SINGAPORE: A recruiter who landed in the eye of controversy after she warned Singapore workers to be “hungry” and “paranoid” to beat out foreign competition for jobs has locked her Facebook account amid mounting outrage.

Shulin Lee, founder of legal recruitment firm Aslant Legal, cautioned in a recent CNA podcast that companies are increasingly replacing Singaporean workers with foreign hires whom she described as “hungrier”.

Drawing from her experience as a recruiter, Ms Lee said some employers were choosing workers from countries such as Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines over Singaporeans. She argued that the issue was not necessarily skill, but drive and willingness to go the extra mile.

“That hunger is now irreplaceable,” she said, while urging workers to remain “paranoid” about the changing job market and to continuously improve their relationship-building and communication skills.

Her comments quickly sparked heated discussion online, with some Singaporeans agreeing that she was simply describing the realities of the labour market, while others criticised her use of the word “hungry” and argued that it ignored deeper structural pressures facing local workers.

Ms Lee initially chose to respond to the criticism and published a series of posts on Facebook defending her choice of words. She said the backlash may have “hit a nerve” and maintained that the trend extended beyond developing nations, citing competition from workers in places such as Hong Kong, China, and New Zealand.

“The entire world is going through disruption,” she said, reiterating that workers should not become complacent.

She, however, only added fuel to the fire by calling those who were offended by her choice of words “triggered”.

As the criticism reached a fever pitch, the recruiter decided to lock her social media page completely. Her posts are now unviewable by the public.

Despite her move, the backlash continues unabated. Netizens say they feel Ms Lee was deliberately fanning the flames with her initial posts and used offensive words to stir controversy. Others felt she did so because she wanted the engagement online.

Prominent Singapore author Gwee Li Sui also weighed in on the issue. Dr Gwee wrote on Facebook, “I think her main issue is her language. She uses way too many inflaming words, thinking they are professional and precise.”

This article (Recruiter locks FB page amid mounting backlash over controversial remarks) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: As his five-day working visit to Pahang and Terengganu came to a close on Thursday (May 7), Senior Minister (SM) Lee Hsien Loong underlined the importance of the relationship between Singapore and Malaysia, whom he called “forever neighbours” and “forever working friends.”

SM Lee acknowledged that the two are “very different countries,” which is why the relationship needs to be worked on.

“We have to understand our differences and make sure that (these) do not cause us to unintentionally cause problems to one another,” he told members of the media.

SM Lee also noted that there is a “very good working relationship” at the national level between Singapore’s Prime Minister (PM) Lawrence Wong and his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim.

PM Wong visited Mr Ibrahim during Ramadan, where he joined the Malayan leader as he broke his fast, and the two Premiers are currently in the Philippines for the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu.

“I’m sure they will meet there too,” said SM Lee, adding that they have good discussions as both leaders are “very clear that they want to develop and strengthen the ties and the cooperation between the two countries.”

On the ministry-level, there is also cooperation on a wide range of issues, from the Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link to the Johor Singapore Special Economic Zone, which SM Lee described as “clearly a win-win project.”He also acknowledged, however, that Singapore and Malaysia also have more complicated and long-standing issues involving maritime boundaries, airspace, and water rights, which are still being discussed as resolutions are sought.

“These are things which we have to manage and make sure they stay on track that they do not unintentionally cloud and affect the overall relationship in a bad way. And that is something we always have to work on,” he added.

On his Facebook page, SM Lee has been posting photos from his various meetings all week long. He and his wife, Ho Ching, had an audience with the Sultan of Pahang and Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, who hosted a lunch for them.

SM Lee also met with the chief ministers of Pahang and Terengganu, as well as other state leaders, discussing various areas of cooperation and business linkages between Singapore and the Malaysian states. /TISG

Read also: SM Lee: Much harder for Govern­ment to deliver prosperity & progress in this environment

This article (SM Lee: Singapore and Malaysia are ‘forever neighbours & working friends’) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A fresh graduate took to Reddit to vent their frustration after feeling that they had become the go-to person for all the “saikang” (menial) work in the office simply because they are the youngest member of the team.

On Wednesday (May 6), they posted on the r/singaporejobs forum, explaining that the workload in their department feels “pretty uneven.”

“Me and another colleague will be OT-ing to finish our tasks while the other 2 [senior] colleagues will be using their phones or chit-chatting during work, and they leave work on time.”

“I am the youngest and newest on the team, so all the tedious and time-consuming saikang gets pushed to me because nobody wants to do them. Their excuse for pushing the work to me is that I can do it faster because I am younger.”

The fresh grad also admitted that the constant pressure has been emotionally draining. Juggling multiple tedious assignments and tight deadlines while watching others appear far less burdened has left them feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and trapped in a cycle they cannot seem to escape from.

“The more I think about it, the more unfair it feels,” they shared, adding that these assignments offer “zero visibility.”

“They are tasks that are essential to complete, but you won’t get credits for completing them because they are saikang, after all. It just feels unfair to me, because I am constantly feeling overwhelmed and stressed at work, having to work on multiple tasks with tight deadlines while they are slacking off.”

Wanting to know whether this kind of workplace dynamic is common, the fresh grad turned to other users for advice and perspective.

“I don’t know. Is this normal? What should I even do? I feel so stuck in this endless loop of saikang.”

“Learn to not submit your work immediately”

In the discussion thread, some users encouraged the fresh grad to try looking at the situation from a more positive angle instead of seeing it as entirely unfair.

One commenter wrote, “This is good that you learn this so early in your career: good work is rewarded with more work. You just have to make sure it’s also rewarded financially and that you are okay with the workload.”

Another advised the fresh grad to treat the extra responsibilities as a chance to build experience and learn how to manage expectations at work. They also suggested not rushing to complete and submit tasks too quickly, as doing so may lead colleagues and managers to assume they can constantly take on more work.

“Learn not to submit your work immediately after you complete it. Rather than sit on it for a few days, check before submitting. Let your boss know your limits; say you have quite a few ongoing tasks and ask if he/she is okay with you [prioritising] one over another.”

A few users also suggested bringing up the issue during a performance review or check-in with management so supervisors become more aware of the uneven workload and the amount of unseen “saikang” work being handled behind the scenes.

“Talk to your boss as part of the performance review. If there’s no value adding and [you’re] being bullied, find another job,” one user wrote.

In other news, a Singaporean jobseeker has shared online that he feels rather “hopeless” after being unable to secure a job despite lowering his salary expectations to around S$3,000 to S$3,500.

Posting on the forum singaporejobs on Monday (May 4), the 26-year-old described the job market in the city-state as “brutal.”

Read more: ‘SG current job market feels brutal’: Singaporean applicant with S$3.5k salary expectations says he’s losing hope after 8 months of job hunting

This article (‘It feels unfair!’: Fresh grad says all the menial tasks are pushed onto them ‘because they’re younger’) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Netizens have advised a “burnt-out and lost” employee to “quiet quit” after she shared online that she had been “crying every day” and felt “super miserable” amid growing responsibilities at work, asking others, “How do you all bite through such days, and is this really the economy to be prioritising mental health?” as she considers quitting.

The post author, who had been in her current role for two years, shared on r/askSingapore that her work had been filled with “compressed timelines and bloated responsibilities,” with no hope of promotion.

According to her, her responsibilities continued to balloon even after she said she had clearly expressed that she was “happy” in her current role and “not looking to get promoted,” yet was still given new responsibilities for “growth.” Her co-workers, she said, are “suffering” just the same.

Netizens online appeared to feel the same way, with one sharing that she too has been crying “before work, during work, while on meal breaks, then back to the grind”.

She added, “Every day, there are so many posts of people struggling with their jobs, and I don’t know what it would take to have a reform of the workplace globally because it sure isn’t only just in SG that we are feeling it. I’m seeking therapy to deal with the burnout.”

Another commenter advised to “quiet quit”, adding that she should start looking for a new job or a side hustle—something that can tide her through.

“Just go home every day on the dot and delay deadlines, saying that it can’t be done on time without proper help. Getting it done is only going to show them it’s possible to keep pushing you and provide less support. Or maybe save more to be able to semi- or fully retire by a certain age? Gotta start thinking about your future. Everything’s changing fast with AI, and it’s crazy,” she added.

Others who are also in similar situations, however, advised quitting altogether.

One wrote: “I’m struggling and overloaded, and sometimes my tears just flowed while working. I’ve been sending resumes and praying I can leave this job asap. I plan for holidays, short weekend trips and things to do after work so that I can have something to look forward to. If not, I’ll go crazy thinking about the never-ending workload. I know it can be difficult, but cheer up, and I hope that we can escape this soon!”

In March, a survey found that Singapore workers reported being stressed at work due to heavy workloads, poor management or leadership, and tight deadlines, but were receiving little meaningful support.

In fact, a recent poll by global recruitment consultancy and talent solutions firm Robert Walters also found that three in 10 workers in the little red dot have been “frequently” quiet cracking, while about seven in 10 occasionally feel the same, as they continue to show up at work despite burning out.

Still, according to global executive search and leadership consulting firm Pearson Partners International, quiet quitting, the rejection of the idea that employees should go above and beyond their job scope, is not the answer.

It may provide temporary relief, but just that: temporary. /TISG

Read also: Resilient but disengaged? Report says ‘functional disengagement’ rises among Singapore workers

This article (‘Burnt-out and lost’ employee wants to quit amid growing responsibilities ‘for growth’ with no hope of promotion, advised to ‘quiet quit’) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: In a bid to help first-time homebuyers deal with higher prices,  the Ministry of National Development (MND) announced several changes to the executive condominium (EC) scheme on May 8.

The changes include doubling the minimum occupation period (MOP) for new ECs, currently at five years, to 10 years. This means that those who purchase new ECs are required to live in these units for at least 10 years before they are allowed to sell them to other Singaporeans or to permanent residents. The 10-year MOP must pass before new EC buyers are allowed to purchase another residential property or rent out the EC as a whole unit.

Additionally, ECs will only be fully privatised after 15 years, instead of 10 years, which means that EC owners may only sell their units to buyers, including foreigners and companies, after 15 years. 

Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat said this during his keynote speech at the National University of Singapore IREUS Urban Housing Symposium. Importantly, he also announced an increase in the quota and priority period for first-time home buyers.

At present, developers are required to reserve 70% of ECs for first-time homebuyers in the first month after a project is launched. Mr Chee said that this quota is being raised to 90%, with the priority period also extended to two years, which provides more support for young married couples and families intending to purchase their first home.

This means that developers may only sell the remainder of the units to interested parties, including second-time buyers, after two years.

Thirdly,  Mr Chee announced the removal of the Deferred Payment Scheme (DPS) for ECs. This allowed buyers to pay 20% upfront for the unit, with the balance of 80% to be paid after the project’s Temporary Occupation Permit was issued, which meant that buyers paid a premium of 2 to 3% above the price of the EC.

EC home buyers must now follow the Normal Payment Scheme, which encourages “financial prudence and aligns with the arrangements for other uncompleted private residential properties,” the Minister added.

The government hopes these measures, which have been made to “further support first-time home buyers,” will cause EC prices to be lowered, he added.

“We also hope this will result in developers reducing their land bids and the prices for their ECs,” the minister said, adding in a social media post that “These changes will apply to all EC Government Land Sale sites with tender closing dates on or after today (8 May 2026).” /TISG

Read related: Executive condominium (EC) prices in Singapore continue to rise amid limited supply of newly launched ECs

This article (Chee Hong Tat: MOP for new ECs now at 10 years) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A female polytechnic student took to Reddit to vent about her family’s domestic helper, who allegedly “takes and uses her belongings” without permission and prepares separate “better” meals for herself.

In an anonymous post on the r/askSingapore forum, the student claimed that the helper “keeps stealing things such as hand cream, money, and chocolate, and whenever confronted, she denies taking anything.”

Sharing one incident, she wrote, “For example, I opened a new pack of sweets and took one and left it on my table before leaving the house. When I returned at night, I found that the sweets were nearly empty, and it couldn’t be any of my family members, as they hadn’t come home for the day yet.”

She also recalled, “There were a few occasions where I would keep the sweets in my bag, and they would still go missing. She also uses my hair products without permission. Only she and I share the common toilet, so it couldn’t be my mom who used it.”

The student said she has already confronted the helper several times, but the helper continued denying the accusations while the incidents allegedly kept happening.

“I am getting increasingly frustrated every single day,” she shared.

Aside from the alleged thefts, the student also complained about the helper’s behaviour at home.

She recounted, “I asked her to bring the food to the dining table multiple times and she didn’t. When I called again, she claimed she was ‘washing plates’ even though she clearly wasn’t. Sometimes I call for her multiple times and she just ignores me completely.”

“Once I was changing in the spare room and she opened the door without knocking when it was closed and while I was changing.”

On top of this, the student claimed that the helper would sometimes prepare only “plain white rice and plain curry udon” for her and her brother while allegedly cooking “a full meal with meat and vegetables” for herself.

At the end of her post, the student asked other Singaporeans how they would deal with the helper if they were in her shoes.

“You should send her back to her home country”

In the comments, several Redditors urged the student to inform her parents about these alarming incidents.

One said, “Please let your parents know about this. Your parents are the employer; they need to seek accountability from her.”

Another wrote, “Tell your parents and get a spy camera to record any stealing.”

Others felt the family should simply let the helper go before things get worse.

One advised, “You should send her back to her home country. If you send her back to the agency, the agency will send her to other families, and she will do harm to them.”

Another added, “If you have evidence of her stealing money, report and send her back.”

Employers who believe their domestic helper may have stolen from them are advised by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to make a police report so the authorities can look into the matter. Trying to resolve the issue through personal confrontation may cause panic and make things worse.

Read also: ‘I messed up in my 20s’: 29 y/o Singaporean with S$2.8k take-home pay and no savings fears he’s falling behind in life

This article (Poly student alleges family maid eats better food, ignores requests, and takes her items) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: The Singaporean government recently strengthened amendments to the Wildlife Act. According to authorities, people who will be caught feeding wild animals illegally will face stricter and harsher punishments, including higher fines and imprisonment. 

As reported by 8world News, the government revealed in a reading that the maximum fine for first-time offenders will now be raised to S$10,000 at maximum from S$5,000, and there will also be an increase for repeat offenders to S$20,000 from S$10,000 at maximum. Furthermore, repeat offenders could now also be sentenced to up to 12 months’ imprisonment. This change is expected to take effect in the second half of this year. 

“This will have a stronger deterrent effect on the illegal feeding of wild animals and better protect public health and safety,” the authorities declared. 

The National Parks Board admitted that illegal feeding of wildlife, specifically pigeons and crows, has been a problem ever since. In the past years, cases have doubled, rising from an estimated number of 150 in 2021 to over 380 in 2025—repeat offenders are 42% of these cases. The Board has been working with groups to properly control wildlife in the country. 

In a separate wildlife feeding incident, a man said he confronted a woman for feeding wild animals, but she allegedly reacted by showing him the middle finger and trying to whack him with her shopping bag.

“Her response was to attack me. Then I started recording,” he said, adding that he later followed her briefly so he could report her location to the police.

Read more about the news story here.

This article (Illegal wildlife feeding in Singapore could now lead to imprisonment for repeat offenders) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Singaporeans are voicing growing frustration over what they see as contradictory expectations placed on young adults: to remain relentlessly “hungry” and competitive in the workplace while also starting families to help reverse the nation’s record-low birth rate.

The debate intensified after recruiter Shulin Lee, founder of legal recruitment firm Aslant Legal, warned in a recent CNA podcast that companies are increasingly replacing Singaporean workers with foreign hires whom she described as “hungrier”.

Drawing from her experience as a recruiter, Ms Lee said some employers were choosing workers from countries such as Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines over Singaporeans. She argued that the issue was not necessarily skill, but drive and willingness to go the extra mile.

“That hunger is now irreplaceable,” she said, while urging workers to remain “paranoid” about the changing job market and to continuously improve their relationship-building and communication skills.

Her comments quickly sparked heated discussion online, with some Singaporeans agreeing that she was simply describing the realities of the labour market, while others criticised her use of the word “hungrier” and argued that it ignored deeper structural pressures facing local workers.

Responding to criticism, Ms Lee said the backlash may have “hit a nerve” and maintained that the trend extended beyond developing nations, citing competition from workers in places such as Hong Kong, China and New Zealand.

“The entire world is going through disruption,” she said, reiterating that workers should not become complacent.

However, her comments landed at a time when Singaporeans are also being urged by the Government to have more children to counter the country’s rapidly declining birth rate.

Singapore’s total fertility rate fell to a historic low of 0.87 in 2025, down from 0.97 the year before, prompting renewed concern over the nation’s demographic future.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah, who chairs a new government workgroup studying the issue, recently called for a “long-term roadmap” towards a broader “social reset”.

In a Facebook post last week, she said that “family formation and having more Singaporean babies has become even more important than ever”.

“We can all play a part in ways that make a real difference — at work, in our families and in our communities. Let’s make this change together!” she wrote.

But many Singaporeans online questioned how younger adults are expected to juggle both intense career demands and family-building at the same time.

One commenter summed up the tension bluntly: “On one side we have the LinkedIn crowd saying that young people need to be ‘hungry’ and work longer hours for less pay. Then on the other side we have the government urging us to have more babies sooner. But we only have 24 hours in a day, 365 days in a year. So are we supposed to make more tax dollars or more kids?”

Others described feeling exhausted and overwhelmed by mounting expectations.

“So sick of the world today, man, just exhausted,” one Singaporean wrote.

Another commented: “We are expected to work magic and find 25 hours a day, raise a family on $2000 a month and hold multiple jobs while at it.”

Several commenters also pointed to what they saw as a widening disconnect between older leaders and younger generations navigating a vastly different economic landscape.

“Talk is easier than doing. There has been this disconnect between the ‘leadership’ generation and the younger generations. The world of today is very different. What the older generations’ beliefs and values no longer apply in the current world,” one person wrote.

Another offered an even bleaker assessment of modern life in Singapore: “You’re supposed to slave away, have kids and survive. Nobody said anything about enjoying life.”

This article (Be ‘hungry’ or have kids: Singaporeans say they feel pulled in two directions) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: A 33-year-old man has sparked discussion online after sharing that he spends 10 to 12 hours with his 32-year-old girlfriend during each meetup twice a week, while also footing almost every bill.

In a Reddit post, the man said he started wondering whether their relationship dynamics were actually normal after feeling increasingly drained “emotionally, physically, and financially.”

“Is my relationship with my GF normal? I’m not super sure if this is the norm and/or if I’m being petty and insensitive,” he wrote.

The couple has reportedly been dating for four months. The man, who runs a small business, said he earns around S$4,000 to S$6,000 monthly, while his girlfriend works in the government sector and likely earns around S$3,000 to S$4,000 or more.

According to him, their dates usually start around noon and stretch all the way until midnight.

“We would, on average, have dates that last for ~10-12 hours, starting from noon to around midnight, with a minimum of once a week but typically twice a week. Which is somewhat exhausting after a bit and also leaves me with little time and energy to do my own stuff/hobbies,” he shared.

He also revealed that his girlfriend frequently seeks reassurance and becomes emotional whenever he suggests cutting back on meetups because of work commitments.

“She said this is due to the traumas she has felt, which led to her needing more security and assurance,” he explained.

The man added that his girlfriend does not appear to have close friendships and also has a strained relationship with her family, which he believes may have contributed to emotional dependency in the relationship.

On top of that, he said he has been paying for nearly all of their meals and outings, which can total around S$100 per meetup.

While he acknowledged that his girlfriend has occasionally paid for some activities, he felt the overall arrangement was becoming increasingly unbalanced.

“The difference in the terms of value is pretty significant, considering the frequency of our meet-ups,” he wrote.

“I don’t super mind financially, the fact that she wants to go to restaurants + cafes all the time, has me feeling a little “used” and feeling a tad like she’s not thinking of my well-being at all.”

After speaking to his family and friends who are married or in long-term relationships about his concerns, the man said they all told him the setup sounded “very abnormal” and “very one-sided.”

Eventually, he decided to open up to his girlfriend about feeling burnt out.

According to him, she responded by saying she would “try to change and split the bills more evenly and reduce the number of dates as well as duration.”

However, she also defended her expectations by claiming that frequent meetups and men paying for dates were considered “normal” based on what she saw “from friends, the internet, and social media.”

The girlfriend reportedly added that in her past “serious” relationships, the man paying for everything was seen as a sign that he was “serious and committed.”

“She does acknowledge that the relationship does feel one-sided, but said that she doesn’t know what she can give me,” he wrote.

The man ended his post by asking fellow Singaporeans: “I’ve tried my best to try to be fair to both of us in this post, but I really need to know if what we have is normal. And realistically, is any meaningful change actually possible?”

“Your values don’t match.”

In the comments, many users agreed with the man’s friends and family, saying that meeting up for 10 to 12 hours at a time is too intense for a dating arrangement. They also felt that him paying for almost everything in the relationship is not normal or sustainable.

One person shared, “I’m around you guys’ age, and I don’t think I can be on a date or meet up with my date/partner for 10-12 hours straight twice a week. It feels rather intense. I did date someone once who wanted to meet daily, and after a while it just felt draining and exhausting.”

Another remarked, “S$100 per date for most dates is way too much money spent.”

A third added, “I’m a girl and don’t really understand the desire to have the man pay for every meal. So that’s not normal. In my circle, we tend to split the bills. If the guy wants to pay for certain special occasions, I let them, and also I appreciate the effort, but it’s not something I feel entitled to.”

Others, however, pointed out that there is no single definition of what is “normal” in a relationship. 

They said only the man himself can determine that because every relationship is shaped by different personalities, expectations, and values. 

What works for one couple may not work for another, and comparisons can sometimes be misleading.

Some users advised him that if their expectations are fundamentally different, it may be healthier for both parties to end the relationship rather than trying to force compatibility.

One wrote, “Your values don’t match. She wants a provider, so don’t expect that to change. It will only get worse after marriage. Having no close friends or family is also a red flag, as she’ll be too dependent on you. My advice as [an] internet stranger: leave asap”

Another echoed this view, writing, “It’s not abnormal, there are many couples who spend every day together, and the guy pays for all the meals without feeling emotionally, physically, or financially drained.”

“Rather than it being abnormal, it seems that you and your girlfriend are simply incompatible in terms of relationship expectations. It’s not healthy for you to feel constantly drained, and that will eventually turn into resentment. You may want to seriously consider whether to continue this relationship.”

In other news, a 32-year-old healthcare worker earning up to S$8.5k a month says the brutal hours and constant stress of her job eventually destroyed her health, leaving her with “stage 3 cancer, chest pains, gastritis, burnout, depression, and anxiety.”

In a Reddit post on Monday (May 4), the woman shared that she spent seven years in the healthcare sector, often surviving on just three hours of sleep while juggling full-day shifts and 24/7 on-call duties for an entire week.

Read more: Healthcare worker earning S$8.5k says years of stress and long hours left her with cancer, chest pains, gastritis, and mental health struggles

This article (‘Is this normal?’: Man says he meets girlfriend for 10–12 hours twice weekly and pays every bill) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Public anger has erupted after a crocodile spotted in the waters off Sentosa Cove on the evening of May 6 was captured and euthanised by authorities.

In a statement issued on May 7, the National Parks Board (NParks) said the reptile was trapped and removed by its contractors at about 9 p.m. on May 6 near Sentosa Cove. The crocodile, estimated to be about 2 m long, was later sedated and humanely put down.

NParks group director of wildlife management, How Choon Beng, said the decision was made due to public safety concerns and the lack of suitable relocation options.

Mr How explained that Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, which currently has a crocodile population of around 20, was not considered a suitable release site for the animal. He noted that NParks had previously relocated a smaller crocodile there in 2021.

He added that relocating estuarine crocodiles, also known as saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus), carries the risk of the animal returning to the area where it was captured, potentially posing further danger to the public.

NParks also said it had approached Mandai Wildlife Group about taking the crocodile into its care, but the organisation was unable to do so.

In a separate statement on May 7, Mandai Wildlife Group said decisions on whether to accept animals are based on whether it can provide appropriate welfare standards and quality of life.

The group said it also has to consider the impact on its current animal population and existing conservation commitments.

“After careful assessment, we determined that we were not in a position to provide a placement that would meet these standards for this animal,” a spokesperson said.

“This is a difficult situation, and this was not a decision we made lightly,” the spokesperson added.

The crocodile sighting marked at least the second reported encounter in Sentosa waters this year. Another crocodile was spotted near Sentosa Cove on Jan 31, leading to the temporary suspension of water activities at three beaches on the island.

Following the latest sighting on May 6, swimming, kayaking and other water activities were similarly halted at Siloso, Palawan and Tanjong beaches as a precautionary measure.

The Sentosa Development Corporation later announced on May 7 that the suspension had been lifted after the crocodile was removed.

NParks also revealed that crocodile sightings in Singapore waters appear to be increasing, with about 30 sightings reported since January 2025.

News of the crocodile’s euthanasia sparked a wave of criticism online, with many Singaporeans questioning why the animal could not have been relocated instead.

One commenter wrote: “Humans can’t just kill whatever they want, whenever they want. We must learn to live side by side with our nature, or we’ll have none of it left. Everything needs to exist in balance. This was a terrible decision. Shame on you, National Parks. You’re supposed to be one of nature’s protectors. I held you in higher esteem than this.”

Another said: “Imagine, from it being born, growing, minding its own business, doing what nature intended. Is it a mistake? Showing up in Singapore waters and [getting] killed. Just because.”

Others expressed sadness for the animal, with one commenter writing: “I feel sorry for the crocodile, he didn’t do anything wrong.”

Some also criticised what they saw as an overreliance on euthanasia in dealing with wildlife.

“Everything ‘kill’. No other options? Take the easy way out because a life is of worth?” one commenter wrote.

Another person argued that the sea naturally comes with risks, saying: “The sea has animals in it. If you don’t want to take a risk, go to the pool. The sea is their literal home, and people are killing them for being exactly where they should be?”

One emotional response came from a parent who wrote: “We cried. My teen is so sad. Is NParks protecting or not? Earth also belongs to them; they have the right to live too.”

Others compared Singapore’s handling of the crocodile with practices overseas.

“Why couldn’t they relocate it?? In the USA, we relocate alligators and crocodiles all the time!” one commenter wrote.

Several comments also accused Singapore of falling short of its environmental branding.

“Singapore claims to be a ‘green city’ and ‘eco-friendly,’ but that’s all nonsense. It all goes out the window once human convenience is violated,” one person said.

Another wrote: “Poor crocodile. I’m sure there must be a better way than euthanising all our wildlife. It didn’t even attack anyone or anything.”

This article (‘Everything must kill?’: Singaporeans outraged after Sentosa crocodile is euthanised) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: In a statement issued on Thursday (May 7), Amazon said it would be cutting a “small number of roles” in Singapore. The move comes as the world’s largest e-commerce retailer announced its decision to phase out its local fulfilment services, including the Amazon Fresh grocery delivery service.

The company explained that it had started Amazon Singapore in 2019 after hearing that customers wanted a local storefront that would make international shopping easier, with options for local currency and payment, local deal events, and Prime benefits tailored for Singapore residents. 

“Over time, we’ve learned that what customers value most about Amazon.sg is the broad international selection from Amazon’s US, Japan, and Germany stores, with the majority of units sold from our International Store,” Amazon said in the statement. This has prompted the company’s decision to prioritise investment in expanding the Amazon International Store selection on Amazon.sg.

The retail giant acknowledged that its choice has impacted vendors and sellers, saying that it is working to transition sellers to alternative ways to continue to serve Singapore customers. 

As for the affected employees, Amazon said it is helping them find new roles within the company wherever possible, and for those unable to find a new role or choose not to pursue one, transition support, including severance payments and career transition services, has been offered.

“Amazon remains deeply committed to Singapore and our investments across our retail, Global Selling, entertainment, devices, and AWS business lines, employing 2,500 people in the country,” the statement reads.

Recent layoffs

In November, Amazon cut around 14,000 roles across a number of divisions, including 1,800 engineers. Almost 40% of more than 4,700 job cuts in New York, California, New Jersey, and Washington were engineering roles, CNBC reported at the time. The filings showed a mix of software engineer levels, though SDE II roles, or mid-level employees, were disproportionately affected. 

The layoffs occurred as Amazon has been shifting resources to invest more in Artificial Intelligence, although the company said that this was not the reason behind the vast majority of job cuts and that the company’s bigger goal was to reduce bureaucracy and emphasise speed.

In January, another 16,000 roles were cut.

Last month, a rumour that another 14,000 employees would be axed soon went viral, but was promptly denied by Amazon. /TISG

Read also: ‘No new layoffs’: Amazon denies viral report, but workers remain uneasy

This article (Amazon Singapore cuts jobs, phases out local fulfilment operations) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: An employee expressed her frustration online after discovering that someone had complained about her phone usage during office hours, even though she insists her work performance has never been affected.

Sharing the incident on the r/singaporejobs forum, the employee said that she has been working in a “typical corporate office” for over a year, where the workforce is largely made up of older staff. 

She noted that “a lot of people are above 40,” with only about 10 per cent of employees in their 20s like herself.

She then explained that she consistently “finishes whatever work she has by the end of the day.”

However, because she finds it difficult to stay focused for long, uninterrupted periods, she tends to alternate between work and briefly checking her phone throughout the day.

During slower periods, she also uses her phone to reply to messages or scroll through social media.

Despite this, she was recently flagged by someone outside her department, who allegedly monitored her behaviour and reported it to her supervisor.

“I recently got a note from my direct boss saying that someone not from my department has been monitoring me and reported that I use my phone too much,” she wrote.

Caught off guard by the complaint, she questioned whether such scrutiny is normal in the workplace.

“Is this normal? How often do you guys use your phones at work? We are not in school anymore. Why is my using my phone bothering someone else who has 0 work relations with me?”

“Precisely, you are not in school anymore. So act like it.”

In the comments, several Singaporean Redditors said that phone use is still generally frowned upon in more traditional office settings, even if the employee is getting all their work done.

One user pointed out that even if a direct supervisor is fine with short phone breaks, other colleagues may not be.

“There will be other people around the office who will find an issue with it. Unfortunately, that’s just how typical toxic corporate culture is.”

Another shared that in some workplaces, there’s this unspoken expectation to always look busy.

“You’re expected to ‘pretend to work’ when you don’t have work,” they wrote. “God forbid that you be doing work that doesn’t look like work too. Someone actually reported me before for ‘surfing’ when I was actually searching for sales leads.”

A third added, “Because the expectation at work is to work. Not to scroll social media. What the other generation does is that they mingle and gossip instead in their free time. It’s just more socially acceptable. The same for how smokers can take smoke breaks but non-smokers can’t take phone breaks. It’s just how society is for now.”

Meanwhile, some commenters advised the post author to manage her short attention span by taking brief pantry or toilet breaks, or walking around occasionally to stretch her legs during the workday.

On the other hand, a few people were more critical and felt the employee didn’t really see why others might view the behaviour negatively. 

One wrote, “Precisely, you are not in school anymore. So act like it. You’re at work. Not paid to leisurely sit there on the company’s time to chit-chat on the phone or scroll social media. If you have so much free time at work, it means your workload is too little or your job is unnecessary.”

They continued, “What’s your point of bringing up age groups? You are younger, so phone usage is the norm, and people should accept it? Those in their 40s probably have more personal tasks to do on their phones than waste time doom scrolling or stalking influencers like you, yet they aren’t using company time to do so, or smart enough to be discreet.”

In other news, a Singaporean jobseeker has shared online that he feels rather “hopeless” after being unable to secure a job despite lowering his salary expectations to around S$3,000 to S$3,500.

Posting on the forum singaporejobs on Monday (May 4), the 26-year-old described the job market in the city-state as “brutal.”

Read more: ‘SG current job market feels brutal’: Singaporean applicant with S$3.5k salary expectations says he’s losing hope after 8 months of job hunting

This article (‘We are not in school anymore’: Employee upset over being reported for using phone during work hours) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.