SM Goh wants Singapore (sheep) to “work harder and smarter”
January 25th, 2010 | 
Author: Written by Our Correspondent
Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong wants Singaporeans to work smarter and harder to pick up new skills to keep the economy growing over the next decade.
Speaking at a community event yesterday, SM Goh noted that while average annual economic growth was 5 per cent over the past 10 years, productivity rose just 1 per cent a year on average.
Singapore’s economic growth in the last decade was fueled largely by the influx of cheap foreign labor which helped keep labor costs down and pop up the GDP figures artificially.
A significant proportion of Singapore ministers’ multi-million annual salary is pegged to GDP growth – the higher the growth, the more pay they take home.
However, the lives of ordinary Singaporeans have not improved during the same period. The income gap has widened considerably and Singapore now has the highest income gap between the poor and rich among the 30 most developed economies in the world – this means that under PAP rule, the rich has become richer while the poor has become poorer.
A recent Wall Street Journal editorial wrote that the influx of foreigners into Singapore has depressed the wages of ordinary Singaporeans, increased the cost of living, especially that of public housing, decreased overall labor productivity and led to a decrease in the standards of living.
Below is a graph depicting how Singapore’s labor productivity has decreased with the increase in the population of foreigners in Singapore, courtesy of Kojakbt, moderator of 3in1kopitiam forum:
According to the latest Global Wages Report from the International Labor Organization (ILO), Singapore workers clock the most hours at hour, just below the mandatory cap of 44 hours a week, more than workers in 12 other countries used for comparison, yet SM Goh still exhorted Singaporeans to work “harder.” (read article here)
It is not known how “hard” Singaporeans can continue to work given the fact that many workers are finding it increasingly difficult to survive in Singapore.
Perhaps SM Goh has forgotten that even “sheep” needs quality time to rest and recharge as well. He said in an earlier speech that “an army of sheep led by lion is stronger than an army of lion led by a sheep.” to emphasize on the importance of having good leaders in Singapore. (read article here)
Unfortunately, right now the “sheep” are not led by any “lions”, but are merely being chased around by a pack of hungry “wolves”.
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The sheep as a cattle will eventually be slaughtered for its meat or wool…either way, the sheep is bound to “exploited” by the owners who do nothing but feed it on a regular basis. We as Singaporeans work hard and harder but who takes home the bacon (as the bonus) if the country does well? The people at the top… we are nothing but horses or bulls (like Animal Farm) who keep working and working without any kind of rest while the ruling class wine and dine.
goh chok tong
tell us, when is the election ? i want to vote in your GRC.
usa stock markets crashing last few weekdays in a row. how will this affect sg?
ADMIN:- Forget about GCT he is about to be HISTORY-
Kindly comment on GY’s FULLERTON-SJI LEADERSHIP LECTURE.You will find a rational modern thinker in that lecture.Read in between the lines and you will know what its like to perform with restrain,I am no BRAINAIC please correct me if I am wrong Gentlemen.
To be fair to SM Goh, I think the call to work harder and smarter is a much better slogan than cheaper, better and faster. We can work harder and smarter as long as the price is right.
And along the way, picking up new skills will increase employability, another plus factor in this increasingly competitive world.
Therefore, I think this is pretty good advise.
No one owes us a living.
Folks,
“sheep & lion” …interesting. The quality of anaolgy from multi-$ Senior Minister. SM should now stand for ‘Senile Minister’. He dared claim again he should be paid more at private sector .. maybe as clown.
Supposedly in the 21st century for a first-world highly paied and educated society, the key to increasing productivity is automation.
SM Goh’s comments about a Brussels worker doing cleaning, serving and waitering in a restaurant as a good example shows how outdated his mentality really is.
Link: http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20100125-194171.html
I hope someone is keeping a record of these foul-up statements. That is not a speech of a wise man. The words are cheap.
No point working harder and smarter when at the end we can afford less. Whats the point of working harder when the inflation and the rising cost of HDB out paces our salary?
GCT, your Lion and Sheep analogy is as clever as the new meaning of peanuts from your Mrs.
Both you and your Mrs did teach me something new.
In Hokkien, we called this “KONG LAN WAY”, talking rubbish. Why then do we have so many MMs, SM, blah blah blah in office?
GCT & his colleagues should look into the mirror & said that to themselves. They have been losing a lot of Singaporeans money & create a negative social environment to live in with their Pro FT policy.
They better start to work harder & smarter as we will be kicking them out when election comes.
Lau Goh is rehashing same tune and rhetoric. Isn’t it is precisely the foreigner talents’ contribution that is bring down the country’s productivity ?
Or is he simply saying that hard-working Singapreans are still NOT hardworking enough? If what Goh said is true, then shall we see the figures and statistics that they have kept to show which is which?
In return, lesser mortals can tell Goh Chok Tong they will campaign harder and vote smarter at the next GE.
Isn’t it obvious the bunch of PAP stooges have been working smart but not working hard. And this Goh Chok Tong bugger in warming the seat to collect multiMillion $$ is a prime example of working smart, just like old fart who makes forecasts only.
That’s right ! get paid even if forecasts have been obscenely wrong.
Remember, work smart means ask others to work harder.
Dear Sir,
I have no problem increasing my productivity.
I don’t mind trying to be the “woman whom you met in a cafe in Brussels, Germany, who served 10 customers by herself and multi-tasked as cleaner, cashier and coffee-maker”.
Would you kindly check her benefits or her salary and pay me equally assuming ceteris paribus.
Thank you very much!
As usual, whenever this Woody Goh talks, only hot air comes out like those from his rear!
Please tell Singaporeans how hard and smart you have been working since stepping down from the ’seat-warming’ post.
What have you done to improve the standard of living of the lower half of Singaporeans who are struggling to keep ends meet? Have the jobless problems of the PMETs been tackled successfully?
What happened to the Swiss std. of living you so passionately promised Singaporeans whilst you were PM?
Incase you forgot,the year is 2010!
May I remind you that you also wanted our Team Singapore to be playing in the WC in 2010, so what went wrong??
We are now in a situation,not knowing whether we are able to watch live matches of the WC!! Well, since you are so passionate about soccer,why are you so silent with regards to the issue of broadcasting live matches on TV.for the coming WC?
Also as Chairman of MAS what have you done to elevate the miseries of those mini-bond investers’losses?
There are so much shits in your backyard to be cleared.
So for goodness sake when you want to open your mouth to say something,say something constructive, and please clear your rubbish in your backyard!!!
@LiuDaDong,
“The sheep as a cattle will eventually be slaughtered for its meat or wool…either way, the sheep is bound to “exploited” by the owners who do nothing but feed it on a regular basis.”
Isn’t what you described HOTA? Already 2 published cases about citizens/PR organs being harvested against the will of their family. How many cases are not being reported?
Actually i do agree with SM Goh. We have been lacking in productivity. However my reply to SM Goh is that one of the main reason why our productivity has been lacking is because we really have hardly any motivation or incentives to work any harder or efficiently. Even though there are performance-linked bonuses, it only applies to full-time employees. Right now, many companies prefers to hire part-time, temporary or contractual employees simply because it is cheaper. On top of that, probably a significant portion of those part-time / temporary / contractual positions goes to immigrants.
Now bear in mind, Singapore do need these immigrants because with out them, our economy cannot sustain any more growth. Yes you are right. Cheaper labour force means better profit margins and therefore better GDP. Its just how the market forces work, not really anything to blame on government even though you can criticize the lax immigrant policy. But i digress, the debate on immigrant workforce is best debated elsewhere.
THe point i really want to emphasize is the lack of incentives and motivation for Singapore workforce to improve efficiency and productivity. Besides monetary incentives, often the employers forget there are also other considerations when it comes to incentives. The ability for the company / organization to make the employees feel part of the company. Allowing the employees have a say on company policies allows the employees to feel they are part of the company and therefore allows them to feel they should work together to help the company grow. It is also a part of a democratic process, something that unfortunately, most Singaporeans are lacking in experience.
There should also be a way for employees to suggest improvements or tips for the companies. Now i understand there are the WITS system where employees are encouraged to give suggestions to improve techniques or technologies or even saving measures. However, the way the WITS system is implemented in Singaporean companies often means the WITS is forced upon the employees by the management. Even if it does not feel forced, sometimes it feels like its a contest. The employee that provides the most suggestions wins a prize or something like that. That contest incentive system encourages quantity of suggestions, it unfortunately means quality of suggestions suffers. Also, it again encourages a “Me, me, me” attitude instead of fostering true team spirit amongst the employees and that again does not make employees feel like they are part of the company, as part of a team striving to improve productivity.
Thus SM Goh, if you truly want us Singaporeans to work harder and smarter, there has to be a comprehensive change in incentives besides monetary incentives to promote productivity and efficiency amongst employees and it must first start with the government and their employees.
In the history of PAP, they loves to play DO RA MIE. They loves to sing song.
They test out a tune and sense the response, if the public loves it, they will sing together and then serenade to the people who then become enthralled by their beautiful singing.
We must not become gullible sheep and let wool being pulled over our eyes. We must remain resolute and say no to more foreign influx. It destroys the fabric of our society. Taking drugs can give you a nice high feeling but it destroys your body and the internal organs. Say no to “Indiscriminate Foreign Influx by PAP’.
Telling us economic growth due to the influx of foreigner in order to justify their extremely high salaries is nothing but a disgrace. According to his logic if we bring in ten times more the present amount of foreigners Singapore growth would have grew by 10 more percent and 100 more, a 100 percent. What a load of rubbish?
Their songs are dangerous especially our only entertainment is the MSM. Fortunately TR, currently the solo alternate news still standing strong and opposing the injustice towards our nation. There use to be another alternate news but they are now being knock down half dead and hopefully they can come back in full vigor soon. Gentleman together we will give them our version of opposing songs through our new media.
The influx of foreigners are eroding the edge of Singaporean while those elites and privileges who own lots of money will be laughing to the bank. When they sing of economy, they are telling us they are earning more money. Money that goes into the big boys pocket and not for people like you and me.
Singaporean must not be swoon over by their singing but instead become tone dead in hearing to their frog croaking.
We also wish that our ministers can work harder, smarter and if possible cheaper for the wellbeing of all Singaporean Citizens.
This time round i am going to hit extremely hard at goh chok tong together with my family and neighbours !!!
We promise you that we will use all force !!!!!!!!
It is hard to accept the MM and SM, 2 DPMs on the super high payroll when the 2 ex presidents of the USA are not paid anything once they complete their term. Both Mr Clinton and Mr Bush have been asked to help raise fund for Haiti earthquake relief funds. But nothing is being mentioned abuot them being paid.
I think the MM and SM posts plus the extra DPM posts should be honorary posts – then they will really set a good example for the citizens to follow. A $3M dollar annual salary is about $250,000 per month !!!!
What? We are only been told now.
Over the last 10 years, GDP growth averages 5% and productivity from labour and capital growth was just 1%?
Holy sh@t, who have been “stealing” from foreign enonomic digits who are maybe “cheaper, faster but NOT better” to inflate the unholy trinity GDP hoax statistics and their paychecks in justification?
Chinese wisdom saying has the humour of “cutting someone’s annus to balance up pimples on the face” seems to be the devils at work of population economics here and ACCELERATING AT AN INCREASING RATE IN RECENT YEARS.
How many more foreign rural bums or useless uninformed bumpkins will continue to be imported and for how long more TO DROWN US ALL in this socio-politico-economic witchcraft???
Is it not time for change?
3.5 Million Dollar A Year Man had a sudden attack of brain seizure, probably due to too much fine Belgian wine and Brussels mussels steeped in brandy, and could only cough up an example of ang-moh lady cum waitress cum cashier cum barista cum floor sweeper as the direction for S’pore Citizens.
Hello!! Wake up your bloody idea!! You know how much that ang-moh lady is being paid?!? You know what is the minimum salary in EU?!?!? S$20 per hour!!! Yo! Ah-Go-Go!!! You pay me $20 an hour I will become HDB estate sweeper cum gardener cum karang guni man TODAY RIGHT NOW!!! Just say the word and I will change into bermuda shorts and singlet and slippers and report to local HDB Town Council!!
The irony or contradiction:
LSS: productivity is not important (a few days ago). investment is more important (whether it produces sufficient return is not his concern like a pig who eats everything be it shit or rice)
Goh talk cock: productivity has been too low compared against gdp growth so we need to improve.
The old goh is slapping the face of ass kissing LSS.
Hello, EXCUSE ME, to be fair to both idiotic sycophantic puppets (lss and gct) of the despicable million-dollar-miw, they deserved nothing but feeding of “shits” make of pig’s sludge! Be it “cheaper, better and faster” or “harder and smarter” are all the “callings” made for the ordinary main-street-men to “slog” till the day they die so as to enhance the already exorbitant salaries for the ungrateful million-dollar-miw and their cronies, why not the despicable million-dollar-miw lead by example by working “cheaper, better and faster” or “harder and smarter” without annual “MILLIONS of DOLLARS” of remunerations from the state’s coffer? Are they trying to devour-off all taxpayers’ money due to their diabolical investment-skills and poor acumen in business-sense cum mediocre-tic political-aptitude before they will call it a day?
@ Draculas on Mon, 25th Jan 2010 10:09 am.
Nice one. Thank you.
LOL when i read your comment, make my day………
I want to add, is our SM issuing a subtle threat – ’so you complain there are tons of foreigners (and I must admit, yes we are having alot already), want them to go right? Then work harder la you Singaporeans!’
It looks like he picked up from where MM has left recently in a geography magazine interview.
//Small fly.
I agree.
However, we have to start somewhere first.
Another thing:
GY, another ass hole, said that trust enjoys a premium. What kind of a premium? Does it mean more monies paid to these pigs?
Talk about leadership?
Why can’t these pigs do more with less and with better results?
If we pay more to these pigs with this kind of results, I wonder how else are we going to incentivise our people to work better.
Excuse me TR, i think your lead article had ommitted a very philosphical point which GohCT mentioned as per Straits Times. He said that if singaporeans increased productivity we could reduce the dependence on foreign labour.
Read that again. if singaporeans increased productivity we could reduce the dependence on foreign labour.
What does it mean?
It means that Singaporeans productivity was very low, therefore the government had introduced foreign labour (In symbolic logic, if A>>B then B’>>A’ Where A’ (read A prime) is the converse of a premise A. I’m not twisting words, but any student of maths in university (in fact i learned in Sec 4) of this theorem A>B means B’>A’.
Now that is a can of worms. Was it because of singapore productivity being low, that the government introduced foreign labour? Rubbish.
Everybody knows, Singaporeans don’t have minimum wage policy, that’s why many jobs are shunned (which translate to “virtual” productivity loss) and so, foreign labour was introduced. It’s all about money. As someone said if he is paid $20 an hour he would gladly report to towncouncil to be a rubbish collector. It start from wages, before one can start talking about “productivity”!!!!!
so the government once again, now accuse citizens again of being unproductive?!!!????!! Always we the citizens of Singapore end up the punching bag. For how long can we tolerate all this knuckle duster punching, Mr Goh Chok Tong?
zero
//nobody
you got to be kidding that what gohcocktalking is making sensible comments.
Yes, for sure we will work harder and smarter in the next election.
Honestly speaking, I dont mind selling peanuts if my monthly salary is just $2000 compare to the Minister salary.May the woody SAD MAN ( SM )please set up a Factory producing Peanuts, I will be the first to apply as a Peanut Operator and I dont mind working OT base on the salary of $2000.Of course, when Election come, I will definitely not going to vote for the PEANUT ACTION PARTY because I will lost my Peanut Operator job to the FT( Foreigne Trash ).
Hi Guys,
GCT was most likely quoting and it definitely not his own definition about “Lions & Sheep”. As he did quote this like perhaps 20(?) yrs ago. So I did a Google and found out as follows.
So did he Inadvertently or Deliberate substituted the “Stag” word with “sheep”? Since he has not made any corrections to date? Did realize yet too?
As DID Goh Chok Tong goof in his quote of Greek historian, biographer and essayist Plutarch?
I copied a few of Plutarch’s philosophies/wisdom quote too for your interests sake.
From: http://www.google.com.sg/search?q=plutarch+quotes&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
To: http://chatna.com/author/plutarch.htm for
Plutarch: An army of stags led by a lion is more formidable than an army of lions led by a stag.
Plutarch: Know how to listen and you will profit even from those who talk badly. Plutarch
============================================================
To: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/p/plutarch_2.html
Plutarch: The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled
Plutarch: Moral habits, induced by public practices, are far quicker in making their way into men’s private lives, than the failings and faults of individuals are in infecting the city at large.
Plutarch: Nothing is harder to direct than a man in prosperity; nothing more easily managed that one is adversity.
Plutarch: To make no mistakes is not in the power of man; but from their errors and mistakes the wise and good learn wisdom for the future.
Plutarch: To find fault is easy; to do better may be difficult.
============================================================
For further Information on Pultarch
http://www.google.com.sg/search?q=Plutarch&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
We want goh chok tong to work cheaper, about the salary price of foreign talent imported S$1200 to S$1600 per month.
Pl don’t TCSS ( talk cock sing song)………..if you can’t meet that salary.
We have Enough of your nonsense !
By the way whether election is now or later, together with my family and others we are Voting you, goh chok tong Out !
Trust Me!!!
blah blaaaah blahhhh blah blah from the real BLACK Sheep in singapore…
Good folks, please kindly look at this..
the seeds of singapore ruin?
is it because of this Singapore and its people are in the dumps?…your idea / factual assessment is as good as mine…: (
http://www.theamericanscholar.org/the-disadvantages-of-an-elite-education/
Haiz.
Pig Ass Pigs….coward, greedy, no integrity need to get rid off
in the next election.
GCT should have told his wife a long time ago, as NKF & committee was paid by peanuts
聽説MENTOR 是光說不做的人，如果是的話，那只要聼聼人民的意見就可以了！何必花這麽多錢去養這些只會給几個個人意見的高薪資政呢？
Nowhere else can you find leaders referring to the less well-off and suffering people as ‘Sheep’ and ‘Donkeys’, ie. animals.
This is utterly degrading and hurting to human dignity! Animals don’t commit suicide. Only humans do.
Oh, when will it end?
GCT wants Singaporeans to fcuk less and work more when our birth rate at 1.2 is one of the lowest in the world. Soon he is going to tell Singaporeans to totally stop fcuking and work much longer and if Singaporeans want children, they can always adopt foreign kids.
With this govt, anything is possible.
@anonymous – don’t you know we are already in ANIMAL FARM.
MR GOH, WITH DUE RESPECT, WOULD YOU WANT TO TRY WORKING A $1200, 9 HOURS-6 DAYS A WEEK JOB AND STAND THROUGHOUT SERVING PEOPLE?
based on my past experience allow me to explain what is productivity…….
why pay for 3 people to do 1 man’s work?
Sure,in this age,people the world over need to work harder and smarter…there’s no excuse for NOT producing results.
But,are the elites working hard or smart,huh?
If our elites were working hard and smart,citizens would not have been having ti so tough like never b4.
So,while the elites compensate themselves like those corporate honchos,more and more citizens are getting unemployed?????????
So,tell me,who’s working hard or smart,the elites($$$$$$$%%%)?
notice they always push the blame back to Singaporeans.
They control the media, the financial sector and a lot of manpower.
To develop something great, you need access to monies, media for publicity and manpower.
Can you imagine Chee SJ applying for business development funding?
notice they always push the blame back to Singaporeans.
They control the media, the financial sector and a lot of manpower.
To develop something great, you need access to monies, media for publicity and manpower.
Can you imagine Chee SJ applying for business development funding?
and getting it?
Have you noticed?
Does LKY and his babies even know the following Plutarch Words OF Wisdom???
Plutarch: The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled???????????????????????????????????????????????????
As hasn’t LKY been “Filling” OUR MINDS and not “FIRING” OUR MINDS “TO BE KINDLED”. And he STILL KEEP POURING “ICE-COLD” waters On US and still thinks THAT he IS “FIRING US UP??? Such a mine as he’s is AN ABSOLUTELY DISCOURAGING and DAMNING DISPARAGING Piece of Rubbish THAT BLEEDS OUR SOULS yah!!!
Since it IS by FESTERING US with HIS VERY OWN disappointments from so many of his own failed or not successful policies haw!!! WHAT BORING BRAGGART who does Nothing to ENCOURAGE but only to DISCOURAGE AND DAMN!!! Hope he can explain well and get his pardon from MAKER on the day he meets HIM after passing from this world. Perhaps his EGO STICKS SO HARD INTO his very own HIDE that he also wants to jump out of his coffin one day to “Be a comeback KID” and BE PM once more??? HE A MENTOR??? DOES HE MENTOR LIKE ONE AT ALL???
As here we now have SM and his son PM Ah Loong complaining to US ALL of LKY & PAP’s failed policies that are NOW giving them BIGGY headaches!!!
And even GCT as SM misquoted Plutarch on Lions and Stag with stag becoming sheep too??? A Cache 22 CATCH for UA ALL guys???