THE Manpower Ministry (MOM) and Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) have both stressed the need to make the most of limited labour supply in their May Day messages ahead of Sunday.

In their messages yesterday, both stressed the need for productivity growth, which was only 0.4 per cent per year between 2010 and 2015.

“Manpower could become the bottleneck of our future growth unless we speed up efforts to become a more manpower-lean economy and a more productive workforce,” noted Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say, in his first May Day message since taking on the portfolio. He was previously labour chief for eight years.

“This is the only way to ensure that businesses can continue to grow (and) unemployment can stay low while wages… keep moving up,” he said.

Good people will always be in short supply so tripartite partners – employers, unions and the Government – should work together to harness that resource, said Mr Lim.

Addressing the economic uncertainty, he added: “Working in unity, our tripartite partners have led the economy and labour force through downturns and emerged stronger and more vibrant each time.”

Singapore’s slower economic, employment and productivity growth was also highlighted by SNEF president Robert Yap in his May Day message.

Calling the need to raise productivity “urgent”, he said employers and unions must tackle three workforce demographic challenges in order to do so.

First, businesses must change their processes, use more automation and upgrade workers’ skills to counter the slowing of workforce growth to 1 per cent per year and plateauing from 2020 onwards.

Second, human-resource practices should change to account for an ageing workforce – the proportion of the resident workforce aged 55 years and above rose from 13.4 per cent in 2006 to 22.3 per cent last year. Older workers should also be prepared to pick up new skills and roles.

Third, rising education levels here underline the need for better quality jobs for Singaporean professionals, managers and executives, who must also take ownership of their skills development, he said.

Dr Yap added that bosses and workers will also have to contend with rapid technological advancements and new business models.

joseow@sph.com.sg

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AMID a manpower shortage in the pre-school sector, teachers are becoming principals at a younger age. They usually have less life experience but need to supervise teachers and keep up with various changes in the sector.

To help principals to be more effective leaders, and ultimately improve the quality of pre-school services, the Lien Foundation yesterday launched a leadership programme called Principal Matters.

It involves four partners: NTUC’s Seed Institute, the largest pre-school training provider here; Wheelock College, a top pre-school training institute in the United States; global human resources consultancy Korn Ferry Hay Group; and SIM University (UniSIM).

The programme is based on a new model of behavioural skills, such as managing emotions under challenging conditions and energising others to innovate. The model was developed by the Korn Ferry Hay Group after interviews with pre-school leaders here.

The programme costs $2.7 million and will be free for the 150 selected principals, or close to a 10th of all pre-school principals here.

It comprises several segments spread over six months, including a 12-day trip to Boston, where Wheelock College is based, and mentorship by veteran pre-school leaders here.

UniSIM will also conduct a study of the principals’ work and progress, to better understand local leadership practices.

Overseas research has shown that school leadership is second only to teaching, among factors that affect learning outcomes.

But it has become more challenging to be an effective principal in recent years, said experts.

The number of childcare centres here has grown by almost half since 2010, and teachers have been promoted to be principals at an earlier age.

If they have the required qualifications, they can be principals with just two years of teaching experience.

Lien Foundation chief executive Lee Poh Wah said: “In a few short years, they go from managing a class to having to manage a business – from supervising and retaining teachers, to engaging increasingly well-educated parents who are often older than them.”

Seed Institute academic director Ho Yin Fong also believes the proportion of young principals has been increasing in the industry.

Speaking about principals in centres run by NTUC First Campus, the second-largest childcare operator here, Ms Ho estimates their median age is in the 30s, down from the 40s about 10 to 15 years ago.

Korn Ferry Hay Group managing consultant Tan Khai Ling said younger principals may be less aware of their own feelings and find it harder to control them under stressful conditions.

Chiltern House principal Iris Lim, 42, agreed, though she noted younger ones may have an advantage in connecting with young teachers.

Lee Chin Yen, 48, a principal for about nine years at Agape Little Uni, is keen to apply for the programme. “It’d be good to learn from mentors and overseas experts.”

Principals with three to 10 years of experience have until May 18 to apply to be part of the first cohort of 25. Those interested can apply at www.principalmatters.sg

goyshiyi@sph.com.sg

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SINGAPORE – A cat was found dead in Yishun Pond on Wednesday (April 27), the latest in a string of feline deaths in the area.

It has again raised questions on whether foul play is involved.

According to updates posted by the Yishun 326 Tabby Cat Facebook page, the cat was found floating in the pond near Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) is investigating the case. It has received 39 reports of cat deaths in the area since last September.

Two cases have been linked to cruelty, with 13 caused by factors such as road accidents, falls and natural causes.

Three, including Wednesday’s, are still being investigated, while the rest remain open due to insufficient leads, an AVA spokesman told The Straits Times.

Wednesday’s incident comes after the authorities arrested two men for their suspected involvement in cat abuse in Yishun.

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Stomp, Facebook screengrabs, Shin Min Daily News, Lianhe Wanbao, The New Paper, Facebook / Yishun 326 Tabby Cat, Tra Cy’s Facebook

A 51-year-old man was arrested in January for his suspected involvement in the death of a cat which belonged to his household. It was found dead next to Block 116, Yishun Ring Road on Jan 22.

On Dec 29 last year, Lee Wai Leong, 40, was charged with animal cruelty for allegedly throwing a cat from the 13th floor of a Housing Board block in Yishun.

The AVA said in January that its preliminary investigations showed that some of the cat deaths may not have been due to animal cruelty, but some cats were found with human-inflicted wounds, such as severe trauma to the head and back, injuries to the intestinal organs, gouged eyes and chopped limbs.

There was no visible sign of injury on the carcass of the cat found on Wednesday.

Ms Veron Lau, from animal welfare group Cat Welfare Society, said: “It is important to get to the bottom of this as this kind of suspected human brutality cannot continue. We urge the deployment of more sophisticated forensics and CCTV resources to give everyone a peace of mind.”

This article was first published on April 27, 2016.
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A BUS captain was jailed for a week yesterday for causing an accident which resulted in an elderly passenger’s foot being amputated.

SMRT driver Lau Pik Choong, 53, drove off while 88-year-old Ting Lang Kin was alighting, causing her to fall onto the road before the bus stopped again – with her leg lodged under its rear left tyre.

Lau, a Singapore permanent resident from Malaysia, pleaded guilty to a charge of causing grievous hurt by a negligent act. He will be barred from driving all classes of vehicles for 18 months after his release.

A district court heard that at 1pm on April 3 last year, Madam Ting was at the back of bendy bus service 913 near the rear exit.

She pressed the buzzer to alight at Woodlands Centre Road and remained seated until the bus came to a halt.

She walked slowly due to her age, and before she could reach the exit, Lau closed the door. A passenger pressed the buzzer and Lau opened the rear door again.

As the elderly woman was on the last step, with one foot on the ground and the other on the kerb, Lau drove off without closing the door.

The court heard that he did not check his mirror or a monitor on his dashboard. Madam Ting’s left leg was run over by the vehicle’s rear left tyre.

Passengers shouted at Lau and he immediately stopped the bus. He slowly reversed the bus in order to free her leg.

Madam Ting was taken to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, where the front of her left foot was amputated. She was hospitalised for seven weeks.

Assistant Public Prosecutor Dillon Kok asked for one to two weeks’ jail, noting that Lau had been grossly negligent.

In mitigation, Lau, who did not have a lawyer, pleaded against a jail term, as it would result in him losing his job.

Passing sentence, District Judge Eddy Tham told Lau: “You, as a public bus driver, owe a high duty of care for the safety of all the commuters on the bus.

“As the victim was moving slowly, you ought to have paid more careful attention to the victim. You have no excuse.”

Madam Ting, now 89, is a widow with five children and two grandchildren. SMRT has apologised to her family and suspended the driver.

The maximum punishment for causing grievous hurt by a negligent act which endangers human life or the personal safety of others is two years’ jail and a $5,000 fine.

amirh@sph.com.sg

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