The problematic issue of foreigners in both PAP's and WP's plans

[UltimaOnline]

PAP says "we need more foreign workers". WP says "we need to stop bringing in foreign workers".

Neither plan will satisfy Singaporeans, because neither party directly addresses the real issue of why Singaporeans are unhappy with foreign workers.

Which is this :

Singaporeans happily welcome lowly-skilled foreign workers to take up lowly-skilled and lowly-paid jobs, eg. construction workers and cleaners.
Singaporeans hate highly-skilled foreigners to compete with locals for high-end and highly-paid jobs, eg. managers, executives, bankers, engineers.

If either PAP or WP (or any party at all) are willing to implement policies to reduce the intake of foreigners competing for high-end jobs, while increasing the intake of foreigners willing to perform low-end jobs, this party would enjoy overwhelming victory at any election.

Bernard Chong Seow Ming :
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium...-foreign-labour-policy-help-sporeans-20130208

Hariharan Gangadharan :
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium...dopt-nuanced-approach-foreign-labour-20130208

Goh Geok Teck :
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-letters/story/the-four-groups-foreigners-20130208

 

[tanwahtiu]

They should go in the middle - allow dual citizenship status for Singaporeans to leave the country.

If construction jobs in Singapore are lowly paid for Singaporeans (if PAP would like it to be), Singaporeans can leave Singapore with dual citizenhship status and work in good paid construction jobs outside Singapore. Construction industry hire many workers and these construction work can be highly skilled job these days and with advanced construction equipment technologies says who construction jobs are dirty, dusty, heavy and hard labours.

Ever see construction sites with litters all over the places, dusty and dangerous, nah!

If you see construction sites dirty, dusty and noisy then these construction companies are using out-dated construction equipment technologies, no OH& S for workers and still using hard labour workers. The construction companies are not spending $$ on new construction equipment technologies to increase safety and productivity and perhaps back door play with worker levy fees and pay pittence to poor hard labours from India to make $$ or break even.

PAP says "we need more foreign workers". WP says "we need to stop bringing in foreign workers".

Neither plan will satisfy Singaporeans, because neither party directly addresses the real issue of why Singaporeans are unhappy with foreign workers.

Which is this :

Singaporeans happily welcome lowly-skilled foreign workers to take up lowly-skilled and lowly-paid jobs, eg. construction workers and cleaners.
Singaporeans hate highly-skilled foreigners to compete with locals for high-end and highly-paid jobs, eg. managers, executives, bankers, engineers.

If either PAP or WP (or any party at all) are willing to implement policies to reduce the intake of foreigners competing for high-end jobs, while increasing the intake of foreigners willing to perform low-end jobs, this party would enjoy overwhelming victory at any election.

Bernard Chong Seow Ming :
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium...-foreign-labour-policy-help-sporeans-20130208

Hariharan Gangadharan :
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium...dopt-nuanced-approach-foreign-labour-20130208

Goh Geok Teck :
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-letters/story/the-four-groups-foreigners-20130208

 

[Kinana]

If it's so easy, why don't any of the 40% set up one of these high tech construction companies?

 

[mojito]

They should go in the middle - allow dual citizenship status for Singaporeans to leave the country.

You think get citizenship elsewhere so easy like SG? Dual citizenship is rubbish if everywhere else is clamping down on immigration but SG is rolling out the carpet to welcome FTs. You need to clear major objections people have against dual citizenship - CPF withdrawal, right to public housing and allegiance in time of war.

 

[Leongsam]

If it's so easy, why don't any of the 40% set up one of these high tech construction companies?

They don't because talk is cheap. Anyone can whine and moan and complain about someone else but ask them to their money where their mouth is and they all slink away to hide.