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2^nd Quarter Newsletter 2020

SALARY OVERVIEW

Hong Kong - China - Singapore - Thailand 

Message from the Chairman

Dear Friends of Gemini,

It is very encouraging that Hong Kong has had a very low number of virus cases with few fatalities. Nevertheless we are all looking forward to seeing the restrictions lifted progressively and a return to normal (whatever that is). 

On the positive side many people have now taken the opportunity to update their resumes and seek new employment opportunities. So we have plenty of excellent candidates in almost every industry! Please contact your Gemini consultant for help. Virtual interviews can be arranged if required.

Gemini’s Human Resources Consulting Division has also been very busy. Apart from outplacement counseling offered to companies shedding staff Gemini also covers training and coaching, psychometric and skills assessment, salary and benefits assessments and many other useful services.

Looking around the region, at the time of writing, Singapore and Thailand remain in heavy lock-down but China is becoming very active again. All of the Gemini offices are functioning and China and Hong Kong are open and fully staffed.

Gemini will be launching an exciting new product in the interim management space soon – watch out for details!

James C Sutherland
Chairman

Singapore

Government support for Singapore business owners

The Singapore government has put in place several measures to support business owners. The objective is to save jobs and keep employees employed as long as possible.

 

Some of the direct support to both employer and employee:

• Jobs Support Scheme payout;
• Foreign Worker Levy (FWL) waiver and FWL rebate;
• Income Relief Scheme for Self-Employed Persons (SEPs).
  
  

Next to offering business owners financial relief, the government has urged employers to considering the following:

• Reduce non-wage costs, and consider various measures to utilise and manage excess manpower;
• Tap on government support to offset business and wage costs, and press on with business and workforce transformation;
• Trim wage costs;
• Allow employees to take on a second job;
• If it is necessary to retrench workers as a last resort, ensure it is done in a responsible manner. The employer need to first inform the Ministry of Manpower before exercising retrenchment. 
  
  

Despite best efforts, the National Wage Council (NWC) acknowledged that employers may still find it necessary to cut wages in order to save jobs. To ensure fair wage practices, the NWC offered the following guidelines to implement a ‘fairer’ pay cut:

• Management should lead by example before giving staff a pay cut;
• Consider all aspects of pay packages (take into account other factors of their regular packages like commission and overtime pay);
• Consider a ‘flexible wage’ system;
• Aim to pay the 13th month bonus or AWS (employers should aim to offer employees the AWS at the end of the year. This may support retention efforts and inspire loyalty through a difficult period);
• Apply all pay cuts fairly.
  
  

Employers should at all times be completely transparent with their employees. Employers should also be clear about returning the amount cut through future pay rises or a compensatory payment when the business recovers.

Gemini's consultants, who have been working from home during the circuit breaker, have seen companies taking the following measures in the past few months:

• Wage cuts:
  • Management takes wage reduction between 30% - 50%;
  • Other employees take wage reduction between 10% – 30%;
• Having employees to clear all their annual leave; 
• Flexible work schedule for workers;
• Switched to a 3 or 4-day working week with a salary reduction of 15% - 25%;
• Streamline to review the entire team and processes;
• Re-designation of job duties and responsibilities.
  
  

In Singapore right now, the priority is to protect jobs and the small businesses that may not have the resources to stay afloat in these troubled times. Retrenchment should be a last resort and employers doing so should ensure they conduct the exercise fairly and in accordance with the tripartite advisory on managing excess manpower and responsible retrenchment.

Survey reveals best employers in Singapore

Employees have spoken and the top organisations to work for in Singapore have emerged. Singapore's Best Employers 2020 was recently released based on the results of a survey by The Straits Times and global research company Statista, the first survey in Asia. Over 1,800 companies and institutions across 25 industries with at least 200 employees were included in the survey.

The three topics revealed to be most important to employees:

• Having the same advancement opportunities for men and women;
• Having high standards of working conditions;
• Teamwork among colleagues.
  
  

Examples of good practices mentioned in the survey:

• How senior management frequently met employees for small group coffee sessions;
• "Unbossed" culture in which leaders are encouraged to serve their teams, remove obstacles, and empower people to attain their personal and professional ambitions.
  
  

Thus it seems to be especially important to build strong relationships with employees beyond just the monthly pay package, and provide a strong value proposition of the meaning of the work that they do.

 

Source: Straits Times

Top 5 Candidates

 

Shipping Manager

Nationality: Singaporean

Based: Singapore

Languages: English & Mandarin

Availability: Two months' notice

 

Skills:

7 years of work experience in Supply Chain and 10 years of administrative work and inventory management in total.

Regional Sales Director (SEA - APAC)

Nationality: New Zealander

Based: Singapore

Languages: English

Availability: Two months' notice

 

Skills:

20 years in the Aviation Sales industry, in corporate roles.

Managing Director

Nationality: Singaporean

Based: Singapore

Languages: English

Availability: Three months' notice

 

Skills:

Navy aircraft team lead for 11 years. Joined the corporate section in Marine navigation. Excellent installation works and sales skills.

Supply Chain Executive

Nationality: Singaporean

Based: Singapore

Languages: English and Mandarin

Availability: Immediately

 

Skills:

8 years of experience in Customer Service and Supply Chain management with major MNCs. Capable in dealing with customer relations, order management processes and export procedures in SEA. Assertive with good interpersonal and communication skills. Proficient and well versed in SAP SD, MM and Supply Chain SAP APO DP & SNP modules. Business Intelligence Course - SAP BW V.7.0 and SAP Business Objects.

Helpdesk Engineer

Nationality: Singaporean

Based: Singapore

Languages: English & Mandarin

Availability: Immediately

 

Skills:

6 years' experience as a Desktop Engineer. Experience with supporting users remotely using Configuration Manager Console. Supporting Google Apps like Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Slides, Google Groups and Google Admin (G Suite). First level troubleshooting of network connectivity in a LAN/WAN environment. Maintain IT records and track on areas of responsibilities. Backup support and assistance to the Network Administrator when need arises. Troubleshooting with vendors when required. Support and assistance to users relating to a particular product or service. Level 1 Network support and Server Admin.

 

For more information about these candidates, please contact gemhq@gemini.sg

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