Lehman Bros, I think you are referring to the Award rate of $35 for tradesman, yes?

Thank you very much for your information confirmation.

Just to update me, Lehman Brothers since you are in Australia now.

I thought that there IS MINIMUM WAGES in Australia (for over 18 years of age) except for non-adults or those in skilled trade apprenticeship graduated pay scheme.

I recall that former Aussie PM, John Howard, tried abolishing over time pay, minimum wages etc by introducing enterprise bargain and elimination of unfair dismissal law called the “Work Choices” reform as recommended of labour market reform preached by the stupid IMF.

But the electorate won’t bite. After the Haneef affair, and lots of stumbles evidencing a government tired of fresh ideas and solution, the seemingly every popular John Howard was buried under a rubble of a landslide election defeat in 2007. The Liberal-National Country Party was shattered and in this week locked in crisis over ETS revolt against Malcolm Turnbull.

From history, the mninimum wage in Australia has NO ADVERSE IMPACT on local employment which one poster here suggest would bring in an influx of foreign workers displacing locals.

That argument is FALSE PROPHETS of “priesthood” lies akin long-held practice of not asking and not telling of history of pedophile sins within religious order.

The reasons are obvious

- Australian does not let in the quality of ZYY or lesser materials of kind in its migration imports

- best of all, Singapore can apply minimum wages ONLY for Singaporeans, foreigners excluded because NTUC need NOT represent foreign workers. Only Singaporean workers can join NTUC but local labour laws apply to all in relation to employees rights. Already foreigners has lower CPF rates than Singaporeans, SO WHY IS IT NOT WITHIN LEGAL PRECEPTS TO EXCLUDE FOREIGNERS AND PR FROM MINIMUM WAGE LAWS?

-And if PR meets required standard of approved migration, the minimum wage would be way below their earning power in any case.

The whole migration and immigration floodgates opened without careful screening brought us an BASOLUTE MESS, including bringing many of those capable of doubtful and criminal tendencies. You know that countries like Australia require foreign PR to meet the character test of no criminal records in their home countries and also once landed and living in Australia cannot fail the “character tests” and if convicted of crime face real prospect of deportation. SINGAPORE HAS MORE LENIENT LAW APPLICTION FOR FOREIGNER IT SEEMS TO BE FREQUENTLY NOTED BY POSTERS ON THE NET.

It is a failure of Government’s social,political and economic agenda that needs to be thoroughly rework through. But who is looking and admit layers and layers of public policy incomptencies when election is waiting on the horizon???

F1 or F9?

I live in Victoria, Australia. Our garbage men are locals, road works men are locals, builders,plumbers, electricians, mechanics, tradesmen in general are mostly locals. Yup ANG MOHS!

How come? Minimum wage. Not only is minimum wage good for your overall lifestyle, it presents a sense of DIGNITY, something absent in most Singapore workers minds. Everyone gainfully employed in this country, regardless of the job they do, is proud that they are working.

Simply because it’s that much easier to make ends meet when you’ve got a job. A school kid working in Macdonald’s earns an average wage of $15 an hour, minus tax that’s $10 in his pocket. That’s $7 an hour more then what I was earning in Singapore at Maccas when I was a kid and $5 an hour more than I was earning in Singapore in my last job before packing up and leaving.

I’m no high flyer now either, I don’t hold a degree. I’m just a lowly tradesman. But for my experience and qualification, minimum wage dictates my hourly wage at $35 an hour. Maybe for some lawyer or doctor or minister mentor that’s not much but for a guy from a below average singaporean background, it’s amazing.

My fellow Singaporeans, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE WAKE UP AND SMELL THE ROSES. SINGAPORE COULD’VE BEEN A PARADISE FOR EACH AND EVERYONE OF US – If only people like my parents give up the notion that LKY is the father of Singapore. In my opinion he’s the undertaker. My decision to get out was the one proper decision I ever made.

I never got the chance to vote – walkover. It’s in your hands, you have a right to lead a dignified, comfortable life. If not for you, think of your kids. Vote for change, or pack up and leave if at all possible.

Singapore should never have let immigrant workers in for the continued well being of their ruling elite. Things could’ve been fixed long ago.

The real question to ask is WHY is there no such thing?

Minimum wage is not to make employers pay more or spend more on labor. Its a salary to give dignity to the lowest paid labor in the country. Its to prevent abuse of workers by offering as-low-as-employer-like salaries. If all employers do this, there is no company left for such workers to go to for a more decent salary. If there is min wage, this can be stopped.

Min wage is still the min wage and not about paying the lowest paid worker MORE than they deserve.

I am all for change.