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[h=1]OPENING UP OF ASEAN SPELLS MORE WORRIES FOR S'POREAN WORKERS[/h]
Post date:
13 Apr 2015 - 3:03pm
Channel NewsAsia reported that more engineers and architects in Southeast Asia are starting to work in other ASEAN countries, including Singapore.
Not only that, CNA also lists out eight professions for doctors, dentists, nurses, accountants, surveyors, architects, engineers and those in the tourism industry that might be expected to move into Singapore to work in greater numbers.
The ASEAN Economic Community will become official at the end of this year, where "a common market and production base" will be set up, according to CNA.
"Under an integrated community there will be free flow of goods, services, investment, capital and skilled labour."
As part of the community, Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) will be endorsed by ASEAN leaders "to promote freer movement of skilled labour".
CNA reported that "MRAs are a key instrument in ASEAN's push for greater labour mobility in the region.
"Through the MRAs, ASEAN countries may recognise the education or experience obtained by workers in certain professions."
CNA also claimed that, "the arrangements (MRAs) do not guarantee greater labour mobility, because those allowed to migrate for employment are still determined by domestic rules and regulations.
"In Singapore, measures have also been introduced to protect locals.
"From August 2014, employers have had to advertise vacancies on a Government jobs bank for at least 14 days before they can apply for a skilled foreign worker,"it also said.
However, as it is, there is still an increasing number of foreign workers coming into Singapore to work. Even though the government says that the rate of increase has slowed down, the numbers have still continued unabated.
Moreover, Singapore has the least regulations in the region to protect workers, as such it is the easiest for companies to fire Singaporeans at will. Moreover, the key requirement for the jobs bank is for employers to advertise their vacancies on it while they are not required to interview Singaporeans first or consider Singaporeans for hiring first.
In short, there are still no regulations to protect the employment of Singaporean workers.
Country manager at Adecco Personnel (Singapore) Femke Hellemonds, "Two thirds of the CEOs today say they want to promote internal talent, which means they want to retain the people that they hire.
”They need to be offering good packages, compensation and benefit packages, be flexible, but also be an attractive employer to the younger generation, and international mobility is something which for the younger generation is high on their agenda.”
Indeed, even though foreign workers from ASEAN coming into Singapore see themselves as earning higher wages as compared to their home countries because of the exchange rate, for Singaporeans, it is another story.
Many foreigners have the option to move back home with relatively higher earnings after their stint in Singapore. However, for Singaporeans who do not have such an option, they face the prospect of not only earning one of the lowest wages among the developed countries, they have also had to face depressing wages for the last 10 to 20 years.
Also, with Singapore today being the most expensive country in the world, it has become a struggle for many Singaporeans.
While the ASEAN Economic Community spells good news for the GDP of Singapore, it is unlikely that the economic growth in Singapore will be equally shared, where the income inequality in Singapore ranks among one of the highest in the world and where most of the economic produce does not "trickle down" back to Singaporeans.
As such, with the greater numbers of foreign workers coming into Singapore, this is only going to result in greater frustration among Singaporeans.
Add to it that Singapore is one of very few countries in the world which do not provide unemployment benefits for Singaporeans, many Singaporeans who have lost their jobs and will continue to do so will have difficulty making ends meet.
Whereas the PAP government has refused to define a poverty line or to implement minimum wage and unemployment benefits, the opposition parties have proposed doing so.
It is to be seen whether Singaporeans will continue to vote for the PAP or for the opposition to allow stronger labour policies to be introduced to protect the employment of Singaporeans.
Post date:
13 Apr 2015 - 3:03pm
Channel NewsAsia reported that more engineers and architects in Southeast Asia are starting to work in other ASEAN countries, including Singapore.
Not only that, CNA also lists out eight professions for doctors, dentists, nurses, accountants, surveyors, architects, engineers and those in the tourism industry that might be expected to move into Singapore to work in greater numbers.
The ASEAN Economic Community will become official at the end of this year, where "a common market and production base" will be set up, according to CNA.
"Under an integrated community there will be free flow of goods, services, investment, capital and skilled labour."
As part of the community, Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) will be endorsed by ASEAN leaders "to promote freer movement of skilled labour".
CNA reported that "MRAs are a key instrument in ASEAN's push for greater labour mobility in the region.
"Through the MRAs, ASEAN countries may recognise the education or experience obtained by workers in certain professions."
CNA also claimed that, "the arrangements (MRAs) do not guarantee greater labour mobility, because those allowed to migrate for employment are still determined by domestic rules and regulations.
"In Singapore, measures have also been introduced to protect locals.
"From August 2014, employers have had to advertise vacancies on a Government jobs bank for at least 14 days before they can apply for a skilled foreign worker,"it also said.
However, as it is, there is still an increasing number of foreign workers coming into Singapore to work. Even though the government says that the rate of increase has slowed down, the numbers have still continued unabated.
Moreover, Singapore has the least regulations in the region to protect workers, as such it is the easiest for companies to fire Singaporeans at will. Moreover, the key requirement for the jobs bank is for employers to advertise their vacancies on it while they are not required to interview Singaporeans first or consider Singaporeans for hiring first.
In short, there are still no regulations to protect the employment of Singaporean workers.
Country manager at Adecco Personnel (Singapore) Femke Hellemonds, "Two thirds of the CEOs today say they want to promote internal talent, which means they want to retain the people that they hire.
”They need to be offering good packages, compensation and benefit packages, be flexible, but also be an attractive employer to the younger generation, and international mobility is something which for the younger generation is high on their agenda.”
Indeed, even though foreign workers from ASEAN coming into Singapore see themselves as earning higher wages as compared to their home countries because of the exchange rate, for Singaporeans, it is another story.
Many foreigners have the option to move back home with relatively higher earnings after their stint in Singapore. However, for Singaporeans who do not have such an option, they face the prospect of not only earning one of the lowest wages among the developed countries, they have also had to face depressing wages for the last 10 to 20 years.
Also, with Singapore today being the most expensive country in the world, it has become a struggle for many Singaporeans.
While the ASEAN Economic Community spells good news for the GDP of Singapore, it is unlikely that the economic growth in Singapore will be equally shared, where the income inequality in Singapore ranks among one of the highest in the world and where most of the economic produce does not "trickle down" back to Singaporeans.
As such, with the greater numbers of foreign workers coming into Singapore, this is only going to result in greater frustration among Singaporeans.
Add to it that Singapore is one of very few countries in the world which do not provide unemployment benefits for Singaporeans, many Singaporeans who have lost their jobs and will continue to do so will have difficulty making ends meet.
Whereas the PAP government has refused to define a poverty line or to implement minimum wage and unemployment benefits, the opposition parties have proposed doing so.
It is to be seen whether Singaporeans will continue to vote for the PAP or for the opposition to allow stronger labour policies to be introduced to protect the employment of Singaporeans.
