appearance of new wu lin heelo

A NEW HEELO IN PEESAILAND?

oh where, tell me where, has that master chee gone to? (adapted from BLUEBELLS OF SCOTLAND lyrics)

DBS slammed for layoffs
By Sue-Ann Chia

'We are disappointed by the sudden decision,' Labour chief Lim Swee Say told The Straits Times when asked for his views on the DBS layoffs. -- PHOTO: THE NEWPAPER

LABOUR chief Lim Swee Say on Friday slammed DBS Bank for failing to consult its staff union on retrenching its workers or exploring other cost-cutting measures first.

'We are disappointed by the sudden decision,' he told The Straits Times when asked for his views on the DBS layoffs.

'There was no prior consultation with the DBS Staff Union. There was no exploration with the union on other cost reduction alternatives,' he said in an email reply on Friday.

Mr Lim, an advisor to the DBS staff union, said this lack of communication has weakened the trust between the bank's management and union.

Not mincing his words, he added: 'It is regretable because trust takes a long time to build but a short time to destroy.'

His criticism came on day 2 of DBS' retrenchment exercise, a move that has drawn flak from the public as being pre-emptive rather than reactive.

Mr Lim laid it on, saying: 'Perception on the ground is that DBS has decided on retrenchment as the first resort. Ground reaction is critical and highly negative.'

DBS is laying off 900 workers, with slightly more than half coming from Singapore and the rest from its Hong Kong office.

The secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) also had a word of advice for other companies.

'We do not demand zero retrenchment because we know fully well that at times, it is better to let go of some workers so that the remaining workers can survive and keep their jobs, then for business to be closed down and for all workers to lose their jobs,' he said.

'However, we do not support retrenchment as the first resort because there are alternatives for us to explore together to reduce cost and save jobs - from flexible wage system to flexible work arrangements.'


...no! the new heelo is not shit suay. it's TAN KIN LIAN!....so oh where, tell me where has that master chee gone?