Meritocracy At Work In Singapore: How Relevant Is It Today? | Measuring Meritocracy | Full Episode

[@XeniaSolify]

I just wanted to mention that the 3D animation video for the beginning is just really thoughtful and reflective of the topic. Nice work.

[@dspirit2]

Compared to western countries, Singapore's companies emphasize a lot on paper qualifications. I suppose that goes with our Asian culture. In the US, you can get a job that earns more than S$18,500/month, even if you don't have a degree but you have demonstrated through other means that you have the requisite skills to do the job. Having the relevant work experience is worth much more than a degree.

[@koruspring1519]

Well of course, just look at George Santos

[@dspirit2]

@@koruspring1519 George Santos is a scammer and Americans who voted for him are too dumb to realize that. Politicians don't need work experience to do their jobs in the US, they just need to lie to trick those simple-minded American voters.

[@tslee8236]

If you are not worth your pay, you are fired. That's how it works in the US.

[@dspirit2]

@@tslee8236 That's how it works in Singapore too.

[@hilaryb8807]

This is true in high tech. The majority of other careers require a degree at minimum, or they won’t even consider your application.

[@Danderman888]

Of course meritocracy is relevant today as it ever was and will be. Its relevance is not in question but rather how we interpret meritocracy. It should not be based on a particular facet alone, e.g. the traditional method academic route. I think the best example of a meritocratic system is the German system, where an individual's value is not only judged by one route, but based on proof of competency. I believe we are increasingly adopting a similar system, where CET is now recognised more readily and even being promoted more. Anyway, with the fast evolving technology today, especially in AI, there is going to be major changes in defining competencies, and that is going to rock more boats.

[@Thamometer]

Umm. Why tech companies overhire and then cut manpower has got nothing to do with "not knowing how many engineers they need". It's about hoarding ideas/creativity and depriving the competition from being able to hire these bright minds to work for them.

[@dannychan3141]

Meritocracy is just a paper talk after me having joined one of the Ministry. Capable individuals but without degrees are suppressed and not given opportunities. Just because we do not holds a degree. The group of higher salaried degree holders with poor experience and worst, with low EQ, are getting much higher positions and know nuts about their work. Even the COs are just like messengers forwarding emails when we are also kept in the loop from the original sender. Where most of them are just thrown to our department waiting for their retirement. Without experience on the ground they come up with ideas that totally doesn't suit the operations needs. The only skill that's required is CARRYBALLS-cracy that I had seen so far.

[@z.zaimie1406]

Super agree

[@roboticsforfun5000]

Capable individuals without degree are not suppressed by the system, IMO. They are suppressed by their own inferiority complex. As a woman who started working with a engineering diploma, I have risen above that degree and gender barrier within 5 years, and become technical leader in less than 10 years. I will tell you that it can happen, but it does not happen to those who are too shy or afraid to step forward.

[@dannychan3141]

@@roboticsforfun5000 glad that u r able to, and i totally agreed that in private practice u could n have tons of opportunities. Try public services n joining ministries and you will see inequality on their rewarding system. they are preaching but NOT practicing what they preach.

[@Treelia]

@@roboticsforfun5000 I agree it is do-able. BUT NOT in government service in Singapore which OP is talking about. I have risen above that as well. My hubby did better than me in university, but I’m doing better than him now and I have more flexi work arrangements than him IRONICALLY. Better results, as in I grad with no honours but he got second upper honours, which I do get is dime a dozen. BUT STILL I am considered to have a trash degree results (esp if I even did think of going to Govt). We had always been prepared that I will work in private sector and him in public sector so that he has more time for the kids than me. That has not happened. Based on the pay and his progression, we really see now that because he isn’t a scholar, there is still a glass ceiling for him. His own organization, the deputy CEO is the one that has all the experience. The CEO was helicopter-ed in. So he also has no delusions that he would be able to rise above the CEP (career end point) that is already deterministic if you were not already a scholar (which you ONLY have that opportunity at A level/university to get in and only if you knew to apply for it). The reassessment mentioned for CEP in the video is to weed out the less deserving individuals who did get scholarship but then later don’t prove themselves well enough. You will never rise above a certain level without being a scholar AND managing to maintain that status throughout your career (until they helicopter you somewhere as CEO or Minister then you have made it). Which is why Danny’s comment is important. The video themselves have already said that the government should pave the way forward to how employers should be promoting their workers and giving them career progression. If my hubby who HAS a degree doesn’t see any opportunities for the ‘lateral vertical and diagonal career movement’ within Govt, what is left when you work for the Govt WITHOUT a degree? I think I got lucky to work in a MNC where they have brought in more progressive HR policies and practices. Our SG Govt has much to work on. I’m curious to know whether you are in private sector like me, or you really manage to make it in the SG public sector.

[@roboticsforfun5000]

I worked only for the super well known MNCs, 5 American and 1 German, with progressive HR like you mention. My hours have been super flexi, and worked "hybrid"ly since 2001, before SARS even hit us. I do not know what it is like in public service, and I did not know to constrain my comments under this post. Sorry Danny, that I hijacked it. However, getting a job with no degree back in 1995, in MNCs, I was destined to be a supervisor (at most) in a electronics factory. Climbing the ranks as I did was probably seen to be as difficult as it is in public sector. Currently, I am a engineering associate fellow, 1 level under the highest on technical ladder. To get to this level, I have to produce better cutting edge technical work than 1st class Honours, Masters and even PhD, including some from Cambridge and Stanford. Maybe this is purely technical, and not subjected to as much scholarship bias. Thinking back, there was a period that I worked for a Temasek held company that had a lot of EDB scholars, but they had to hire me to represent their interest in a joint collaboration work with a US MNC. They, especially my director, had to work out a way to pay me enough, and gave me lots of space to work in. I kinda hear that there is some resentment there, but I did a fantastic job, so nobody challenged my package over my contribution. I would say this about myself.... all my colleagues and friends knows that I am an uncontrollable freak and I do not allow my ideas to be suppressed. Managers that behave like they own me or my ideas, fail miserably, because I will bring the issue to whatever level is necessary for it to be reviewed. I certainly am not the type that can work in public sector. Kudos, my deepest respect to those who can.

[@oberen]

*sighs* I was a victim of this system of meritocracy having been born physically disabled. Oh don't get me wrong.. I was doing fine in normal schools and having a good education.... but it's the final hurdle that I stumbled on and faded away. Yes.. its the exams that I failed to overcome.. Tried asking MOE for manual keyboard usage or extra time like an hour because of my manual handwriting but they gave me only ten minutes,. At that time back in the early 90s technology wasn't so advanced as it is today. So eventually I got a D7 for my English O Levels. Got a repeat of it after retaking the O levels. Same thing occurred in the private schools I went to. The education was fine and the learning went without any problems. It was the final hurdle the test that failed me. I asked the school admin whether I can use electric keyboard or computer for the exams but they politely declined. So I was wondering. Does special education schools have normal education courses like PSLE, N levels, O levels, A levels or college education for underprivledged students? Self education is fine but hard to prove to potential employers .

[@guruhundal8089]

Meritocracy may be good to start with but when you promote the people who come in through their merit and pay them high wages it is difficult to pay them lower when you bring them into government and they become mediocre

[@silverchairsg]

Connections are much more important than merit.

[@JehoiachinReleased]

Issue on "foreign talent" fraud in qualification is not address. It is also an issue with meritocracy. Companies which are "foreign talent" heavy at the top is another issue. It pressurize the pay of local and difficulty in career progression. The gov should take a more hard handed approach in handling this issue or else it wouldn't be as rosy as this video. The populist is always at the horizon.

[@limlisa]

It is already in Singapore and is damaging Singapore future.

[@SHxxxxT]

Worse when there are some foreign talent in fact aren't really that superior to locals here but just chosen not because of meritocracy entirely

[@noproblematallmate]

If you dont have qualifications for the job, its not you can't perform the job. The organisation just doesn't want to risk time and effort on choosing you over someone else with higher qualification.

[@caedanteng5417]

😂😂😂😂😂 is their loss.

[@CapDingo1975]

God has placed different things on each one of our hearts. If God calls you to this line of work, then go. Bless you guys!

[@user-ijh7tl5ie3]

Paper cannot wrap fire. The true colours will always show.

[@wangjinwen7708]

Meritocracy is a sham. Singapore’s policy generally favours elitism. If the parent is an elite, their offspring will be groomed and protected at all course. Does the term white horse sounds familiar? Yes during ns times. Does your kid gets better priority to enroll if you are alumni of a top primary school in singapore? In singapore if you are not an elite, then its better off you dun have any offsprings after you. Government has a bunch of policies to ensure poor man dun continue their line of generation, elite is a better gene to continue, for the better good of the future

[@pupplemupple]

give blue collar jobs more value

[@vincenttan6303]

SG market fast-tracking PhD holders to managerial position in AI / Software Engineering is utter bs. They are just a few intern's technical interview questions away from being exposed.

[@g.o.a.t4393]

soft skill in workplace = apple polishing

[@stephentan3538]

Arts and sports are not strong here. These promote eq thinking out of the box, promotes teamwork.. Taking risk... People who earn 1m a year seldom take risk.. Job is important, incremental change only.. Planning for the future requires lots of EQ ... See our jobs.. Why not enough IT people.. No planning ahead for more IT grads.. Lots of barriers to get in the IT courses.. Need a 3.8 average for entry to NUS or NTU.. Sports and arts no future in Singapore.. I give up ...

[@noproblematallmate]

People at the bottom often think people on top are deserve less. I have seen it all from both sides.

[@DXcl1no]

there is no meritocracy when women are now preferentially hired due to gender quotas in tech/finance firms with their women in tech/finance programmes. This is while competing with a male candidate of equal or even better. This is especially glaring in private banking where you can have majority of shortlisted interview candidates being female, when the average male has better portfolios than female candidates. Adding on to the fact that men are forced to undertake national service and lag behind by 2 years and suffer having their careers delayed, this puts men behind due to reasons not associated with their competency.

[@jayj97921]

How is meritocracy linked to paper qualifications? don't mix up a flawed recognition system with that of a perfected meritocracy system. The fact that paper qualifications provides for white collar jobs, which in turn pays better than frontline workers is the corrosion of meritocracy, the failure to recognize the efforts of on-ground workers and compensate accordingly. Don't use a flawed system, link it up like its the perfect meritocracy system, and when it failed, say meritocracy has failed.

[@John-kv2ec]

Feels like a talking Kok video

[@caedanteng5417]

What is consider , "decent" pay for the hands and heart workers.

[@Confidence_and_Fitness]

PHD for what?

[@roboticsforfun5000]

Do we want to be treated by lousy Doctors? Meritocracy is a determination of who can be qualified into specialist positions.

[@shanekiat2177]

you’re giving an example which ofc is not relevant to other industries

[@user-ijh7tl5ie3]

Maybe u don’t mind being operated on by a doctor with lots of paper qualifications but not good with his hands, skills, surgical judgement. Not all doctors hv good dexterity.

[@koruspring1519]

Hey you know what has no bias? A good trained AI… maybe we can replace HR with that?

[@lenas6246]

imagine believing ai has no bias

[@koruspring1519]

@@lenas6246 I hear your point. It’s a popular problem. That’s why I said a good trained AI.

[@jarrodyuki7081]

democracy human rights rule of law and democracy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@clementihammock7572]

Pls lah, once Cotton Chan speak, it definitely spoilt the mood to finish this documentary and turn off many viewers. 😁

[@metallooily7606]

you cross breed kacau kacau saja

[@clementihammock7572]

@@metallooily7606 you crawled out from pariah!

[@lenas6246]

"emotional skills" is nothing new, its called emotional labor. On top of increasing stress and inequality you basically demand from people to whore themselves emotionally in a workplace where no one wants to be and prentend that everythig is cool

[@78Mkv]

Scholar and farmer system is flawed. I’ve seen so many lousy scholars who are just fleecing money from their cushy positions. Think SMRT and SPH 😂

[@lightspeeder]

Replace "meritocracy" with "Darwinism".

[@jarrodyuki7081]

end of the era of law and the beginning of the era of faith. no child porn no sex wimth irnos noi llegal durgsn and noilegafirmieam nanyantion .

[@caedanteng5417]

Populism is norm. People are not equally respected 😂 especially those cognitive beings.

[@JonDOE-up4on]

Meritpcracy vs Idiotocracy in the Weyt

[@caedanteng5417]

Monetocracy where money buys the most merits.

[@lostinmuzak]

Does meritocracy applies in Singapore government? If so why does one party controls the power? Please control the hypocrisy. The rich gets the best education. The poor for generations stays as poor.

[@DXcl1no]

as sad as it is, this is not a singaporean problem. the rich always enjoy better opportunities in life, globally. just have to live with it

[@Confidence_and_Fitness]

government workers low pay for pap directors ultra-high profit dividend.

[@lightspeeder]

All is fine. Sg best. Remember to vote white

[@6anonymous9.]

Degree is look up upon in Singapore. That's explain why the country is developed. In some part of the world, like Malaysia, Degree is look down upon, and even shame, obviously not all but in the time of lack of employment, people who have a degree were ridicule and even being portrayed as dependent, arrogant, naïve and no future. Well USA too but yea lmao

[@Mjganny]

Not sure where you find that Malaysians think having a degree is looked down upon.

[@DXcl1no]

@@Mjganny fella just a clown boomer trying to talk big lol

[@LeonardXin-gp8nk]

Love the Bullshit!

[@bowlampar]

Relevant or not is up to the employer to decide. Boss get to make that call in a work place, not CNA, nor any journalist for that matter.🤣😁

[@caedanteng5417]

😂😂😂😂😂😂