Iron Rice Bowl

The era of the "iron rice bowl" is waning.Iron rice bowl is a Chinese term used to refer to an occupation with guaranteed job security, as well as steady income and benefits. Traditionally, people considered to have iron rice bowls include military personnel, members of the civil service, as well as employees of various state run enterprises.

The military used to a place where those of lower qualifications could turn to for a stable job. These days they offer you a contract of certain number of years and after which those who failed to perform will be asked to leave.

In late 2000, PSA lost a chunk of Maersk’s business to Tanjung Pelepas. Soon after, in 2002, PSA lost Evergreen’s business. More shipping lines threatened to leave PSA for Tanjung Pelapas and that year, PSA lost the Lloyd’s List Maritime Asia Award’s Best Container Terminal. This despite having won the award successively in 1999, 2000 and 2001.

Under immense pressure, the union agreed that sacred cows had to be slaughtered in early 2003. About 800 redundant workers, mostly in the backroom and support functions, had to be retrenched and wages had to be restructured. In 2003, PSA Singapore Terminals re-captured the Lloyd’s List Maritime Award of Best Container Terminal. It won it again in 2004.

As global competition arrives at our doorstep, no company, be it government linked, is spared from its implications and there is a constant need to stay trim and efficient. People who still hope to live in the era of the iron rice bowl would be left high and dry.

Singaporeans need to work smart and be prepared to challenge the status quo. After all, only dead fish always swim with the tide. We have to be prepared to move out of our comfort zone and explore new avenues of growth.