Lim Swee Say Propose Foreign Talent Limits

[Silencer]

Bloomberg

Singapore Unions Propose Foreign Talent Limits, Labor Chief Says
June 02, 2011, 7:54 AM EDT

By Andrea Tan and Shamim Adam

June 2 (Bloomberg) -- Singapore’s labor unions have proposed ideas to limit the city’s overseas workforce, including quotas for so-called foreign talent, said Lim Swee Say, secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress.

Some unionists suggested caps on the number of overseas professionals, managers, executives and technicians employed in Singapore, and the island’s foreign labor policies may have to be adjusted, the Today newspaper reported, citing Lim’s comments at a press briefing for the local media yesterday. Lim is also a minister in the island’s Cabinet. The National Trades Union Congress declined to respond to e-mailed questions and referred Bloomberg News to local newspaper reports.

Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party has pledged to change the way it governs and find better ways to serve the electorate after its worst performance at general elections held last month. Opposition parties had tapped on the rising discontent over the influx of overseas workers which citizens say resulted in stiffer competition for jobs, home prices and stretched the city’s public transportation system.

“While it is important for Singapore to be first in global competition, of growing importance is that Singaporeans come first in our local employment,” Lim was quoted as saying in the Straits Times newspaper. “This is the best of both worlds that Singaporeans are expecting.”

More than a third of Singapore’s 5.1 million population is made up of foreigners and permanent residents. While the city has quotas for low and medium-skilled workers, it doesn’t restrict the number of foreign professionals, or those earning at least S$2,500 ($2,000) a month, the Straits Times said.

Foreign Talent Quota

Unionists have suggested a quota for overseas talent to protect Singaporean workers and “discourage a situation where in any particular company, the vast majority” of professionals, managers, executives and technicians are foreigners, the Straits Times cited Lim as saying.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said foreign workers have helped grow the country’s economy and create jobs for Singaporeans. The city added about 116,000 jobs last year when the economy grew a record 14.5 percent and wages rose an average 5.6 percent in that period. Of the new positions created, 59,700 jobs went to foreigners, according to the Ministry of Manpower.

Lee’s ruling People’s Action Party won last month’s election with the smallest margin of popular votes since independence. The PAP returned to power with 81 parliamentary seats out of 87, while losing 39.9 percent of the popular vote.

The National Trades Union Congress represents 60 trade unions and has 500,000 members.

--Editors: Linus Chua, Cherian Thomas

To contact the reporters on this story: Andrea Tan in Singapore at [email protected]; Shamim Adam in Singapore at [email protected]

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Douglas Wong at [email protected]; Stephanie Phang in Singapore at [email protected]

http://www.businessweek.com/news/20...e-foreign-talent-limits-labor-chief-says.html

Out of 116,000 jobs created last year, 59,700 jobs went to foreigners.
That is about 51.4% and less than 49% went to "residents".

Which can be safely assumed out of every 4 jobs,
2 when to foreigners,
1 to permanent resident and
1 goes to a Singaporean.

Proposing is a start right ?

 

[GeylangCheongster]

Singapore for Singaporeans first

Australia, Canada got so much land still have very strict points system

We must do the same, don't blindly grow GDP without locals benefiting

Swee Say - you must the fake certificate talent back

 

[Confuseous]

This SHIT HOLE is now taking a 180-degree turnaround to preserve votes for next erection and NOT out of concerns for the Singaporeans.
This is the SHIT HOLE who kept saying that he won't listen to anyone else who suggests different approaches -"We will not listen."
This is the SHIT HOLE who will not agree to minimum wage.
This is the SHIT HOLE who now understands how workers feel, after all these years!

 

[davetan3]

The question is without that 59,700 jobs for foreigners, how many jobs will there be for Singaporeans?
116,000? or 56,300 ? or less than 56,300 ?

 

[davetan3]

The question is without that 59,700 jobs for foreigners, how many jobs will there be for Singaporeans?
116,000? or 56,300 ? or less than 56,300 ?

 

[kingrant]

These are just numbers. Statistics can lie. How can the ordinary man in the street know whether the govt is telling us the truth, or half truth or a lie? How can such figures be made transparent so that we can track whether the govt is meeting the cap? In Japanese production, they make use of visible results on walls so everyone can see. Where is the govt's equivalent of this transparent visible wall?

 

[karmabear]

Swee say only.... Whether it happens or not, might as well go and buy 4D.

 

[ivebert]

These are just numbers. Statistics can lie. How can the ordinary man in the street know whether the govt is telling us the truth, or half truth or a lie? How can such figures be made transparent so that we can track whether the govt is meeting the cap? In Japanese production, they make use of visible results on walls so everyone can see. Where is the govt's equivalent of this transparent visible wall?

Ordinary folk?

U mean local trash????

 

[Cerebral]

The question is without that 59,700 jobs for foreigners, how many jobs will there be for Singaporeans?
116,000? or 56,300 ? or less than 56,300 ?

The question is why do you need so many new jobs when the Singapore population (Native, not converts) did not increase significantly over the past 10 years? Use your brains Dave.

 

[myfoot123]

Without relentless influx of foreigners. Employers will be more willing to think out of the box and become more productive. Without foreigners, Singaporeans wages will increase. Without foreigners, Singapore become our HOME SWEET HOME. Without foreigners, Singapore won't have so many social problems today. Without foreigners, our NS men will be loyal to serve this country. Without foreigners, our crime rate will go down...

Without foreigners, we almost rid 90% of problems faced by Singapore today. PAP should fully compensate Singaporeans for all the inconveniences and woes happened in the past. We cannot forgive and forget the damaage PAP has done to its people. It is too late to repent, I will still vote for opposition come GE2015.

 

[scroobal]

My sentiments exactly. The way he talks as though he came out with the idea.

This SHIT HOLE is now taking a 180-degree turnaround to preserve votes for next erection and NOT out of concerns for the Singaporeans.
This is the SHIT HOLE who kept saying that he won't listen to anyone else who suggests different approaches -"We will not listen."
This is the SHIT HOLE who will not agree to minimum wage.
This is the SHIT HOLE who now understands how workers feel, after all these years!

 

[davetan3]

Hilter in the making !!
Blame all the country's problems on a specific race/entity ....

Without relentless influx of foreigners. Employers will be more willing to think out of the box and become more productive. Without foreigners, Singaporeans wages will increase. Without foreigners, Singapore become our HOME SWEET HOME. Without foreigners, Singapore won't have so many social problems today. Without foreigners, our NS men will be loyal to serve this country. Without foreigners, our crime rate will go down...

Without foreigners, we almost rid 90% of problems faced by Singapore today. PAP should fully compensate Singaporeans for all the inconveniences and woes happened in the past. We cannot forgive and forget the damaage PAP has done to its people. It is too late to repent, I will still vote for opposition come GE2015.