PM: Bring in more foreign workers in a slowdown

[Confuseous]

The Singapore economy is slowing down. Manufacturing output contracted for seven straight months since mid-2011. This prompted Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to issue this warning: “We are now in a period where incomes will be under pressure at the low-end. I think even in the middle, white-collar workers will also be coming under pressure.”

At the same time, however, Mr Lee wants to increase the number of foreign workers in this country. He said that “the more you tighten the inflow, the slower growth is going to be and that’s something Singaporeans will have to understand.”

Does this sound right?

Already a majority of Singaporeans are concerned about their future job prospects. Recent job fairs at the Nanyang Technological University and the National University of Singapore registered a 30 percent decline in the number of jobs available.

And the Government wants to bring in more foreign workers?

Wouldn't it be better to use the slowdown as an opportunity to encourage employers to restructure their businesses and focus on increasing productivity rather than continuing to rely on cheap foreign labour? After all, Minister for Manpower Gan Kim Yong pointed out that enterprises “should rely on how to reduce reliance on foreign workers, (and) focus on productivity."

So why is the PM bringing in more foreign workers at a time when the economy is unstable? Because, as he says, the more you reduce the number of foreigners, the slower the GDP growth is going to be.

He doesn't explain how in a contracting economy more foreign workers are needed. All he says is that Singaporeans "will have to understand." Just like how Mr Lee Kuan Yew tells us that "we need to accept immigrants" no matter how absurd the Government's policy is.

This is the nub of the problem: The PAP, for all its talk about wanting to change its ways, is still very much in its old mode of we-say-you-do style of governance.

On the eonomic front, this growth-at-all-cost policy is emblematic of the PAP's approach. It really doesn't matter whether Singaporeans find themselves unemployed or if their incomes are slashed as long as the GDP keeps on increasing to benefit the rich at the expense of ordinary, working people.

Such an arrangement cannot last.

- http://yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/5133-pm-bring-in-more-foreign-workers-in-a-slowdown

 

[youtalkcock]

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[Leongsam]

Foreigners make the country more dynamic and invigorate the economy.

 

[erection2015]

but there will be tradeoffs and i think the 'small guys ' will get the short end of the stick again.

Foreigners make the country more dynamic and invigorate the economy.

 

[winners]

Foreigners make the country more dynamic and invigorate the economy.

lol, you just wait till 1 day when the Chinks will buy up all the farms in OZ. They have already started.

 

[Leongsam]

lol, you just wait till 1 day when the Chinks will buy up all the farms in OZ. They have already started.

Any increase in land values is a good thing for me.

 

[commoner]

Manufacturing output contracted for 7 straight monhlys because of tightening of FTs?

Increase in FTs will makenit better?

is it not the manufacturing output contracts because of global demand?

KNN who the f is the PM going to smoke

 

[Kohliantye]

Foreigners make the country more dynamic and invigorate the economy.

Yes Leongsam, you are absolutely right. I concur with you.
My perception of your thoughts (as mentioned above) means "at the expense of fellow Singaporeans. Is that the case?
No further questions. I rest my case

 

[Leongsam]

Yes Leongsam, you are absolutely right. I concur with you.
My perception of your thoughts (as mentioned above) means "at the expense of fellow Singaporeans. Is that the case?
No further questions. I rest my case

An invigorated economy benefits everyone Singaporeans included. A market of 5 million people all within a 25 km radius is any businessman's dream.

 

[myfoot123]

A market of 5 million people all within a 25 km radius is any businessman's dream.

A sane businessman will use internet.

 

[Leongsam]

A sane businessman will use internet.

The internet can be used to publicise and promote a business but in many cases, it can't provide the actual service.

 

[myfoot123]

The internet can be used to publicise and promote a business but in many cases, it can't provide the actual service.

A high skill high tech country tend to have less labour intensive business. Singapore is a fail country.

 

[Leongsam]

A high skill high tech country tend to have less labour intensive business. Singapore is a fail country.

Service industries are labour intensive by their very nature and service industries have to be become Singapore's salvation or the country is doomed. Space limitations pretty much rule out most other industries.

 

[myfoot123]

Service industries are labour intensive by their very nature and service industries have to be become Singapore's salvation or the country is doomed. Space limitations pretty much rule out most other industries.

All the more we should use our limited land wisely for more productive activity rather than crammed with unproductive labour/businesses. I ordered a sofa, one PRC drilling the sofa legs and two others standing to watch. I ordered a plate of wanton noodle, one PRC collect money, the other prepared ingredient for the next one to boil noodle onto the bowl, they were crammed together and sweating, I lost my appetite when I see their sweats dropped into the bowl. can't it be done with just one person or at least one of the PRCs go out and serve drinks/coffee? In a masseur palor with not much business, a PRC did my legs and 4 others watched. Aren't they wasting their time or at least go out to get business? Bangala is nothing new, one drilled a small hole with many stood around it, 2 stood at the road directing empty traffic, the rest that could not watch the drilling activity moved around finding thing to touch to kill time. ...ya, so much people and so little work. I wonder whether some industry really justified with so many idle people. The list goes on if I have the time to add. Yet I believed these are business that screamed no-enough-cheap workers.

 

[Leongsam]

All the more we should use our limited land wisely for more productive activity rather than crammed with unproductive labour/businesses.

If that is indeed the case, you're being presented with the opportunity of starting an efficiently run business which will be able to undercut your competition and thus guaranteeing your success.

You could start a furniture delivery business and provide an excellent service while employing half the number of people. You'll be the most profitable player in town.

Same applies if you go into the catering business. Your lower overheads means you'll be able to provide better quality at a cheaper rate.

I say go for it.

 

[halsey02]

From Myanmar with Love, the are coming, coming, & some soon cumming!!

 

[myfoot123]

If that is indeed the case, you're being presented with the opportunity of starting an efficiently run business which will be able to undercut your competition and thus guaranteeing your success.
I say go for it.

The point I wanted to make about Singapore is this - the more people you brought in, you need equally more people to service this "more people". Why create headache for ourselves? If Singapore has lesser population, than less service is needed, less garbage will be generated, you will have enough hospital bed, our doctor has less stress, our infrastructures can manage the load and there is no need to bulldoze Rochor HDB, bukit brown or other Singapore heritage. All these problems were created because we brought in trash with no added value, no productivity idea to the society but created fake buzz. If we don't have the stomach, don't eat so much.


If I were to do business, I will be using my PC more than labour, save me the trouble of dealing with emotional factors.

 

[Leongsam]

If I were to do business, I will be using my PC more than labour, save me the trouble of dealing with emotional factors.

That's how I started. What's stopping you?

 

[kingrant]

I dont think one should start with hiring cheap labour. One should start by asking what one needs by way of skills that can give asymmetric returns on investment in labour, capital etc. and then go on to hire the right people and paying them fairly, not lowly. If the people you hire can bring in non-linear gains to your business, it behoves the enterprise well to reward that labour, so as to motivate and incentivise further gains and also to attract the right people.

Singaporeans can be used more productively only if businesses stop being small-minded and think and plan longer term with their workers at heart, not pure exploitation.

That way, businesses nurture the environment in which they operate and like the water for a fish, environment will provide healthy and rich benefits in turn.

If that is indeed the case, you're being presented with the opportunity of starting an efficiently run business which will be able to undercut your competition and thus guaranteeing your success.

You could start a furniture delivery business and provide an excellent service while employing half the number of people. You'll be the most profitable player in town.

Same applies if you go into the catering business. Your lower overheads means you'll be able to provide better quality at a cheaper rate.

I say go for it.

 

[myfoot123]

That's how I started. What's stopping you?

NOthing is stopping me, unique idea takes time.