‘More good-hearted workers needed in Singapore’

Well social workers need to earn a living especially those kind heart people come from the poor, they knew well how hard and needs required. Is good to see the MCYS realise the coming problem! So do tell us the problem, you shall prevent and provide suggestion to solve the issue!
Maybe all MP should involve in social work as part of their KPI, monthly 24hrs or donate their $$ of 20% as the social workers allowance!

I am a social work graduate but have not worked as one in my younger days. I am keen to take on part time work as a social worker but such jobs are not available. May I suggest that the government look into creating part time position so people like me can serve the public. As you are aware, counselling and home visits etc can be done in the evening and on weekends - as such I see value in creating part time positions for social worker. You may also look into utilising retired professionals who are keen in doing social work - with a wealth of experience these group of people would serve as a great potential to tap on

Yes the salary of social workers must be revised upwards. People with good hearts become social workers but they also need to earn a living. The nature of work is emotionally & mentally draining & how far can passion bring you? Something must be done to honour their good work.

Another thing, don't just pour in money for the Sports part of mcyS!

Instead, we need more GOOD HEARTED MINISTERS to start of with as an example before we can have more GODD HEARTED WORKERS.

IF we have good hearted singapore government will be enough.I am not joking please help us singaporeans when reach 55 year old to withdrawal all our CPF money and not 62-67 year old in retirement account.this is something like bullying their own peoples.And why their pension money can withdrawal at age 50 year old if not wrong they are already have good salary in early days.please help no more cats and mouses lah. thanks

and more good-hearted EMPLOYERS as well.

‘More good-hearted workers needed in Singapore’
We singaporeans say : Good-hearted Gov. needed in Singapore TOO !!!!!!

Yes, more good hearted workers needed in Singapore. 100% true. But when these good hearted social workers look around, they see themselves being losers, unable to make ends meet paying bills after bills, then they will question themselves why be good hearted and bring suffering to themselves.
Everything is driven by money nowadays. People can only be good hearted after they have enough money.

The first and foremost, we should not have over spent so much for the Youth Olympics. With all the highly paid officials in the department and also all the superb support from the auxiliary staffs MCYS should have controlled the funding situation. The extra funds spent could have easily been utilized to sort part of the problems this article is talking about.

It could easily be used to create extra jobs for Singaporeans in this sector.

The problem does not lie in the fact that Singaporeans felt like what the author had written “…the misconceived notion that the old, sick or poor…. “a burden” to the country”.

A lot of able bodied Singaporeans are already burdened with their very own problems – getting a decent job, getting married, buying their first home, educating their children, gearing themselves for retirement. Though this problem is not only unique in Singapore, but, if living in a First World nation like Singapore and yet still having to face these problems, one wonders how they can have the luxury of the sparing themselves for community or charity work.

Singaporeans still do their charity work – mostly not participating via their physical presences but just take a look at the funds the Charitable organization receives each time there’s a call from the needy. Just to name a few - The President’s Charity, National Kidney Foundation, Ren Ci Charity Drive, Red Cross Society, RSPCA. But sadly, they did produce such adverse results. Donors and supporters eventually did get disheartened – the amount mismanagement and corrupt practices that took place at some of these Charities, which, I am certain are still fresh in our minds.

I am confident that Singaporeans are still very largely a generous, caring and filial piety lot. The able-bodied ones also need help and are seeking help as well. Take care of them and the part of your problems would be solved. The concept of employing foreigners should be kept to the very last. Why would a foreigner be interested in a job that pays low salary and face all the job-related problems. A very fine example was the recent article that showed how an elderly and immobile patient in a old age home was so badly man-handled by the care-givers. These people were hired from overseas to work in this facility and look what they have done. Perhaps the old cliché – Pay Peanuts and Get Monkeys is correct.

This is not the job for the faint hearted or any job hungry seekers. At the same time, participants in this arena should not look forward to receiving high remunerations.

There isn’t any magic solution to this problem. There is no instant fix. It has to go through a chain of actions.

Provide more public funding for this sector and have a proper group to handle the funds. No one should be allowed to make independent decisions on expenditures. we could partly resolve the immediate problem.

Education – we have to start now. Between now and 2030, there’s still a 19 year gap. Even if our current Primary one students (7 years of age) are properly taught to be more caring and sharing. 19 years(26 years of age) from today hopefully most of them would have had the correct frame of mind to see the need to perform some form of social work.

Take a very hard look at how you can resolve the problems faced by the able-bodied Singaporean who are working to hard and yet finding it hard to make ends meet. This would probably provide any solution. Being comfortable and knowing that they too are being looked after would alter their mindset and perhaps turn to social work as part of their efforts to return to society what they have received.

“有心无力”- perhaps better defines what most able-bodied Singaporeans are faced with. This perhaps is one of the key factors affecting the supply of social workers. Help us to help them!!!!

The issue is not necessary the negative perception of social work. It is as much about recognition and rewards, the pay. Is the Government providing enough funds to FSCs and VWOs to enable these organizations to accord appropriate recognitions, treatments and incentives to attract Singaporeans to take up the job?

The problem is the Government’s reluctance to play a more direct role in providing a social safety net. The oft cited reason is the need to avoid turning Singapore into a welfare state. Equating the provision of social safety net with that of a welfare state should no longer be a valid argument for the government to renegade on its to the people. This whole political philosophy is the legacy of LKY and you can almost hear his voice every time the term is used. It may be valid when Singapore was going through its pioneering years. But for each successive team of leaders to continue doggedly arguing along similar line is to renegade on its duties.

Our aging population consists of people who have contributed in no small measure to nation building. The Government must never forget how it is able to build up a US$250 billion foreign reserve and reach a GDP per capita of US$43,117? If we pay ministers millions for the perceived sacrifices of holding public office, what shall we pay social workers for what social work entails? Don’t forget, the whole purpose is to make sure our aging population is not neglected.

Shouldn’t our Government then play a more direct role in providing a social security net rather than relying mostly on voluntary welfare organizations?

so much money slated to spot and train foreign sports talents but sooo little for our good hearted workers! does Halimah think just becos they are good hearted, they can work for peanuts or better still for free?

I know a lot of good-hearted people who will go all the way to help the less fortunate and some will do it voluntarily in all areas. But after serving for more than 10-20 years some gave up because they were disheartened for they were discarded because new management thought by engaging more educated younger folks will help more with new ideas and all.

The younger folks do have new and creative ideas but their experience in life will never be greater than the older folks. Some of the older folks might not be as educated but they have the passion and the heart to really love and care for what they are doing. I can say that some of the old guards have hearts of gold and discarding them is a company's lost.

I also came across a number of younger folks who have the passion and heart to serve whole-heartedly in their jobs. But after some time their passions die off because of the heavy work load. After going through all the stress, discouragement and struggling with their work load, they arrived with a new concept and conclusion of “can’t be bothered” so as to bring themselves back to their sanity.

This is sad isn’t it? The old are being discarded while the young are being bombarded with so much work load that they lose their passion and good-heartedness.

If a company wants good-hearted people, they must treat their staff good-heartedly to bring back the passion and good-heartedness lost along the way.

social service is never view as a "profit generating section" more like a "money losing dept" so the attention & resources given is always limited

have heard this from social workers, also U Grad, most gave up this job to go to other profession is very common, what is the point when rewards / recongnition from govt not really there, pay wise not high enough, glory not there, 24 hrs on stand by etc ......

how to go on when you start comparing with your own peer when they are doing much better than you in finance / banking / engineering, etc ....... very demoralising, worst case sometime very dangerous for yr own safety....., maybe govt can get FT to do the job, isn't that what happening now !!!

In the contrary, Singapore need a good-hearted government and civil servants.

As in the News gov saying employing more part-timer n FT. I think employing a part-timer or full time Singaporean is a plus, but not the FT. no... i hve nothing againt the FT, but look the FT are from other country, they hve their own culture and habbit, they might not understand the problem and real need of the people, how are they going to do their job properly, and don't tell me abt training because dealing with ppl is very hard, unless u are born in Singapore, even sometime we also don't fully understand thier problem .

I think u might thinking employing the retired or the jobless above 40, because they might hve enough experience, ofcourse inreturn the gov must pay them the rightful salary, this will also solve some of the unemploy problem.

just take a look at the FT at the hospital, some of them can't speak or understand proper english, some don't speak mandarin that need to talk to older patient that don't understand english.

And look at the News, abuse case and unhappy happen because at their hme town habbits, if the children want them to take good care of the parent or love one, they need to give ang po (red package $$$)

I urge the Gov pls.............. think twice before u employ FT for the job.

or maybe u trying to take excuse of employing FT to our country again, just like giving excuse to raise the ERP.

and for baby problem, pls lower the child care price, more than 50% of the S'porean earn abt 1,500 - 3000, i just wonder how do they going to pay every mth 300+ per child after paying their house, pub, and living expenses.

Thinking of that can't even stand up for Singapore, how to make baby... sigh.....

‘More good-hearted policies is needed in Lion City to help the lower income people urgently’~as Mr Khaw Boon Wan, the Minister for National Development, said recently that "tens of thousands" of low-end rental flats are to be built to house those at the lower strata of our society. Among that group will be those who will require assistance with daily needs.

They are many good hearted but not wealthy people with good moral upbringing around who are helping many social organisations.
The current Singapore culture and KPI is how to make money and more money.
Those who made enough money should be helping the less fortunates. MPs and Ministers must set good examples.

We have seen many good hearted workers in Singapore, but not that many good hearted MPs..

Mdm Halimah don't worry abt the shortage of social workers. Many oldest Singaporeans are going to leave the world soon bcos of Lost of jobs. High living cost & Suffocated in MRT
The air has been polluted in S'pore. Do you feel it?

What do you mean good hearted,good hearted till we lost some of our jobs to foreigner.Hello Halimah,Singaporean now are suffering not only in jobs but difficulties to get the stable one.You know why because of your boss PAP policy.You tell us Malay to upgrade but still the skill and stable jobs goes to FT and Foreigner.The Security and Cleaner jog goes to local is this what you call your PAP is helping.