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Why SGdollar record high against MYringgit excites Singaporeans & Johoreans

Anna Maria Romero
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SINGAPORE: On Oct 24, the Singapore dollar recorded an all-time high against the Malaysian ringgit when it reached MYR3.5086 to S$1. The ringgit has recovered slightly since then and is now at MYR3.48 to S$1.

While there have been recent articles in the news about how Malaysians working in Singapore take advantage of the “worthwhile” exchange rate, they’re not the only ones who’ve gained an advantage. Interestingly, for the city of Johor Bahru, the nearest to Singapore, the low ringgit—high Singdollar situation is a mixed blessing.

Singaporeans who will benefit

The biggest winner may be Singaporeans, quite naturally. With the currency having greater purchasing power, getaways across the border for shopping, food trips, and sightseeing are more affordable than ever. Several items are at least 20 per cent cheaper in JB than in SG, and with the cost of living in Singapore having gone through the roof in the past few years, no one can complain about Singaporeans who want to take advantage of this.

Items more affordable in JB include contact lenses and eyeglasses, drugstore cosmetics and other paraphernalia, over-the-counter medication, sanitary products, toothpaste, bak kwa, mooncakes, and other pastries. Services including manicures, pedicures, haircuts, and facials, plus massages and even dental procedures, as well as movies, are also cheaper, this recent Seedly blog entry says.

Johoreans who will benefit

As mentioned earlier, Johor residents who work in Singapore are also reaping the benefits of a stronger Singdollar because they have a lower cost of living but now bring home a higher salary. This should make early wake-up times, long commutes, and reduced personal time worth it.

But the demand for cheaper products and services can also bring a negative effect on people who live in Johor, as it can cause prices to spike, especially if the supply of these goods and services is unable to keep pace with the demand, finance site dollarsandsense pointed out on Nov 1. For those working in Johor, this may only be a small issue, but for people who don’t earn in Singdollars and are already affected by the weaker ringgit, this means more financial difficulties.

Singaporeans winners & losers

However, another group of people who stand to gain with the strong Singdollar against the ringgit is Singapore companies that do business in Malaysia, dollarsandsense added. This is because they now pay less for their operations there.

And one more “loser” in this scenario is Singaporeans who have invested in Malaysian assets. This group may be a sizable one, as Singapore was one of the biggest sources of foreign direct investment last year. /TISG

Read also: Malaysian Ringgit Drops to Lowest Level Since 1998 Amidst Rising US Dollar

Woman says she’s overwhelmed by the number of gifts the man she’s dating gives her

Obbana Rajah
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Woman says she’s overwhelmed by the number of gifts the man she’s dating gives her

SINGAPORE: A woman who felt that the man she was dating gave her just too many gifts took to social media asking how she could navigate the situation.

In an anonymous post to popular confessions page SGWhispers, the woman said that she had gone on a few dates with the man and felt that he was genuinely a sweet and considerate person. “However, I’m starting to feel a bit overwhelmed by the number of gifts he gives me. Please don’t get me wrong, I truly appreciate his generosity, but I’m not accustomed to receiving gifts from people outside my family. I’d prefer to see the money put towards a good cause or an experience we could share”. She added that when they would go out, the man would always choose high-end restaurants where the bill would come up to a few hundred dollars each time. “I’m not someone with extravagant tastes in food, and I’d be just as happy dining at a more budget-friendly place. The constant extravagance feels unnecessary to me. Additionally, he frequently travels for work and brings back souvenirs from every country he visits”.

She added that while it was evident the man was a generous person who expressed his affection through gift-giving, she felt that she was more practical. “I’ve already got a bunch of expensive stuff I received from my fam that’s just collecting dust in my closet, and some leather goods are starting to show their age because I hardly use them”, she wrote. The woman said that while she was comfortable receiving gifts from her family, she felt obligated when anyone else gave her gifts.

She asked netizens for advice on how to address the matter as she was not comfortable with the man’s actions. One netizen said: “Have a chat about love languages. Find out what’s his. Maybe he grew up in a family where the parents were busy so they showed their love through gifts. Then share your love language. Tell him how your love language makes you feel. Tell him what you would prefer him do and ask if he would mind spending money on that instead? Maybe he likes fine dining. Maybe he enjoys good food. Maybe you are just there to accompany him, sometimes men need to be spoiled as well”.

Another netizen commented: “Open your mouth and tell him la! You don’t say, don’t reject of course he will think that way works so he just keeps doing it because you didn’t say anything… Men are not all mind readers, tell us, don’t assume we will pick up all the subtle stuff”.

Study: Gen Z Americans say Singapore is 5th most desirable country for expats

Anna Maria Romero
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Study: Gen Z Americans say Singapore is 5th most desirable country for expats

SINGAPORE: More young United States citizens are expressing a desire to live overseas, a new survey has shown. When Gen Z’ers in the US were asked whether they wanted to leave America and where they wanted to live, respondents ranked Singapore as their fifth most desirable destination, higher than Germany, Italy, and even Australia, in the poll conducted by online language learning marketplace Preply.

Results from the Preply survey show that the United Kingdom takes the top position as Gen Z’s potential emigration destination, followed by Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, and Singapore, in that order. Singapore got top marks not only because of its economy and infrastructure but also because of ease of travel to other destinations in Asia. “As a global hub for business and finance, Singapore has attracted immigrants from all over. There are strong expat communities and plenty of international schools, making long-term living there easy. The strong economy, modern infrastructure, and proximity to so many dream destinations in Asia are other factors drawing people to this city state,” wrote Preply on Oct 26.

Rounding out the top ten desirable destinations for young Americans are Australia, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, and Ireland, in sixth to tenth places, respectively. New Zealand comes in 12th place, and two other Asian countries made the top 20: South Korea in 15th place and the Philippines in 19th.

Interestingly, when asked for the reasons for wanting to leave the US, at the top are social programs such as universal healthcare (25.6 per cent), the desire to have new cultural experiences (18.9 per cent), cost of living (18 per cent) and the dislike of the political environment (17.7 per cent). Also, 59 per cent said that US gun violence played an important role in their desire to move to another country.

Read also: Expats leaving SG due to high rent; Netizens say more foreigners will come, but this is not good for Singapore

Is it easy to move from the US to Singapore?

For US expats, moving to Singapore comes with its own set of challenges, despite the fact that a high percentage of people living in the Little Red Dot is made up of foreigners. A US citizen may live in Singapore long-term if he or she has either a work visa, a study visa or a family reunification visa if they have family members who live there legally or are Singapore citizens.

As for the cost of living, Singapore regularly ranks high on lists of countries and cities with high living costs, which should provide somewhat of a warning for would-be immigrants or expats to The Little Red Dot. In contrast, while there are high living costs in the US in cities such as New York City, San Francisco, and Chicago, in many rural areas, living costs are much lower.

There are also several other considerations, including language barriers and cultural differences. As in all things, in moving from the US to Singapore, forewarned is forearmed. /TISG

Read also: Expat pay packages in Singapore increased, driven up by high rental rates, but salaries are lower

Woman says the man she’s dating reminded her of her first love, but was about to be a father

Obbana Rajah
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Woman says the man she’s dating reminded her of her first love, but was about to be a father

SINGAPORE: A woman took to social media after a man she thought she had a real connection with was about to have a child with another woman.

In an anonymous post to popular confessions page NUSWhispers, the woman said that she had been on three dates with the man and “there’s something very charismatic about him that I can’t describe. He reminded me of the pure, sweet first love I had experienced and ended a couple of years ago with my first love amicably. Since then, I haven’t been able to move on as I always knew he was the one for me, and I thought we could build an amazing life together but circumstances chose to tear us apart”.

However, she added in her post: “Recently I heard from a mutual friend that he is expecting to be a father soon. It’s a bittersweet feeling as that could potentially be “us,” but I guess life has its way of teasing you, which is inevitable to bring you to the ultimate one. Despite that, I am happy for him from the bottom of my heart. Being single all these years has made me prioritise and be selective with how I spend my time and who I spend it with, as I enjoy alone time and away from the dramas and negativity”.

She added that when she was with the man, she felt like she saw the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. She wrote that she found him sporty, humorous, and liked living in the moment. “He might be the missing piece I need in my life. Perhaps it could help that our family is acquainted, which makes me feel that extra connection in this relationship. I am already looking forward to the next date, and also, shoutout to the singles out there: don’t give up. I am sure someday you will meet someone who makes you feel that special connection tho atm I am not sure where this is heading, but I am getting a good feeling out of this”, the woman wrote in her post.

Tharman: SG must keep enabling all S’poreans to engage in lifelong learning

Jewel Stolarchuk
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Tharman: SG must keep enabling all S’poreans to engage in lifelong learning

SINGAPORE: President Tharman Shanmugaratnam said that Singapore must continue to build institutions that enable all Singaporeans to upgrade their skills and engage in lifelong learning.

The head of state warned that failing to do so could lead to entrenched inequality if the responsibility is solely left to the market forces, he said in a speech at the SkillsFuture Award Ceremony on Monday (30 Oct). Asserting that lifelong learning can either reduce or lead to inequality, he said: “Without a national system, if we just leave it to the market of enterprises and we leave it to individuals, it can very well become a source of inequality.”

The priority, Mr Tharman said, is to ensure that lifelong learning remains “an equaliser across the workforce and an equaliser across firms so that small firms are not disadvantaged compared to large firms, which is again what will happen if we just leave it to the market.”

The SkillsFuture movement plays a crucial role in supporting workers and companies across all sectors in their skills-upgrading endeavours. This initiative strives to ensure that learning opportunities are equally accessible to all, irrespective of the size or scale of the business, thereby promoting a level playing field for individuals and companies.

President Tharman also acknowledged the need for additional support for individuals and groups who may not remain continuously in the workforce. He particularly mentioned women who temporarily exit the workforce to raise their families and caregivers who play a vital role in society.

A total of 24 companies received the SkillsFuture Employer Award from President Tharman during Monday’s ceremony. These firms were recognized as exemplary employers who have excelled in nurturing the skills and capabilities of their employees and in fostering a culture of lifelong learning within their workplaces.

Geylang Serai Ramadan market stall rentals to be capped at $15K next year

Jewel Stolarchuk
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Geylang Serai Ramadan market stall rentals to be capped at $15K next year

SINGAPORE: Following a spate of complaints over the skyrocketing cost of renting stalls at the annual Geylang Serai Raya market, the Government has introduced a cap on rental fees.

Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim said in a Facebook post on Monday (30 Oct) that the new $15,000 rental cap is to ensure that the market is affordable for both stallholders and consumers.

Assoc Prof Faishal, who also serves as lead adviser of Wisma Geylang Serai, said that setting a rental cap for stalls would allow stall owners to offer more cost-effective goods, which would benefit consumers. He also revealed that the bidding exercise for stalls at next year’s market has already begun.

Assoc Prof Faishal, who accompanied some MPs, also ran a spotlight on his Facebook page of businesses in the market that were doing well.

Some stallholders who spoke to Channel News Asia (CNA) for a report released a week before the MP’s Facebook posts recounted a different experience.

Mr Hasan, who sells kebab at his ‘Hasan Istanbul Kebab’ stall, told the news outlet that he regrets renting a stall at the market this year. Revealing that he paid a whopping $25,000 for rental, he told CNA: “We’re all losing money. (We) cannot cover costs, cannot even cover rent.”

A stallholder selling Ramly burgers nearby, who paid $20,000 for renting his stall, added: “We regret taking it this year. It was okay in previous years.”

Several stallholders told CNA reporters that there appeared to be fewer visitors this year, while the reporters noticed no queues at most stalls in the vicinity, unlike in previous years.

Their complaints came days after food guru KF Seetoh publicly criticised the Geylang Serai bazaar as “easily the world’s most expensive pasar malam stall” given the sky-high rental rates.

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung officiates largest ActiveSG gym in Bukit Canberra

Khalis Rifhan
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Health Minister Ong Ye Kung officiates largest ActiveSG gym in Bukit Canberra

SINGAPORE: Health Minister Ong Ye Kung and Sembawang GRC member of parliament Dr Lim Wee Kiak joined about 200 residents at the opening of the largest ActiveSg gym in Singapore over the weekend, Oct 29. The 1,500 square metre new gym and two dance studios marked the completion of the new ActiveSG Sports Centre at Bukit Canberra, following the opening of its four swimming pools on Oct 15.

During the opening of the AcitveSG gym at Bukit Canberra, Health Minister Ong and MP Dr Lim joined the residents in the Oxigeno® and Piloxing session. Addressing the crowd, Minister Ong and Dr Lim shared their excitement for the new ActiveSG programmes and facilities. The inclusive gym caters to varying physical abilities, and it features new HUR machines (pic below) that use air pressure in place of traditional weights. This new equipment will enable users of varying abilities to work out safely and more efficiently. 

Photo credit: SportSg

Apart from the gym, there are also two dance studios. It offers a variety of accessible and affordable learn-to-play programs such as Oxigeno®, Piloxing, Hatha Yoga and Zumba. These programmes will be available for bookings from November onwards. In support of Singapore’s move to encourage active ageing, Sport Singapore has announced that all Singaporeans aged 65 and above will continue to have free access to ActiveSG gym and swimming pools, including the newly opened facilities at Bukit Canberra.

Health Minister Ong also posted a video on social media of himself working out with residents at the largest ActiveSG gym at Bukit Canberra, with the caption, ‘Get energised at the largest ActiveSG gym in SG, here at Bukit Canberra! #makesembawangspecial #OKwithOYK’. You may view the video below. (Video credit: Facebook screengrab/ongyekung)

During the opening of the swimming pool earlier in the month, Dr Lim explained that the idea for the Bukit Canberra integrated sports and community hub was first mooted more than a decade ago. It was supposed to open a few years ago, but it was pushed back due to the pandemic.

“This has been a project in the making for at least 15 years. We started talking about this 15 years ago, we should have a swimming pool. At that point in time, the problem was Sembawang was too small. Everybody either has to either go to Woodlands or Yishun. The residents have feedback can we have a swimming pool of our own,” said Dr Lim, the MP for the Canberra division in the Sembawang GRC.

The ActiveSG Sports Centre @ Bukit Canberra comes under the Sports Facilities Master Plan, which aims to bring more innovative, accessible, inclusive and relevant sports facilities to all Singaporeans. The plan also seeks to improve accessibility to sporting facilities by situating them within a 10-minute walk from housing estates by around 2030.

Excess Pregnancy Weight Gain Increases Risk of Death in Women, NUS Study Reveals

Jewel Stolarchuk
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Excess Pregnancy Weight Gain Increases Risk of Death in Women, NUS Study Reveals

SINGAPORE: A new study by the National University of Singapore’s Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine has shed new light on the potential risks associated with excessive weight gain during pregnancy.

The study, which examined pregnancies spanning the last 50 years, revealed that women who gained excessive weight during pregnancy faced a significantly higher risk of mortality.

The research focused on the intricate relationship between pregnancy weight gain and the subsequent risk of death. Researchers found that women with normal or overweight body mass indices (BMI) who gained an excessive amount of weight during their pregnancies faced a substantial 9 to 12 per cent increased risk of death.

One of the most striking findings of the study was the impact on women who were underweight before pregnancy. These women, if they gained excessive weight during their pregnancies, were shown to be at an astonishing 84 per cent higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease.

Additionally, women with a normal pre-pregnancy weight who also gained excessive weight were 20 per cent more likely to succumb to cardiovascular issues.

The research didn’t stop at cardiovascular concerns, as it revealed that women who were already overweight prior to pregnancy and then gained a substantial amount of weight during gestation faced a 77 per cent increased risk of death from diabetes-related complications.

Healthcare providers typically closely monitor and educate pregnant women about healthy weight gain during pregnancy to mitigate the risks associated with excessive weight gain.

As the medical community continues to analyze and digest the implications of this study, it serves as a stark reminder of the importance of balanced weight gain and nutrition during pregnancy. Expectant mothers are urged to consult with their healthcare providers to establish and maintain a healthy weight gain plan to ensure a safer and healthier pregnancy journey.

/TISG

The post appeared first on The Independent News.

 

Read also: 

What Mums-To-Be Should Know About Pregnancy Insurance – Singapore News 

Yet another passenger spotted putting their feet up on bus seats

Jewel Stolarchuk
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Yet another passenger spotted putting their feet up on bus seats

SINGAPORE: Yet another bus passenger is being censured online after she was spotted putting their feet up on a bus seat, days after a woman who behaved similarly was arrested for public nuisance.

On Monday, Facebook user Pathma Keerthi Bandara posted a photo of a woman seated in a bus seat, stretching her feet out onto the seats in front of her. The photo drew widespread criticism on the Complaint Singapore Facebook page, where it was posted. Some called the bus passenger a “Karen” while others said the woman did not behave appropriately.

Some others asked why the Facebook user was shaming the woman online instead of confronting her in person.

Most of the comments referred to a case that unfolded just a few days prior when a woman was arrested after a video of her poor behaviour on board a public bus went viral on TikTok. The video, uploaded by a TikToker named “bbshidah”, shows the woman having removed her shoes and placing her feet on the opposite seat. She then donned sunglasses and covered her face with a face shield.

The bus captain intervened, addressing her actions and reminding her that passengers were not allowed to put their feet on the seats. However, instead of heeding the advice, the woman raised her voice at the bus captain.

Determined to enforce the bus rules, the driver took a firmer stance and threatened to involve the police if the woman persisted in her disruptive behaviour. Undeterred, the woman placed her feet on the armrests and continued to hide her face with a face shield and sunglasses.

The video also showed that the woman occupied four seats by placing her bags and belongings on the seat opposite her.

SBS Transit has issued a statement in response to the incident, emphasizing the importance of passengers displaying courtesy and a considerate attitude when using public transportation.

A spokesman for the company said, “Our bus captains are trained to handle incidents on board and follow standard operating procedures. Whenever they become aware or receive an alert, our bus captains advise passengers to stop the behaviour immediately. If a passenger refuses to cooperate, they will contact our Operations Control Centre to report the incident and seek guidance on what to do.”

The police confirmed that a 50-year-old female passenger was arrested in relation to the case on Thursday evening (26 Oct) and that the investigation is ongoing.

Demand for year-end temp workers is strong; may achieve double-digit year-on-year growth

Jewel Stolarchuk
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0
Demand for year-end temp workers is strong; may achieve double-digit year-on-year growth

SINGAPORE: With the year-end festivities on the horizon, the local retail, catering, and tourism industries are gearing up for a battle to secure temporary employees. Recruitment agencies report that demand for seasonal workers is expected to remain robust this year, with the potential for double-digit year-on-year growth.

As businesses prepare to welcome the holiday rush, some have taken proactive measures to ensure they have the workforce to meet customer demands. One notable company needing an increased workforce for their year-end sales is the Museum of Ice Cream. A company manager told Channel 8 news, “We need more time to find employees who are a perfect fit for our museum, and we also need to ensure there is enough time to train them. We are hiring 20% more employees this year. This will simplify our workforce planning and enable us to provide our guests with better and more memorable services.”

The company is also recruiting temporary workers earlier this year than in previous years. It plans to offer wages about 10% to 15% higher than the previous year and is looking to hire approximately 100 people, mainly for administrative and operational roles. The increase in wages aims to attract top talent and maintain the quality of service during the busy holiday season.

Despite the strong demand for seasonal employees, some companies have worked on improving their work processes and have reduced their workload, slightly decreasing the number of new hires required compared to the previous year. Industry experts suggest this may be due to businesses streamlining operations and ensuring efficiency.

One catering company, for example, plans to hire 20% more waiters and kitchen assistants, offering flexible hours to ease the demand during the festive rush. This move will allow them to better cater to customers while ensuring a seamless dining experience.

Online job search platforms have reported an upsurge in recruitment activities during the previous festive period, with a remarkable tenfold year-on-year increase. This spike was largely attributed to the rapid economic rebound following the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in pent-up demand and increased consumer spending.

However, the anticipated growth rate for the upcoming festive season may not be as significant this year due to the economic slowdown affecting major sectors like manufacturing and electronics, which in turn is having a ripple effect on the job market. Additionally, inflation has slightly eroded consumers’ purchasing power, causing some recruitment firms to anticipate a more modest growth rate than the previous year.

As the year-end celebrations draw closer, local businesses remain optimistic about the demand for temporary employees. However, they are keeping a close eye on the economic landscape and its potential impact on recruitment. Regardless of the challenges posed by economic uncertainty, these companies remain committed to providing a warm and memorable holiday experience for their customers.

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