Household electricity tariff to go up from July 1

By Lee Siew Hoon, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 26 June 2009 1604 hrs

SINGAPORE: After two quarters of downward adjustment, household electricity tariff will go up by 6.93 per cent or 1.25 cents per kilo watt hour (kWh) from July 1 to September 30.

Electricity supplier SP Services said the increase is due largely to higher average fuel oil prices from April to June which hit S$76.24 per barrel.

This is a 26 per cent increase from the S$60.47 per barrel used in setting the previous quarter's tariff.

The tariff is calculated based on a new formula which kicks in next month.

Under the revised formula, the electricity tariff for the next quarter will be based on the average fuel oil prices in the preceding three months instead of the fuel oil price in the first month of the previous quarter.

SP Services said the tariff revision is mitigated by a reduction in the cost recovery fee which it collects to cover the costs of billing and meter reading.

The fee which forms part of the overall tariff will go down from 0.28 cents per kWh to 0.22 cents.

SP services said this reduction is due to its productivity improvements and cost reductions. - CNA/vm

From ChannelNewsAsia.com; see the source article here.

Hey Dad!

By Susan Ferroa, channelnewsasia.com Posted: 19 June 2009 2216 hrs

Tien Court restaurant at Copthorne King's Hotel

There are some dates on the calendar that we all can’t miss since everyone from florist to restaurateur won’t let us forget, like Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day.

But when it comes to Father’s Day, “somewhere in June” is probably the best answer most would hazard to offer.

To be precise, Father’s Day always falls on the third Sunday of June and this year, it’s on 21 June.

The date changes each year for Father’s Day, and if it fell on the first Sunday of the month, like Mother’s Day in May – that would make Father’s Day easier to remember.

Could that be one reason why Father’s Day gets less attention?

Or maybe it’s a guy thing wound around the father figure.

When Channel NewsAsia’s website users were asked in a poll here how they would describe their father, it turned out to be a close finish between the choice of a distant parent and a hard-working one.

Some also saw their father as the disciplinarian who is also nice.

Perhaps it’s that ‘big boys don’t cry’ image that most fathers work to uphold along with that nonchalant air he maintains whether he gets attention or not, that tell us that Dads don’t want any fuss on Father’s Day.

However, that's all on the surface.

Each day when I see a certain well-worn mug, I recall the pride and love shining in the eyes of a father as he recounted how his little girl bravely went up in public to say “I love my Dad” to earn the mug emblazoned with the same words which she presented as a Father’s Day gift.

Penang Laksa from Princess Terrace Cafe at Copthorne King's Hotel

You can't match that, so what else could you do for your Dad this Father's Day?

For starters, you could offer an Apple - not the fruit of course.

You could tap on the special engraving service offered by the online Apple store so you can let Dad know how you feel and have it etched forever on an iPod touch.

Students or faculty staff could also take up the back-to-school offer where the purchase of a Mac and an iPod comes with a S$365 rebate.

The offer which covers the latest MacBook Pro means you get for just a few dollars, an 8GB iPod touch with the latest Operating System as it’s shipped after 17 June.

Alternatively, the book-loving Dad could enjoy a coffee-table book filled with family photos and special notes which you can compile and create through iPhoto and send to the Apple online store for the publishing work.

As the way to a man’s heart has always been said to be through his stomach, a number of restaurants have come up with special menus for Father’s Day.

Mussels at Azur, Crowne Plaza Hotel

If you want to give Dad a treat along with the rest of the family, Tien Court, the Chinese restaurant at the Copthorne King’s Hotel is offering a special set menu which includes a number of its signature dishes such as Braised Lobster with Egg Noodles, as well as Steamed Yam dessert at S$48 per person.

Also at the Copthorne King’s is the Princess Terrace café which offers a Penang Buffet featuring favourites such as Fried Kway Teow, Laksa and Prawn Noodles done the way that would pass the muster of most Penangites.

If you relish dishes from Gurney Drive, head for this buffet priced at $38 for adults and $23.80 per child which also includes an aromatic Nasi Ulam which is not often found offered on restaurant menus, as well as Penang-style desserts.

The best part about this delicious spread is that even if you find the buffet booked out on Father’s Day, you could make it up to Dad on another day as the buffet is available daily, even in the evenings.

A chance visit on a Friday evening to the buffet found it well-stocked and none-too-crowded. But it's a good idea to make a reservation as the Penang buffet is popular as it is scrumptious.

Even if you've saved on making that eating trip to Penang, you could still take Dad and the family out to the airport.

At Terminal 3 is the one-year-old Crowne Plaza hotel.

Although it is a favourite among travellers making a short stay in Singapore, locals diners find it a worthwhile trip to make for some good wining and dining at the hotel.

The Azur restaurant has put together an International Buffet for Father’s Day which features a vast array of mussels from Sardinia, New Zealand and France, alongside freshly shucked oysters and poached Boston lobster.

There are three different $48 menus for the Father’s Day spread which offers both Asian and Western styled dishes.

If all else fails, a hug does go a long way, and so does a simple “thank you”.

So here's to da, Jock and the guy with the black mug - father figures who've made a difference to their kids and who have reminded me that no matter how old you get, you'll always remain Daddy's Little Girl or Little Buddy (even if he doesn't say so).

From ChannelNewsAsia.com; see the source article here.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Make Mom a Sweet Photo Book in iPhoto - But Do It Today! (geeksugar.com)
• Smaller crowds greet new iPhone (canada.com)
• Iphone 3GS Features (techblissonline.com)
• Is it time to drop your iPhone plan and buy a MiFi? (tuaw.com)
• SignalScope Pro 1.0 delivers on iPhone and iPod touch (themactrack.com)
• Week in review: Palm challenges Apple to phone fight (news.cnet.com)
• Don't look inside Apple's black box (macworld.com)
• Price cuts highlight tough choices for Apple (cnn.com)
• Dejal introduces Valentines 1.0 for iPhone (themactrack.com)

Driving over speed limit, beating amber lights top dangerous driving habits

By Zhang Tingjun, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 09 June 2009 1836 hrs

Traffic in Singapore (file pic)

SINGAPORE: A nationwide road safety survey has revealed that Singapore drivers are less inclined to signal when switching lanes or overtaking, but are more careful when it comes to drinking and driving than European motorists.

The month-long survey by AXA Insurance was conducted with more than 500 Singapore drivers, made up of private car owners and taxi drivers.

The survey showed that 60 per cent admitted to committing at least one dangerous driving practice. Driving at more than 10 kilometres per hour over the speed limit and beating an amber light topped the list.

Drivers were more prudent, however, when it came to drink driving, with 24 per cent saying they do not drink at all before taking the wheel.

When asked what would deter them from dangerous driving practices, the top three reasons cited pertained to law enforcement. Personal safety came in fourth, and the safety of others fifth.

Another notable finding was that the only dangerous driving behaviour that women are more likely to engage in than men is answering the phone without a hands-free kit or text messaging while driving.

Drivers who were married with young children were also found to be more likely to engage in unsafe driving practices compared to those married with older children.

Younger motorists between 18 and 34 years of age were also found to be less likely to perceive a breach of safety rules as dangerous driving compared to motorists aged 35 and above.

According to AXA, the most surprising finding, however, was that over 75% of those surveyed gave the wrong answer to the question "What is the speed limit on normal roads?"

Some did not know, whereas others guessed 60, 50 or 30 kilometres per hour. The correct answer is 50 kilometres per hour.

AXA said that going over the speed limit is not only dangerous, it can also be costly when it comes to filing claims.

Henri Gurs, CEO, AXA Insurance Singapore, said: "Between an accident at 50 km/h or an accident at 70 km/h, the damages will be more than doubled."

According to AXA, accident claims have risen from 13 to 16 per cent over the past four years. - CNA/ms

From ChannelNewsAsia.com; see the source article here.

Related articles by Zemanta

• TV And Games Blamed For Speeding Culture (news.sky.com)
• Road safety investigation (telegraph.co.uk)
• Drivers do not understand common road signs (telegraph.co.uk)
• Lowering of speed limits could be policed by average speed cameras (telegraph.co.uk)

Slow recovery prompts review

Points to consider for employers? employees?

----------

EMPLOYMENT GUIDELINES

Pearl Forss, pearlmaria@mediacorp.com.sg 

WITH the increasing unemployment rate and a projected fall in GDP in Singapore, the tripartite partners — comprising the government, employers and unions — have issued updated guidelines to help companies lower costs and save jobs.

Some green shoots may have appeared in the economy but we are not out of the woods. Hence, the tripartite labour partners have decided to update their guidelines that were first issued last November, as many companies continue to grapple with low demand and excess manpower.

Secretary-general of NTUC, Lim Swee Say, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, said: “The global economy may be performing better, at least for the second quarter. But in Singapore, the tripartite partners are very mindful that we are still a long way from a sustained recovery.”

The guidelines state that if shorter work weeks are to be implemented, it should not exceed three days in a week, or last more than three months at any one instance, subject to review.

----------

SOME RECOMMENDATIONS

Shorter work week

• Ask workers to take up to 50 per cent of their earned annual leave
• Implement the reduction in work week such that it does not exceed three days in a week and not last for more than three months at any one time, subject to review
• Pay the affected employees not less than half of their salary on the day(s) when the employees are not working, during the period when the shorter week is implemented
• Leverage on Spur to send workers for skills upgrading on the day(s) when they are not working, and claim absentee payroll — a move that will benefit both employees and employer

Temporary layoff

• Request for employees to take up to 50 per cent of their annual leave
• Implement the lay off period such that it does not exceed one month at any one instance subject to review
• Pay the affected employee not less than half of their salary during the layoff period

----------

Employees should also not be paid less than half of their salaries on the days they are not working.

Likewise, if temporary layoffs are necessary, the period should not exceed one month, subject to review, and employees should not be paid less than half their salaries.

For shorter work weeks and temporary layoffs, the guidelines also suggest requesting workers to take up to 50 per cent of their earned annual leave.

In implementing no-pay leave, companies should have first put in place other cost-cutting measures.

Vice-president of the Singapore National Employers Federation, Bob Tan, said: “Workers don’t earn a lot . So if they have no-pay leave, they got to find other ways and means of earning a living ... But it’s better to have no-pay leave and send the workers for training than to retrench the workers. So I think these guidelines take into account what is fair for the workers but at the same time enables the company to continue operating.”

As for pay cuts, the guidelines recommend management should lead by example and take deeper cuts.

Deputy secretary-general of NTUC, Heng Chee How, said: “When it comes to things that affect wages, then can you do it in such a way that you can get a buy-in from the workers? Management should lead by example so workers will know that this is true and they are not taken for a ride.”

In a period of slack, companies are also encouraged to send their workers for upgrading. They can pick from the over 1000 subsidised courses under the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (Spur).

And if retrenchment is inevitable, the compensation should be calculated based on the pay the worker was drawing prior to any wage cuts.

The prevailing norm is to pay a retrenchment benefit varying between two weeks and one month salary per year of service.

Companies should consult workers if retrenchment becomes necessary and notify the Manpower Ministry as soon as possible.

The guidelines also recommend making the monthly variable component (MVC) a permanent feature in calculating salaries.

Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong said: “We want to encourage our employers who have implemented wage cuts this time, that when they restore the wage cuts, to put in the MVC so that it will create more flexibility in our wage system.”

Companies facing problems can turn to the tripartite upturn strategy teams at www.mom.gov.sg for help. Channel NewsAsia

From TODAY, News – Monday, 18-May-2009

Related articles by Zemanta

• Amid the signs of recovery... (myleadingleads.blogspot.com)
• Retrain and prepare for a different world (myleadingleads.blogspot.com)
• Jobs: What a Rebound Will Look Like (businessweek.com)