Celeste Elle, Author at MoneyDigest.sg

Look forward to 1,000 new jobs for the landscape area as NParks seeks to introduce high-tech frameworks

In the next five years, around 1,000 new and revamped jobs will be created for the landscape industry, as officials carry out a new digitalisation strategy.

Mr Goh Eng Lam, Chairman of the Landscape Industry Association (Singapore), shared that this step forward into technological implementation will help draw Singapore’s younger and better-skilled workers to a field that is typically seen as resource- and labour-intensive.

“This is a big milestone,” Mr Goh said on Monday (Jan 11) at the launch of the digitalisation plans. The event took place at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, part of a broader region where NParks launched a one year pilot to demonstrate its array of innovative emerging technology and resources.

A glance at the suite of new digital tools and technologies

Image Credits: National Parks Board

There will be room for video analytics through the facility’s security cameras. This helps the authority not only to track visitor numbers to the park and make necessary preparations but also to carry out compliance measures against persons violating COVID-19 guidelines.

For example, the technology enables NParks to identify unpermitted meetings spontaneously and send alarms via its speakers. It can also capture screenshots of guests who fail to wear a mask. This data is then used to assist NParks officials in their disciplinary activities.

Other innovations include the potential to check the condition of the park’s foliage radically. Detectors can also assess if it is necessary to clear a dustbin or thoroughly clean a washroom.

Other zones within the Bishan-Ang Mo Kio district will also be targeted by the pilot. NParks noted that these areas are symbolic of the diverse terrains it maintains.

NParks said that it would eventually carry out the new technologies to other places under its control when the trial concludes in January 2022. Opportunities to share and offer training support for relevant organisations will also be considered.

Exciting job opportunities for Singaporeans in this arena

Image Credits: National Parks Board

Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development, said that as the sector continues to grow within the next five years, he estimates 1,000 new jobs to be available for locals. This includes opportunities in arboriculture, horticulture, landscape design, as well as digital technology.

NParks did not provide specifics of how many positions will be generated in each sector. Still, redesigned responsibilities for current workers and openings for recruits will be included in these 1,000 jobs.

A new Resident Gardeners Programme will be launched in February at NParks-managed green areas in Ang Mo Kio, Punggol, and Yishun. Mr Lee said that this project would see new hires by landscape firms to take care of public gardens and parks.

“In this manner, the programme provides an opportunity for residents who are gardening enthusiasts to supplement their income, while engaging in their interests. It is an exciting time to join the landscape sector,” he added.

Reducing reliance on foreign workforce

Image Credits: The Straits Times

Mr Goh agreed that the drive for digital transformation is a step ahead for the segment very dependent on foreign labour. An increased technological implementation may help to minimise this dependency. At the same time, grow workers’ competencies and raise their wages.

Consequentially, with more young adults being drawn to it, this might lead to a revitalisation of the sector.

“This will give them (young Singaporeans) a new profile of the industry; that it is not the typical gardening, digging of weeds, but a career that they can build for themselves (by) exploring the technological aspects of it,” Mr Goh commented.

A teenager thrilled by the prospects

Image Credits: todayonline.com

Muhammad Raqibb B Mohamad R, a second-year Higher Nitec student in landscape management and design at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) in College East is glad to see the developments.

The 19-year-old is now in Fort Canning Park on an agricultural internship with NParks. He said the use of robotics like flying a drone has made it easier for manual labour of examining trees. Besides, the ability to track them remotely will also improve efficiency. Despite rainfall, workers can continue operating inside the office.

Technological tools NParks is using at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park

Image Credits: CNA

Remote measurement system for trees:

A device used to dynamically map individual trees’ positions and derive measurements using light detection, range scans, and machine learning.
The information is immediately transmitted to the Tree Registry System of NParks, enabling the organisation to oversee trees in the region.
The framework significantly reduces the need for landscape workers to do intensive fieldwork of inspecting trees and maintaining records manually.

Surveillance cameras, video analytics, and park visitor assessment system:

A variation of these methods was used by NParks during the pandemic to track visitor numbers in parks and gardens.
Security cameras with embedded video analytics have also been used to manage visitor compliance and safe-distancing regulation.
These techniques enable NParks to decide how best to deploy their staff.

Maven II:

This is an updated version of an electronic platform to merge both the technical and research efforts of NParks.
It holds information such as park planning and facility data, tree information, biodiversity data, and several others. This will facilitate NParks officers to obtain data on the go.
The enhanced interface provides a self-billing feature that will decrease the contractors’ payment processing period upon job completion.

Why are F&B firms like Domino’s Pizza and Hard Rock Cafe Sentosa turning to door-to-door sales amid COVID-19?

Although the pandemic has intensified the digitalisation movement for many firms, some have taken a more unexpected path to improve sales. Selected businesses have proceeded with a traditional marketing tactic of going door-to-door to sell residents discount coupons.

Companies are collaborating with Salesworks

Ohana restaurant founder, Ms Shereen Anwar, stated her company started just three weeks before the circuit breaker began. “We had to re-strategise. We cannot have dine-in customers and we had just opened,” she shared.

Therefore, they went ahead with Ohana certificates where, at a lower price, consumers can get 10 sets of foods for S$30 via delivery.

Domino’s Pizza is also collaborating with Salesworks to offer its S$30 vouchers door-to-door. The pizza chain used to distribute leaflets in busy public areas, but it was no longer appropriate because of safe distancing initiatives.

Another food business that has taken the conventional path is Hard Rock Cafe Sentosa.

Image Credits: Kkday

A company representative said it wanted to get involved in neighbourhood sales. That is their attempt to obtain a more significant share of local audiences and provide locally tailored promotions. This is due to the firm’s realisation that the brand’s fame has recently upped among locals.

Though all three food outlets said their earnings have benefited by such a traditional marketing technique, they did not convey any sales data.

“A lot of people of all races come to try our food. The reach is further,” Ms Shereen feedbacked.

Hearing from the marketers themselves

New graduates or students who are preparing to enter university are among those who help distribute these vouchers.

Ms Celeste Koh applied to be a marketer as her pet boarding company took a hit due to COVID-19. The 19-year-old shared that her commission reaches up to S$500 a week, specifically on days where there are better sales.

After graduating from the Institute of Technical Education, she originally intended to fly but had to postpone her plans because of the pandemic. Besides her part-time position with Salesworks, she also does other jobs, such as being a barista and warehouse worker.

Since August 2020, Ms Soh Xian, 21, has been working full-time for Salesworks because she didn’t want to land an office role after finishing her studies from Singapore Polytechnic.

For Mr Shan Anders, the sales job was something he decided to try since he had some free time before enrolling in college. He makes around S$300 a week.

Door-to-door marketing is challenging but rewarding

Image Credits: iStock

“When I first started, I was like ‘Oh, people are that mean.’ After a while, I got used to it. I just look forward to the next positive customer,” said Mr Anders.

The 24-year-old went on to share an incident about a client who purchased some vouchers but requested him to pass those on to someone else who requires it more.

Ms Soh admitted she encountered unpleasant people sometimes, but there were still those who addressed her with courtesy. “Some of them are very nice,” she remarked. “They give us drinks and food that they cooked.”

Ex-HOD of secondary school with gross monthly salary of S$8,800 found guilty of misappropriating S$40,000 from students

Today (Jan 11), an ex-Head of the English Department (HOD) at Woodgrove Secondary School was prosecuted for misappropriating S$40,000 paid by students for learning resources. Maslinda Zainal, 46, was guilty of two counts of criminal breach of trust as a public servant.

District Judge Ng Cheng Thiam said that the accused had misappropriated the entrusted monies and she was dishonest. “I therefore find that the prosecution has established beyond a reasonable doubt all the charges and you are accordingly found guilty and convicted,” the judge added.

Over-collection of about S$40,000

Maslinda was responsible for collecting funds from students for learning resources known as Excel packages. However, between January 2016 and April 2017, she over-collected about S$40,000 from the pupils.

The suspended educator, who has a masters in education and several teachers reporting to her, denied the allegations. In addition, she said she did not maintain cash documentations as no one told her it was necessary.

In testimony, she confessed that she had collected the amount of S$39,000 to S$40,000. She used the money on her food expenses and did not purchase anything extravagant with it. She also told a judge that she had used the money to acquire the students’ stationery and other products.

Caught red-handed by her colleague

Image Credits: Mothership

The crimes surfaced after she was caught red-handed by Jacqueline Chan, the school’s lower-secondary head for English. Ms Chan had requested the bookshop vendor for a copy of the receipts in 2016. But the vendor explained that Maslinda had instructed her to not pass them over to Ms Chan.

When Ms Chan finally got a copy of the receipts, she found a mismatch. There was a disparity between the sums obtained by the teachers and the numbers on the invoices.

She later raised the problem to the higher-ups, and the principal was surprised to see such a massive over-collection. The school later called in inspectors from the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the police, and Maslinda was cuffed away.

Investigations underway with other teachers testifying

Over the entire trial, all 20 teachers in the school’s English department appeared in court. They feedback that Maslinda did not inform them about the extra money being received.

In November 2018, MOE told the news that it took a significant view of teacher corruption. But at that time, could not reveal more since the case was before litigation.

The prosecution requested an adjournment to prepare arguments on the verdict. Maslinda may be convicted for criminal breach of trust as a civil servant in jail for up to 10 years and fined for each offence.

MAS promotes the use of e-hongbaos for the upcoming Chinese New Year

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) shared on Monday (Jan 11) that those marking the upcoming Chinese New Year are advised to offer e-hongbaos. This would help minimise queues for new bills and for individuals to do their part for the environment.

Individuals who want to use physical notes would need to make online bookings to receive the bills.

Pre-booking & pre-ordering required

For DBS Bank, Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC) and United Overseas Bank (UOB), pre-booking is mandatory. Before entering bank branches, visitors would need to schedule an appointment online. But there are exceptions for the elderly above 60 years old and people with disabilities.

Pre-order of new notes are available at Maybank and Standard Chartered starting Jan 18. The collection will be available from Jan 25.

DBS customers to take note

Image Credits: adaptiverecognition.com

DBS is expanding the number of online reservation slots up to two times this year to serve more people.

Users can also withdraw new banknotes from 61 pop-up automated teller machines (ATMs) throughout 41 locations from Jan 25 to Feb 11, marking an increase from 2020. This service does not require a reservation.

DBS’ new notes pop-up ATM map locator can advise approximate wait times at each venue to help its users avoid busy places. Click through the link before you make the trip down.

“Remote gifting” an ideal way forward

Here is a reminder that Singapore is currently in phase three of its reopening of the economy and social events of up to eight people are permitted.

The MAS said that e-hongbaos would facilitate virtual gifting across a range of visits, like video conferences. It is also more environmentally friendly to have e-hongbaos because it lowers the printing production. Also, it lessens eventual wastage of new bills returned to banks after the festivities.

Mr Bernard Wee, MAS’ assistant managing director for finance, risk and currency, commented that for each Lunar New Year, the carbon emissions produced by the development of new notes are forecasted at around 330 tonnes.

“This is equivalent to emissions from charging 5.7 million smartphones or one smartphone for every Singaporean resident for five days,” he added.

Banks share their thoughts on this

Image Credits: fintechnews.sg

Customers who give e-hongbaos using PayNow can attach specifically designed holiday visuals! This includes Chinese New Year good wishes, revealed the Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS).

DBS adds that those who prefer to stick to physical hongbaos can choose to recycle them instead. Consumers can drop off used red packets into specific recycling bins at full-service DBS and POSB Bank branches.

According to the authorities, e-hongbaos are part of a broader move to e-gifting advocated by MAS and ABS.

“The coming Lunar New Year offers an opportunity for us to build on this momentum, to spread the benefits of e-gifting, and to forge new traditions with our families and friends,” Mr Wee remarked.

28-year-old League of Legends e-sports coach earns 2x of a fresh university graduate’s salary

A mechanical engineering graduate and League of Legends e-sports coach Jensen Goh, reveals that his salary is about two times that of a fresh university graduate’s. The 28-year-old Singaporean began his e-sports career as a shoutcaster way back in 2013. Over the years, he made the switch to coaching.

Mr Goh stumbled on an audition for shoutcasters, who provide running commentary for e-sports events in 2013, just a few days before his first-year university exams. He took a leap of faith and passed the audition initiated by Garena, a gaming corporation, and began his freelance shoutcasting vocation for League of Legends, a well-known online game.

Remunerated up to S$1,000 doing commentaries

After being exposed to League of Legends by a friend, Mr Goh only played the game for a year. But clearing the auditions marked the beginning of his professional e-sports career.

Working as a shoutcaster for four days a week making various live game responses, he received up to S$1,000.

Mr Goh bashed the teams’ game strategies when commenting for the Singapore and Malaysian circuits in 2015. He decided to “put his money where (his) mouth was” and therefore called out to these teams to lend a helping hand.

Held several responsibilities as a student

Image Credits: todayonline.com

Mr Goh had to coordinate shoutcasting jobs and to train amateur teams as an undergraduate student during his years at the National University of Singapore.

In 2016, a decisive moment emerged when he had to pick between an engineering internship and a Garena internship. He would be entrusted with the viewership growth, overseeing advertising content and player activities in the latter.

Mr Goh eventually picked the internship with Garena, which bolstered his commitment to pursue an e-sports profession.

Coaching a professional team for the first time in 2017

He got a coaching opportunity with the Taiwanese team Fireball at the beginning of 2017. It was his first time managing a pro team. He was stationed in Taiwan for the first four months of the year, balancing full-time coaching responsibilities while finishing his university capstone project.

“I had to submit (engineering) plans and drawings to people in Taiwan, so I had to write everything in Chinese,” Mr Goh shared. He was pointing to blueprints and sketches for his engineering project that he was undertaking. As part of his final-year assignment, he had to deliver planned designs of a smart trash bin.

Although his peers were encouraging, his family was worried that he would not complete his final year and even quit school. But thankfully, he was able to deliver his project and graduate as anticipated in 2017.

Trained nine professional League of Legends teams thus far

Image Credits: Inven Global

To date, he has led nine League of Legends teams in seven countries. He would fly to the city when working with overseas groups, and mentor them in person.

Among them are Evos, who won the internal championship in Vietnam, and Splyce, who subsequently won the tournament in the Spanish European Regional League in Spain and finished in the top eight of the grand prix.

He was sometimes the staff cook and even cleaner when captaining smaller teams with less support.

“In e-sports, there is no real certification to be a coach… no hard and fast rule,” he commented. “It’s the nature of the e-sports industry. Even till this day, there are many people who are trying to get into the industry.”

His biggest takeaway from e-sports as a career

Knowing how to manage diverse cultures is the largest lesson from working in e-sports. “It expands your horizons,” Mr Goh said. “(It makes you) think about and compare and contrast your experiences.”

At the end of January, he will fly to the United States to mentor the Immortals Academy, an American team. He is assumed to be the first Singaporean to become an expert American League of Legends team lead trainer.

He will be residing in Los Angeles and aims to grow Immortals Academy players to become a squad that individuals will respect and see as worthy challengers of the trophy.