Foreign labour policies are “balanced”?

October 27, 2014

We refer to the article “Hard-headed policies necessary to tackle challenges: Chuan-Jin” (Today, Oct 27).

Foreign labour policies need to be “balanced”?

It states that “(he) noted that the tightening of the foreign manpower policy has made it challenging for businesses here. He said: “While we want to look after the interest of Singaporean businessmen to (help them) build the stage … at the same time, there is also the broader challenge of congestion and numbers, and you want to keep that growth at a much more sustainable rate. What is the correct nuance?”

 At the same time, some are calling for further tightening to protect Singaporeans and their jobs, he said. But this “seemingly pro-Singaporean” mindset is but a fallacy.

“The truth is, competition is happening whether the foreigners are here or not. Jobs are being outsourced to other countries … So this is a very clear dilemma of how you balance head and heart,” he added.”

“Balanced” policies?

– Are the following “balanced” policies?

… Allowing “would be” foreign spouses, in addition to foreign spouses now, to work without being counted in the foreign workers’ quota or levy, no need to apply for work permit, employers don’t have to pay CPF

… Allowing the non-citizen workforce to grow to about 48% of the total workforce

… Having a Re-employment Act that allows employers to offer any terms of re-employment, arbitrarily deciding whether employee is physically fit, etc

… Statistics on how many civil servants have been re-employed on the same terms?

… Having a Fair Employment Framework which cannot give the statistics as to how many of the jobs went to Singaporeans?

… When we say that the civil service is leading by example – no statistics as to whether they are employing Singaporeans first – how many foreigners and PRs are employed, people with disabilities, ex-offenders are employed, etc?

… Near zero real basic wage growth for almost all job categories in the last 14 years or so

… Arguably, meaningless job statistics that do not breakdown locals into Singaporeans and PRs

… Division 4 civil servants’ pay  increased by about 10 times vs Ministers’ 45 times, in the last 40 years or so?

… In the last 7.5 years or so – creating over 300,000 jobs for locals (Singaporeans and permanent residents (PRs)) against over 700,000 jobs for foreigners – granting over 400,000 new citizens and PRs

S Y Lee and Leong Sze Hian

P.S. Come with your family and friends to the 5th Return Our CPF protest on 29 November 4 pm at Speakers’ Corner

https://www.facebook.com/events/796694730417598/

 

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About the Author

Leong
Leong Sze Hian has served as the president of 4 professional bodies, honorary consul of 2 countries, an alumnus of Harvard University, authored 4 books, quoted over 1500 times in the media , has been a radio talkshow host, a newspaper daily columnist, Wharton Fellow, SEACeM Fellow, columnist for theonlinecitizen and Malaysiakini, executive producer of Ilo Ilo (40 international awards), Hotel Mumbai (associate producer), invited to speak more than 200 times in about 40 countries, CIFA advisory board member, founding advisor to the Financial Planning Associations of 2 countries. He has 3 Masters, 2 Bachelors degrees and 13 professional  qualifications.