#466
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The true Iron Ladies of Johor
Report from The New Straits Times dated Friday 3 February 2006 :-
The true Iron Ladies of Johor By Lau Meisan JOHOR BARU, Thurs ------------------- EIGHTEEN-HOUR days are the norm for thousands of women from Johor who journey across the state to Singapore to work at its numerous factories. They willingly make sacrifices for the Singapore dollar that keeps their Malaysian families afloat, writes LAU MEISAN. They are not called the "Iron Ladies of Johor" for nothing. The monicker has been earned the hard way: sleepless nights, permanent graveyard shifts, meals on the go and hours spent on the road to Singapore. Who are these women? They are mostly in their late 30s and 40s with limited education or skills and no way of ever taking home the RM2,300 they earn in the republic. For those living the furthest from Singapore, the personal sacrifices have been all that much more. It meant a minimal six hours at home tending to housework while making time for a nap. In the most extreme cases, it is a three-hour 150km journey from towns like Kluang, Rengam or Pontian that sees them leaving home at 2.45pm and returning about 10.30am the next day. The intervening hours are mostly spent at work — which is usually a 12-hour shift — with the rest on the road. By the time they return home, the day is almost done with precious little time for the family or personal life. Ask them why and they all echo the same sentiments: It’s a sacrifice for a better life for their families. Sleep is mostly on the road to work, as the short hours at home are invariably spent with family or completing chores. This is the life story of thousands of Malaysians who commute by bus daily to Singapore for the big bucks at factories there. The attraction of the Singapore dollar is undeniably the most important factor for most opting for jobs there. Many earn about S$1,000 (RM2,300) or thereabouts, a fortune compared to the RM650 to RM800 a month they could get here. Even with overtime, it is virtually impossible for them to see anything beyond RM1,500 at the end of the month here. Food allowance, medical allowance, night-shift allowance, and even share options are among incentives Singapore companies offer to Malaysian workers. Establishments like Singapore electronics manufacturer, Seagate, rely heavily on Malaysian workers to get the job done. According to Johor Baru Factory Bus Operators and Drivers Association chairman R. Subramaniam, about 150 buses transport Malaysian workers to Singapore everyday. With up to 40 passengers per trip, the buses make two return trips daily, catering to both morning and night shift workers. "We ferry no less than 12,000 factory operators for work in Singapore every day," he said, adding that the pick-up points were Skudai, Ulu Tiram, Kulai, Saleng, Gelang Patah, Kulai — all within a 50km radius of the causeway. However, a small number also come from as far as between 80km and 100km from the Causeway. The transport charges are borne by companies in Singapore which pay the bus operators between S$30 and S$75 per head per month to ferry the workers. Another favoured mode of transportation is the motorcycle, especially for daily-rated construction and shipyard workers in Singapore. |
#467
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Better wages make up for long working hours
Report from The New Straits Times dated Friday 3 February 2006 :-
Better wages make up for long working hours JOHOR BARU, Thurs ------------------- Ho Mimi has spent more nights at work than at home over the past eight years. For her, a good night’s sleep is a luxury she will not sacrifice for anything. The working day starts at 2.45pm for the production worker at the Seagate factory in Ang Mo Kio when she leaves her Kluang home on a bus journey that will see her at her workplace about 7pm. But there are times when the jam at the Causeway is so bad that the bus arrives two hours earlier than normal. This means that lunch and dinner are on the road. Ho said workers received two breaks — for 30 minutes and 40 minutes respectively — in a 12-hour shift. Ho clocks out at 7am the next morning to head for home — another three-hour bus ride to Kluang. "When I get home, I have to cook for my children aged between 11 and 18. I also attend to their school work. There are also household chores to complete. "I hardly sleep at home — I do that on the bus. In fact, I am scared to fall asleep, just in case I miss the bus to work. It’s a great phobia because I cannot afford to lose this job," she said. Ho works on shifts that rotate on a three or four-consecutive-day work week. She works about 15 days a month receiving a monthly basic of about S$650 (RM1,500). If production at the factory is at its peak, she can work up to 26 days a month, which means earnings of up to RM3,000. Ho has to work as her husband is a lorry driver who cannot make ends meet on his salary. "Before joining Seagate, I ran a small business in Kluang and earned barely RM600 a month. Tell me, where I can find a job that pays so well? "I have no education or skill. So, this job has been God-sent," she said. Ambarasi Krishran, 31, who has been working in a Singapore factory for nine years, said she was attracted by the higher wages. "I used to work in a factory in Kluang which paid me only RM450 a month. Now I make nearly four times that amount," said the worker from Renggam, which is 80km from Singapore. Chia Chor Ting, 47, who lives in Simpang Renggam, joined an international disk manufacturer in Singapore 11 years ago. She was sewing clothes at home and making about RM300 a month when a labour agent arrived in her town in 1995 to recruit factory operators. "They offered a basic pay of S$380, plus the allowance and overtime. I can earn up to S$1,000 a month. "That’s a lot for someone like me, who only has Standard Six education," she said. Chia does the 12-hour night-shifts as the take-home pay is better. "It was really hard in the beginning. I would just fall asleep while at work. But you just get used to it. Besides, the workload is heavy and you just don’t notice the hours rolling by fast," she added Chia heads the disk assembling unit at her factory. "Besides the pay, we get free medical treatment and share options. In addition, we also get year-end bonuses." |
#468
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Great Battle of the Century with the Hatyai ' Tigress'
Quote:
Very paiseh ......... I see your 'publicity' on the 'Great Battle of the Century' EVERYWHERE ! I didn't appoint you as my Publicity Manager. Wah lau........ no need to publicise so much ! I do hope that no reporter wait for me at the Airport to interview me on my return to my hometown |
#469
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Re: Great Battle of the Century with the Hatyai ' Tigress'
Quote:
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PRC always make us think we are special, the moment we believe them is when we are the one getting fcked Brother of Realm, Tiko#41 U. N. R. E. T. I. R. E. D. |
#470
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Great Battle of the Century with the Hatyai ' Tigress'
Quote:
Will be posting FR in the "Hatyai After Dark" thread ........... be patient ! What does the 'Hatyai Tigress' look like ? Does she look something like the "Queen of Stripteaser" in the photos below ? http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery;...8&sbid=lc01 b http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?...ance.jpg&gwp=8
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KatoeyLover69 http://www.bangkoktonight.com Thai pussies are the best in the world. Once you have licked them, you're addicted for life !!! |
#471
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Date of Feb '06 JB Samsters' Gathering ???
Originally Posted by 6" boy :
Quote:
I don't know when is the next JB Samsters' Gathering as I had retired from organising JB Gatherings w.e.f. 1 Feb 2006 due to very, very poor response from JB Samsters. I would like to suggest that you take over the organising, publicise and promote it and get as many JB Samsters as possible to attend. Any date is okay with me - just let me know the date and I will try my best to attend. |
#472
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Re: Samster Gathering JB
Guys,
My sincerest apologies as I have been out of action for a while. Been really really busy. So let's re-live it and hope for more happenings. See you all |
#473
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Re: Samster Gathering JB
haiii....too bad..
i haven take part yet, jb samster already give up.. seens like jb market become worse and worse... anyway hope can join the next jb samster gathering if it happen again.. cheers.......... |
#474
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Re: Samster Gathering JB
can make it at March? I will try to attend.... count me in,,, hehe
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#475
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Re: Samster Gathering JB
yup... count me in too.
I wanna learn a few good tricks from these sifus. pm me for contact number. hehe
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.: Anything And Everything abt Johor :. SBF Honorable Brethrens to up: To any brethen here who I've promised to upz ur point, but had not received any, please pm me. |
#476
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Re: Samster Gathering JB
hi bro register this nick some time back actually new to here and will like to join u guys but too high end then i don think i can go for it
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#477
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Re: Samster Gathering JB
sori, cant attend as i m now based in shanghai, if u go sh , pls pm me
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#478
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Samster Gathering JB
Quote:
Thank you for attending the last JB Gathering in Jan '06. Please PM me your China mobile phone no. ......... Looking forward to your FRs on Shanghai chicks |
#479
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Re: Samster Gathering JB
Quote:
good luck all MALAYSIA JB/kul samsters
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I here to hope everyone is up point,up me and Get your Point up |
#480
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Re: Date of Feb '06 JB Samsters' Gathering ???
Quote:
So, dont just give up yet. Ultimately, the gathering should have some common interest beside makan and TCSS, perhaps should plan Round 2 for a cheong together. I would love to attend the next gathering in JB when you guys orguiniced one and of course I would glad to sponsor Magix for those who go for live firing. So anyone else game?
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