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http://sg.news.yahoo.com/contradict...e-labour-market--tan-chuan-jin-130712530.html
The last paragraph says that the fake government intends to bring in more FTs.
[h=1]Contradictions, tensions in Singapore labour market: Tan Chuan-Jin[/h]<CITE class="byline vcard">
</CITE>
<CITE class="byline vcard">By Jeanette Tan | Yahoo Newsroom – <ABBR title=2014-03-07T13:07:11Z>15 hours ago</ABBR></CITE>
Singapore’s government has to “listen, discern and decide” between competing views with regard to its workforce and manpower policies, said Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin.
Speaking in parliament on Friday for the Ministry of Manpower at the Committee of Supply debate, he noted that some people feel “we should slow down and smell the roses”, only to wonder if Singapore can remain vibrant enough to create good opportunities for their children.
Still others grumble about locals being fickle about applying for jobs and want to see loosening of foreign manpower policies, later on complaining that the country is losing its character from being crowded out by foreigners, he added.
“I will always ask them, ‘So which part of your request would you like me to fulfill?’” he said. “It is really never just about doing more. We have to face the inevitable trade-offs even as we still try for win-win outcomes whenever we can. There are always competing demands to balance.”
Tan also argued that Singaporeans have benefited from economic growth over the past five years, and are better off than they were previously, saying that real median income grew by 1.7 per cent each year over the past five years, while at the bottom 20 per cent of income levels, real income growth was 2 per cent.
Creating jobs sustainably
Noting that by 2020, 40 per cent of cohorts will enter local universities, Tan said moving up the workforce value chain is important, but at the same time stressed that “these jobs will only be created by good companies”.
“These companies, both local and foreign, will only be here if there is healthy economic growth and a conducive business environment for them to be here,” he said. “Companies and labour are increasingly mobile. The competition is real… we need to compete to have the companies, even our local companies, remain here so that opportunities can be provided for our children as they grow up and pursue their educational opportunities."
He called it a “fine balancing act”, saying that because of Singapore’s small domestic market, it must remain open to the global economy in order to thrive and create more opportunities, even if this leads to competition for jobs.
“There is yet another balancing effort to be struck; that between maintaining our competitiveness and this need to moderate growth in our labour force,” he said. “Again, we need to ensure that whatever the tradeoffs, the net effect is positive for our people and society."
More planned for foreign workers
Turning to foreign worker management, Tan said the ministry is speeding up the construction of dormitories so more foreign workers can stay there, adding that it is developing new regulations for larger foreign worker dormitories.
At the same time, he said the government will also be launching more dedicated foreign worker recreation centres.
“In all, these measures will enable us to better meet the evolving needs of foreign workers, as well as facilitate a harmonious co-existence with the communities in the vicinity of large dormitories,” he added.
The last paragraph says that the fake government intends to bring in more FTs.
[h=1]Contradictions, tensions in Singapore labour market: Tan Chuan-Jin[/h]<CITE class="byline vcard">
<CITE class="byline vcard">By Jeanette Tan | Yahoo Newsroom – <ABBR title=2014-03-07T13:07:11Z>15 hours ago</ABBR></CITE>
Yahoo Newsroom - Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin says the government needs to balance between competing views on policies, in order to ensure the collective benefit of Singaporeans. (Yahoo file phot …more
Singapore’s government has to “listen, discern and decide” between competing views with regard to its workforce and manpower policies, said Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin.
Speaking in parliament on Friday for the Ministry of Manpower at the Committee of Supply debate, he noted that some people feel “we should slow down and smell the roses”, only to wonder if Singapore can remain vibrant enough to create good opportunities for their children.
Still others grumble about locals being fickle about applying for jobs and want to see loosening of foreign manpower policies, later on complaining that the country is losing its character from being crowded out by foreigners, he added.
“I will always ask them, ‘So which part of your request would you like me to fulfill?’” he said. “It is really never just about doing more. We have to face the inevitable trade-offs even as we still try for win-win outcomes whenever we can. There are always competing demands to balance.”
Tan also argued that Singaporeans have benefited from economic growth over the past five years, and are better off than they were previously, saying that real median income grew by 1.7 per cent each year over the past five years, while at the bottom 20 per cent of income levels, real income growth was 2 per cent.
Creating jobs sustainably
Noting that by 2020, 40 per cent of cohorts will enter local universities, Tan said moving up the workforce value chain is important, but at the same time stressed that “these jobs will only be created by good companies”.
“These companies, both local and foreign, will only be here if there is healthy economic growth and a conducive business environment for them to be here,” he said. “Companies and labour are increasingly mobile. The competition is real… we need to compete to have the companies, even our local companies, remain here so that opportunities can be provided for our children as they grow up and pursue their educational opportunities."
He called it a “fine balancing act”, saying that because of Singapore’s small domestic market, it must remain open to the global economy in order to thrive and create more opportunities, even if this leads to competition for jobs.
“There is yet another balancing effort to be struck; that between maintaining our competitiveness and this need to moderate growth in our labour force,” he said. “Again, we need to ensure that whatever the tradeoffs, the net effect is positive for our people and society."
More planned for foreign workers
Turning to foreign worker management, Tan said the ministry is speeding up the construction of dormitories so more foreign workers can stay there, adding that it is developing new regulations for larger foreign worker dormitories.
At the same time, he said the government will also be launching more dedicated foreign worker recreation centres.
“In all, these measures will enable us to better meet the evolving needs of foreign workers, as well as facilitate a harmonious co-existence with the communities in the vicinity of large dormitories,” he added.
