"The cowards never started and the weak died along the way." -anonymous
A very apt quotation to welcome people to this folder and Sam is spot on with it.
Its been 11 years with one Singapore focused forum began a dedicated forum on Emigration and I am sure it helped a generation to contemplate, plan and seek new pastures.
Many of us benefited from the move and there will be some who will think otherwise. However I am sure, its the kids that would have the opportunity to taste the full buffet spread of opportunities laid down for them in their new country.
On a personal front, I have noticed that emigration is not topical as it was in the past in Singapore. I wonder if its survival - no time for anything else but to focus on retaining the job, keep the business going, and fighting your way thru the crowd to make your way home.
Every time I travel, it just amazing that the number of people that I have met who have visited Singapore but have no intention of making Singapore their home. I am talking about 3rd world migrants from Singapore, PRC, Sri Lanka, India, even Africa who prefer to do a menial job than make Singapore home.
Emigrants broadly fall into 3 main categories
1) migrate for a brighter future for their families - middle aged families
2) migrate to retire in a serene or less expensive locale - retirees
3) migrate to pursue a career or seek out business opportunities - singles/couples
Though the Govt has not revealed much, Cat 1 was the biggest headache since the 70s. Usually undertaken by the English educated middle income families and teachers became the vocation category in this lot. Civil Servants made up Cat 2 by a mile and in the last 10 years, many retirees have begun moving to Malaysia, PRC, Thailand and Philippines to stretch the dollar.
Cat 3 is the single biggest challenge since the mid 90s and it is getting worse. There are push and pull factors at play. The push is what the kids are seeing at home and the pull is the amount of scholarship and opportunities for PR offered to graduating students to remain in their new country.
What potential category are you in and have you even attempted to make plans. The world is global and far more progressive than it was 30 years ago.
The concept of loyalty though not outdated works in equation where both the country and the people are on the same page, same platform and seeking the same outcome.
To the PAP - the holy grail is Singapore Inc and they have no qualms if it is driven by Filipinos, Indians from India, PRC Chinese or a quote from the grand old man of Singapore, a "swarthy mexican". Singapore's success is measured on its ability to routinely outstrip the quarterly GDP growth. People have become numbers and nation building stopped the moment Rajaratnam retired.
When asked about the sentiments on the ground, our previous PM and elder statesman prefer to indulge in semantics, side issues and feigning ignorance.
So what is the pull factor to remain in Singapore. Let me hazard a guess and I suspect it is the biggest one - the fear of failure. This generation has been conditioned to follow the template that any move away from the template might lead to failure.
Next post - Chasing the Dream.
A very apt quotation to welcome people to this folder and Sam is spot on with it.
Its been 11 years with one Singapore focused forum began a dedicated forum on Emigration and I am sure it helped a generation to contemplate, plan and seek new pastures.
Many of us benefited from the move and there will be some who will think otherwise. However I am sure, its the kids that would have the opportunity to taste the full buffet spread of opportunities laid down for them in their new country.
On a personal front, I have noticed that emigration is not topical as it was in the past in Singapore. I wonder if its survival - no time for anything else but to focus on retaining the job, keep the business going, and fighting your way thru the crowd to make your way home.
Every time I travel, it just amazing that the number of people that I have met who have visited Singapore but have no intention of making Singapore their home. I am talking about 3rd world migrants from Singapore, PRC, Sri Lanka, India, even Africa who prefer to do a menial job than make Singapore home.
Emigrants broadly fall into 3 main categories
1) migrate for a brighter future for their families - middle aged families
2) migrate to retire in a serene or less expensive locale - retirees
3) migrate to pursue a career or seek out business opportunities - singles/couples
Though the Govt has not revealed much, Cat 1 was the biggest headache since the 70s. Usually undertaken by the English educated middle income families and teachers became the vocation category in this lot. Civil Servants made up Cat 2 by a mile and in the last 10 years, many retirees have begun moving to Malaysia, PRC, Thailand and Philippines to stretch the dollar.
Cat 3 is the single biggest challenge since the mid 90s and it is getting worse. There are push and pull factors at play. The push is what the kids are seeing at home and the pull is the amount of scholarship and opportunities for PR offered to graduating students to remain in their new country.
What potential category are you in and have you even attempted to make plans. The world is global and far more progressive than it was 30 years ago.
The concept of loyalty though not outdated works in equation where both the country and the people are on the same page, same platform and seeking the same outcome.
To the PAP - the holy grail is Singapore Inc and they have no qualms if it is driven by Filipinos, Indians from India, PRC Chinese or a quote from the grand old man of Singapore, a "swarthy mexican". Singapore's success is measured on its ability to routinely outstrip the quarterly GDP growth. People have become numbers and nation building stopped the moment Rajaratnam retired.
When asked about the sentiments on the ground, our previous PM and elder statesman prefer to indulge in semantics, side issues and feigning ignorance.
So what is the pull factor to remain in Singapore. Let me hazard a guess and I suspect it is the biggest one - the fear of failure. This generation has been conditioned to follow the template that any move away from the template might lead to failure.
Next post - Chasing the Dream.