EX PAP MP CALLS ON GOVT TO CONTINUE LETTING IN MORE FOREIGNERS
Dr Augustine Tan, who is an ex PAP MP was at the Institute of Policy Studies dialogue where Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin was one of the speakers.
Dr Tan suggested that the government relook it's foreign labour quotas and allow wages in Singapore to fall slightly so that Singapore could maintain its economic edge.
He said that Singapore has given in too much to social pressure to raise wages and the economy has taken a hit for it.
Minister Tan Chuan Jin replied that the government would not simply open to door again to foreign labour, highlighting that it needs to be kept at a sustainable rate.
Dr Augustine Tan has always been a supporter of liberal foreign labour policies and when he was a PAP MP, he was always supportive of more immigration.
Dr Tan is an economics professor at the Singapore Management University (SMU) and has been working at SMU since 2000.
He was a PAP MP for Whampoa from 1970 to 1991 when he stepped down from politics.
During this time, he was also the Political Secretary to then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and was also serving as chairman on the National Productivity Board.
Dr Tan feels that there are many "contending pressures" in Singapore including the need to be economically competitive, and also please the people, but he feels that the government's tightening on foreign labour has been a step in the wrong direction.
Do you agree with Dr Tan or do you think it's important to sacrifice a bit of economic competitiveness for better wages for Singaporeans?
Dr Augustine Tan, who is an ex PAP MP was at the Institute of Policy Studies dialogue where Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin was one of the speakers.
Dr Tan suggested that the government relook it's foreign labour quotas and allow wages in Singapore to fall slightly so that Singapore could maintain its economic edge.
He said that Singapore has given in too much to social pressure to raise wages and the economy has taken a hit for it.
Minister Tan Chuan Jin replied that the government would not simply open to door again to foreign labour, highlighting that it needs to be kept at a sustainable rate.
Dr Augustine Tan has always been a supporter of liberal foreign labour policies and when he was a PAP MP, he was always supportive of more immigration.
Dr Tan is an economics professor at the Singapore Management University (SMU) and has been working at SMU since 2000.
He was a PAP MP for Whampoa from 1970 to 1991 when he stepped down from politics.
During this time, he was also the Political Secretary to then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and was also serving as chairman on the National Productivity Board.
Dr Tan feels that there are many "contending pressures" in Singapore including the need to be economically competitive, and also please the people, but he feels that the government's tightening on foreign labour has been a step in the wrong direction.
Do you agree with Dr Tan or do you think it's important to sacrifice a bit of economic competitiveness for better wages for Singaporeans?
