Conservancy workers at PAP town councils to get pay rise
By Saifulbahri Ismail
POSTED: 03 Nov 2013 18:40
Conservancy workers at the 15 PAP Town Councils will soon be able to earn more under a progressive wage model salary structure. Under the new salary structure, the salary of cleaners will start from S$1,200 a month, up from an average of S$1,000 currently.
SINGAPORE: Conservancy workers at the 15 PAP Town Councils will soon be able to earn more under a progressive wage model salary structure. Under the new salary structure, the salary of cleaners will start from S$1,200 a month, up from an average of S$1,000 currently.
However, residents may have to pay more for service and conservancy charges.
Coordinating chairman of the PAP Town Councils, Dr Teo Ho Pin, said: "Definitely, when we improve our services to better serve our residents, the cost of maintenance will increase. So, at some point in time we will need to revise the S&C charges.
"But I think our residents understand that quality comes with a price. We want to do this to achieve a few objectives. First, is that we would like to better serve our residents -- so that we can enhance the conservancy standards in all our housing estates, in all the 15 PAP Town Councils.
"Secondly, we want to support the government's effort to increase the salary of the low-wage workers and also to protect the employment benefits of the low-wage workers."
The PAP Town Councils signed a Memorandum of Understanding with 19 conservancy contractors to pay them according to the recommended salary.
As the worker upgrades to be a supervisor, he can earn S$1,600 and above. However, even with the higher salaries, companies said attracting workers is still a challenge.
Dennis Tan, general manager of LS 2 Services, said: "To be honest, estate cleaning... it's a harsh environment. It requires block sweeping, outdoor sweeping. So, I think we still face challenges.
"But with the implementation of progressive wage, we hope that more workers will join our cleaning industry. With more training and improvement of productivity, I hope this industry can be professionalised."
- CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Number of pawn shops in Singapore increasing
Number of pawn shops in Singapore increasing
POSTED: 02 Nov 2013 16:30
The number of pawn shops in Singapore has grown about 70 per cent to almost 200 in 2012. This is compared to 114 pawn shops in 2008.
SINGAPORE: The number of pawn shops in Singapore has grown about 70 per cent to almost 200 in 2012. This is compared to 114 pawn shops in 2008.
Credit Counselling Singapore said the demand for pawn shops may have increased as the interest rates they offer are lower compared to legal money lenders. It added that pawn shops are modernising the way they operate, and provide an option for lower and middle-income families.
Member of Parliament Seah Kian Peng expressed concern over the increase in number of pawn shops, especially in prominent areas such as town centres and MRT stations.
He said: "It would signify that unfortunately, there are quite a number of us, quite a number of Singaporeans or families who could do better with financial management, financial planning and financial literacy."
- CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
POSTED: 02 Nov 2013 16:30
The number of pawn shops in Singapore has grown about 70 per cent to almost 200 in 2012. This is compared to 114 pawn shops in 2008.
SINGAPORE: The number of pawn shops in Singapore has grown about 70 per cent to almost 200 in 2012. This is compared to 114 pawn shops in 2008.
Credit Counselling Singapore said the demand for pawn shops may have increased as the interest rates they offer are lower compared to legal money lenders. It added that pawn shops are modernising the way they operate, and provide an option for lower and middle-income families.
Member of Parliament Seah Kian Peng expressed concern over the increase in number of pawn shops, especially in prominent areas such as town centres and MRT stations.
He said: "It would signify that unfortunately, there are quite a number of us, quite a number of Singaporeans or families who could do better with financial management, financial planning and financial literacy."
- CNA/ac
- wong chee tat :)
New housing loan applications fall 30% for DBS, OCBC in Q3
New housing loan applications fall 30% for DBS, OCBC in Q3
By Linette Lim
POSTED: 01 Nov 2013 20:01
Following the announcement of new property loan curbs in June, Singapore banks DBS and OCBC said new housing loan applications have fallen 30 per cent in the third quarter.
SINGAPORE: Following the announcement of new property loan curbs in June, Singapore banks DBS and OCBC said new housing loan applications have fallen 30 per cent in the third quarter.
Still, both banks expect to continue to see positive loans growth, as previously contracted commitments are still in the loans pipeline.
However, OCBC said this momentum could taper off in the second half of next year.
The bank expects loans growth in the very "low-teens" for 2013, while DBS is forecasting total loans growth to come in at around 15 per cent.
Analysts said Singapore banks will also face external challenges ahead. They include earnings losses as a result of depreciating regional currencies like the Indonesian rupiah.
Alfred Chan, director of financial institutions at Fitch Ratings, said: "Market volatility has increased, particularly since the Federal Reserve announced its intention to taper off quantitative easing.
“Currencies in some of these emerging markets have been affected, asset prices also have been affected, and that is likely to contribute further pressure on Singapore banks in terms of earnings growth."
DBS and OCBC are the first two Singapore banks to report third quarter results.
The smallest local bank, UOB, will announce its results on November 5.
- CNA/nd
- wong chee tat :)
By Linette Lim
POSTED: 01 Nov 2013 20:01
Following the announcement of new property loan curbs in June, Singapore banks DBS and OCBC said new housing loan applications have fallen 30 per cent in the third quarter.
SINGAPORE: Following the announcement of new property loan curbs in June, Singapore banks DBS and OCBC said new housing loan applications have fallen 30 per cent in the third quarter.
Still, both banks expect to continue to see positive loans growth, as previously contracted commitments are still in the loans pipeline.
However, OCBC said this momentum could taper off in the second half of next year.
The bank expects loans growth in the very "low-teens" for 2013, while DBS is forecasting total loans growth to come in at around 15 per cent.
Analysts said Singapore banks will also face external challenges ahead. They include earnings losses as a result of depreciating regional currencies like the Indonesian rupiah.
Alfred Chan, director of financial institutions at Fitch Ratings, said: "Market volatility has increased, particularly since the Federal Reserve announced its intention to taper off quantitative easing.
“Currencies in some of these emerging markets have been affected, asset prices also have been affected, and that is likely to contribute further pressure on Singapore banks in terms of earnings growth."
DBS and OCBC are the first two Singapore banks to report third quarter results.
The smallest local bank, UOB, will announce its results on November 5.
- CNA/nd
- wong chee tat :)
Rental, labour costs push cooked food prices higher
Rental, labour costs push cooked food prices higher
By Loi Kar Yee
POSTED: 31 Oct 2013 22:20
Rental and labour costs have affected cooked food prices. Some hawkers told Channel NewsAsia cooked food prices have risen by at least 10 per cent compared to the same period last year.
SINGAPORE: Rental and labour costs have affected cooked food prices.
Some hawkers told Channel NewsAsia that cooked food prices have risen by at least 10 per cent compared to the same period last year.
NTUC Foodfare, a social enterprise that runs food courts and cooked food stalls, said it had to adjust its cooked food prices by about seven per cent.
The enterprise has a social outreach programme called 'Rice Garden', and the price of its cheapest meal starts at about S$2 at some hawker stalls.
Foodfare said it has plans to roll out this programme to more hawker centres by opening two stalls every month in order to have 100 stalls by 2015.
Perry Ong, CEO of NTUC Foodfare, said: "Even though we may be a social enterprise, we are not immune to the reality of the market today.
"As you know, the market for labour is very tight, so we have seen our fair share of increases in terms of labour costs. Rental costs have also continued to climb.
"This year, compared to the past years, and based on our own experiences, the labour cost has gone up in excess of six per cent, and for rental cost over the last year, we have seen an increase of anything between five and 20 per cent."
- CNA/ms
- wong chee tat :)
By Loi Kar Yee
POSTED: 31 Oct 2013 22:20
Rental and labour costs have affected cooked food prices. Some hawkers told Channel NewsAsia cooked food prices have risen by at least 10 per cent compared to the same period last year.
SINGAPORE: Rental and labour costs have affected cooked food prices.
Some hawkers told Channel NewsAsia that cooked food prices have risen by at least 10 per cent compared to the same period last year.
NTUC Foodfare, a social enterprise that runs food courts and cooked food stalls, said it had to adjust its cooked food prices by about seven per cent.
The enterprise has a social outreach programme called 'Rice Garden', and the price of its cheapest meal starts at about S$2 at some hawker stalls.
Foodfare said it has plans to roll out this programme to more hawker centres by opening two stalls every month in order to have 100 stalls by 2015.
Perry Ong, CEO of NTUC Foodfare, said: "Even though we may be a social enterprise, we are not immune to the reality of the market today.
"As you know, the market for labour is very tight, so we have seen our fair share of increases in terms of labour costs. Rental costs have also continued to climb.
"This year, compared to the past years, and based on our own experiences, the labour cost has gone up in excess of six per cent, and for rental cost over the last year, we have seen an increase of anything between five and 20 per cent."
- CNA/ms
- wong chee tat :)
2 residential sites released for sale
2 residential sites released for sale
By Chitra Kumar
POSTED: 31 Oct 2013 20:59
Two residential sites have been released for sale under the Government Land Sales Programme for the second half of this year.
SINGAPORE: Two residential sites have been released for sale under the Government Land Sales Programme for the second half of this year.
The two sites at Westwood Avenue and Lorong Lew Lian can yield about 980 homes.
The Westwood Avenue site in Jurong West is in close proximity to the Pan Island Expressway and near Jalan Bahar. It is for sale under the Confirmed List.
The site is earmarked for executive condominium (EC) development and some analysts said they expect to see strong interest from developers.
Nicholas Mak, executive director of research and consultancy at SLP International Property Consultants, said: "In the current market, there is a very strong demand for executive condominiums among home buyers. Hence I believe this site will attract much attention from developers.
"With the whole list of cooling measures as well as the TDSR (Total Debt Servicing Ratio) framework, some upgraders and home buyers are actually preferring to buy executive condominiums over mass market condominiums because they are able to get larger housing loans if they were to select a EC."
The second site put up for sale is at Lorong Lew Lian, near Upper Serangoon Road and Upper Paya Lebar Road. It is for sale under the Reserve List.
- CNA/fa
- wong chee tat :)
By Chitra Kumar
POSTED: 31 Oct 2013 20:59
Two residential sites have been released for sale under the Government Land Sales Programme for the second half of this year.
SINGAPORE: Two residential sites have been released for sale under the Government Land Sales Programme for the second half of this year.
The two sites at Westwood Avenue and Lorong Lew Lian can yield about 980 homes.
The Westwood Avenue site in Jurong West is in close proximity to the Pan Island Expressway and near Jalan Bahar. It is for sale under the Confirmed List.
The site is earmarked for executive condominium (EC) development and some analysts said they expect to see strong interest from developers.
Nicholas Mak, executive director of research and consultancy at SLP International Property Consultants, said: "In the current market, there is a very strong demand for executive condominiums among home buyers. Hence I believe this site will attract much attention from developers.
"With the whole list of cooling measures as well as the TDSR (Total Debt Servicing Ratio) framework, some upgraders and home buyers are actually preferring to buy executive condominiums over mass market condominiums because they are able to get larger housing loans if they were to select a EC."
The second site put up for sale is at Lorong Lew Lian, near Upper Serangoon Road and Upper Paya Lebar Road. It is for sale under the Reserve List.
- CNA/fa
- wong chee tat :)
Residential sites at Westwood Ave, Lor Lew Lian released for sale
Residential sites at Westwood Ave, Lor Lew Lian released for sale
POSTED: 31 Oct 2013 10:54
The government has released two residential sites for sale at Westwood Avenue and Lorong Lew Lian on Thursday under the 2nd half 2013 Government Land Sales Programme. These two sites can yield about 980 residential units.
SINGAPORE: The government has released two residential sites for sale on Thursday under the 2nd half 2013 Government Land Sales Programme.
These two sites can yield about 980 residential units.
The Housing & Development Board launched the executive condominium site at Westwood Avenue for sale under the Confirmed List.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority made the land parcel at Lorong Lew Lian available for application for sale under the Reserve List.
The site at Westwood Avenue is located near to the Pan Island Expressway and amenities such as Gek Poh Shopping Centre, Pioneer Mall, Jurong West Stadium and Jurong West Public Library.
The Lorong Lew Lian site is located in a residential estate near Serangoon Town Centre, NEX Shopping Mall and Heartland Mall and is accessible via Bartley and Serangoon MRT stations and the Central Expressway.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
POSTED: 31 Oct 2013 10:54
The government has released two residential sites for sale at Westwood Avenue and Lorong Lew Lian on Thursday under the 2nd half 2013 Government Land Sales Programme. These two sites can yield about 980 residential units.
SINGAPORE: The government has released two residential sites for sale on Thursday under the 2nd half 2013 Government Land Sales Programme.
These two sites can yield about 980 residential units.
The Housing & Development Board launched the executive condominium site at Westwood Avenue for sale under the Confirmed List.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority made the land parcel at Lorong Lew Lian available for application for sale under the Reserve List.
The site at Westwood Avenue is located near to the Pan Island Expressway and amenities such as Gek Poh Shopping Centre, Pioneer Mall, Jurong West Stadium and Jurong West Public Library.
The Lorong Lew Lian site is located in a residential estate near Serangoon Town Centre, NEX Shopping Mall and Heartland Mall and is accessible via Bartley and Serangoon MRT stations and the Central Expressway.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
ClamWin Free Antivirus 0.98 Released
ClamWin Free Antivirus 0.98 Released
Saturday, 26 October 2013
This release updates ClamAV scanning engine and brings a number of significant improvements:
New virus signature targets enable detection of PDF, Flash, and Java class files.
New filetypes supported in the scanner include ISO9660, Flash and 7-zip self-extracting archives.
Performance and memory management improvements.
- wong chee tat :)
Saturday, 26 October 2013
This release updates ClamAV scanning engine and brings a number of significant improvements:
New virus signature targets enable detection of PDF, Flash, and Java class files.
New filetypes supported in the scanner include ISO9660, Flash and 7-zip self-extracting archives.
Performance and memory management improvements.
- wong chee tat :)
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