Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Om Mani Padme Hum

Om Mani Padme Hum


- wong chee tat :)

Sentosa's UWS slashes ticket prices during Dec holidays

Sentosa's UWS slashes ticket prices during Dec holidays
By Leong Wai Kit | Posted: 27 November 2012 1607 hrs
 
SINGAPORE: Underwater World Singapore (UWS) in Sentosa is slashing ticket prices during the December holidays.

It's offering rates of the 1990s - at S$15 per person - for Singaporeans and local residents between 1 and 31 December.

An adult now pays S$25.90, while a senior citizen pays S$20.80 and a child pays S$17.60.


With the December offer, each will pay S$15.

To encourage families to spend time together and bond over interaction programmes with the marine animals, every paying visitor can bring a senior citizen or a child in free of charge.

For example, an adult who pays S$15 doesn't have to pay for the child and will save 65 per cent in entry fee.

The usual price for both would have been S$43.50.

Similarly, an adult who pays S$15 in entry fee can bring in a senior citizen for free and save 68 per cent in entry fee.

UWS said it's making the offer in appreciation of the support it's received over the years.

When asked if the promotion was a reaction to the newly-opened Marine Life Park at Resorts World Sentosa, UWS said the offer is part of its year-end holiday promotion.

A spokesperson said: "It's been the practice of Underwater World Singapore to offer mid-year and year-end promotions for the school holidays to encourage family outings."

Since its opening in 1991, Underwater World Singapore has received close to 30 million visitors.

- CNA/ck/de

- wong chee tat :)

No-show by SMRT bus drivers a strike or protest?

No-show by SMRT bus drivers a strike or protest?
By Imelda Saad | Posted: 27 November 2012 1623 hrs

SINGAPORE: 102 SMRT bus drivers, all China nationals, refused to turn up for work on Monday over pay dispute, and on Tuesday morning, over half of those involved did not show up for work again.

There's been a lot of talk about why the media and even the Manpower Ministry and SMRT have not been calling the wage protest a strike.

Instead, terms like "sit-in", "sit-out", "protest", "did not show up for work" were used.

There are several reasons for this and they have to do with the law.

As this has to do with an essential service - in this case, transport - the law is very specific on what is considered a strike.

Under Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act, it is a strike only when the worker gives his employer at least 14 days' advance notice of his intention to do so.

This notice has to be signed by at least seven fellow workers involved in the strike or by at least seven union representatives of the workers.

The notice then needs to be acknowledged and signed by the employer, after which, that notice needs to be put up in at least three conspicuous places where the workers are employed.

That's a legal strike, if rules are followed.

Anything else, it's an illegal strike and there are consequences. A person involved in that could be fined up to S$2,000 and jailed up to 12 months.

A person who instigates or finances an illegal strike also faces the same penalties.

The last strike in Singapore was in 1986 by shipyard workers.

- CNA/ck

- wong chee tat :)


Some SMRT bus drivers involved in illegal strike return to work

Some SMRT bus drivers involved in illegal strike return to work
By Sara Grosse | Posted: 28 November 2012 1050 hrs
     
SINGAPORE: Some of the SMRT bus drivers from China involved in an illegal strike over salaries returned to work on Wednesday.

A driver from China who had completed his shift on Wednesday morning told reporters at Woodlands dormitory, where some of the drivers are staying, that all drivers from his room went to work.

He said staff from the Chinese embassy spoke to the drivers at about 11:00pm on Tuesday.

Another driver from China said most of the drivers had returned to work.

The drivers were reported to have boarded buses at about 4:00am on Wednesday to be ferried to the bus depots to start their shift.

A police car and an ambulance were at Woodlands Dormitory for about half an hour on Wednesday morning. Another ambulance is still at the dormitory.

SMRT said late on Tuesday night that 171 drivers staged a sit-in at the workers' dormitory in Woodlands. And, on Tuesday, 88 remained defiant and refused to work.

- CNA/ck

- wong chee tat :)

Om Mani Padme Hum

Om Mani Padme Hum


- wong chee tat :)

国内税务局:除了一、两房式组屋 其他组屋类型明年的产业税在回扣后将增加

Updated: 11/28/2012 03:51
国内税务局:除了一、两房式组屋 其他组屋类型明年的产业税在回扣后将增加

国内税务局宣布:除了一房式和两房式组屋外,其他组屋类型明年的产业税在回扣后将增加,增幅介于40到50元。

国内税务局宣布:除了一房式和两房式组屋外,其他组屋类型明年的产业税在回扣后将增加,增幅介于40到50元。

当局是在上调政府组屋明年的年值后,进而提高产业税,以反映市场租金增幅的情况。产业税的调整将从明年1月1号起生效。

在这同时,政府将给予组屋屋主一次过、40元的回扣,以缓解中低收入家庭的经济负担。

至于一房式和两房式组屋屋主,则同今年一样,明年无需支付产业税。


- wong chee tat :)

Increase in property tax for HDB 3-room flats and above

File picture of HDB flats (Photo by: Hester Tan, channelnewsasia.com)
Click to enlarge Photos 1 of 1

File picture of HDB flats (Photo by: Hester Tan, channelnewsasia.com)








SINGAPORE: All one- and two-room owner-occupiers of HDB homes do not need to pay property tax in 2013, similar to 2012.

For a majority of other HDB flat types, the property tax bill for 2013 will increase by between S$40 and $50, after taking into account a new S$40 rebate.

The increase in property tax comes after the revision of Annual Values (AVs) of HDB flats with effect from 1 January 2013, reflecting the rise in market rentals.

To mitigate the increase in the property tax payable by lower and middle-income households as a result of the AV revision, the government will give a one-off rebate of S$40 to owner-occupied HDB flats.

The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) reviews the AVs of all properties - including HDB flats - annually.

The AV, which is based on the estimated annual market rent of a property if it were to be let out, applies to all homes, including owner-occupied homes. It is used as a basis to compute the property tax payable.

Property tax is calculated at 10% of the AV for non owner-occupied homes. For owner-occupied homes, the property tax payable is calculated based on concessionary tax rates (see table).


Since the last revision of AVs of all HDB flats on 1 January 2012, market rentals of HDB flats have risen by 8% to 13%. Accordingly, the AVs of all HDB flats will be revised from 1 January 2013.

To mitigate the impact of the increase in property tax payable, all owners of owner-occupied HDB flats will be given a one-time rebate of S$40. It will be automatically set off against the property tax payable in 2013. This rebate will not apply to non owner-occupied HDB flats which are currently taxed at 10%.

94% of HDB flat owners will receive this rebate.

All one- and two-room HDB owner-occupiers will not need to pay any property tax in 2013 as their revised AVs remain below S$6,000.

The revised property tax bills of other owner-occupied flat types, after taking into account the property tax rebate, are shown in the table below.


- CNA/ir

- wong chee tat :)

67名中国籍巴士司机 周二仍未复工

11/27/2012 22:00
67名中国籍巴士司机 周二仍未复工

SMRT同中国籍巴士司机的劳资纠纷,进入了第二天,67名司机,今天还是没有上班。由于部份司机向公司表示,他们是在请病假,SMRT派出了流动诊所,为没有上班的司机检查身体。SMRT表示,不是所有缺勤的司机都接受了检查。

SMRT派出的流动诊所同医护人员,大约在早上十点半左右,来到兀兰工业区内的这栋客工宿舍,为司机检查身体,据了解有部份旷工司机,在检查时并没有到场。现场也有警车在戒备。接受本台访问的其中一名司机表示,SMRT管理层在星期一的谈判中,答应调高他们的工资每月25元,但是他们觉得太少,他们表示,在前来新加坡后,发现实际工资比中介答应的少。除了基本工资,这些中国籍司机现在要求分红,而且要同马来西亚籍司机同工同酬。

“我们中国籍在公司里边是待遇最低等的,每次的一些薪资问题都是中国劳工除外。”

“我们要求的就是公平、公正对待,大家同工同酬。这样总可以。”

全国交通工友联合会的代表中午到宿舍,同至少四五十名中国籍司机,会面了一个多小时。代表联合会的包括执行秘书长王振安,以及副执行秘书长朱倍庆。王振安透露,客工的态度合作,也愿意聆听工会的建议。

全国交通工友联合会执行秘书长王振安说:“现在我们中国的司机师傅们不是我们的工会会员,法律上我们没有权利代表他们讲话。但是作为职工运动,代表大多数交通工友,我们觉得有义务了解他们面对的问题。看看我们能协助些什么。我们也
向他们了解,解释我们本地的法律情况。他们的做法跟本地的法律是不符合的。”

联合会的代表表示,客工的住宿环境的确有改进的空间。

据本台了解,SMRT在下午约四点左右,为旷工司机完成身体检查。

本台记者向一些有接受身体检查的旷工司机了解,他们为什么会没有上班?一个说肚子不舒服,一个说没力气上上班,两人异口同声表示,他们有拿到医生证明书,可证明自己是因病旷工,而不是故意罢工。至于明天他们会不会开工,司机表示,
那就等到明天,看他们的身体状况而定。

受访司机声称,他们不认为SMRT有充足的理由可解雇他们。

- wong chee tat :)

SMRT向警方报案 以调查旷工中国籍车长是否触犯法律

Updated: 11/28/2012 09:08
SMRT向警方报案 以调查旷工中国籍车长是否触犯法律

SMRT已经向警方报案,以调查旷工的中国籍车长是否触犯法律,而公司也在调查车长是否违法雇用条例。

SMRT发表声明说,前天总共有171名中国籍巴士车长旷工,其中102名是早班车长,69名值午班。公司管理层和这些车长讨论后同意会探讨他们对薪金待遇的不满,而车长也同意隔天复工。不过,昨天早班仍然有68名车长旷工,午班则有20人没有上班。这些车长不负责任的行为导致巴士服务延误,公司严肃看待这种情形,而首要任务是确保巴士服务尽快恢复正常。

SMRT将继续同所有中国籍车长沟通,以解释目前的情况,同时呼吁车长通过正确渠道讨论工作问题。公司也要让没有参与这两天旷工行动的车长知道,公司仍然重视他们的服务。

SMRT强调,车长同管理层沟通的渠道仍然开放,同时吁请车长不该采取非法行动来表达不满情绪。公司对乘客造成的不便致歉,同时向那些挺身而出,代替旷工车长值班的车长表达谢意。

另一方面,今日报的记者目睹一辆中国大使馆的汽车来到兀兰的车长宿舍,有两人下车走入宿舍内。

- wong chee tat :)

大约60名SMRT中国籍巴士车长没有回返工作岗位

Updated: 11/28/2012 03:58
大约60名SMRT中国籍巴士车长没有回返工作岗位

公司早上安排一名医生和流动诊所到宿舍,为请病假的车长做身体检查。据了解,医生已经完成检查,但SMRT没有公布详情。
SMRT公司清晨4点和5点多,安排巴士接车长上班,但有大约60名员工拒绝开工,留在宿舍。

记者抵达现场时,看到大批海内外媒体在宿舍外守候,现场气氛平静,有好几辆警车多次进出宿舍。

多数的中国车长不愿受访,一名来自河南省的车长说,昨天的协商过程其实并不顺利,虽然公司有提议加薪,但一些车长因为不满意加薪幅度,而决定不去工作。

“当时拍板的是可以涨25块钱每个月,然后我们提出来,就是这不能接受,这是基本工资的事情,另一方面就是分红的事情,他说要一个星期,才能给我们答复。当时在场的员工只有几十号人,我们有员工不在场,他说,可以通过其他渠道再谈。 但是其他人没有见到公司的领导。我们中国籍司机和马来司机都是外劳,我们只是要大家公平对待,就是要同工同酬。”

另一名中国籍车长表示,他们受到不公平的待遇,因此希望通过这次的行动,让公司正视他们面对的问题。

“其实我们提出这个抗议,我们想让社会和媒体,包括人力部也考虑一下我们千里迢迢来这里打工的一个心理和心态。”

- wong chee tat :)

较早前抵达SMRT兀兰员工宿舍、为请病假的中国籍巴士车长检查身体的医生和流动诊所已离开

Updated: 11/28/2012 03:40
较早前抵达SMRT兀兰员工宿舍、为请病假的中国籍巴士车长检查身体的医生和流动诊所已离开

较早前抵达SMRT兀兰员工宿舍、为请病假的中国籍巴士车长检查身体的医生和流动诊所,已经离开宿舍。

大约60名中国籍巴士车长今天没有回返工作岗位,导致一些巴士服务受影响。SMRT说,其中一些中国籍车长申请了病假。公司调派了其他车长协助。

公司表示会继续开放同巴士车长之间的沟通管道,并同相关政府部门寻求和睦的解决方案。


- wong chee tat :)

非法罢工 或罚款坐牢或两者兼施

11/27/2012 22:45
非法罢工 或罚款坐牢或两者兼施

外籍劳工中心主席杨木光表示,罢工不能解决劳资纠纷。停工的SMRT巴士司机,一旦被证实没有理由不去上班,他们就是触犯法令,有可能被逮捕。杨木光也指不诚实的中介机构,往往是造成劳资纠纷的导火线。

在现有刑事法令下,工友确实有罢工的权利,但要进行罢工,必须通过法律途径、事先向当局申请,并给予有关雇主14天的通告。

杨木光表示:“擅自停止工作,造成整个公共服务受到负面的影响,使到公众造成很大的不便的话,在我们的法律上面是不允许的。”

触犯类似法令的员工,会被判罚款高达2000元或坐牢长达12个月或者两者兼施。杨木光表示,有时造成劳资纠纷的症结来自中介公司。

“碰到的情况很多是比如说,很多东西在合约是写的很清楚的,但他们在给他推销的时候,就可能告诉他把花红也算进去,把加班费也算进去。”

目前职工总会的会员当中,外籍劳工占了18%。到本地工作的外劳,如果有任何问题,除了寻求工会协助,也可向人力部或外劳中心求助。外劳中心在过去三年,每年就平均帮助1500名外籍劳工解决劳资问题。

- wong chee tat :)

人力部:SMRT司机旷工 属非法罢工

11/27/2012 22:45
人力部:SMRT司机旷工 属非法罢工

SMRT同中国籍巴士司机的劳资纠纷进入第二天,共有67名司机今天还是没上班。人力部指这起集体缺勤行为是"非法罢工",并表示政府绝不容忍。目前警方已经介入调查这次的罢工事件。

人力部和交通部就SMRT一群巴士司机缺勤事件,召开联合记者会。人力部代部长陈川仁表示,尽管巴士司机有不满,他们的行为却影响到公共交通服务,这是无法接受的。

陈川仁说:“这些巴士司机自行采取行动,已经明显做得过分。我们绝不容忍这样的非法行为,因为基础服务受干扰,不只影响到业界员工,也影响到了全部新加坡人,和每个社区居民。”

交通部则表示,SMRT巴士司机群体罢工期间,公众等候巴士的时间可能会延长,但是所有巴士线路,都能保持运作。


交通部政务部长杨莉明说:“昨天SMRT的巴士服务水平,还是能够维持在一般水平的90%。那么到了今天,由于有一些车长,他们回到岗位上。今天的服务水平基本上可以恢复到一般的95%。”

陆路交通管理局也向新捷运和私人巴士业者借调了一批巴士司机给SMRT,以减少罢工事件对巴士服务的影响。当局强调,外国劳工如果有诉求,应该通过正常渠道,包括工会、职总外劳委员会等,展开良性沟通。

- wong chee tat :)

杨莉明:SMRT巴士车长的罢工行动 不能被接受

28/11/2012
杨莉明:SMRT巴士车长的罢工行动 不能被接受

交通部政务部长杨莉明说:当局严肃看待SMRT巴士车长的罢工行动,公共交通服务作为必要服务,任何有组织性的旷工行动必定影响巴士乘客,这是不能被接受的。

杨莉明在人力部和交通部联合召开的记者会上也说:陆路交通管理局在同其他业者沟通,希望他们能够在有需要的时候,借出车长来协助 SMRT 公司。目前,当局已经网罗到40名车长随时待命,在必要时协助解决SMRT的燃眉之急。

“新捷运已经承诺会借出一些车长,来弥补SMRT可能会面临的空缺。陆交局也联络了一些私人的业者,他们也承诺会提供一些车长。现在,陆交局在进一步地去做准备的工作,比如说要怎么让这些车长熟悉路线,要通过怎样的过程,让他们正式地填补这些工作。”

杨莉明也说:SMRT巴士车长这两天的罢工行动并未对我国巴士服务造成太大的影响,所有的巴士路线还是照常运行。

“昨天SMRT的服务水平还是能够维持在一般水平的百分之90,到了今天,由于有一些车长回到岗位上,今天的服务水平基本上是可以回升到一般的百分之95。为此我们必须感激一些车长,他们挺身而出。”



- wong chee tat :)

SMRT向警方报案 以调查旷工中国籍车长是否触犯法律

28/11/2012
SMRT向警方报案 以调查旷工中国籍车长是否触犯法律

SMRT已经向警方报案,以调查旷工的中国籍车长是否触犯法律,而公司也在调查车长是否违法雇用条例。

SMRT发表声明说,前天总共有171名中国籍巴士车长旷工,其中102名是早班车长,69名值午班。公司管理层和这些车长讨论后同意会探讨他们对薪金待遇的不满,而车长也同意隔天复工。不过,昨天早班仍然有68名车长旷工,午班则有20人没有上班。这些车长不负责任的行为导致巴士服务延误,公司严肃看待这种情形,而首要任务是确保巴士服务尽快恢复正常。

SMRT将继续同所有中国籍车长沟通,以解释目前的情况,同时呼吁车长通过正确渠道讨论工作问题。公司也要让没有参与这两天旷工行动的车长知道,公司仍然重视他们的服务。

SMRT强调,车长同管理层沟通的渠道仍然开放,同时吁请车长不该采取非法行动来表达不满情绪。公司对乘客造成的不便致歉,同时向那些挺身而出,代替旷工车长值班的车长表达谢意。

另一方面,今日报的记者目睹一辆中国大使馆的汽车来到兀兰的车长宿舍,有两人下车走入宿舍内。


- wong chee tat :)