on Oct 26th, 2011Not Enough Foreign Workers in Singapore?
A few days ago, Straits Times had a report on how Singapore’s increased foreign worker levy is affecting MNCs in Singapore and how these MNCs might bring their investments to other countries. To my surprise, Straits Times wrote another Special Report section on the same issue again.
Straits Times 26 October 2011 reported, again, “Firms feel impact of foreign worker crunch”. The article went on portraying how businesses finds it difficult to hire both Singaporeans and foreigners, with 4 different reports of businesses not able to find workers. However, when I read the article, this is what I felt they were trying to say:
1. Businesses do not want to hire Singaporeans because they are too demanding.
“We are willing to pay $2500, higher than the $2000 we pay for foreigners, for a new local, but they tell us, ‘Saturday, Sunday I don’t work. Go out sea to troubleshoot, very tough, cannot’.”
“Most don’t have the patience – they quit halfway and become property agents”
“Some job seekers asked “Does the bus stop in front of your shop?” and “Can I get a cash advance?”.”
Well, I don’t think Singaporeans being concerned about their job welfare is a problem. Employers want to hire quality labor for as cheap as possible while employees want to find a job that pays well enough for the amount of work and trouble they have to be put through. Fair? I’m sure these employers would be so happy to find workers that work 7 days a week for $400. Do they care that our salary has been stagnant for the last 10 to 20 years and the cost of living is increasing?
2. Implying that foreigners are cheaper and better workers than Singaporeans.
It’s possibly true! These foreigners earn peanuts in their home countries. When they come Singapore, they are earning many times more than of what they would get back home. They come with experience, knowledge and are more humbled and appreciative of their jobs (probably). Then why don’t these companies just go to China or India to set up their companies instead?
Singapore has a great infrastructure, safety, government stability etc. etc. that is what attracts big businesses here. Should foreign workers instead of Singaporean workers be reaping the benefits of having such a great country? We didn’t set up this awesome place to attract investors and businesses just to have foreigners come and reap the reward that is suppose to be ours.
Ok. Let’s take a look at this from 3 different views of Singaporean workers.
Singaporean A – The lowly educated
In my line of work, I interact with many lower income and educated families. Many of whom work jobs that pays less than $1000 a month. Assuming that both parents are working, they earn a total of less than $2500 a month. These are the drivers, the delivery men, food packers, hard laborers, technicians etc. I really wonder how does a family of 5 survive on $2500 a month! HUH? A driver earns $1000 a month?? Are you sure?? Yeah of course they only earn $1000 a month… The company can easily hire a foreigner to work for $1000 a month, so why would they want to pay locals any more than that?
Singaporean B – educated
I hear this from a friend who works in the hotel industry. She is a fresh graduate with a degree and she only earns $1500 a month, working 6 days shift! Her Filipino colleagues working the same position earns $1800 a month holding S-pass. The only reason why a Singaporean earns $1500 a month and Filipino earns $1800 a month is because it is a requirement to attain an S-pass and employers do not pay CPF for foreigners. How is it that a degree holder should have to earn such minimal wage in a country like Singapore??? If there were no supplies of foreign workers in her sector, perhaps hotels would have to offer higher pay to attract locals to work.
I’ve got yet another friend, who is a foreigner, earns only $1800 a month and he was given an employment pass (E-Pass). This was approved after the General Election 2011 this year. When the government said they were going to raise the E-pass requirement to $2800… they actually meant $1800 is it?
Singaporean C – The highly educated
Studying a post-graduate course in Singapore, I was hoping to some day earn lots of money. I don’t. This I don’t blame the foreign workers but the under developed sector of psychology, counseling and social work. I found it difficult to accept that my current pay is less that of someone working in MacDonald in Australia. If I were to find work in a westernized country, I would get at least twice that of my current pay.
This is what is happening to many brilliant, smart, educated Singaporeans… They would rather work overseas than to stay in Singapore. What is there for them here? The public transports over crowded with China and Indian nationals? The higher competition their children may receive in schools due to foreigners? The fear of cooking curry at their own homes? The poor services we receive from non-English speaking staffs? The stressful, fast-paced life that does not even allow you to have quality family time anymore, don’t talk about even having kids! Where got time to even have sex!
I was not born in Singapore but I grew up here and I am proud to call myself a Singaporean. I have nothing against foreigners and I am not xenophobic. I have a problem with Singapore’s current legislation and the direction of which the country is heading. My parents thought Singapore was a great place to migrate and bring up their children… slowly but surely… Singapore is losing all the factors that made Singapore so unique and great.
All in all, we do need foreign workers in Singapore, but not at the expense of affecting the livelihood and quality of life of other Singaporeans living here like you and I.
News article:
You always look 21 and hot ok!!!
But that picture pretty much describe how we’re like… you’re always full of surprises and excitement and I’m always there to disturb you! We’ve known each other for many years and we built a friendship that transcends so many aspects of our lives… our hobbies i.e. gaming and blogging, through our rich and poor times, through different boyfriends, even through different countries… And as princessy as you are, I am glad to have a friend like you around 
