Local vs foreign talent debate

noahnoah

23 Dec 09, 14:46

Photos

1 of 1

Office workers are seen during a lunch break at the financial district in Singapore.

Video

Local vs foreign talent debate one of top REACH feedback issues in 2009

SINGAPORE: Foreign talent, and integrating permanent residents and new citizens into Singapore society are just some of the top issues the government feedback department, REACH, received in 2009.

And with the economy improving, there have been calls from certain industry sectors to relax the entry of foreign workers so that orders and demands can be met.

Singapore's population currently stands at nearly five million, including one million foreigners. The number has raised eyebrows, but the country's leaders said Singapore cannot do away with foreigners.

Halimah Yacab, Deputy Secretary-General, NTUC, said: "That kind of a policy will bring our economy to a standstill, particularly in those areas where it is difficult to get Singaporeans to work and in those areas where there continues to be a knowledge and skills gap in the workforce."

A root cause of the problem is that Singaporeans are not producing enough babies.

Associate Professor Paulin Straughan, sociologist, National University of Singapore, Nominated Member of Parliament, said: "If we do not augment the population with visitors from outside, we will experience a shrinking of population in Singapore.

"In a nation state which depends so much on manpower, that is a scary thought. So right now, we are in a happy position where Singapore continues to be an attractive destination for immigrations from all walks of life.

"We are very blessed to have people willing to come in to fill jobs at all levels. I think that we have to be cautious that this happy situation need not always continue.

"So rather than focus on the fears, the apprehensions of having too many foreign migrants on Singapore soil and the consequences of that, I would look at it (as) - this is good that we are in a happy position that when we open our doors, there is a line out there, because obviously we need workers and people to fill the gaps.

"So moving ahead, I would like to see that we ensure that we remain an attractive option so that when we need, we have the luxury of choice."

The influx has also raised many concerns on the ground.

Mdm Halimah added: "PM Lee is right, we now have one million foreign workers in Singapore, added to that one out of every three or four persons walking on the streets is a foreigner and that's a huge presence.

"And we really need to re-assess the situation and see how much better we can leverage on the foreign workforce rather than only rely more and more on the unskilled and semi-skilled foreign workers because that has a co-relation on the kind of investments we want to bring in."

Dr Amy Khor, Mayor, South West District and Chairman, REACH, said: "The worry at the individual and ground level really is about locals seeing new immigrants coming, applying for the same jobs, same schools and housing and they fear crowding out and competition, although at the intellectual level, many understand there is a need to augment our population with new immigrants to grow the economy and to increase the number of jobs level.

"And we got to continue to assure them that - be it in terms of sharpening the differences between PRs and citizens, as well as appealing to them to have open hearts and open minds to understand that even for new citizens, they have actually taken a big step forward, given up their birth rights in their own country to set up home here.

"By and large, most of them are wanting to start afresh here, build up their home and future here and our locals must give them a chance and welcome them and together forge a new identity with them so that together, we can build a good future for Singapore as a united people. We need to continue to do that."

So in September 2009, the Prime Minister said the government will, over time, sharpen the differentiation between citizens, PRs and foreigners to reflect the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship.

The latest announcement from the Education Ministry is that it will put in place measures to differentiate between Singapore Citizens and PRs at the Primary One Registration Exercise from 2010 onwards. And school fees payable by Singapore citizens, PRs and international students will be further differentiated from 2011 onwards.

For those sinking their roots in Singapore, a key challenge is to integrate them with the locals. A S$10 million fund was set up for projects to promote social and community integration.

Dr Khor added: "For the Southwest CDC, we have actually applied for the community integration fund and this is a first-ever "Getting to know Singapore Integration quiz" that we are organising for all 16 constituencies in the district.

"What we require is for the team to be made up of both locals and new citizens so that they work together and get to bond with each other.

"In addition, they also get to know about Singapore, because the quiz is about all things Singapore - the people, the culture, the food - and we are also getting the community to participate so that more people will be involved in this bonding programme in terms of integration.

"We also have an international integration carnival and a community integration fun camp which we are organising."

Ministers and community leaders said allaying the fears of Singaporeans about foreign talent and bringing in new citizens is not something that can happen overnight. It is a long-term initiative and work-in-progress.

In the final analysis, they said what is important is to assure Singaporeans that the immigration policy is for the benefit of the people, with Singaporeans always coming first. - CNA/vm

Stevenson101

23 Dec 09, 15:37

There's actually a debate on this issue? How do you have a debate when both sides are on the same team ? ==a

soleachip

23 Dec 09, 15:40

Originally posted by Stevenson101:

There's actually a debate on this issue? How do you have a debate when both sides are on the same team ? ==a