[h=2]‘Singaporeans first’ policy not good for economy[/h]
May 29th, 2014 |
Author: Editorial
Dr Amy Khor
In Parliament on Tuesday (27 May), Senior Minister of State for Manpower Amy Khor said that a “Singaporeans first” policy would not benefit the economy in the long term.
It might constrain firms’ hiring decisions and prompt them to move out of the country, she reasoned.
Dr Khor said, “We are in fact putting the interests of Singaporeans first when we say that we want to grow the economy and job opportunities. But we need to be practical about how we go about doing it.”
Moreover, she said that the new Fair Consideration Framework (FCF), which will take effect from 1 August 2014, will give Singaporeans with the relevant skills “a fair chance” to compete for jobs.
The ruling requires companies to advertise on a national job bank for 14 calendar days before they can apply to hire foreign PMETs on employment pass but the eventual hiring decision is still up to the companies.
Compelling employers to hire Singaporean PMETs who might not have the right skills is likely to “introduce significant labour market rigidity”, said Dr Khor.
This could ultimately hurt Singaporeans, if companies relocate because their manpower needs are not met, she explained.
She said that the Government’s approach has been to help equip Singaporeans with the skills they need to fill “quality jobs”.
Understandably, Singaporeans are not too happy with Dr Khor’s statements made in Parliament. Over in HWZ forum, netizens were visibly angry with her:
The reader who alerted TRE to this news said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKIOawq3jRk
The video shows Dr Khor saying that new citizens are equally committed to Singapore. In her speech, she used herself as an example. She said that she was not born in Singapore but “decided to cast her lot with Singaporeans”.
She asked, “So does that make me any less of a Singaporean citizen than someone born in Singapore?”
“As much as new citizen could pick up and leave Singapore, so could any other (native) Singaporean,” she added.
In Parliament on Tuesday (27 May), Senior Minister of State for Manpower Amy Khor said that a “Singaporeans first” policy would not benefit the economy in the long term.
It might constrain firms’ hiring decisions and prompt them to move out of the country, she reasoned.
Dr Khor said, “We are in fact putting the interests of Singaporeans first when we say that we want to grow the economy and job opportunities. But we need to be practical about how we go about doing it.”
Moreover, she said that the new Fair Consideration Framework (FCF), which will take effect from 1 August 2014, will give Singaporeans with the relevant skills “a fair chance” to compete for jobs.
The ruling requires companies to advertise on a national job bank for 14 calendar days before they can apply to hire foreign PMETs on employment pass but the eventual hiring decision is still up to the companies.
Compelling employers to hire Singaporean PMETs who might not have the right skills is likely to “introduce significant labour market rigidity”, said Dr Khor.
This could ultimately hurt Singaporeans, if companies relocate because their manpower needs are not met, she explained.
She said that the Government’s approach has been to help equip Singaporeans with the skills they need to fill “quality jobs”.
Understandably, Singaporeans are not too happy with Dr Khor’s statements made in Parliament. Over in HWZ forum, netizens were visibly angry with her:
yuri2: Singapore economy is for who ah? For foreigners and elites only, not for peasants?
Strikk: Screw economy growth. What’s economy growth when the citizens are not happy? Stupid mad rush for GDP.
McGraw: Economy more important than Singaporeans!
nivek999: she forgot who is paying her salary
snap99: Economy first policy benefits pap and their salary/bonus
kingkongikiss: with this type of mp mindset, we all finish…
PC: a foreign uni fresh grad from a lowly rated uni in 3rd world country gets the job instead of a local fresh grad with local uni cert. so that means the former is a better fit for the job, has the correct skills and knowledge. something is very wrong with our education…
Marill: I think we should rename Singapore to a new name called Openlegscountry. People who are born here will play the role of opening legs. People who are not born here will be invited with red carpet treatment to come and party and make a mess. The open legs people will have to clean up after them.
One netizen said he is “sick and tired” of “them”:Strikk: Screw economy growth. What’s economy growth when the citizens are not happy? Stupid mad rush for GDP.
McGraw: Economy more important than Singaporeans!
nivek999: she forgot who is paying her salary
snap99: Economy first policy benefits pap and their salary/bonus
kingkongikiss: with this type of mp mindset, we all finish…
PC: a foreign uni fresh grad from a lowly rated uni in 3rd world country gets the job instead of a local fresh grad with local uni cert. so that means the former is a better fit for the job, has the correct skills and knowledge. something is very wrong with our education…
Marill: I think we should rename Singapore to a new name called Openlegscountry. People who are born here will play the role of opening legs. People who are not born here will be invited with red carpet treatment to come and party and make a mess. The open legs people will have to clean up after them.
icansing: how many more years before election? I dun want to hear this crap anymore. sick n tired of them.
But another remarked that Dr Khor scored the highest percentage of valid votes in the last general election:
cheesepiejhj: Sorry HOR she got the highest vote in 2011. Hong Kan north people love her HOR
Indeed, she did score the highest with 70.6% of valid votes for Hong Kah North in GE2011:
The reader who alerted TRE to this news said:
The deal is very simple: You don’t put Singaporeans first, Singaporeans won’t put you first on the voting slip. You import rubbish to compete with us, we’ll vote for rubbish to compete with you. Do unto others what you want others to do unto you.
The reader also highlighted the following video captured during the 6.9 Million Population White Paper debate in Parliament last year:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKIOawq3jRk
The video shows Dr Khor saying that new citizens are equally committed to Singapore. In her speech, she used herself as an example. She said that she was not born in Singapore but “decided to cast her lot with Singaporeans”.
She asked, “So does that make me any less of a Singaporean citizen than someone born in Singapore?”
“As much as new citizen could pick up and leave Singapore, so could any other (native) Singaporean,” she added.
