Citizens A Minority In MNCs?

[SNAblog]

http://www.salary.sg/2010/citizens-...larysg+(Salary.sg+-+Your+Salary+in+Singapore)

Citizens A Minority In MNCs?
July 31st, 2010

A friend of mine works in an MNC. He commented recently that Singapore citizens are a rare breed at his workplace. In his extended team of about 30, there are Indians, British, Asian Americans and Malaysian Chinese, but only 2 Singaporeans. And one of the 2 is a contract worker!

This is not only limited to his extended team. Throughout the office, spanning several floors in the building, he said it’s hard to find more than a handful Singaporeans in middle to senior positions. However, in sales and lower-end operations, and especially in technical support, there are more citizens.

If people are interested to know whether MNCs are better paymasters than GLCs, it’s also logical for them to ask how many citizens are employed by MNCs in Singapore and in what positions. Unfortunately I can’t find any figures.

In Salary.sg forums, a forummer mentioned that there’s a quota limiting the ratio of foreigners vs citizens, but the quota “clubs” PRs and Singaporeans together. He is only partly correct.

Quotas are only applicable to work permits and ‘S’ pass foreign workers. See difference between foreign workers and foreign talent and MOM webpage on foreign worker quotas.

On the other hand, foreigners earning more than $2,500 hold employment passes. They are classified as “professionals” (as opposed to “skilled workers”). These foreign professionals are not subject to any quota.

This MOM reply to a query in ST says it all (boldface mine):

“Apart from the S-Pass, companies can also bring in foreign professionals, managers and executives on employment passes to meet their staffing needs. There is no quota for Employment Pass holders. However the applicant must be paid a basic monthly salary of at least $2,500 and have acceptable qualifications.”

There is no quota. If you run a company and pay more than $2,500 to each employee, you can have 100% foreigners in your company.

Still, the forummer is correct regarding the lumping of PRs and citizens. For skilled foreign workers, MOM enforces a certain quota. However, as stated in this MOM page (boldface mine):

” ‘Local workforce’ refers to those full-time employees (Singapore citizens or permanent residents).”

o, technically, any company in Singapore can hire zero Singapore citizen and have foreigners as all its employees.

 

[halsey02]

This started to happen 25 years ago, and when the union members started complaining to the Central Commitee (NTUC); those who are vocal about it, were branded as radicals. If these 'radicals' were in the local unions they were eithers slowly removed by central or the company promotes them to management.

The complain were, huge influx of Malaysians ( at that time), then later from Hong Kong, from Philippines, Indonesians etc were taking away jobs from SINgaporeans, who were union members, who pay dues & so-called 'fighting fund'...

SINgaporeans deserve what they got today..especially those in the MNC's....especially the 66.6%...they musn't complain, but embrace what they have today.

 

[Tiu Kwang Yew]

wow, really a genocide !

 

[Leongsam]

It was a similar situation when I worked for an MNC and that was in the mid to late 80s.

There were 8 department heads and 6 were foreigners. I was one of the two Singaporeans.

Had I stayed on, I would most certainly have been replaced with a foreigner at half the salary I was earning. However, in life, you have to stay one step ahead of the game so I left and started my own little empire where I could call the shots instead. :p

A quarter of century has passed and the more things change, the more they stay the same.

 

[palden]

We are already an endangered species

 

[johnny333]

Even if a Sporean is lucky enough to work in an MNC, they are working on local terms, and not the expat pay package which can be anything from $200,000 upwards.

 

[Ramseth]

I thought MNC stands for multi-national corporation. Since it's multi-national, of course local citizens are in minority, commonsense. Otherwise, become nationalised?

 

[middaydog]

There were 8 department heads and 6 were foreigners. I was one of the two Singaporeans.

you 'was one of the two Singaporean heads'

or

you 'was one of the two Singaporeans in the lowest rung of the food chain ' ?

 

[manokie]

MNCs are not stupid

They know that the more academically successful Singaporeans are in Civil Service
It's natural they look outside of Singapore to bring in people they deemed as good enough for their organization. And yes, they look at grades and everything. Don't expect them to hire someone without a good education nowadays that everyone has a degree or diploma.

 

[krafty]

life is just getting tougher and tougher for Sinkies like me...

MNCs are not stupid

They know that the more academically successful Singaporeans are in Civil Service
It's natural they look outside of Singapore to bring in people they deemed as good enough for their organization. And yes, they look at grades and everything. Don't expect them to hire someone without a good education nowadays that everyone has a degree or diploma.

 

[manokie]

life is just getting tougher and tougher for Sinkies like me...

Bro

you got a degree... Try again to find a job you like...

 

[krafty]

I used to be doing IT and Engineering stuff. When I was 32, I was engaged to work in Taipei. My salary then was $5k excluding allowances,accomodation all paid for. The last job interview, I put down my expectation to $4k, was told too high and I decided to continue driving my cab. However, I find tht as a cab driver difficult to sian charbor tht I like.:o

Bro

you got a degree... Try again to find a job you like...

 

[manokie]

I used to be doing IT and Engineering stuff. When I was 32, I was engaged to work in Taipei. My salary then was $5k excluding allowances,accomodation all paid for. The last job interview, I put down my expectation to $4k, was told too high and I decided to continue driving my cab. However, I find tht as a cab driver difficult to sian charbor tht I like.:o

Reduce it to $3K, get the job first.. then move on to another one when the economy is better!

 

[krafty]

My last position was a proj.mgr and was paid $3800. Now think back, I shld have stayed on, as I was feeling depressed then, i decided to continue driving cab. $3k job, I may as well drive a cab,relax...relax...:o

Maybe I will! I will see how it goes. This char bor i interested in may spur back my will to get back to workforce.

Reduce it to $3K, get the job first.. then move on to another one when the economy is better!

 

[Received_by_Kings]

Well, the next "more intelligent batch" is going to suffer even more when first-class degree holders from the best universities swarm the streets.

Goes to show that life is never really meant to be easy, and even for your dime-a-dozen non-thinking average followers of every trend and rule.

 

[johnny333]

MNCs are not stupid

They know that the more academically successful Singaporeans are in Civil Service
It's natural they look outside of Singapore to bring in people they deemed as good enough for their organization. And yes, they look at grades and everything. Don't expect them to hire someone without a good education nowadays that everyone has a degree or diploma.

Actually not true.

When I went for an interview they NEVER asked me to show my Uni transcripts at all

I had interviews with various heads of the differrent department to ensure I was acceptable to all the depts I would be working with.

I later found out from my ex-bosses in Canada that the company called them to check on my work background.

Contrast that to a applying for a position in a GLC, you even have to provide primary school results After finishing an interview, I remembered receiving a call asking for my primary school results but I told them never mind

Heck as a professional I 'm applying for a job based on prior work experience & uni credentials. If they wanted primary schools for their records, it says alot about the company

 

[Glaringly]

MNCs are not stupid

They know that the more academically successful Singaporeans are in Civil Service
It's natural they look outside of Singapore to bring in people they deemed as good enough for their organization. And yes, they look at grades and everything. Don't expect them to hire someone without a good education nowadays that everyone has a degree or diploma.

I don't think MNCs put that much weightage on academic excellent?

This is new to me. I thought they are looking for experience staff?

 

[Glaringly]

Actually not true.

Contrast that to a applying for a position in a GLC, you even have to provide primary school results After finishing an interview, I remembered receiving a call asking for my primary school results but I told them never mind

Heck as a professional I 'm applying for a job based on prior work experience & uni credentials. If they wanted primary schools for their records, it says alot about the company

Typical PAP setup, isn't it? Their whole world seems to revolve around how many As...

 

[jw5]

Typical PAP setup, isn't it? Their whole world seems to revolve around how many As...

To be concerned about how many As in primary school is really silly.
I know someone who finished last in his class every year in primary school, but went on to get a master's degree in computer engineering.

 

[Glaringly]

To be concerned about how many As in primary school is really silly.
I know someone who finished last in his class every year in primary school, but went on to get a master's degree in computer engineering.

I thought you are going to say that someone you knew went on to head big MNC setup.

Seriously, the criteria that GLC and civil services demand forces many good chaps to choose a career in MNC, and pretty successful despite lack of "As" or even a basic degree.