Even CNA is questioning the percentage of Singaporeans employed by Resorts World Sentosa
February 18th, 2010 | 
Author: Written by Our Correspondent
When even the usually meek Channel News Asia (CNA) is questioning the accuracy of information given to it, something must be really wrong.
In an article yesterday, CNA cast doubts if the majority of Resorts World Sentosa’s staff are indeed Singaporeans.
“Resorts World Sentosa said 70 per cent of its staff strength of over 8,000 are Singaporeans or Permanent Residents. But some who’ve visited the gaming tables are questioning where exactly are they working?” it asked.
When Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) was awarded the integrated resort in 2006, it said it would remain “committed to hiring Singaporeans as a first priority.”
However, according to those who have visited the casino over the weekend, most of the staff working there appeared to be foreigners.
As early as 2008, Philipines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo claimed that RWS will open about 5,000 new jobs for Filipinos. She had sent a delegation to Singapore to explore possible job opportunities for migrant Filipino and they went to discuss available slots for Filipino workers such as workers for hotels, casinos and performers with Tan Hee Teck, CEO of RWS. (read report here)
The Straits Times reported on 8 February 2010 that Resort World Sentosa (RWS) will be hiring 150 card dealers in Taiwan who are expected to be paid around $1,800 monthly. Besides Taiwanese, RWS has also been actively recruiting Malaysians and Filipinos to man its casino in Singapore.
The 70 per cent figure quoted is misleading because PRs are included. Foreigners can be fast-tracked to become PRs, thereby decreasing the percentage for foreign workers.
For some strange reason, both RWS and the authorities appear to be reluctant to release the exact percentage of Singapore citizens working at the IR which is likely to be in the range of 50 – 60 per cent or even less.
Based on some feedback we receive from readers, the majority of the service staff at RWS are foreigners. In fact, the lessons have to be conducted in Mandarin due to the large number of non-English speaking workers from China and Taiwan.
Robin Goh, assistant director, Communications, Resorts World Sentosa, said to CNA:
“There might be skill sets that are lacking in Singapore perhaps. For example jobs in casino and jobs within Universal Studios Singapore. And again, sad to say, it is also a challenge to find Singaporeans to pick up some jobs that they sometimes shun, for example jobs that have shifts.”
As expected, the all too convenient excuse that the jobs are ”shunned” by locals is brought up again to explain why Singaporeans are not employed.
RWS is operating and making money in Singapore. The onus is on it to adjust its wages and working hours to fit the expectations of Singaporeans and not the other way round.
Of course RWS cannot be blamed entirely since the ruling party doesn’t really care much if they employ locals or foreigners since according to their warped logic – “foreigners help to create, (not snatch away) jobs for Singaporeans”.
Posted in Editorial
sometimes,te eye dun lie….
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it’s chinese new year and so singaporeans working in sentosa resort are given the holidays..
and their duties are covered by their foreign colleagues..
isn’t it ??
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RWS is more then 1 casino, please count the 4(5?) Hotel and Spa plus the Convention Centre(sales team located in another building) before making any statement.
I am not saying RWS hire alot of singaporean. but to shoot them we must get all the fact first if not we end up shooting ourself.
Where is the link to the original CNA article? I no longer trust some copy and paste over by TR. They always copy something less.
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Can RWS comes out and tell us how many native Singaporean & PRs they employed. How come the government is not protecting the interests of we, Singaporean. Then at the ballot box, why should Singaporean vote for the same government that did not protect us.
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Like dat, Lim Peh boycott RWS liao. Go private casino better.
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“RWS is operating and making money in Singapore. The onus is on it to adjust its wages and working hours to fit the expectations of Singaporeans and not the other way round.”
I agree with most of the article above, except this paragraph… When it comes to work, how can you expect a company to adjust wages and working hours to fit employees’ expectations?
RWS is operating as a business, not a charitable organisation… since when does businesses have a onus to bend over to their employees’ whims on pay + working hours?
The negotiation of wages and work hours are two-way, employers are willing to offer that amount, it is up to employees to accept, counter-offer or reject.
So if you wanna blame something/someone, blame it on the right area/policy, and not just anyhow shoot.
Businesses are formed for the sole and primary purpose of making money… you cannot expect them to be otherwise.
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Resorts World was not able to give a detailed breakdown on the proportion of locals to foreigners in the various jobs available at the integrated resort.
However, it said areas like administration, ticketing and admission, hotels and the Universal Studios theme park have a higher proportion of Singaporeans.
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TR is again extrapolating. CNA didn’t question the percentage. Its obvious someone else did, they are just repeating someone else’s observation.
rubbish.
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“RWS is operating and making money in Singapore. The onus is on it to adjust its wages and working hours to fit the expectations of Singaporeans and not the other way round.” All companies should adapt their way of working and paying to fit local expectations, not only RWS.
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I am not sure if we will ever get the real breakdown of numbers. But you do not need the numbers to tell. Go walk around RWS and you will know. Or I suggest you station a gatekeeper at the rented flats in Toa Payoh to record the numbers of foreigners going to work – you will know. “A picture speaks a thousand words”.
Yes, the easiest thing is to say that “I cannot get locals to do the job”, since this is an officially sanctioned statement in Singapore. Come on, I do not believe that when push to the brink when you need to feed your family when you got no money to pay bills,Singaporeans will shun a job that pays $1800????
Some expert here should go read the FTAs that we have signed, and see what are the clauses inside that allows the influx of foreigners.
That’s all I want to say, because I can tell you whatever you say and complain is useless in Singapore. The “Almighty” knows best for you.
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Old Guy. I am a Singaporean. I have been working for over many CNY. Usually what I observed and experienced myself in Singapore is that PRs, inclusing Malaysians, Vietnamese, etc so not just PRCs, they normally take extended leave over holidays to ‘return home’. Leaving Sngaporeans to do duties on their behalf. Same for Indian PRs over December. I am a Singaporean who have not had a proper CNY or Christmas for many years, about 5-6 years, since my PR colleagues are always the one taking extended holidays while I work. One of them lived in JB and never went home, but because she keep using the same excuse, she never have to work over CNY. It is cetrainly not true that foreigners are covering Singaporeans duties over CNY, it is usually the other way around.
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The fact that many PRs are using their foreign passports to enter the Casino to bypass the $100 levy remind us that PRs are essentially foreigners. It is not their fault, but we have to take issue with the rich policy makers.
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There are probably more singaporeans in backroom operations. Statistics are always misleading our govt are the masters at it. If they include contract staff, management trainees and what not to push up the singaporean number. They cannot be faulted wrong for that. Frontline staff are defintely mostly foreigners. no doubt about that.
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wtf says once a liar always a liar
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stop going round the bush , its just a press of the button from the IR to get the statement . simple as that . Obviously , the numbers of singaporeans employed is not nice . its probably a few here and a few there . Mainly cleaners , sweepers and dish washers etc .. HA HA HA
so the garman have 10,000 jobs available to whom ????
We have been yet again cheated .
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ALL IR needs is get HR to print a statement on how many singaporeans being employed . simple as that but the numbers will not be nice. HA HA HA
cheated again by world class garman
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Hhmm…maybe the swam of “visitors” at the Casino are their staffs
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The IR operators are running a business. If they can hire cheaper foreign workers, they will do so to cut down labour cost.
Take the PAP gov to task for giving away so much work visa.
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Let them gamble and we will have growth dividends yet again and bonuses for the public servants.
Fill up our Treasury with the taxes. The retail, restaurants, hotels, etc., are also filling up. Yea!
Indeed we have the foresigth to have 2 nit 1 casino. Just look at the compulsive Chinese gamblers from all over the region.
Ho . . ho . . . ho . . . .
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Very soon, PAP will have to (they never had to) balance b/w attracting foreign investors (who requires cheap and cheerful foreign labour) and being VOTED OUT entirely !
Caught b/w the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea!
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This call for investigative reporting. Someone must find his way into the IR and dig out the dark secret of this place.
If there are more foreigners than local employees inside this place, we will expose them during the forth coming election.
Will you do it?
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PAP government is trying to fool all real Singaporean but the lies are too easily exposed. By issuing the PR status easily to foreigners (less than 6 months of residency) , these foreigners can easily disguised as local. Vote LHL out to save Singapore !!!
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its ok . don’t think the IR will last long before going under . once the world class garman waived off the $100 entrance fee , you know they are in BIG SHIT .
Don’t worry , its coming soon . well before the election so this will give us another bullet to shoot the papayas . another flop on the way..
Hee Hee Hee
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As good loyal citizens, we should boycott the casino.
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Won’t be surprised if there are more foreigners employed in such kind of industries. Pinoys especially, constitute a large number in the hospitality/services sector.
They do it cheaper, better, faster. There are also many money remittance shops opening everywhere. It’s the sign of the times, get used to it.
‘Locals first’ is nothing more than casual lip service by the govt. Back when the casino/IR idea was first mulled some years back, and one of arguments offered by the pro-casino crowd was ‘it creates employment’, I immediately thought to myself, ‘for whom’? Now, in 2010, you have your answer.
Not all is bad though. Sentosa has indeed become more vibrant since the ferry terminal on the island was demolished. Perhaps, if you are free enough, and if your pockets are deep enough, you might want to go take a look.
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not sure abt the % of singaporeans employed,but foreign workers are causing a hassle for gamblers,looks like RWS never anticipated that.
光看不赌 外劳堵场 赌客不满
开业不到5天，大批外劳拥入赌场，免费进场和享用饮料，引起一些本地赌客不满。
新明日报连日接到读者反映，名胜世界赌场自开业后出现许多客工。他们可凭外国护照或工作准证免费进入赌场，但进去后多数光看不赌，喝免费饮料，让一些国人感到不满。
本地名流、适新企业前集团主席王金发博士在年初二和10多名友人，兴致勃勃到赌场参观和小赌，但里头人太多，不到两小时就败兴而归。
王金发受访时说：“新加坡首家赌场刚开业就迎来很多赌客，当然是好事，但客工进去长时间逗留，很多只是围观和免费享用赌场的设施如厕所和饮料，剥夺了其他赌客进场下注的机会。”
王金发说：“赌场提供免费饮料，但要自己去拿，那里往往挤满客工，根本无法靠近，赌客不愿等太久，只好口干舌燥赌下去。”
王金发的朋友卓先生（43岁，投资公司经理）表示“看不下去”，不到1小时就离开赌场。
读者黄先生（55岁，商人）也说，很多客工横七竖八睡在赌场地上，醒来就去赌桌围观，“一张赌桌才6、7人下注，围观者就有数十人，有不少是客工，想下注的赌客根本挤不进。”
本地赌客呼吁当局正视这个现象，必要时向客工征收入门费，像新加坡公民和永久居民一样。
王金发说：“客工当然有权利进赌场参观，但如果长时间逗留，只图免费使用赌场资源，对其他真正要消费的赌客就太不公平了
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“said 70 per cent of its staff strength of over 8,000 are Singaporeans or Permanent Residents.”
Y can’t they just tell us and come straight with the % on Singaporeans only.
Y must PRs be mixed with Singaporeans and we are still scratching our heads on the no. of Singaporeans being employed.
Anyway, you know I know y they are doing this. There is quite a lot of shit that they would not want us to know. In your own country, shit is being sanctioned to be deliberately fed to its own people.
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Supposed to be a ‘high-class’ resort, now look at what kind of crowds they are attracting… hahahaha!
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WOW … the IR dieing before it even get started . Casino no business , universial studio gOt some business because its only $10 for preview , after that , again no business .
SO THE GARMAN FAILED TO CREAT JOBS FOR SINGAPOREANS YET AGAIN . STILL VOTE FOR THEM ? USE YOU BRAIN LAH ….
BLAME THE LOCAL SINGAPOREANS AGAIN ITS FAILURE .
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@kojak:
“Of course the naysayers will say this will increase the company’s operating cost, resulting in losses and their eventual departure from Singapore. ”
PAP could have leased the land to the IRs for a low price and hence lower the initial building cost, leaving more money to hire SINGAPOREANS. Instead PAP took good care of their own pockets first, by selling the land at exorbitant prices to the IRs so naturally the IRs will stinge on wages.
Its the same everywhere, companies are paying through their nose for rents and services sold by PAP govt’s businesses and TLCs leaving little left to pay market rate wages… PAP’s solution to these foreign companies’ complaints of high costs? open the floodgates to import cheap labour!
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Is Robin Goh the spokesman for RWS a Malaysian? If he is, then its understood why he is singing to the tune of his paymaster Genting.
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my singaporean cousin who has a certificate in IR said the casino do not wish to employ him as he is too old. 32 years old only what.
not sure?
maybe my cousin is not up to standard.
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The IR cert is for him to drive Taxi and fetch customers to casino , not to get a job there . If he still cannot get a job , go to SPURS and be retrain to be a cleaner . Else ask him to go for degree course and than MBA follow by PHD . After that , he can try his luck again ( should be over 40 years ) . If still cannot find a job , the garman will automatically considered him retired . see how easy life is .
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While the foreign workers can walk in and out freely, some older generations whom had contributed so much to SG, can’t even afford to go in to smell the toilet.
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One only needs to know 3 noble truths to see through the bullshit by PAP….
1) “Locals” = S’pore citizens + PRs
2) Foreigners can very very easily get S’pore PR
3) PRs = Foreigners
So, RWS is not wrong to say they hire mostly “locals”.
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>> PAPisLeegalizedCorruption: “PAP could have leased the land to the IRs for a low price and hence lower the initial building cost, leaving more money to hire SINGAPOREANS. Instead PAP took good care of their own pockets first, by selling the land at exorbitant prices to the IRs so naturally the IRs will stinge on wages.
Bro, I agree with you. PAP always think of themselves first, investors second, FT third, PR fourth followed by Singaporeans. Sad, isn’t it?
>> Its the same everywhere, companies are paying through their nose for rents and services sold by PAP govt’s businesses and TLCs leaving little left to pay market rate wages… PAP’s solution to these foreign companies’ complaints of high costs? open the floodgates to import cheap labour
Singaporeans will soon become the untouchables in our own country!
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It doesn’t matter …It will be a matter of time before the IR become another white elephant.
Think Haw par villa and Tang dynasty…
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Has anyone been up to Genting recently? Heard a rumour that FT staff are being trained up there before deployment to RWS.
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Questioning not as useful as opening up the HR book and list out the types of hired residents whether more citizens or residents.
That is the only cok sure thingie to do.
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More holes to plug… it’s better to come clean!
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sell down of genting shares today… why ah?
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In short. There is a party in Singapore. But Singaporeans are not invited or welcomed.
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There is a foreign worker quota for companies. Can report to Ministry of Manpower if there’s suspected violation, just email [email protected] . Everybody, pls each send a letter to MOM to get them to look into the matter.
More info on the quota can be found via this link:
http://www.mom.gov.sg/publish/momportal/en/communities/work_pass/work_permit/application/requirements/computation_of_company.html
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The problem lies with PAP did not protect Singaporeans by implementing minimal wage protection that’s why locals shunned the jobs. PAP can accuse Singaporeans as choosy but with such pathetic salaries how to live and feed a family in Singapore? Foreigners can do it cos they get 5-10 times lesser back home so they don’t mind. Why Australia, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Holland and etc can do it but not Singapore? Simple, govt is only interested in getting things done at the expense of the countrymen. After all they are collecting millions in salaries so who cares. It’s a harsh society and govt is not compassionate towards the people. They must always remember that locals are the nation builders and have been voting for them for decades but now they are forgotten. Now local are no longer in the interest of the PAP govt, so the people become dispensable.
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Sinkies no need to study too much… when you graduated, you will be way too expensive to hire, either that the companies by then will have a larger foreign to local ratio hiring rights. Why hired one local degree holder when you can hire dozens from elsewhere?
We need foreign labour to do the hard outdoors work… we need to do work that involve long hours and working throughout holidays.
With 4 major races in Singapore, HR in Singapore still cannot plan to rotate workers around the 4 major holidays. Sheesh.
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FT have to take over the job of Singaporean during CNY!! My foot!! I’ve to come back to the office on the 2nd day of CNY and but not the FTs as they went back home for CNY.
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1) Casino taking away all ‘disposable’ cash in market.
2) people are selling off shares in hope to get back cash to play in casinos (true fact)
3) Housewives, employees spending working time at casinos instead of working.
4) Retailers and property agents feeling the quietness of market inspite of all the ‘BULLISH’ Hype in Market.
5) Rent and asking prices of property shooting up with little or no buyers .
6) Everyones focused on Casino , nobody is keen on other investmets or business oppurtunities.
7) Cases of Casino related crimes picking up on the first few days alone.
……….etc etc etc
I think this is gonna be a tough year for the businesses and many households. Might be worst then the lehman crisis in 2008 ….as there is no solution .
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Gambling does not make you easy life or rich, it creates problem. Why attack singaporeans ,pr or capable foreign workers about levy into casino, if you think you want to go in to try your luck jus pay,for me even with $10m toto jackpot, i still do not try my so called luck.Out of sight ,out of mind,do not be envy or jealous with others over small issue on entering into casino,it is the devil acting on us . think positively,enjoy the peace you have.Take care ! !
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The best is to find the information from the CASION REGULATORY AGENCY. They had to every information of each worker working in the CASINO and their background. This is to prevent insider dealing of any employee and their family members. Which in most cases are banned from entering the casino. As long as the CASINO employs mostly FT, that is a good reason to ask the GOV why do such jobs goes to FT and not Singaporeans?
Hotel, SPA and others are jobs that can be easily taken by non-resident since they are cheaper and requires lesser skills set and languages. Casino jobs are tougher and better paid and FT should not be majority hired. I think TR has a valid point, personally alot of my friends says mostly non-singaporeans in the casino. EYES can LIE!
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Boycotting the Casino
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MPs too afraid to ask for breakdown in parliament? May be 0.5% Singaporeans, 69.5% PRs and 30% foreigners. Still correct ma 70% Singaporeans and PRs. What a big joke, didn’t the government says IRs are all about jobs for Singaporeans. Huh? So fast forget already arghhh? What are MPs for anyway? Too afraid in parliament to complain that Singapore citizens are being replaced by foreign workers? May be MPs too afraid to read so many complaints against PAP here.
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