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March 4, 2009
FOREIGN TALENT
Singapore needs to welcome its Cantonas
BEFORE the talented French forward Eric Cantona arrived at Manchester United, the team had not won the English League for 26 years. The English League itself was languishing behind the Italian, French and Spanish leagues in terms of prestige, popularity and revenue. England's national team ranked poorly on the continent, and its club teams rarely made it far in the European cup competitions.
Then came Cantona. With him leading the forward line, Manchester United won the league. Today, it continues to be a dominant force in European football.
Cantona's influence on the club spawned a new generation of young English footballers who grabbed international headlines for their talent, determination and success - one of whom was a certain David Beckham.
Now, more than ever, Singapore needs to welcome its Cantonas. While the instinct and propensity to protect local jobs and erect protectionist barriers in the current economic climate is high, eschewing the foreign talent policy is myopic and potentially damaging to our future.
There are sectors in our economy that require foreign workers to lead and supplement the local workforce to stay in business. In the biomedical sciences industry, where there is a shortage of local enterprise, highly skilled foreigners have helped the industry expand. If companies are required to retrench only foreign workers, they may be forced to close down or move to countries where there is even cheaper labour.
The use of foreign talent is not new to Singapore. We owe a significant part of our economic miracle to our very own Cantona - Dutch economist Albert Winsemius, who advised our government from the early 1960s until 1983.
Modern Singapore itself began as a society of economic migrants drawn to the free port set up by the British in 1819.
While other countries erect protectionist barriers, we should do otherwise. We should welcome the Cantonas of the world who can nurture and inspire our future generations of Beckhams, and move Singapore from world class to first class.
Alvin Tan
March 4, 2009
FOREIGN TALENT
Singapore needs to welcome its Cantonas
BEFORE the talented French forward Eric Cantona arrived at Manchester United, the team had not won the English League for 26 years. The English League itself was languishing behind the Italian, French and Spanish leagues in terms of prestige, popularity and revenue. England's national team ranked poorly on the continent, and its club teams rarely made it far in the European cup competitions.
Then came Cantona. With him leading the forward line, Manchester United won the league. Today, it continues to be a dominant force in European football.
Cantona's influence on the club spawned a new generation of young English footballers who grabbed international headlines for their talent, determination and success - one of whom was a certain David Beckham.
Now, more than ever, Singapore needs to welcome its Cantonas. While the instinct and propensity to protect local jobs and erect protectionist barriers in the current economic climate is high, eschewing the foreign talent policy is myopic and potentially damaging to our future.
There are sectors in our economy that require foreign workers to lead and supplement the local workforce to stay in business. In the biomedical sciences industry, where there is a shortage of local enterprise, highly skilled foreigners have helped the industry expand. If companies are required to retrench only foreign workers, they may be forced to close down or move to countries where there is even cheaper labour.
The use of foreign talent is not new to Singapore. We owe a significant part of our economic miracle to our very own Cantona - Dutch economist Albert Winsemius, who advised our government from the early 1960s until 1983.
Modern Singapore itself began as a society of economic migrants drawn to the free port set up by the British in 1819.
While other countries erect protectionist barriers, we should do otherwise. We should welcome the Cantonas of the world who can nurture and inspire our future generations of Beckhams, and move Singapore from world class to first class.
Alvin Tan
