S'pore needs more educated immigrants to make country dynami

• charlize

  20 Apr 10, 11:10

  Originally posted by 4sg:

  Just as PAP constantly telling people that without its dominance, Singapore will regress. Personally, I think PAP is experiencing the same fear by hedging itself against any backlash from dominant race ie the Chinese.  

  If anyone notices, there is substantial increase of migrants from non-traditional sources, tilting the balance of race in Singapore.

  Anyone goes downtown can find swarm of imported Indian IT workers. Once a contract is given to an Indian based company, you can be sure the line and staff workers will all be Indians. The thing is that they only employ, work and live with their own kind.

  They don’t even bother to mix with the local born Indian.

  The exasperating thing about these new migrants coming from mono-racial societies is that they do not fathom the meaning of multi-racial living or sensitivity of race in larger context.

   

  That's why I say, they just undid 40 over years of nation building with their open door policy.

   

  The new immigrants and citizens most likely will mix with their own ex countrymen forming their own enclaves since they already have a sizable group living and working in Singapore.

   

   

• angel7030

  20 Apr 10, 14:08

  Oh no, not only they are forming enclaves for themselves,...they are also occupying our heartlander caves, imagine they can occupy us without a struggle or war. Imagine the Jap fight all the way down to take us, today this new invader just walk thru the immigration with lion and dagron dances welcoming them.

• Wmyongj

  20 Apr 10, 22:25

  countries that consume beef are usually more prosperous than countries that dont.

  So the amount of beef consumption in sg will determine how prosperous we are in the future.

  If we are concern with the future of this country, take talents from country take consume beef please.

• CheckmateA1

  21 Apr 10, 05:44

  

  China Career Update: are Singaporeans becoming more open to careers in China?

  9 April 2010

  Zhang Xiao Qing

  It was a busy December for executives from the Chinese banking industry. They travelled all the way to London, New York and Singapore to look for one special resource: top bankers.

  More than 18 financial institutions from China attended this international recruiting drive, including Bank of China, Shanghai Stock Exchange, CITIC Securities, CIC and CICC. In Singapore alone, the event attracted more than 1,000 candidates, competing for 117 jobs. Each position’s annual salary topped S$250,000.

  With China's role in global financial services becoming more and more important, I spoke to several Singaporean bankers recently and asked whether they are keen on careers in China. Here’s what they had to say (full names omitted at their request)…

  “I would definitely take up the opportunity to work in China. This would be a good chance to be exposed to a different banking and working culture.” – W.L, OCBC.

  “I do want to go to China; the market is huge and has a lot of potential.” – D.P, CIMB.

  “China, as a location is not a problem at all. I would consider an opportunity only if the reasons are overwhelming, like a good package and a senior position.” – K, Goldman Sachs.

  It's obvious that Singaporean bankers’ passion for working in China is on the rise, with many believing the experience will be a boon for their future career development. Firms in Shanghai and Beijing, are already employing an increasing number of Singaporean bankers.

  “I went to work for a major European bank in Taiwan in 2003, and then decided to take an opening with the same firm in Beijing in 2007. Given the growth differentials, the size of the Chinese economy, and the training for my children in what will be the world's largest economy in the future, it makes sense.” – K.C.

  Mandarin matters

  Singaporean bankers potentially have competitive advantages in terms of language and culture over those from Western countries, but many need to brush up on their Mandarin before then can compete for jobs in the mainland.

  K.C explains: “I picked up Mandarin in Taiwan after many lost years in Singapore, so that experience helped me a lot when I came to Beijing, where meetings and emails are mostly conducted in Chinese. My advice is to improve Chinese competency, especially reading and speaking. I am still taking classes here in Beijing.”

  “My Mandarin is not good enough to conduct business in China. We may be able to speak Mandarin in easy daily conversations, but not in business style,” comments K from Goldman Sachs.

  End of the expat package?

  As China opens itself up to the world, it is becoming more diversified. This is good news for bankers from different parts of the globe. Today, foreigners in general find it easier to live in Beijing and Shanghai than they did just five years ago, but it is undeniable that their lifestyle there is linked to the package they receive.

  “I’m on an expat package, which is now increasingly rare. It covers relocation, housing, tax differential and schooling. If I were to face the same choice without the same package, it could be tough,” says K.C.

  It is becoming more and more uncommon to find complete expat deals. Nevertheless, some Singaporean bankers have a very positive outlook on China’s banking industry. More than anything else, they value what the experience and exposure could do to advance their careers.

  http://news.efinancialcareers.sg/newsandviews_item/newsItemId-24757

• CheckmateA1

  21 Apr 10, 05:51

  Saturday April 10, 2010

  Foreigner first practice rankles

  Insight Down South by SEAH CHIANG NEE

  
  

  S’pore has slowed down its intake of workers from abroad as it mulls over a possible general election in the face of controversies on the practice of local companies hiring cheap labour.

  SEVERAL months ago, I wrote about the growing concern of some Malaysian friends that the Singaporean backlash against foreign workers might bounce on them.

  They were mainly permanent residents or aspiring PRs who feared being caught in the crossfire between irked Singaporeans and an unpopular policy that lets in so many foreigners.

  They were not worried about being specially targeted since they were convinced that traditional ties would continue to make them more acceptable than most others.

  Since the article’s publication on Dec 5, more controversies have flared over the practice of Singaporean companies advertising for foreign professionals, bypassing Singaporeans.

  The trend could not have come at a worse time for the government as it prepares the ground for possible elections. To placate the public, it has announced a slowdown in the foreign intake.

  These firms, including a government-linked corporation, are facing an angry backlash from Singapo-reans who are losing their jobs to “cheaper” foreigners.

  The Internet, an increasingly influential channel of communication, has many calls for a boycott of their businesses.

  The latest furore was sparked off by an unemployed Singaporean who alleged he was told off by a manager – a Malaysian PR – when he was interviewed for a job.

  “We don’t want to hire Singaporeans. We look after our own first,” the manager was quoted as saying.

  It happened in one of the 24 retail outlets of the bakery-and-restaurant chain Bread Talk, according to Shin Min newspaper. Slighted and angry, the Singaporean walked away.

  The company has outlets in 15 countries, including Malaysia and a global staff of 2,000.

  In response, Bread Talk said it was taking the matter seriously and would investigate. Denying that the company practised discrimination, the spokesman said it had hired more locals than foreigners.

  With the economy improving, companies are recruiting more staff – frequently from abroad, either because there are not enough Singaporeans or that foreigners are more likely to accept lower wages.

  Bread Talk is staffed by many foreigners, including graduates from China, to serve customers and could be vulnerable to any organised protest. Other companies involved recently in large-scale hiring of foreign workers include:

  > Furniture retail mart Courts, which put up a full-page advertisement in Johor to recruit Malaysians to work in various positions in Singapore.

  The company told the new media that it had earlier advertised three times here but drew poor response from Singaporeans.

  > A Singapore-based multinational firm dealing in agricultural chemicals that placed job ads seeking to recruit “Malaysians ONLY (Singaporeans need not apply).”

  > Food supplies company Wang Foong, which put up a job ad that said “PRs and Malaysians are welcomed”.

  > A government-linked company, Keppel Offshore and Marine, that recruited Malaysians to work as managers and engineers, prompting a blogger to ask: “We produce over 1,000 engineers yearly, is there still a shortage?”

  A few ads are blatantly discriminatory which would have gained them a class action suit in other advanced cities.

  The mood is growing sour among young Singaporeans who are worried about what they consider unequal competition.

  Last year, the government allowed service companies to employ more foreigners as long as they do not exceed the number of Singaporean workers.

  However, its definition of “Singaporean” includes foreigners who are PRs, which sometimes put local-born workers in the minority.

  Another critic’s complaint is that some foreigner-executives who are put in charge of recruitment are hiring their “own kind”.

  Commenting on the Bread Talk incident, a Singaporean commented: “If the report is true, then our country has a serious problem: lack of loyalty and belonging.”

  He said Singaporeans could lose feelings for their country if it becomes “the property of anyone who is admitted on a PR or even a contract basis”.

  Singapore is an open economy, and with 57% of Singaporean companies having hired foreign workers, the dependency on alien manpower will continue.

  All this has spawned a lively business among 1,100 employment agencies in the city which place jobs for foreigners. Needless to say, some are operated by foreigners.

  One agency advertised its service online complete with imperfect English – Headlined “Foreigner Workers Company, based in Singapore,” it said:

  “We are agent with license specilise with Foreigner Workers (sic).

  “We have Myanmar/Indian/Malaysian workers waiting to be employ in Singapore (full-time) – Engineers, Chefs, Welders, Electricians, just name it.

  “We will provide you with excellent choice. For all companies, there is no fees require. We are looking forward to serve the companies our best and future needs ... Thank you.”

  Filipina Margarette Elaine Castillo replied: “I badly need a job. I am an engineer. I’m a flexible type of person. I also had experience in sales.”

  Another applicant, Aris de Rama said: “I am electronics engineer.”

  And Myanmar’s Zaw Zaw Htun wrote in: “I want a suitable job. I have experience in manufacturing factory as production executive, and I’m a flexible type of person.”

  These are positions Singaporeans are keen to fill. A blogger commented: “We have plenty of Singapo-reans who are out of a job who are very keen to get the post of human resources manager, so why are we recruiting foreigners?”

  A general answer from Singaporeans: Cheaper wages that Singaporeans, with families and housing loans to pay, cannot agree to.

  This is, however, not always the case. Foreigners are leaner and hungrier, and many customers admit they give friendlier service (maybe not the language).

  One clothes retailer wrote of his failure to employ young Singaporean salespersons; repeated advertisements produced only two replies.

  “It’s not even the pay. They left before the subject was raised,” he said.

  http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?file=/2010/4/10/columnists/insightdownsouth/6019576&sec=insightdownsouth

• Hitman+

  21 Apr 10, 10:11

  same thing happened to me a long time ago....spore job agency told me burmese engineers demanding only $2k and i was demanding same as them.and agency sounded very proud and sound like i owed them $$$$  kinda attitude.

• charlize

  21 Apr 10, 10:39

  Originally posted by Hitman+:

  same thing happened to me a long time ago....spore job agency told me burmese engineers demanding only $2k and i was demanding same as them.and agency sounded very proud and sound like i owed them $$$$  kinda attitude.

  I don't think they need to put money into CPF.  That's the difference.

• charlize

  21 Apr 10, 10:41

  Oh ya, they don't need to go for 2 weeks of NS reservist every year too.

• noahnoah

  21 Apr 10, 10:46

   

  Nowdays, any Sg male go for interview

  the boss will be likely to ask you,

  any upcoming ICT for the year?

  If you reply Yes..thats the end..

  If you reply I already on MR

  Then very likely you will get the job

  Thank God i already MR

• angel7030

  21 Apr 10, 10:49

  Next, for women, they will ask,..do you have childrens already?? if not, are u going to get pregnant anytime from now??

   

• Hitman+

  21 Apr 10, 10:53

  company interview???just tell them anything to get job......once got the job...goto ns section incamp and apply for a deferment.deferment is allowed for new job or where the job is short of manpower.

• Arapahoe

  21 Apr 10, 10:55

  Originally posted by charlize:

  That's why I say, they just undid 40 over years of nation building with their open door policy.

   

  The new immigrants and citizens most likely will mix with their own ex countrymen forming their own enclaves since they already have a sizable group living and working in Singapore.

   

   

  yeah next the govt is going to redo 1970 all over again in 2010....bring back all the old slogan.........Do Not Spit...Clean Estate campaign. 2 is enough and ultimately applied English as the communal language so that all Race can come to listen to their political message.

   

• angel7030

  21 Apr 10, 10:56

  really, so do you think as a PRH captain in my pub can get a job anyhwere?? I mean i can lie to  them, i work for Ritz or Rafflies hotel...

• charlize

  21 Apr 10, 10:58

  Originally posted by Arapahoe:

  yeah next the govt is going to redo 1970 all over again in 2010....bring back all the old slogan.........Do Not Spit...Clean Estate campaign. 2 is enough and ultimately applied English as the communal language so that all Race can come to listen to their political message.

   

  It is starting already.

   

  Didn't you see the TV adverts targeting a certain group of people not to spit or litter in public?

   

  The Clean Estate campaign is replaced by the latest Clean and Green advert to make Singapore a "beautiful place".

   

   

• Hitman+

  21 Apr 10, 11:08

  u cant lie ina job interview..................do whatever it takes to get job done.....not con rob and torture!

• angel7030

  21 Apr 10, 11:22

  what to do, if customer wants those torture style, someone has to do it, you dun do, PRC or other immigrants will do it

• will4

  21 Apr 10, 13:02

  Originally posted by Arapahoe:

  yeah next the govt is going to redo 1970 all over again in 2010....bring back all the old slogan.........Do Not Spit...Clean Estate campaign. 2 is enough and ultimately applied English as the communal language so that all Race can come to listen to their political message.

   

  
  The influx of immigrants really cause resentment among the locals esp their bad habits. Most likely, the PM during a visit reminded locals staying in other countries of the many chance back home to make a living, I think many of them prefer to stay in other countries.

• Arapahoe

  21 Apr 10, 13:14

  Originally posted by will4:

  
  The influx of immigrants really cause resentment among the locals esp their bad habits. Most likely, the PM during a visit reminded locals staying in other countries of the many chance back home to make a living, I think many of them prefer to stay in other countries.

  Well LHL and the PM overseas office has been encouraging Singtonian to come back to SG to work for the last few years. They have been alarm by the fact that SG professional are leaving in large quantity. This crisis probably create opportunity for them to ask them to return to SG.

   

• will4

  21 Apr 10, 14:06

  Originally posted by Arapahoe:

  Well LHL and the PM overseas office has been encouraging Singtonian to come back to SG to work for the last few years. They have been alarm by the fact that SG professional are leaving in large quantity. This crisis probably create opportunity for them to ask them to return to SG.

   

  
  Many locals left for other countries n this caused the many of army reservist unit unable to get manpower. This also those not combat fit personnel to be called back for reservist. I thought at the same time according to the local paper, there are many foreigners becoming citizen, how come there is a need to call back those locals staying in other countries?

• Fuck PAP & Lee Kuan Yew

  21 Apr 10, 14:09

  PAP system is fucking up society.

• Arapahoe

  21 Apr 10, 18:56

  Originally posted by will4:

  
  Many locals left for other countries n this caused the many of army reservist unit unable to get manpower. This also those not combat fit personnel to be called back for reservist. I thought at the same time according to the local paper, there are many foreigners becoming citizen, how come there is a need to call back those locals staying in other countries?

  because at the end of the day........those that left sing are the true breed Singaporean that the country needs....

  Foreigners that become citizen will need 3 generation to assilmulate into Singapore society. Its the same in the US.

  We now have Singaporean that maybe born or brought up overseas. Actually these are the talent that SG should attract.

   

   

• angel7030

  22 Apr 10, 14:21

  Originally posted by Fuck PAP & Lee Kuan Yew:

  PAP system is fucking up society.

  
  if the PA system is no good, use the loudspeaker ya

• angel7030

  22 Apr 10, 14:27

  Originally posted by Arapahoe:

  because at the end of the day........those that left sing are the true breed Singaporean that the country needs....

  Foreigners that become citizen will need 3 generation to assilmulate into Singapore society. Its the same in the US.

  We now have Singaporean that maybe born or brought up overseas. Actually these are the talent that SG should attract.

   

   

  
  questions sir,

  First, is there an end of the day in Singapore??? many already operate at 24hrs services

  Second, be it 3 or 4 generations, if we dun do it now, when are we going to do it? Will the 3 or 4th generations know how we suffer now and make us a hero icon for them to follow? Just like we appreciated our forefather who came here and make our life better today. That is why, many Singapore Chinese pray to them.

  Thirdly, Do you view a talent who left his/her country as a loser who cannot face the reality of suffering in life for the glory of his/her motherland?

• Herzog_Zwei

  22 Apr 10, 16:00

  Originally posted by angel7030:

  
  questions sir,

  First, is there an end of the day in Singapore??? many already operate at 24hrs services

  Second, be it 3 or 4 generations, if we dun do it now, when are we going to do it? Will the 3 or 4th generations know how we suffer now and make us a hero icon for them to follow? Just like we appreciated our forefather who came here and make our life better today. That is why, many Singapore Chinese pray to them.

  Thirdly, Do you view a talent who left his/her country as a loser who cannot face the reality of suffering in life for the glory of his/her motherland?

  
  Then report back to taiwan lah, you taiwanese hum.

• angel7030

  22 Apr 10, 16:08

  Originally posted by Herzog_Zwei:

  
  Then report back to taiwan lah, you taiwanese hum.

  
  I am in taiwan