. Apparantly a sergeant there after a few years (like 4-5yrs) earns in the high 2000s, almost 3k.

It's demand and supply bang. A lot of people can do your job, not many people can do the specialist job. If you can you should move to a more specialist blue collar job, then your pay will be higher.

Really? I definately can tell many white collar people can't even change a light bulb,if so why are other first world country like ours have a decent pay for blue collars?

what i mean by decent is not watching theather on esplanade but the rights to have a family,a roof,food on the table.

Are you saying our economy more open then US's green card?

Any advice mr managers? I don't have very high aspirations just to get food on the table if you know what i mean

Dont tell me an internet it's a luxury it's 2012

I assume the gov wants all singaporean to work in office pushing papers in a hierachy while cheap fireigners do blue collar job?

Im no economist but this kind of model is a fallancy in the long run isn't it?

If we must survive we steal create jobs for police and a sense of insecurity

Please do think dear white collars

What I am saying is that the white collar workers can learn how to change the light bulb in a week, maybe two weeks if they really hand like leg. To learn what they do, how long would you take?

True,how abt troubleshooting the mrt?

Even if they do learn and know in theory,do they know how to solve practical problems?

Are they even willing?

It seems that a singapore society have a very narrow mind as skills and intelligence is only paper based unlike other first world country e.g japan

Any suggestion on how do i get out of this field as i felt that our society fail to understand everyone plays a part in a society as a whole

Your handphones,water systems and public security are maintain by blue collars too you know? Even garbage collector...

So all Singaporean must have a degree from public university? But the gov says we dont need too many degree holder

I dont mind foreign workers,they sacrifice something to earn extras but why are our wages low? Gov policy i bet,not bcos of foreign workers... they can just change their policy,oh i know it's complicated and they probably know it's unsustainable economically to keep growing in this capitalist economic system.

Yea who am i yo say,im just ITE

I'm sure you've already seen this...

What Singapore can learn from Europe By Tommy Koh SG Hard Truth

Thanks for sharing if there's occupy sgx in singapore, i'll be more then glad to join knowing that singapore lacks police officers and can't afford to call up everyone for reservist as it'll stall the economy

Why do we need a prime minister and a president,can't we just have one? - what's with their wages

hey bluecollarsingaporean ,
It's not that bleak, I am 27 this year and like you only holding a nitec from ITE. I am working as a plant operator in the refinery. Compare to many of my peers from Uni i am earning more then them. FYI my last year income is about 70kp.a. And i only work 15days in a month. So brother, not true that the so called white collar earn much more then us many of them earn peanuts!
First you much know with your cert where can you get the most out of it, second aim there and try you every best to get in. you can try, oil/gas, petrolchem , pharmaceutical productions, enegry, shipyard, safety, air craft engr...etc
Secondly you will need to upgrade. As you cannot compare to degree holder outside you gotta made youself specialist, take steam engr licence if you can, boiler attandent, WDA safety officer licence...etc.
Thirdly , you must have the dare put in extra effort and tell youself you are no lesser then an NUS grad. And you will make it. Look in army there is CO but also got RSM post for spec so don worry find your way to be a RSM lah. no doubt RSM don earn more then a CO but i believe a airforce RSM sure earn more then a OC in infantry.

This is the hard truth in SG. Blue collars are not appreciated here nor they are paid decently. You can follow up on the suggestions as mentioned earlier, start a business to provide services say fix air con, open garage and fix cars, welding company etc etc, choose a well paying and niche trade, say as petrochemical plant operator, offshore oil rig or platform operator, crane operator, rope access technician etc etc. Last is to get out of SG and migrate to another country where ur trade is more appreciated

1450/mth is not bad for higher nitec, and yes sg gov no nid you, they can get bangla for 600 use them in their prime for 2years then change.

I studied in ite before too, most of my friends sign on and they are the ones that are earning reasonable pay. Maybe cos that one cannot bangla.

Do becareful if you want to start business, my classmate with onli nitec came out of amry after 6years; staff sgt, with 35k cash in bank he try logistic and distributor business, now kenna bust, somemore hard to find job, cannot go back amry everyday at home emo and play diablo3.

I recommend taking up driving lesson class5, drive for 2years if you assigned to chemical tankers can take home 3.1k/mth drive 4.5trips/day no chance for overtime thou

I have intentions to upgrade part time engineering diploma in SP actually but after reading in some threads over here how bad it is for engineering wahlao think million2 times

Want to change field not sure how and what

It seems that a lot in our society only likes to talk,do presentation and point fingers

Jialat lah like that bcome like dubai,only thing is the people still working and complaining abt mrt breakdown but dono how to fix

Im not sure if 4 days work 1 day off including weekends sounds good to you with that paycheck

Mayb b bus driver better hands need not dirty -_-"

What if everyone holds a degree,gov cannot think meh? How society function?

We are all born leader < wtf,no follower no leader

Thank you for sharing i belive 70k p.a is a standard blue collar wages fotlr other developed countries

anyway i dont mind those bangla,indian,china or africa come to sg to work blue collar earn 70k its the gov policy...china cheaper? Didnt they not include bribing expenditure as cost? Dono what to say lah 1970 there was a strike and they will probably another soon

P.s: majority red eye managers thats why our low pay? A friend was dismissed bcos he earns more then his manager due to OT

Look at the carpark in exxon or shell or other oil major, audi , bmw, volvo. Life can be good. It's not a dream. Jia You !

Because is liddat de lor, blue collar is totally screwed in engineering sector, i think take motorbike license and be courier better

Blue collar
 

Hi frens, i am also a blue collar worker. Understand the difficulties of putting food on the table.
Personally i do we are under-appreciated and underpaid as compared to other 1st world countries. Just an enquiry, is there like websites where we Singaporeans can apply for overseas jobs..?

Good for you.. Look for opportunities overseas... Dun become a slave to be exploited for the advancement of the economy.. when you are old and poor, CPF is empty.. "They" will make you beg for food and take away your HDB from you... Better run when you are still young...

Are you willing to fork out USD5000 to be become general worker aka bangala worker to
 

hi bluecollarworker ah bang,

i totally share your view because i last time also technician but now white collar worker for better pay cos in singapore no choice lah! Open floodgate to unlimited supply of cheap labour=low pay. Gahmen already say no FT=no job. Be thankful u got a job!! Anyway, solution is to either get in those industries that some bros say like oil/gas to get better pay, but bear in mind the risk. Or go overseas to be appreciated!! I am going for the latter.

Anyway just to share my experience in getting the blue collar job below...


This was posted on Jobstreet website some weeks back. Call in to enquire on this position as they say only non-skill role such help mate and store keeper is available. Initially, i was thinking the pay was not bad at usd25 per hour min wage in UK.

The agent gave me a break down on the fees invloved:

- 450usd to be paid for processing fee once the company over at UK had shortlisted me.
- 3500usd to paid for visa,air ticket and commission once employer offer me the contract which is two years.
- additional 300usd to be decducted from monthly salary for the 1st five months.

Details from Jobstreet

http://myjobstreet.jobstreet.com.sg/...6i5f39ooqflo14

Call in to enquire on this position and even took leave and went down personally. I was told only non-skill role such help mate and store keeper are available,Hence,no education requirement.I saw many foreigners from various countries like Philippines and India applying for this position and some have difficulties filling out the application form and were asking my assistance on it.Initially, I was thinking the pay was not bad at USD25 per hour min wage in UK. However, I got a shock when they mention the fees as stated above.

In the end, I walk out as my gut feeling tells me that this is somewhat dodgy with large amount upfront fees involved when I speak to the Singaporean agent.I feel like the agent is exploiting these foreign workers, milking them dry. I guess she is quite surprised that a young Singaporean like me will apply for such job as she replied only foreigners will apply for these "jobs" giving me a disgusting look, I will take that as job discrimination.To show her some empathy,I had given her a hard time with the questioning on contract terms and conditions whereas the other applicants were just nodding their head in agreement when she explained to them the contract details. Haha!

Hi congrats to you,

Care to share how did you get out of blue collar to white? How did you upgrade your education and what course? How did you transfer your skills and experience of blue to white? Less hand moving more talking and emails?

Appreciated if u care to share the experiences

Cannot tahan lah pay stagnant,work like sheet,no water cooler to compensate all the sweats

I guess most white collars wants people like me to suffer so they can keep their position by managing the blue and secure a high paycheck? (No practical advice shared)

Ya, actually thats the point mah, information is key. For example the sales king wouldn't anyhow give out customer contacts, or some really cb ones wun even tell you how or where to start finding customer.

blue collar ppl like us can only wait to strike toto and buy a trust fund to provide extra fixed income per month and survive... maybe with a 2room hdb flat... maybe got ceiling fan too!

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

hi bluecollarsgrean, i am a white collar and i am picking up blue collar skills as i go along because i firmly believe that you must be able to walk the walk before you talk the talk, otherwise, no action all talk only, use magic finger point-point and eye power to stare things into moving.

i'm sure you got eyes to see that the large part of this working generation has been bred to be middle managers (white collar, even if in the engineering or construction sector). In the past 20-30 years foreign workers are brought in to prop us locals up. perhaps you were unfortunate not to get into white collar but dun let that discourage you, because i believe tat one day the foreign labour supply will dry up. realize that your pay now is low because you have to compete against some FW that will do more for less becasue its still a lot of money back home in bangla, india or china.

in australia, there is such a term "blue collar millionaire" because they charge $80-100 AUD to come fix your tap, wire your house electricity, etc. Same for vehicle mechanics. You have a choice - first world coutnries are in serious need of skilled manual workers and pay much more fairly. you can move yourself or wait for singapore to move into that situation when wages become more fair. in the meantime do continue to upgrade and i am sure there's plenty of courses in WDA that you can take to build your resume

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

1978, why?

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

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.

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!

Blue collar entrepreneur?
 

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.

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 :)

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)

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.