REACH 561 - What are your views on the new FWA guidelines? What else can be done to improve working conditions?
(SK)
18 Apr 2024 (10am - 7pm)
REACH
17/4/24, 9:53 am - +REACH: *Dear Contributors,*
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17/4/24, 10:02 am - +REACH: 📢 *Topic* 📢
Under the new Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangement Requests, all employers in Singapore must fairly consider formal requests from employees for flexible work arrangements (FWAs) from Dec 1, 2024.
The compulsory guidelines were unveiled on April 15 (Monday) and will cover formal requests for FWAs, and the processes to submit and evaluate these while not governing the outcome.
💬 *What are your views on the new FWA guidelines? What else can be done to improve working conditions?*
More details on the new guidelines on FWA requests:
📌 *_Broader definition of FWAs:_*
The tripartite workgroup said the rules adopt a broad definition of FWAs beyond the flexi-place arrangements such as remote or hybrid working and includes staggered work hours, part-time work or job sharing. It also aims to sensitise employers, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises with less advanced human resource processes, to consider flexi-time and flexi-load arrangements.
📌 *_Difference between formal and non-formal requests:_*
On the difference between formal and non-formal requests, the workgroup said formal requests often take the form of structured, recurring arrangements that entail some change in work processes.
Non-formal requests for FWAs do not fall under these guidelines, but they should be allowed to be raised, and approved or rejected, so long as there is a consensus.
📌 *_Guidelines on FWA requests:_*
The guidelines stipulate that the process to submit a formal request, and how the request will be handled, should be clearly outlined to workers. Employees ought to make their formal FWA requests in writing and follow requirements that employers stipulate.
Employers must reply to the request within two months of the date the request was made, and they are encouraged to discuss alternative arrangements if the one sought is not feasible.
Employees whose employers did not adhere to the guidelines can approach the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (Tafep) for assistance on formal FWA requests.
📌 *_Training on implementation of new guidelines:_*
The workgroup said Tafep and the Institute for Human Resource Professionals will introduce training and resources to help employers gain the capabilities to implement FWAs effectively, and that these resources will be progressively rolled out from May 2024.
👉 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/jobs/all-employers-in-singapore-must-fairly-consider-flexi-work-requests-from-dec-1-under-new-rules
👉 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/flexible-work-arrangement-requests-tripartite-guideslines-employers-employees-4266831
17/4/24, 10:03 am - ~ REACH Singapore changed this group's settings to allow all members to send messages to this group
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17/4/24, 10:09 am - +Andy: My wife has been working from home since COVID till now and her company is still adopting flexible work arrangements which is good for the employees. But I must say that my wife puts in more hours than stipulated and since her laptop is with her hence anytime needed she will have to work which is not so good.
17/4/24, 10:14 am - +Vali: There should be an avenue for employees to (i) seek inputs from a neutral party + (ii) potential penalty for cinployers who do not comply to FWA for FWA rejections or companies with existing FWA policies in place but not executed on ground
17/4/24, 10:14 am - +Andy: I hope the employees don't abuse the flexibility. Also will it be higher costs for the employers when all the staff requests for some kind of flexible arrangements then there is a need to employ more staff and the costs ultimately will pass on to consumers again.
17/4/24, 10:14 am - +Frankie Wee: Boss is decision whether FWAs ir request reasonable but company need to run productive operations 8hrs per day.
17/4/24, 10:16 am - +Frankie Wee: Maybe in future robot fully automatic operation so employees will have flexibility FWAs
17/4/24, 10:18 am - +Timothy Low: Perhaps Public Sector should take the lead in flexible work arrangements. For example, allowing teachers to have the flexibility to work at home if they have no lessons
17/4/24, 10:19 am - +Vali: MOM issued warnings and corrective workshops may not be enough penalties
17/4/24, 10:20 am - +Frankie Wee: Flexible work make more healthy and de stress if business can run productive automatically
17/4/24, 10:21 am - +Kenneth Lee WM: The very first thing companies must learn is Management by objective.
Not management by sight or showing up to office.
Once employee have clear objectives what the person has to do, give the person the needed technology / infrastructure for the person to succeed.
eg: call centre people, they don't need to be in office. their extension can easily be transferred to their laptop and as long as their home have broadband, they can work from home.
sales people - just bring in the sales. don't need to show face in office during normal day. just need to attend team mtgs, dept mtgs.
A major obstacle is most
17/4/24, 10:21 am - +Kenneth Lee WM: A major obstacle is most singaporean managers are not used to the concept of management by objectives.
17/4/24, 10:22 am - +Kenneth Lee WM: majority of employees all want to do a good job. but they must know and agree with their bosses what "a good job" means.
17/4/24, 10:22 am - +Kenneth Lee WM: if u have the type of manager that keeps changing the goal post of what a "good job" is, it'll never work. <This message was edited>
17/4/24, 10:23 am - +Jimmy Chew: It's true. Even before COVID a Friend of mine experimented working from home. He found that he is working more and decided to work in the office 🤣🤣🤣 <This message was edited>
17/4/24, 10:23 am - +Vali: There are still some MOE schools on ground level who insists that teachers not be allowed to leave SG during school holidays when they have no work commitments (no marking/lesson prep/ccas/committee meetings/ad hoc projects etc) and must stay in SG.
While other schools are more lenient operationally.
Perhaps within the ministry - the flexible /leave practices can be evened out first.
To prove that the penalty process put in place is effective (not just a table top exercise)
17/4/24, 10:25 am - +Rama: Hugh!?
17/4/24, 10:25 am - +Kenneth Lee WM: above is an example of the type of manager/bosses who will make the flexi work schemes fail.
17/4/24, 10:25 am - +Rama: Agree
17/4/24, 10:25 am - +Rama: Yeah
17/4/24, 10:25 am - +Rama: They will!
17/4/24, 10:27 am - +SL: @~l or Smiley face, usd exchange rate increase against the major currencies, crude oil price increase and gold price increase at the same moment is unusual that may worth spending time investigating, and they are all correlated… it seems to be what we learn in school for economist subject no longer applicable and able to apply in current context… there is an “invisible hand”
17/4/24, 10:27 am - +Rama: Line must be drawn once stipulated working hours is fulfilled. understand that government is studying a European initiative where employers cannot contact employees after normal working hours.
17/4/24, 10:27 am - +Vali: With aging demographics, the sandwich generation may also need to take care of aunties/uncles (if they have no kids) for medical appointments..
But the current HR policies for family care or elder care leave only extends to immediate family members (parents/spouse).
Employees who would like to take leave for non-immediate family members are told by HR to use annual leave.
There could be more flexibility in policies for employers to allow flexible arrangements/usage of elder care/family care leave..
17/4/24, 10:28 am - +~l or Smiley face: MBO...KPI
17/4/24, 10:28 am - +Kenneth Lee WM: REACH, to understand more about management by objectives, ask the person in charge to read the book HP WAY by David Packard. The HP of old when the founders were around, were practicing flexi schemes very successfully eons ago. It's nothing new. I'm not sure about the HP of now though. <This message was edited>
17/4/24, 10:29 am - +Rama: Not expected from local employers!
17/4/24, 10:29 am - +SL: Will companies accept this suggestion? Workforce resources for some tasks are already very lean.
17/4/24, 10:30 am - +~l or Smiley face: GE Way...
17/4/24, 10:30 am - +Vali: Same with compassion leave, the scope that it covers could be expanded to extended family.
It would help employees cope better with family and work balance during times of family atress
17/4/24, 10:30 am - +Rama: Yes!
17/4/24, 10:33 am - +Kenneth Lee WM: As long as the employee have clear objectives what they need to do and they perform it, they can have all the flexibility they want. Because if they don't perform, during the periodic evaluation, it'll show up and they can be managed.
17/4/24, 10:33 am - +Jimmy Chew: Yeah. The founder has a very high trust level that employees will be responsible. My friend from HP says he make sure he clocks the minimum 8 hrs. Ue actually clocked more hours because they are good rewarders of excellent work. I think it culture and recruitment of the right people <This message was edited>
17/4/24, 10:34 am - +SL: Dark factories and dark warehouses?
17/4/24, 10:34 am - +Rama: MNC or local employer!?
17/4/24, 10:35 am - +Jimmy Chew: MNC - the old HP
17/4/24, 10:35 am - +Rama: Expected
17/4/24, 10:35 am - +Kenneth Lee WM: HP is MNC.
If u happen to work for local employer who employs ex HP managers, they will bring that practice into the local employer. A lof of them went to Singtel about 10 yrs ago. They might still be there. <This message was edited>
17/4/24, 10:36 am - +Thank You Woman: Siemen also work from home
17/4/24, 10:36 am - +Rama: Still, one person cannot change a whole company work culture.
17/4/24, 10:37 am - +Kenneth Lee WM: if that person is high up in the management chain, it can bring a big change. Especially in HR.
HR can make or break a company's culture. <This message was edited>
17/4/24, 10:38 am - +Jimmy Chew: The CEO is the headman of the village
17/4/24, 10:39 am - +Jimmy Chew: HR is the medicine man, he got to follow the headman if not get beheaded
17/4/24, 10:45 am - +Rama: This is where the problem lies.
17/4/24, 12:03 pm - +Nic Freehold: MOE was so old school when fresh graduates was senior to old hand who knew the various changes in pension schemes.
If civil service doesn’t set the tone, doubt private especially Sg SME would toe the line.
17/4/24, 12:06 pm - +Jimmy Chew: SME is making $$$. $$$ is their incentive
17/4/24, 12:15 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
1. I feel that formalising the flexible work arrangements make more companies address and formalize flexible works more seriously.
2. Feel that bigger companies will have more leeway to implement FWA - as human resources are less tight, and remote access equipment will be more available.
3. SMEs will be less likely to implement FWA - as manpower are tighter, less likely to spend money to setup remote access servers, maintain IT functions and facilitate remote login, video conferencing etc. Will need an IT department and professionals to maintain such IT services. High costs involved.
17/4/24, 12:17 pm - +Rama: Point three is worrying!
17/4/24, 12:18 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
No joke to maintain IT remote services.
SMEs unlikely to commit money and resources to do it.
17/4/24, 12:19 pm - +Rama: So, no point in employers giving reasons why FWA cannot be granted
17/4/24, 12:24 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Having say so :-
1. FWA is really a puller to entice workers to work for the company.
2. Because young married couples will more likely to give birth and raise children if FWA is available so that they can work and take care of their kids at the same time.
3. Families who are caregivers and need to take care of elderlies, disabled - can work and provide caregiving functions - will be extremely useful.
4. Hence, more people will more likely to work and business will have access to more manpower resources who will otherwise not working without FWA.
17/4/24, 12:48 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
4. Having say so, wonder if MOM, Telcos/Cloud Service Providers and SMEs can pool resources to achieve economies of scale - whereby service providers offer affordable remote access/video conferencing services and IT apps hosting to SMEs to facilitate FWA?
5. SMEs will then pay monthly subscription fees to the service providers - RAAS (remote access as a service).
6. If fees are affordable, SMEs may be able to jump into the bandwagon to participate in the FWA.
17/4/24, 12:52 pm - +Rama: Hope this raises our local population
17/4/24, 12:51 pm - ☸️ Danny 心: <Media omitted>
17/4/24, 12:53 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Very fortunately, MAS is seriously looking into the OOB Intranet solutions - to fight against online scam coming from Internet.
Hopefully, if the solution prove effective and cost efficient - government will adopt and curb the nearly $1 billion loss a year to online scammers.
17/4/24, 12:54 pm - +~l or Smiley face: This message was deleted
17/4/24, 1:14 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Also maintaining IT professionals to run a small IT department to provide remote access services in an SME - will not be interesting to the IT professional because:-
1. No upward career path.
2. IT pay is very high - easily > $4,500 for fresh graduates.
3. No other IT development such as software development, mobile apps development, infrastructure development, AI, cybersecurity etc to keep the IT staff work interesting and challenging.
4. IT staff will easily resign and move to more challenging jobs.
5. Hence not easy for SMEs to provide remote access services to their workers for FWA.
6. Hence the only feasible way for FWA to succeed in SMEs is to subscribe to cloud services offer by cloud services provider and Telcos - who can keep IT professionals and then provide services to a big pool of SMEs that subscribe to their remote access services. <This message was edited>
17/4/24, 1:26 pm - +Frankie Wee: IT automation career unnecessarily high professional job.
17/4/24, 1:26 pm - +Frankie Wee: https://www.vmware.com/topics/glossary/content/it-automation.html
17/4/24, 1:27 pm - +Frankie Wee: Physical job an IT hardware are required to work on router
17/4/24, 1:28 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Also, government recently have confiscated $3 billion from money laundering.
Wonder legally, is it possible to:-
1. Use a part of the confiscated money - estimated about less than $100 million to setup :-
a. National Intranet network (Telco base stations 4G/5G, at least 2 Telcos for redundancy)
b. Setup National Biometric Authentication System (facial recognition, fingerprint, iris, handprint, vocal etc).
c. Provide 5.6 million SIM card to each individual for Intranet access to biometric authentication for bank, CPF, government services transaction.
d. Provide subsidies and grants to banks, financial institutions, CPF and necessary business to upgrade their apps to perform Singpass biometric authentication via National Intranet.
2. The remaining $2 billion plus will be use to compensate Singaporeans and resident losses through online scams. <This message was edited>
17/4/24, 1:45 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
3. The estimated project duration is about 1 year to 1 1/2 years - depending on how the various stakeholders work together.
4. Realise that the biometric authentication system is already in place at ICA - Interpol biometric database system (whereby biometric data such as facial recognition, fingerprint, handprint, iris biometric features have been captured to make IC and passport).
Wonder can these be migrated and form the backbone of the national biometric authentication system. This will short-circuit the setting up of a national biometric database from scratch and shorten the project duration.
17/4/24, 1:52 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
It is not as easy as it sounds.
SMEs without IT background and knowledge with VMware virtualisation and cloud computing - will be very loss --- even though this article touting IT automation as easy as ABC...
Setting up remote access services, video conferencing services, IT apps hosting in VMware virtualisation and cloud is not like clicking a button in VMware automation - and everything will be setup in a flash. <This message was edited>
17/4/24, 2:01 pm - +Nic Freehold: SG is so small. If Europeans and Americans can work together over width of Australia, no excuse.
Sg is smaller than Tokyo.
17/4/24, 2:02 pm - +Frankie Wee: Sg dollars current is stronger
17/4/24, 2:02 pm - +Nic Freehold: Work from home saves companies 20% as office usage space cost about $200- $1500 monthly
17/4/24, 2:03 pm - +Nic Freehold: VM ware and competitive per user cost even Salesforce is less than $500 per pax
17/4/24, 2:04 pm - +REACH: 📢 *Topic* 📢
17/4/24, 2:04 pm - +Nic Freehold: I used to Teleconference Europe SG 8pm, New York is SG 2-3am
Did I get paid extra over time???? 2-3 xxx?? No
17/4/24, 2:05 pm - +Nic Freehold: just part parcel of work
17/4/24, 2:05 pm - +Frankie Wee: I see
17/4/24, 2:05 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
For example broadly speaking, not going into the full technical detail:-
1. SME needs to have a computer centre (short of data centre) - to house its servers, network equipment such as router, LAN switches, or WiFi controller and access points in various office locations, IT security equipment such as firewall, VPN IPSec or SSL VPN, remote access servers with SSL VPN remote access, ZOOM video conferencing, office automation software eg. Microsoft Office, file portal such as SharePoint for file and document sharing, email services POP email servers minimally to host the VMware servers and cloud services.
2. Laptops issue to staff for FWA at home with WiFi chips to connect to their home WIFI or able to connect to staff smartphone to do mobile hotspot via USB tethering or mobile WiFi mobile hotspot must be make available.
3. Can SME boss understand and setup all the above?
I doubt VMware automation can do all the above - with no IT professionals around. <This message was edited>
17/4/24, 2:05 pm - +Nic Freehold: Mandate 10 days WFH/ FWA
17/4/24, 2:06 pm - +Frankie Wee: It may not support to have international global time serve 24hrs
17/4/24, 2:06 pm - +Nic Freehold: Our phones are so powerful these days, I actually draft all contract from the iPad or phone
17/4/24, 2:07 pm - +Nic Freehold: just use Apple or the safest platform
17/4/24, 2:08 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
I think what you see is at the front end.
The backend maybe transparent - and involve alot of work that you probably didn't see it.
17/4/24, 2:09 pm - +~l or Smiley face: One full day is 24 hours
3 days of work can be 36 hours
4 days of work can be 40 hours
Are these examples Flexi Work arrangements between employer and employee? Actionable?
17/4/24, 2:12 pm - +~l or Smiley face: Alternatively, 20% WFH, 60% WFO and 20% WFA.
WFH = from home
WFO= from office
WFA = from anywhere and anytime.
What is the true meanings of a Flexi Work system?
17/4/24, 2:13 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Without minimally setting up all this IT gadgets and service - what is written here, an SME cannot function WFH (work from home) and do FWA (flexible work arrangements).
If don't believe, check with your office or your IT department staff.
17/4/24, 2:15 pm - +~l or Smiley face: How about SMEs?
17/4/24, 2:17 pm - +~l or Smiley face: This message was deleted
17/4/24, 2:18 pm - +~l or Smiley face: Let's start with A, it means Small businesses?
What's their ops requirements and scopes of operations?
How can these S transform and turnaround given the Flexi Work arrangements?
What's the business costs and added frictions from working to customers' satisfaction?
17/4/24, 2:26 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
I think to convince, people need technical details, let me deep dive a bit into it.
1. Smartphone nowadays are very powerful can do alot of things.
2. But to do office work, staff need to access office documents right? If not our smartphone connect to where to pull out office documents and store office documents and share the documents with our office colleagues.
3. Office files are company confidential, cannot anyhow store in internet and cloud whereby your competitors and scammers can see your pricing and competitive stuff right?
3. Hence you will need a secure IT portal to store your company confidential documents.
4. Servers and storage device will be required.
5. To secure your office documents, you will need security devices like firewall so that your office documents, pricing, customers information will not be stolen.
6. To connect to your office documents, you need connectivity which is your 4G, wifi and your LAN wire.
7. To ensure your connection is secure, not tap and stolen by hackers - you need to authenticate and encrypt your connectivity.
So it is not just your smartphone - so powerful, can do everything under the sun.
You need a knowledgeable IT professionals to setup alot of things at the backend to facilitate WFH and FWA.
Government cannot just mandate WFH and FWA - and all SMEs comply.
I think 90% of SMEs will close shops the next day - and all SMEs workers will lose their jobs overnight.
17/4/24, 2:27 pm - +~l or Smiley face: And how about our civil service and those MNEs?
17/4/24, 2:36 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Civil services have a few IT agencies - all with different specialisation to service the entire government apparatus.
Not so simple.
Eg. Govtech - the IT operation arms of civil service.
Smart nation - the IT policy arms.
IMDA - the Telco authority regulators plus nation IT adoption.
CSA - cybersecurity arms for the government.
This are not exhaustive.
There are so many more - because IT cover every industries and economic sectors as well as every aspect of our lives.
There are AI, and some very high security IT agencies, R&D institutions that I won't want to mention. <This message was edited>
17/4/24, 2:39 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
MNCs have a full functional IT department to service their operations in Singapore and worldwide.
Even that, also doesn't means can retain good IT staff - because when IT infrastructure run into operation, it becomes a day to day IT operations which can be quite boring.
17/4/24, 2:46 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
"Poh Heng Jewellery hit by data breach, customers' personal information may have been compromised
The jewellery chain has reported the incident to both the police and the Personal Data Protection Commission."
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/poh-heng-jewellery-data-breach-customer-information-leaked-4231691#:~:text=Poh%20Heng%20Jewellery,Data%20Protection%20Commission.
17/4/24, 2:48 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
See a big Singapore retail shops - with a fully functional IT department - if no good cybersecurity professional to secure its IT infrastructure - can be easily hacked - and lose its company confidential data.
So not so easy.
17/4/24, 2:52 pm - +Nic Freehold: Sign on proper APPLE ONE or Microsoft FULL SUITE.
2 phones do help. 1 for work, 1 more for home and play.
17/4/24, 2:53 pm - +Nic Freehold: Insulate and protect, have a proper physical and firewall
17/4/24, 3:04 pm - +~l or Smiley face: Thanks, Danni for the explanations and brief insights.
S here referring to a small scale business with smaller scope of works.
In this transformative environment of Flexi Work arrangements, these Small enterprises may not have much hiccups and concerns versus the medium enterprises and the big organisations (another matters and issues).
However, in all regime of change and in particular flexing working hours/days may unintendedly add incremental cost of hiring additional hands to meet the normal daily operational needs. That's the situation of Small players and the big players will not be spared from added variables that translate into dollars and cents out of the bottom line of profits.
And the other universal letter S is to Streamline the operation, scope and scale of your existing business model.
17/4/24, 3:08 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Well probably I may not have expose to a SME and quite surprise so little things suffice for your work.
The smallest IT setup I encounter is a jewellery chain with more than 30 to 50 outlets.
They maintain a full functional IT department and offer ecommerce website.
I only provide them some verbal consultation on a goodwill basis.
But they have all the above IT infrastructure in place that I mention to function properly. <This message was edited>
17/4/24, 3:11 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Anyway, this look like cloud services that I suggest for SMEs who do not have IT expertise. <This message was edited>
17/4/24, 3:25 pm - +Vali: Employers should also be encouraged to be flexible about the actual work location of WFAs.
Some companies are very strict about WFH means employees must be in residential address. But what if there are benefits for personal life balance to be working in parents/aunties place in SG?
Can the same flexibility in location be extended to relatives place in neighbouring countries? Say I want to work in my grandmother's place in Malaysia but I fear getting caught by my employers...
Not all policies need to be so narrow & not everything should be policed.
There are parents who have used MOE HBL flexibility and their WFA to enjoy a slow weekday breakfast with their kids. & These intangible benefits to a broader WFA policy may just sway employees to work harder/not crib about OT when it's crunch time.
The bottom line is the belief that the employee can be responsible and does the required tasks. If not, HR can always take the employee to task during work review.
17/4/24, 3:26 pm - +SL: That reality… 🤷♂️
17/4/24, 3:29 pm - +Nic Freehold: Yes cloud services. W secure sign on. It’s always the signing in and issue. Overseas travel I use public or hotel wifi. Apple phone ok. Others use android got weird app installed itself and now got issue
17/4/24, 3:30 pm - +Nic Freehold: Quarterly review. Invest in training and devices and wifi and VLAN.
17/4/24, 3:30 pm - +SL: From the business owner's perspective, the conventional way of remote working incured significant costs, and business owners may need to see the potential benefit of their staff wfa.
17/4/24, 3:31 pm - +Nic Freehold: imagine a malware could also infect and affect the whole office. Whilst the individual maybe safe.
17/4/24, 3:31 pm - +Nic Freehold: Covid 2024 could happen WFH
17/4/24, 3:34 pm - +SL: Optimising performance by Improved accountability?
17/4/24, 3:38 pm - +SL: Only selective SMEs may need cloud services; this will be based on their nature of business. the subscription cost for some may be higher than hiring an in-house staff or buying the ad-hoc maintenance service.
17/4/24, 3:41 pm - +SL: Flexi arrangement of working hours?
17/4/24, 3:41 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Those IT infrastructure to support the apps that cloud users use will have been setup by the cloud service providers IT professionals supposedly Apples IT staff.
17/4/24, 3:42 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
I see.
Well I don't subscribe to public cloud services.
Hence I not sure.
17/4/24, 3:44 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
My close friend comments:-
If employee wishes to work for 4day, does the guideline fairly protect the employer to reduce the employees pay and benefits by 20%?
And if employee refuse, can employer terminate this employee?
Sigh, just don't kill SMEs...
17/4/24, 3:44 pm - +Nic Freehold: Apple 2TB is enough for most workers. And can share access, guess the price
17/4/24, 3:45 pm - +Nic Freehold: I advocate mandatory 10 days a year FWA. that alone would help spur changes. Add 2 days a year
17/4/24, 3:45 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Btw what is the price?
I curious to know.
17/4/24, 3:51 pm - +~l or Smiley face: That's included in this novel OOEM system. It's applicable to industrial, commercially, military and national security....
17/4/24, 3:56 pm - +SL: Depending on the service provider and package sign-on, the costs are different.
For SMEs to have WFA, the business owner's definition of WFA is important. For example, if a salesperson goes out to meet potential customers daily, is the person's movement from home to a client directly and vice versa considered wfa? For a salesperson, the gadgets required are a cell phone and laptop; if with Microsoft 365, it may be regarded as sufficient. It looks no different from the current job and future job tasks. There is a social impact need to consider wfa… more time with family, especially young and toddlers. However, previously paid services that fuel the economy might be affected because young parents can do the task themselves.
17/4/24, 3:57 pm - +SL: Ic
17/4/24, 3:57 pm - +SL: Thanks
17/4/24, 3:58 pm - +~l or Smiley face: Let's unboxed this OOEM...
17/4/24, 3:59 pm - +SL: https://support.apple.com/en-mide/108047
Price list..
17/4/24, 3:59 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Oh.
I didn't know that Microsoft 365 suffice for SMEs.
Then the IT services in the cloud can easily meet SMEs needs.
17/4/24, 4:00 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
It looks affordable.
Not too expensive.
17/4/24, 4:01 pm - +SL: I did not use Microsoft 365 for sme but the price is
https://www.microsoft.com/en-sg/microsoft-365/business#heading-ocb6f5
17/4/24, 4:01 pm - +REACH: 📢 *Topic* 📢
17/4/24, 4:02 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Sounds ok.
Microsoft have setup most common automation tools for SMEs.
17/4/24, 4:03 pm - +Rama: We need a lot of soul searching amongst ourselves.
17/4/24, 4:03 pm - +SL: Per month per account.. For Singapore registered account: 2TB: S$ 13.98
17/4/24, 4:10 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
I think this should be affordable for most SMEs.
Didn't know that public cloud services already made this available quite economically.
But those SME who do online transaction - not sure whether public cloud offer such affordable services or not.
17/4/24, 4:13 pm - +SL: Data can be stored on the sales platform or payment gateway for those doing online transactions. Backup transaction on harddisk (the most economical solution)
17/4/24, 4:15 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
I see.
So indeed solutions have been in place for SMEs in public cloud.
So need a little nudge for SMEs to adopt.
17/4/24, 4:16 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Btw, does the public cloud service providers guarantee apps security hosted for the SMEs?
If there are security breaches, does cloud service providers take up the responsibility?
17/4/24, 4:18 pm - +SL: Ooem look complicated for sme or certain large company. The journey of Ooem will change a company's culture and structure of a company… business process outsourcing may trigger issues within an SME. 😱
17/4/24, 4:22 pm - +SL: Standard security and compliance are covered, but more expensive packages have more security features.
17/4/24, 4:23 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
I see...
Ok, more or less cover for SMEs.
Now is about nudging SMEs to adopt and support the FWA and WFH.
17/4/24, 4:23 pm - +SL: Usually, the service provider takes care of Breaches on cloud infrastructure.
17/4/24, 4:24 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Yes this is what I thought so.
Apps hosted in public cloud - usually not covered.
And the most likely breach come from apps security loopholes.
17/4/24, 4:25 pm - +SL: Usually via users lose passwords, or hackers steal data via social engineering.
17/4/24, 4:26 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
This is the reason why bigger SMEs and larger organisations setup their own IT department.
For security and provide more IT functions to make business more competitive.
But for SMEs that requires only minimal IT remote access services - public cloud is a good solution for them. <This message was edited>
17/4/24, 4:33 pm - +Nic Freehold: Make a guess first
17/4/24, 4:34 pm - +Nic Freehold: This message was deleted
17/4/24, 4:35 pm - +Nic Freehold: Salesforce is cloud based used by largest MNCs
17/4/24, 4:35 pm - +Nic Freehold: own IT dept can also hold you hostage if they don’t pay well.
17/4/24, 4:36 pm - +Nic Freehold: The MNC I worked for moved their whole IT dept to India after years of hosting here. That MNC has been a shrinking presence ever since.
17/4/24, 4:36 pm - +Nic Freehold: They sold their manufacturing to China
17/4/24, 4:37 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Yes.
No easy way.
Hence, SME or even MNCs got to decide which way to go.
Public cloud or setup their own IT department.
Money, resources, business needs, security etc are the consideration factors. <This message was edited>
17/4/24, 4:41 pm - +Nic Freehold: Just like USA Republicans holding democracy at hostage. Sometimes the call is coming from within
17/4/24, 4:42 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Hahaha
What an analogy.
17/4/24, 4:42 pm - +Nic Freehold: If the IT dept is incompetent, they outsource to India… then everyone’s data could already be exposed to whole Chennai
17/4/24, 4:43 pm - +Nic Freehold: I am excellent on stage, I am the Merchant of Metaphors.
17/4/24, 4:43 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
I will say, IT staff need to constantly upgrade and update - because IT technologies are moving very fast.
17/4/24, 4:44 pm - +Rama: Yes
17/4/24, 4:44 pm - +Nic Freehold: that’s why I left IT. some many holes to patch
17/4/24, 4:45 pm - +Nic Freehold: Because the IT hegemony wants our money.
Even printers need to upgrade their drivers
17/4/24, 4:45 pm - +Jimmy Chew: Yeah. It's always changing that's Technology
17/4/24, 4:47 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Well I do a consultancy job for a semiconductor MNC.
The IT HQ is hosted in Singapore.
Their patent must be safely guarded - because worldwide state hackers are trying to get their IP.
So their IT infrastructure was redesign and revamp like a military fortress.
I think we did a good job for them.
They are very please.
Singapore is a IT hub for manufacturing sites from US, Europe , Asia Pacific like Singapore, Japan, Skorea, Taiwan etc.
During the major revamp, it is zero downtime - as the IT hub in Singapore need to provide round the clock 24 hours - to service manufacturing operations in the various continents - US, Europe, Asia Pacific.
So that project is very interesting - even their US and Europe IT staff come down to Singapore to witness our feat. <This message was edited>
17/4/24, 5:04 pm - +Nic Freehold: You fly our flag high! I believe in open borders but after discovering my previous Indian sub contractor register his daughter and got PR but not his son, I become cautious.
Germans Malaysians are more reliable.
17/4/24, 5:04 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Er, cannot forget other IT staff that helps me.
17/4/24, 5:07 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
It suppose to be temporary - a 6 months project.
But it is completed within 3 months - and I hand it over to the operation staff when I leave. <This message was edited>
17/4/24, 5:30 pm - +Nic Freehold: <Media omitted>
17/4/24, 5:30 pm - +Nic Freehold: The problem w IT. The scammers are very hardworking
17/4/24, 5:30 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Hahaha.
17/4/24, 5:30 pm - +Nic Freehold: They try to find the zeitgeist to target vulnerable
17/4/24, 5:31 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
But national Intranet biometric authentication - will stop it if implemented.
17/4/24, 5:31 pm - +Nic Freehold: And my friends and I tell old folks especially those religious folks
17/4/24, 5:31 pm - +Nic Freehold: If your mother trust them how
17/4/24, 5:35 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
1st thing, give you an example of Singpass authentication.
A Singpass authentication need to tie in with authorised apps service providers.
So if these scammers apps is not authorised apps service providers - it cannot tie to Singpass biometric authentication.
Even if a victim give away the user id password which is a 1st stage authentication - without biometric authentication, it can't get access.
2nd stage authentication fail.
Scam fails.
17/4/24, 5:36 pm - +Nic Freehold: I would vehemently oppose. The wider the adoption the most chances for vulnerability
17/4/24, 5:36 pm - +Nic Freehold: SingPass lite and SingPass SECURE. Needed
17/4/24, 5:37 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Now many bank access, CPF access and many insurance companies are using myinfo and Singpass.
17/4/24, 5:37 pm - +Nic Freehold: Lite that’s would be only for tiny thumbnails for retail front like PayLah
17/4/24, 5:37 pm - +Nic Freehold: A wallet is different than a bank account
17/4/24, 5:38 pm - +Nic Freehold: We are the KIASU nation after all
17/4/24, 5:38 pm - +Nic Freehold: which i think expose unnecessary
17/4/24, 5:39 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Now the above scam can be pulled through if victims provide user id password and otp.
17/4/24, 5:43 pm - +Nic Freehold: again elderly are hard of hearing and sight
17/4/24, 5:44 pm - +Nic Freehold: invite 30 of them and ask them bring their friends..
17/4/24, 5:44 pm - +Nic Freehold: From the 1 room flats
17/4/24, 5:44 pm - +Frankie Wee: <Media omitted>
17/4/24, 5:45 pm - +Frankie Wee: Remember this stay safe fell scam.
Govt will never ask anyone SingPass to register or give details
17/4/24, 5:49 pm - +Nic Freehold: remember they were brought up in LKY generation, obedient, gullible to point of stupid sometimes
17/4/24, 5:49 pm - +Rama: 👌👍
17/4/24, 5:49 pm - +Nic Freehold: LKY was God of prosperity so compliance had value
17/4/24, 5:50 pm - +Nic Freehold: As their brains fail, they go back to old memories
17/4/24, 5:50 pm - +Nic Freehold: If 40yo can fall for scams, I foresee 60/80 years olds would too
17/4/24, 5:55 pm - +Nic Freehold: To yesterday’s discussion about skyscrapers: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/FxPK59hQfdGJBPGK/?mibextid=KsPBc6
17/4/24, 6:00 pm - +REACH: 📢 *Topic* 📢
17/4/24, 6:07 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
And theoretically, if scammers download a malware that do remote access control, even Singpass digital token can be hijacked - and bank account can be accessed.
17/4/24, 6:08 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Because Singpass is still internet facing - inband.
17/4/24, 6:19 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Only an Intranet authentication system that are non internet facing - that uses biometric or even Singpass digital token can ensure online scam cannot pull through.
Because Intranet uses private IP address.
If internet online scammers try to access via public IP address, it will crash.
Also no way online scammers from internet can access the intranet because they need to be issue with Sim-intranet for access.
Also intranet network is not physically connected to internet network - how internet online scammers access intranet for 2nd stage authentication?
Hence failsafe and foolproof. <This message was edited>
17/4/24, 6:29 pm - +Nic Freehold: Just 10-60 days limit, w limited access to sensitive data.
17/4/24, 6:30 pm - +Nic Freehold: if not 2 token green light. It’s tough to crack 2 phones + 1 token
17/4/24, 6:32 pm - +Jimmy Chew: My friend in the government carries two laptops one for intranet and the other for the internet
17/4/24, 6:32 pm - +Jimmy Chew: Black hats are smarter
17/4/24, 6:33 pm - +Nic Freehold: 道高一尺 魔高一丈.
17/4/24, 6:33 pm - +Nic Freehold: The price of peace is eternal vigilance
17/4/24, 6:45 pm - +REACH: *Dear Contributors,*
⏰ We will be closing the chat in *15 minutes* ⏰
Thank you very much for being part of our WhatsApp chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan 😊
17/4/24, 6:49 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
This one is 100% safe - failsafe and foolproof.
Super kiasu way to secure confidential government data.
I don't mind if government issues everyone 1 free smartphone to each person instead of 1 SIM-INTRANET card to be super kiasu safe. <This message was edited>
17/4/24, 6:50 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Else if using my proposed method that is floated to MAS by REACH - 1 SIM-Intranet, good enough for public users - more cost effective.
It is kiasu method.
Not classify as super kiasu yet. <This message was edited>
17/4/24, 6:54 pm - +Nic Freehold: Never. Opens to exploit
17/4/24, 6:55 pm - +Nic Freehold: We only need 1 former spy marry Singaporeans to get phone then ….
17/4/24, 6:56 pm - +Nic Freehold: CPF should be locked up electronically
17/4/24, 6:56 pm - +Nic Freehold: Insurance agents can access so easily
17/4/24, 6:57 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
The spy intranet SIM no., ip address and unique identity is immediately expose, track and locked.
Internet IP are overseas cannot lock. <This message was edited>
17/4/24, 6:58 pm - +Jimmy Chew: Normally for super safe system it's thru social engineering. Remember we had an saf officer reported his tryst with a Russian spy
17/4/24, 6:58 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
The victim smartphone and Sim-intranet can be remotely disabled.
17/4/24, 6:59 pm - +~l or Smiley face: This message was deleted
17/4/24, 7:00 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Spy can be immediately arrested.
Overseas scammers can hide. Local cannot.
17/4/24, 7:00 pm - +Jimmy Chew: Sorry why leaves? Just trying to understand your analogy 🙏
17/4/24, 7:01 pm - ☸️ Danny 心:
Sim can track location through GPS - Google maps or even the proxy base station. <This message was edited>
17/4/24, 7:01 pm - +~l or Smiley face: <Media omitted>
17/4/24, 7:02 pm - +REACH: *Dear Contributors,*
We will be closing the chat for today.
Thank you very much for being part of our WhatsApp chat and participating actively.
Goodnight!
Megan 😊
17/4/24, 7:02 pm - ~ REACH Singapore changed this group's settings to allow only admins to send messages to this group
====
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