Misleading ST article on “rise” in productivity when it continues to decrease in 2009
March 16th, 2010 | 
Author: Written by Our Correspondent
The Straits Times has shown once again its “expertise” in obfuscating official statistics to mislead unsuspecting readers.
The first sentence of Jeremy Au Yong’s article “First rise in productivity in two years” in the Straits Times today reads:
“Singapore recorded its first increase in labour productivity in two years, following the strong turnaround in the economy.”
A reader taking a quick glance at the title and first sentence may be misled to believe that Singapore’s dismal productivity rate has finally turned the corner.
If we study the Labor Report released by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) carefully, we would have realized that the “rise” was only in the fourth quarter and Singapore’s overall productivity in 2009 continued to decline:
[Source: Ministry of Manpower]
As we can see from the above figures, Singapore’s labor productivity had been decreasing for three consecutive quarters in 2009 giving an overall decrease in 4.7 percent.
The 3 percent rise in productivity in the last quarter is a reflex rebound due to the improving economy and therefore it is premature to reach any conclusion.
As Associate Professor Hui Weng Tat of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy told the Straits Times:
“In an upturn, when output or price of goods increases and employers have not yet hired more people, productivity will naturally go up.”
Nanyang Technological University labour economist Tan Khee Giap added:
“‘In a sudden upturn, labour productivity will always go up. You need to look at it during normal times, when the economy is in a steady state. Any increase then would be meaningful.”
[Source: Straits Times, 16 March 2010]
According to a shocking press release from the U.S. Department of Labor last year, Singapore experienced the steepest decline in productivity among 17 developed economies in the world in the years 2007 – 2008.
Among the 17 countries, the Republic of Korea and the United States had the largest increases (1.2 per cent each) while Singapore had the steepest decline (-6.6 per cent):
As noted in the graph below, Singapore’s labor productivity took a plunge from 2004 onwards when the inflow of foreigners started to pick up:
[Source: Kojakbt, 3in1kopitiam forum moderator]
With Singapore’s perennial dependence on cheap foreign workers, its labor productivity is unlikely to increase by much at least in the near future.
The Straits Times should not be too quick to jump on the preliminary figures to paint a rosy picture on the ground in order to please its political masters.
Even though Minister Lui Tuck Yew praised the mainstream media as a “trusted” source of news in Singapore, Singaporeans must continue to regard what it with a heavy dose of salt especially its title and first paragraph which can be blatantly misleading and inaccurate at times.
Related articles:
1. The root of Singapore’s economic woes
2. U.S. Labor dept: Singapore has steepest productivity decline
3. How PAP screws up Singapore’s labor productivity by opening its doors to foreign workers
4. Singapore has the lowest wages and domestic spending purchasing power among the Asian Tigers
5. Moving towards a Russian standard of living
6. Why Singaporeans are paupers in a first world economy
8. DPM Teo Chee Hean praises Singapore government for progress made in past productivity drives
9. Pitching the case for genuine democracy in Singapore
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22 Responses to “Misleading ST article on “rise” in productivity when it continues to decrease in 2009”
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To Admin,
Can you create one column called The Straits Times EXPOSED! or something similar so that such misleading and biased articles can be archived for all to refer to in future?
It is a pity if all these stuff are lost in the passage of time. Since you have already written the articles, why not preserve them?
It can also become a good and easy source of information for your readers to refer people who trust the mainstream media to take a careful look at the accuracy of such articles.
Thanks.
Too many cooks spoil the broth…
Too many foreigners in singapore spoil our economy…
Good idea! EXPOSED these well paid journalist for writing rubbish to feed sheep. We need to educate the masses about their wholesale nonsense to the public. It is a national paper that bears no standard and no journalistic principles. They practically write with no conscience and blatant brainwashing and confusing the people.
Create a column to keep track of all their rubbish from all local papers.
Highlight one best smoker column writer every week.
List out the “No heart No Principle” journalist of the year and gave them an award online. Send them an email to collect this prestigious award by TR.
FG
The 2 Prof are correct…….just common sense.
What’s worrying is the S’pore’s drop in productivity from 2007 to 2008 when world trade was still quite healthy. It just showed that S’pore was, and I believe still no longer competitive.
Incidentally, could TR admin also give a link/URL of Kojakbt, 3in1kopitiam forum pls.
Thanks
TR – can you take a vote how many still trusts the ST?
If only more Singaporeans (previously I had frequently use the term, Locals, but have changed since the paps different use of Locals), will wake up to the reality of life and kick the papies out.
Why even talk about PRODUCTIVITY when so many employable singaporeans are made out of job?
First things,first.
Let’s give back to singaporeans their jobs or create new ones before harping on a thing like PRODUCTIVITY which is altogather another issue on its own?
Should have a special blog called “THE STRAITS TIMES FICTION”.
If PAP can lie in parliaments under an oath to be trueful to the people, Straits Times certainly the cake in every spin possible on countless times.
“Misleading ST article on “rise” in productivity when it continues to decrease in 2009″
Likely election is coming! What a wayang newspaper.
What is the key factor to bring up productivity?
If new processes or new high-tech equipment can be the solution, there wil be no hope for SG to catch up with the West, isn’t it?
It is the human factor that is most important, the attitudes factor.
If booses, managers and supervisors become the spanner in the works due to their abusive attitude, cursing, swearing and using expletives and vulgar words against their subordinates, then productivity cannot go up but instead will go down, isn’t it?
Do the MIWs and their Ministers know how to address the most important factor: the human factor, the boss verses the subordinate factor that can bring down productivity rather than up?
Local employers have become addicted to cheap foreign workers.
Don’t expect to see any productivity increase for the foreseeable future.
Stop buying and reading Shit Times.
Dear ADMIN
Please have a “States-Time exposed” as well as “ZaoBao exposed”
It makes me boiled this morning when i browse at LianHeZaoBao when they use SUPER-GIANT fonts to highlight “REDUCTION in Work Permit” this year, when the reduction (after 5 straight years of increase) is merely 0.4%.
If this is not Pian-Ah-Gong or Xian-Ah-Ma, i dont know what it is.
@ Jim on Tue, 16th Mar 2010 5:10 pm
To Admin, Can you create one column called The Straits Times EXPOSED! or something similar so that such misleading and biased articles can be archived for all to refer to in future?
does anyone know who can audit their data given to the public.
i mean , this is a technical question. the question is ‘who’?
I have stopped buying shit Times one year ago. I don’t believe in what they write.
To build a better mouse trap ?
As a professional grass cutter. We are always expected to over deliver but the tender prices or best sourcing prices kept getting lower. There is a limit to “productivity” unless we use more FT ?.
all new low for this shameless paper and the equally shameless Jeremy loser. too bad not enough ppl will see the truth. if only everyone read TR.
shameful reporting from north korean-inspired media. i have swore not to buy any sph products ever, all rubbish.
I have stopped subscribing to ST for 2 years. I don’t find anything intelligent coming from the newspaper and the journalists’ writing are very much like a reporting style with no critical elements in it.
ST jopurnalists also need to “upgrade” their interviewing skills. You may notice many times the questions are very predictable when they interview “successful personel” quote
Are you a saver or a spender?
How much you invest?
What type of car you drive?
PAP and Lee family asslickers at work, all day, all night, without fail! VOTE THEM ALL OUT!
incidently… did anyone notice the MOST READ postings??
All 10 pieces are regarding Jerk Neo and his bitches….
Damn sad…
Statistics from ST sure can be trusted wan. We no need think of checking how they get this stats wan. ST is unbiased and totally honest. They wont lie to the people wan. See, all these years the things they write are so well loved and trusted by the people they keep buying the news even when it hiked.
haha, singaporeans so good.