Singaporeans have mixed feelings on the need for foreign talent
Despite Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s latest assurance made during the National Day Rally regarding the competition among the locals and foreigners in the job market, Singaporeans remain skeptical.
Reach Study - Locals have Reservations about Jobs in Singapore for Foreigners
According to a study conducted by the Singapore government’s feedback unit Reach, 42% of 902 surveyed Singaporeans either disagreed or had reservations about having foreign talent in the country. Although more than half agreed that foreign employees are an integral part of the country’s economic growth, Reach maintained that a significant number of them remain anxious about the job competition, reported The Straits Times.
Reach also said the survey has shown employees’ lack of conviction in the governmental policies implemented to protect the locals’ job security. Some 44% of employees either think the polices were useless or were non-committal in their replies. Reach chairman Amy Kor said in a press statement yesterday, “The government will have to continue to reach out to Singaporeans and reassure them that Singaporeans’ interests will always come first.”
The amount of feedback received on the National Day Rally speech also indicated Singaporeans’ worries regarding employment issues, said Khor. Around 1,700 comments were posted on the government body’s online site, Twitter, Facebook and through SMS, exceeding last year’s figure by more than half. The topic has also drawn a higher level of attention this year than that of 2009. Singaporeans have to realise “that policies on immigration are made in the interest of Singaporeans”, said Khor.
During the National Day Rally speech made by PM Lee last month at National University of Singapore, he spoke on the increasing importance of having foreign talent in the country to ensure economic growth. While he explained the need for Singapore to attract more than 100,000 foreign workers this year, he asserted that Singaporeans should not worry about possible threats to their jobs, caused by foreigners in Singapore.
Sources and reference: HRO
