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So, while we can argue the details or the mechanics of Prof Lim’s ideas, it is of utmost importance that our society as a whole engage in meaningful, substantial debate on this matter which affect all of us, whether we are workers or business owners.
The most important thing is that we Singaporeans must buy-in to the solution. The last thing the government should do is to – as it has done all these years – adopt the attitude that it knows best and bulldoze its way through.
For clearly, our dependence on cheap foreign labour is not working. It is, in fact, making Singaporeans suffer.
So, perhaps we should start with asking the government this: What are your long-term plans to reduce the dependence on cheap foreign labour in Singapore, besides urging locals to be more productive and to upskill? Also, as we change mindsets to get Singaporeans to work longer into old age, how much more productive does the government expect our workers to be, as they age?
So far, the government has not said or explained or clarified this, save to keep repeating that “Singapore cannot depend on foreign workers long-term.” There are one million low-wage foreign workers in Singapore. What are we going to do about them?
There need to be openness, sincerity and honesty in such things. And above all, there need to be clarity of the path which Singapore is going to take. What is our mid-term and long-term economic strategy?
There has been no word at all on this.
Are Singaporeans suppose to wait 10 years to see if the government’s plans to raise income work?
Tell that to the 60-year old cleaning lady who wipes the tables at the coffeeshop and who struggles with daily living. How much more productive do we expect her to be? What other skills do we expect her to learn?
I think she, like every Singaporean who slogs it out everyday, deserves some clarity on where this ship is headed.
- http://www.publichouse.sg/categories/topstory/item/569-shock-therapy?-but-where-is-this-ship-headed?
The most important thing is that we Singaporeans must buy-in to the solution. The last thing the government should do is to – as it has done all these years – adopt the attitude that it knows best and bulldoze its way through.
For clearly, our dependence on cheap foreign labour is not working. It is, in fact, making Singaporeans suffer.
So, perhaps we should start with asking the government this: What are your long-term plans to reduce the dependence on cheap foreign labour in Singapore, besides urging locals to be more productive and to upskill? Also, as we change mindsets to get Singaporeans to work longer into old age, how much more productive does the government expect our workers to be, as they age?
So far, the government has not said or explained or clarified this, save to keep repeating that “Singapore cannot depend on foreign workers long-term.” There are one million low-wage foreign workers in Singapore. What are we going to do about them?
There need to be openness, sincerity and honesty in such things. And above all, there need to be clarity of the path which Singapore is going to take. What is our mid-term and long-term economic strategy?
There has been no word at all on this.
Are Singaporeans suppose to wait 10 years to see if the government’s plans to raise income work?
Tell that to the 60-year old cleaning lady who wipes the tables at the coffeeshop and who struggles with daily living. How much more productive do we expect her to be? What other skills do we expect her to learn?
I think she, like every Singaporean who slogs it out everyday, deserves some clarity on where this ship is headed.
- http://www.publichouse.sg/categories/topstory/item/569-shock-therapy?-but-where-is-this-ship-headed?
