Singapore 101 - Foreign Workers and Competitivity
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Singapore 101 is a new series that will periodically feature some of my (mostly negative) thoughts on the policies of Singapore.
You are welcome to share any opinions you may have on the issues, provided it is healthy and with substance. You are never anonymous on the internet, as the previous two bloggers prosecuted for sedition may illustrate. So avoid seditious and slanderous remarks for your own good.
I also understand this is an extremely sensitive issue to be touched on in our sunny city-state island. But I am taking this risk for what I will be mentioning are going to be issues I feel strongly about.
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DISCLAIMER: This post is in no way attempting to insult, defame and/or undermine any nationality, race, religion and/or person. Phrases and words used which one deems to be defamatory, insulting and/or otherwise undermining the integrity of any of the abovementioned will be immediately looked into and edited as necessary once the writer is informed.
Don't you think this video has a very patriotic feel to it?
Actually the person who made this video was actually angered the comments made by various ministers over our foreign talents policy.
And I think I kind of agree with him. No doubt, foreign talents helped increase our competitvity, especially in the higher value-added sectors such as the finance and banking industry. It made us work hard, it allowed Singapore to be "a developed country growing at the speed of a developing country". Being a small country with no resources, it allowed us to be where we are standing today. But I guess amongst all the glitz about growth, we forgot about the lower end of the scale.
The influx of foreign workers has threatened the rice bowl of the low-income workers further. They are already putting in long hours for a pittance. What's more, these low-wage locals are often already in their 60s, how can they match up to the energy levels and efficiency of a 20 plus year old foreigner, who is ready to give his or her all to make money?
"Singaporeans would lose jobs without foreign workers." - PM Lee. This is even more ironic, for these foreign workers are the ones who WILL be making these older Singaporeans lose their jobs as companies prefer to hire someone who can work better for less.
And I am sure many Singaporeans are willing to put out long hours just like the foreign workers do, even if only to ensure they do not starve under our self-reliance philosophy.
I am sure the government knows really well the line our older Singaporeans are working in (Yes, cleaners). But, with the new ruling coming up that will make it mandatory for companies to re-hire their older workers till they are 67, as well as the ever-deferring CPF draw-out age, I forsee a huge problem coming up in the near future if we were to continue to keep our doors open to lower-skilled, work permit holding foreigners.
The government in recent years had been making great leaps in providing greater support to the needy. The long-term Workfare Income Supplement as well as short term measures like Progress Package, GST Credits and Growth Dividends are all designed to give greater benefits to the lower-income groups.
We are giving them a fish (in terms of aid) and teaching them to fish (through skills upgrading). But, we are not giving them a fighting chance in the strong seas.
Competivity is important. But should it be at the expense of the very people we are trying to help? Unlike many many countries in the world, Singapore does not attempt to provide concessions in the job market to their own citizens. Isn't it the basic right of us as citizens to be taken care of? If we are going to be subject to the competitveness of a foreigner, why not we just migrate and be a foreigner in another country instead?
Is it time for a shift in policies?
You are welcome to share any opinions you may have on the issues, provided it is healthy and with substance. You are never anonymous on the internet, as the previous two bloggers prosecuted for sedition may illustrate. So avoid seditious and slanderous remarks for your own good.
I also understand this is an extremely sensitive issue to be touched on in our sunny city-state island. But I am taking this risk for what I will be mentioning are going to be issues I feel strongly about.
==
DISCLAIMER: This post is in no way attempting to insult, defame and/or undermine any nationality, race, religion and/or person. Phrases and words used which one deems to be defamatory, insulting and/or otherwise undermining the integrity of any of the abovementioned will be immediately looked into and edited as necessary once the writer is informed.
Don't you think this video has a very patriotic feel to it?
Actually the person who made this video was actually angered the comments made by various ministers over our foreign talents policy.
And I think I kind of agree with him. No doubt, foreign talents helped increase our competitvity, especially in the higher value-added sectors such as the finance and banking industry. It made us work hard, it allowed Singapore to be "a developed country growing at the speed of a developing country". Being a small country with no resources, it allowed us to be where we are standing today. But I guess amongst all the glitz about growth, we forgot about the lower end of the scale.
The influx of foreign workers has threatened the rice bowl of the low-income workers further. They are already putting in long hours for a pittance. What's more, these low-wage locals are often already in their 60s, how can they match up to the energy levels and efficiency of a 20 plus year old foreigner, who is ready to give his or her all to make money?
"Singaporeans would lose jobs without foreign workers." - PM Lee. This is even more ironic, for these foreign workers are the ones who WILL be making these older Singaporeans lose their jobs as companies prefer to hire someone who can work better for less.
And I am sure many Singaporeans are willing to put out long hours just like the foreign workers do, even if only to ensure they do not starve under our self-reliance philosophy.
I am sure the government knows really well the line our older Singaporeans are working in (Yes, cleaners). But, with the new ruling coming up that will make it mandatory for companies to re-hire their older workers till they are 67, as well as the ever-deferring CPF draw-out age, I forsee a huge problem coming up in the near future if we were to continue to keep our doors open to lower-skilled, work permit holding foreigners.
The government in recent years had been making great leaps in providing greater support to the needy. The long-term Workfare Income Supplement as well as short term measures like Progress Package, GST Credits and Growth Dividends are all designed to give greater benefits to the lower-income groups.
We are giving them a fish (in terms of aid) and teaching them to fish (through skills upgrading). But, we are not giving them a fighting chance in the strong seas.
Competivity is important. But should it be at the expense of the very people we are trying to help? Unlike many many countries in the world, Singapore does not attempt to provide concessions in the job market to their own citizens. Isn't it the basic right of us as citizens to be taken care of? If we are going to be subject to the competitveness of a foreigner, why not we just migrate and be a foreigner in another country instead?
Is it time for a shift in policies?
