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Why more migrants are needed in Singapore

Written by lisa on May 4, 2012 · Leave a Comment

SINGAPORE – Another study has been released in support of Singapore’s need to attract new migrants to slow down the impact of an ageing and dwindling population.

Released by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), the report is the first to take into account the country’s non-resident population.

This includes those on work permits, long-term social visit passes and foreign students.

In its report, the institute sets out three scenarios.

One, where the proportion of foreigners remains at 25 per cent (or one in four) of the total population.

Two, where this proportion drops to 20 per cent (or one in five).

And three, where the proportion is raised to 33 per cent (or one in three).

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Categories: Migrants in Singapore - Tags: ,

More Tourists Coming to Singapore and Splurging

Written by lisa on April 30, 2012 · Leave a Comment

Two Chinese tourists leaving a Gucci outlet at Paragon. Natas CEO Robert Khoo said it is a sound strategy to pitch Singapore as a destination for those with deeper pockets, given Singapore’s ‘physical constraints.’

Singapore. The drive here to get tourists to splurge is paying off.

Those who came here last year spent $22.3 billion, 18 percent more than the year before.

Typically, 60 percent of this expenditure goes into shopping, accommodation, sightseeing and entertainment, of which gaming is a part.

That visitor numbers went up by less — 13 percent — means Singapore welcomed more of those who were prepared to blow money in their time here.

Giving its annual round-up of figures yesterday, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) announced that 13.2 million tourists turned up here last year, pipping the year’s forecast of 12 million to 13 million.

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Categories: Tourism in Singapore - Tags: ,

Singapore most ‘liveable’ Asian city for ex-pat IT pros

Written by lisa on April 19, 2012 · Leave a Comment

Ex-pat IT professionals looking for a better quality of life abroad could do worse than try Singapore, the Japanese city of Kobe or Hong Kong – the top three most liveable cities in Asia according to new research from HR information provider ECA International.

The firm’s annual Location Ratings system is designed to help firms decide what level of compensation, if any, is required to offer ex-pats who move abroad with work.

It studies a range of factors to evaluate the quality of life in hundreds of locations worldwide, and therefore the level of upheaval an ex-pat may have in relocating and living in a new land.

According to ECA, these factors include climate; housing and utilities; relative isolation; infrastructure; personal safety; political tensions; air quality and access to healthcare.

Singapore took number one spot among the 49 Asian cities studied, thanks to scoring “exceptionally well” in areas such as air quality, healthcare and infrastructure and low crime.

Kobe in Japan remained in second spot while Hong Kong jumped up two places to number three.

However, the Special Administrative Region (SAR) appears to be in the top three more as a result of Tokyo and Yokohama each dropping a place due to the effects of last year’s massive Tohoku earthquake than any improvements Hong Kong itself has made.

ECA’s regional director for Asia, Lee Quane, told The Reg that despite scoring well in areas like schooling, housing and transport, it is air quality that is letting Hong Kong down.

“Hong Kong’s achilles heel is its air quality. For an advanced city to have air quality on a par with heavily polluted developing cities such as Beijing, Delhi and Mexico City is the major factor causing it to lag behind Singapore,” he added.

“The fall in the rankings of the Japanese cities of Tokyo and Yokohama reflect the impact of last year’s disaster on these cities. Given the infrastructure projects take time to complete and the fact that Japan has shuttered many of the nuclear power plants which once provided these cities with energy means that the big question is how long will it be before infrastructure, including utilities provision, is back at pre-disaster levels.”

Diesel pollution from road vehicles in the heavily built-up urban areas of Hong Kong is a key factor in the SAR’s poor air quality, but when locals are asked they usually point an accusing finger in the direction of China.

Heavy manufacturing in the Shenzhen region, across the border to the north of Hong Kong, is said by many to be the main culprit, especially when the wind is blowing from that direction as it is for much of winter.

The local government in Hong Kong is working with its counterpart in Guangdong and says steady progress is being made, but more days than not at the moment it’s difficult to see Kowloon from Hong Kong island – a distance of around two kilometres – because of smog.

Phil Muncaster

18 Apr 2012

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/04/18/singapore_hong_kong_japan_quality_of_life/

Categories: Living in Singapore - Tags: , ,

Singapore Employment Act to be reviewed in 2012

Written by lisa on April 18, 2012 · Leave a Comment

Minister of State for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin said Tuesday that the Employment Act will be reviewed this year.

Speaking at Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) annual Workplan Seminar, Mr Tan said this would ensure that Singapore’s main labour law keeps up with changes in employment practices as Singapore’s workforce becomes more educated.

He noted that there are more professionals, managers and executives (PMEs) in the current workforce, with them forming 32 per cent of Singapore’s resident workforce.

Some of the changes being looked at involve improving wage conditions for low wage workers when their relationships with employers are less than balanced.

MOM will also work closely with tripartite partners and stakeholders to ensure that the feedback of both employers and workers will be taken into account.

Mr Tan also responded to the recent public debate about the need for a ‘wage revolution’, where former National Wages Council Chairman Lim Chong Yah proposed major wage increases for low-wage workers and freezing the wages of top income earners.

He cautioned that simply raising wages was not the solution.

“Economic restructuring does not come just by raising wages alone.

“It requires a range of reforms and initiatives to boost productivity and to increase the quality of our workforce,” he said.

This would then ensure that Singapore remains relevant in a competitive world market and allow jobs to continue to grow.

In his speech, Mr Tan said Singapore can expect economic growth of between one and three per cent in 2012, barring further uncertainties such as a disorderly Eurozone debt default or a global oil price shock.

17 Apr 2012

http://business.asiaone.com/Business/News/Story/A1Story20120417-340410.html

Categories: Singapore Govt - Tags: , , ,

The art of enjoying Singapore

Written by lisa on April 13, 2012 · Leave a Comment

Singapore has launched an artistic offensive, having spent $1.5 billion on cultural projects.

At Dubai International Airport waiting to board a flight to Singapore, I ran into an old colleague who’s jumped the fence into PR. “Ah, off to lovely Singapore, eh?” he said enviously. “What’s on the itinerary?” I reeled off the list: Singapore Art Museum (SAM), Helu-Trans Gallery, Art Plural, National Museum of Singapore… “Whoa!” he broke in. “What’s this, an art trip?”

Yes, I nodded. “Are you crazy?!” he replied, incredulous.

There’s a reason for his reaction. When it comes to business, Singapore ranks among the top on international indices for competitiveness, but when it comes to culture, the island-state is far from being a match for its global rivals.

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Categories: Country: Singapore - Tags: ,

Working from home may be more common in the future

Written by lisa on April 4, 2012 · Leave a Comment

Those who need flexible working arrangements may be able to work from home or from dedicated Smart Work Centres near their homes in the future.

The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) has launched a Call-for-Collaboration (CFC) to invite companies to collaborate and conduct pilot tests in home-based work and setting up of Smart Work Centres (SWCs). Industry players will develop ICT services to support flexible working arrangements

Under this scheme, employees can have dedicated workspaces at home to ensure that they are productive or use SWCs near their homes if a dedicated workspace is not available.

According to a media statement released by IDA, working from home or at SWCs may have several benefits.

There will be increased employment opportunities for those who are of working age (25 to 54 years old), but not in the workforce due to family commitments.

Employers can also use flexible working arrangements to attract and retain staff. There will also be improved productivity and a larger manpower pool to recruit workers.

Employees will have better work-life balance and reduce commuting time so that they can focus on work.

Assistant Chief Executive Officer Mr Khoong Hock Yun from IDA’s Infrastructure and Services Development Group, IDA, said technological advances such as the next generation broadband will take the concept of working from home one step further by opening up new opportunities in the area of home-based work and Smart Work Centres.

“With the network, similar functions within the office environment can be supported at home. But having a capable infrastructure is not the end-all answer – we still need to have processes in place and a mindset change to encourage the adoption of home-based work and Smart Work Centres.

“This is why we have decided to embark on this CFC so that everyone from the government, unions and industry can come together to explore how we can bring work closer to home and the community a reality,” he said.

Those who are interested in the CFC can attend a briefing session on April 10 where they can network with other companies and collaborate to submit proposals for the CFC at this session.

More information on the CFC briefing session is listed at http//www.NextGenNBN.gov.sg. Users can also email services@ida.gov.sg.

The call is made under the Next Generation Services Innovation Programme (NGSIP) and is developed in consultation with Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Employer Alliance (EA), National Trades Union Congress – Women’s Development Secretariat (NTUC WDS) and Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF).

3 Apr 2012

http://business.asiaone.com/Business/News/Story/A1Story20120403-337452.html

Categories: Work in Singapore - Tags: , , ,

Study Abroad: Want to study in Singapore?

Written by lisa on March 24, 2012 · Leave a Comment

The presence of globally ranked institutions like INSEAD and National University of Singapore is one of the many reasons that make Singapore a promising destination for international students to study in the country, says Suchitra Surve, counsellor, EGE Global Education.


Singapore is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society.

The vibrant mix of ethnic and religious groups offers international students a wide choice for studying and living in Singapore.

Most educational institutions in Singapore offer an adequate range of services to students right from counselling, options for accommodation , advice and orientation programmes — all of which ensure that the student feels right at home.

Singapore’s low crime rates and high standards of living also work to the merit of students thus offering them a conducive environment for study.

With institutions like INSEAD and National University of Singapore finding its place in the top 10 of the QS World MBA rankings, the country is growing as a popular destination to study among international students across the globe.

Besides, post-education, the career opportunities available for students are equally prospective in nature which explains why most students continue to stay and work after they complete their education.

Most educational institutions cater to a wide range of interests, from sports and recreation to cultural and other activities.

In some educational institutions, students are even encouraged to form clubs of their own and handle its employment activities.

The cost of living and tuitions fees in Singapore are lower than in the UK or US.

In addition to local universities, many of the world’s top foreign universities have also established their presence in Singapore.

They have either set up a campus (institutes of higher learning) or have joint collaborations or programmes with local universities.

Singapore is becoming an increasingly popular destination for Indian professionals as there is an increase in demand for overseas labour from the financial services and banking industries.

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Categories: Study in Singapore - Tags: , , , , ,

Singapore Tourism Board launches new marketing campaign for India

Written by lisa on March 21, 2012 · Leave a Comment

Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has unveiled its latest plan for the Indian market. “Singapore – The Holiday You Take Home with You,” the third in a series of customised and differentiated marketing campaigns after those in China and Australia, adopts a similar consumer-centric approach by tailoring experiences based on a deeper understanding of the needs of the Indian leisure travellers. By understanding their needs, better quality experiences can also be created and delivered, which is a natural evolution of the YourSingapore destination brand with its emphasis on personalisation of experiences.

Through years of presence and engagements held with Indian consumers, STB has observed changes in the travel habits and needs of Indian travellers. Today, Indian travellers possess a more global worldview and have discerning travel needs. Indian consumers prefer for families to travel and bond together through shared learning experiences. Many also research and plan their own Free and Independent Traveller (FIT) itineraries on the Internet, and are eager to try out and learn new things.

The new marketing campaign will focus on quality tailored offerings that appeal to the Indian audience. The core of the campaign rests on four pillars of enriching experiences, namely family fun, active lifestyle, culinary and romance. Singapore offers the promise of a deeper and more engaging experience beyond a usual holiday; through experiential and shared learning activities, the campaign wishes to draw an emotional connection between travellers and the destination.

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Singapore in Good Stead to Attract More Businesses

Written by lisa on March 17, 2012 · Leave a Comment

Singapore,  Singapore company registration specialists Rikvin is optimistic that Singapore will continue to attract more businesses and high-calibre professionals. The announcement comes on the back of the nation’s stellar performance in the most recent Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Hot spots: Benchmarking Global City Competitiveness report.

Singapore has emerged as Asia’s top city and third globally after the Big Apple New York City (1st) and the city of Big Ben, London (2nd), due to its ability to attract businesses, capital, talent and tourists. Long-time ‘nemesis’ Hong Kong emerged fourth in the Citigroup-commissioned report.

In the Hotspots report, cities were evaluated based on eight categories of competitiveness which consisted of 31 indicators. Singapore topped the list in the financial maturity and physical capital categories. It also made it to the top ten list in the global appeal (4th), institutional effectiveness (6th) and environment and natural hazards (8th) categories. Under the most weighted category, economic strength, Singapore came in at a notable 15th place.

Commenting on Singapore’s latest accolade, Mr. Satish Bakhda, Head of Rikvin’s Operations said, “This is not the first time that Singapore has attained top ranking. Singapore has top mindshare for having the best investment potential and being the easiest place to do business. EIU’s latest ranking is yet another testament to Singapore’s magnetic ability to not only score tourism dollars but capital and high-calibre talent that compels entrepreneurs to form a Singapore company.”

Analysis by Rikvin also shows that the track record of high performance and high rankings in international indexes create a positive cyclical effect. EIU’s latest report adds to that track record and affirms that Singapore is the place to start up a business.

Singapore continually updates its legislation to ensure that it remains an attractive business-friendly location to entrepreneurs and high-calibre professionals. For years, the Government has offered generous funding to key sectors and young entrepreneurs with fresh ideas.

“Furthermore, during the latest Budget, the Government has offered further tax enhancements or cash payouts to help firms move up the productivity and innovation value chain. Singapore corporate tax and income tax remains as one of the lowest in the world. The safety standards and credit ratings of Singapore’s banks are also well-ranked. These features are unlikely to go and will continually attract any discerning key decision maker to opt for a Singapore work visa or consider the jurisdiction as the next location as part of his company’s expansion plans. We are confident that the latest ranking will play a part in evangelising Singapore’s strengths as a business setup location,” affirmed Mr. Bakhda.

16 Mar 2012

Categories: Invest in Singapore - Tags: , , ,

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