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Independent Singapore
04-06-2025
- Business
- Independent Singapore
'You get to decide if you stay down or try again' — Laid off SG woman once earning S$10K/month, finds fresh start in the gig economy
SINGAPORE: After a near-death experience from a ruptured appendix in 2015 and being laid off from her corporate job of 10 years shortly after, 43-year-old Yang Baoli Florence struggled to find a job for six months. Previously, earning a monthly salary of S$10,000 even made her job search more difficult. Despite actively applying for roles across the public, government, and private sectors and her willingness to take a pay cut, she only received blunt responses that they couldn't match her previous salary and implied she wouldn't stay long. She told The Independent Singapore that HRs would tell her to 'look elsewhere' instead of 'wasting their time'. 'It was a deeply challenging period, not just professionally but personally,' Ms Yang said, sharing how she had to juggle mortgage payments and bills while feeling lost and discouraged. With few options left, she decided to get a taxi licence and is now working as a TADA driver. Ms Yang said the biggest blessing she got from entering the gig economy was the flexibility to look after her elderly parents. While she's not earning as much as her previous job, she said she makes enough to support her family, enjoys working at her pace, and doesn't need to work long hours. She also shared that simple conversations she had with her passengers allowed her to sometimes share her story and encourage them as well. Many Singaporeans have been turning to the gig economy to fill long periods of unemployment, some taking on delivery gigs or giving tuition . While many tapped into upskilling through their SkillsFuture credits, many still reported difficulty landing a job . In May, Jobstreet reported that 42% of Singapore employers are planning to expand their permanent headcount in the first half of 2025 . However, a recent report from Indeed stated that job postings fell for the fourth straight month in April —though levels remain above pre-pandemic figures. Ms Yang advised those facing similar struggles: 'Never stop learning and never be afraid to start again.' She said, 'Take a new licence, take a new course. Sometimes, it's in the trying and even failing to discover your true strengths and passions.' To her, success is defined not by title or salary, but by how far one has come. 'No matter how high you once were, life can knock you down but you get to decide if you will continue to stay down or to get back up and try again,' she added. /TISG Read also: 53-year-old retrenched Singaporean dad launches indoor air quality company after his toddler kept falling sick
New Indian Express
18-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
File report on ‘caste discrimination' during temple fest: Madras HC to collector
However, for the past 15 years, the chariot has not entered our locality, which comprises nearly 180 SC residents, despite repeated appeals to the temple committee members. Even this year the committee turned down their requests, the petitioner said. With petitions sent to the district collector and the HR&CE department yielding no results, the petitioner said he sought the court's intervention. Hearing the plea on Thursday, the judges summoned the collector, inspector general of police (Central zone) and superintendent of police, among others. During the hearing, the temple committee members claimed that it is a private temple and that only the residents of Senapadi, Mallapalayam and Muniyappanur can claim right over it. Officials, too, denied the allegations of caste discrimination. HC orders RPO to renew passport of TPDK chief Chennai: The Madras High Court has ordered the Regional Passport Officer (RPO) to renew the passport of Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam president 'Kolathur' Mani irrespective of the pendency of criminal cases, including a case under TADA registered in 1994, against him. The order was passed recently on a petition filed by Mani praying for a direction to the RPO, who had refused to renew the passport after it expired last year. 'The first respondent (RPO) shall consider the application of the petitioner dehors the pendency of the criminal cases and if the petitioner is otherwise eligible, reissue the passport within eight weeks,' Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy said in the order. The judge, however, directed Mani to take prior permission of the courts concerned, where four criminal cases are pending trial, before leaving for any foreign trip.
Hindustan Times
22-04-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Google settles CCI antitrust case over Android TV practices: What does it mean for consumers?
Tech giant Google on Monday resolved a nearly four-year-old case with the Competition Commission of India (CCI) concerning alleged anti-competitive practices in the Android Smart TV market by agreeing to revise its agreements with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and paying ₹20.24 crore as a settlement amount. The CCI antitrust ruling marks the first settlement of a case under the amended Competition Act, which introduced settlement and commitment provisions in 2023. As part of the resolution, Google proposed changes to its vendor agreements to address the CCI's concerns and received a 15 per cent discount on the settlement amount, news agency PTI reported. Chairperson Ravneet Kaur and members Sweta Kakkad and Deepak Anurag issued the CCI's 28-page majority order approving the settlement. Member Anil Agarwal, however, issued a dissenting opinion. Monday's settlement order also coincided with the visit of US Vice President JD Vance, who began his four-day trip to India. This comes as India looks to strike a deal with the US during the 90-day pause on high tariffs announced by President Donald Trump. Google was accused of abusing its dominant position by imposing restrictive terms on OEMs, such as mandating the bundling of the Play Store with the Android TV operating system and blocking the use or development of rival forked Android versions through its Anti-Fragmentation Agreements. These actions were alleged to have hindered market access, reduced competition, imposed unrelated conditions on OEMs, and ultimately stifled innovation—violating Section 4 of the Competition Act. The CCI launched a probe in June 2021 into Google's Android Smart TV practices after receiving a complaint from two individuals against Google LLC, Google India Pvt Ltd, Xiaomi, and TCL India. It found prima facie evidence of competition law violations and later concluded that both Android Smart TV OS and Google Play Store hold dominant positions in their respective markets. The CCI said, 'It found that Google's agreements -- TADA and ACC -- executed together, imposed unfair terms by requiring the pre-installation of its full app bundle Google TV Services, preventing OEMs from developing or using Android forks, and hindering innovation.' The agreements also tied services like YouTube to the Play Store, reinforcing Google's market dominance and violating Section 4 of the Competition Act. However, claims under Section 3(4) were not substantiated. In his dissent, CCI member Anil Agarwal noted that Google's settlement offers a New India Agreement for OEMs, but added, 'The settlement proposal does not eliminate existing arrangements under TADA which have been prima facie found to be contravening the provisions of the Act.' According to the settlement order issued by the Competition Commission, Google will now offer a separate licence for the Play Store and Play Services on Android smart TVs in India under its 'New India Agreement'. This change eliminates the previous requirement to bundle these services or enforce default placement rules. This means that consumers who prefer Google's Android TV OS and Play Store will now need to check with retailers or brands to see which smart TVs include them, as other operating systems and app stores can now be pre-installed by manufacturers. Furthermore, the regulator noted that, 'Additionally, by waiving the need for a valid Android Compatibility Commitments (ACC) for devices shipped into India that do not include Google apps, OEMs can now sell and develop incompatible Android devices without violating the Television App Distribution Agreement (TADA).' As part of the settlement, Google has also paid ₹20.24 crore. The CCI has instructed Google to adhere to the settlement terms for a five-year period and to submit yearly compliance reports by April 15, covering the preceding financial year ending March 31. The Commission also warned that, 'If the Settlement Applicant fails to comply with the order passed by the Commission or it comes to the notice of the Commission that the Settlement Applicant has not made full and true disclosure during the settlement proceedings or there has been a material change in the facts, the order passed under section 48 A (3) of the Act shall stand revoked and withdrawn.' The Competition Commission of India (CCI) had already scrutinised Google, having issued orders in cases related to the Android operating system and Play Store billing practices. The regulator is currently examining two more matters involving Google—one concerning digital news publishers and ad tech, and another regarding alleged overcharging on Play Store billing. (With PTI inputs)
The Standard
21-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Standard
Taxi fares 50pc higher than Singapore's
Taxi fares in Hong Kong are nearly 50 percent higher than in Singapore, where passengers can choose between traditional taxis and private hire cars, Sing Tao Daily has observed. There are seven ride-hailing platforms in Singapore, including well-known services like Grab and TADA. Licensed PHCs are easily identifiable by blue stickers on their windshields and rear windows. Fares must be clearly displayed before passengers book a ride. Meanwhile, Singapore's taxis are categorized as either "standard" or "premium," operated by four different companies. The starting fare for standard taxis is S$4.4 (HK$26) while premium taxi fares start at S$5 (HK$29.6). For standard taxis, the charge for the first 10 kilometers is about HK$1.54 for every 400 meters or for every 45 seconds of waiting time. Additional surcharges apply during peak hours and late-night rides, with maximum fees of S$ 8.00 ( HK$47) for trips to busy areas like the city center or Changi Airport. Hong Kong taxi fares increased last year. A ride from Wong Tai Sin to Tseung Kwan O, covering 13.98 km in 23 minutes, cost HK$142 while a comparable taxi ride in Singapore took 24 minutes over 15.7 km, costing about HK$98, including a 25 percent peak surcharge, totaling around HK$136. Hong Kong ranks 44th in taxi fares among 95 countries, charging about US$1.28 per km, while Singapore ranks 70th at US$0.74 per km, according to a global database, Numbeo. AYRA WANG
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Google settles Android TV case with Competition Commission of India
New Delhi: Technology major Google on Monday settled with the Competition Commission a nearly four-year-old case related to alleged unfair business practices with respect to Android Smart TV market and has agreed to modify its agreement with vendors. This is the first case that has been settled under the amended Competition Act, wherein the settlement and committment provisions were introduced in 2023. In the nearly four-year-old case, Google proposed settlement, including a modified agreement with the vendors that would address anti-competitive concerns and also paid a settlement amount of Rs 20.24 crore. The settlement order on Monday also came at a time when US Vice President J D Vance started his four-day India visit. Also, India is hoping to reach an agreement with the US within the 90-day pause on steep tariffs announced by President Donald Trump. "The Commission considered the settlement proposal and observed that under the 'New India Agreement', Google will provide a standalone licence for the Play Store and Play Services for Android smart TVs in India, thereby removing the requirement to bundle these services or impose default placement conditions. "Additionally, by waiving the need for a valid Android Compatibility Commitments (ACC) for devices shipped into India that do not include Google apps, OEMs can now sell and develop incompatible Android devices without violating the Television App Distribution Agreement (TADA)," the regulator said in a release on Monday. Besides, as part of the settlement, Google has paid Rs 20.24 crore as settlement amount. Earlier also, Google had come under the scanner of CCI where the latter passed orders with respect to Android OS and Play Store billing matters. Two more cases against Google -- one related to digital news publshers/adtech and another on alleged excessive Play Store billing -- are currently being probed by the regulator. In June 2021, CCI had ordered a detailed investigation into the case after concluding that there was prima facie evidence of competition law violations. The probe by the regulator's investigation arm Director General (DG) concluded that Android Smart TV OS has a dominant position in the relevant market of 'licensable Smart TV device operating system in India' and Google Play Store is in a dominant position in the 'Market for App Store for Android Smart TV OS in India'. "It found that Google's agreements -- TADA and ACC -- executed together, imposed unfair terms by requiring the pre-installation of its full app bundle Google TV Services, preventing OEMs from developing or using Android forks, and hindering innovation," CCI said. Citing the DG's findings, the watchdog noted that these agreements extended across entire device portfolios and included the tying of services like YouTube with the Play Store, strengthening Google's market dominance and breaching several provisions of Section 4 of the Act. The allegation of refusal to deal and exclusive supply under Section 3(4) was not substantiated, the release said. Section 3 pertains to anti-competitive agreements and Section 4 relates to abuse of dominant position. It was alleged that Google misused its dominant position by enforcing restrictive agreements on OEMs, including compulsory bundling of the Play Store with Android TV OS and preventing the use or creation of rival forked Android versions through its Anti-Fragmentation Agreements. These practices allegedly blocked market access, curbed competition, and placed unrelated obligations on OEMs, ultimately stifling innovation and violating provisions of Section 4 of the Act. CCI started looking into the matter following a complaint filed by two individuals against Google LLC, Google India Pvt Ltd, Xiaomi Technology India Pvt Ltd and TCL India Holding Pvt Ltd.
