Foreigners are an important contributing segment to the Singapore economy, making up nearly one quarter of the workforce
By Brian Carillo
Contributor
Let me get things straight right off the bat. I am one of those who Singapore calls “foreign talent”. I was born in the Philippines, but moved to Singapore four years ago. I work as a manager in a Singaporean company and I hope to have my application for permanent residency approved soon. I want to make Singapore my home.
I understand that there has been a lot of resentment towards people from my country as well as other countries. The sentiments have been expressed very vocally and at times even viscerally on the internet. It has even been turned into a political issue.
The reason is that disenfranchised Singaporeans who are struggling to cope with the rising cost of living have the perception that people like me are here to compete with them for jobs. Apparently, we are favoured by companies because we are willing to work harder for lower wages.
I would like to say that it is not true that all of us are willing to accept lower wages. It may be true, though, that people from countries such as the Philippines, China, India and Myanmar benefit from the exchange rate and the relatively lower cost of living in our home countries, especially when we remit money home.
However, we don’t live in the Philippines, China, India or Myanmar. We live in Singapore. We have to pay the same as Singaporeans for a plate of chicken rice or for a ride on the MRT.We have to pay the same utilities bills and telephone bills. We also have to rent our own accommodation, something that many Singaporeans do not have to worry about because they either live with their parents well into their 30s or even 40s, or live in HDB flats purchased directly from the government at a subsidised rate – something that is not available to us foreigners.
So, just as Singaporeans are feeling the crunch from the increasing cost of living, we “foreign talents” are feeling the same. When I first came to Singapore, it was possible to rent a condominium apartment in Bukit Panjang or Chua Chu Kang for just slightly over $2,000 per month. Now, we are having to pay $3,000 a month for the same. Either we have to cough up more, or we will be forced to downgrade our lifestyles.
So, it is not true that we are willing to work for “sweat shop” wages. After all, we are human beings, and we have aspirations and ambitions too. We are not going to be happy if we are stuck in a job that pays $3,000 a month for the rest of our lives. Like Singaporeans, we want to achieve financial freedom, material comfort, and career success.
The difference is that we may be willing to work much harder in order to achieve that aim. Coming from countries that aren’t as wealthy as Singapore, we know what it is like to live in poverty, and we are appreciative of the oppportunities that Singapore has given us. So, we might be willing to work 12-hour days, work on weekends, and take on as many assignments as we can. We do so because we want to impress our employers and prove our worth to the companies who have taken a risk in hiring us. But, don’t Singaporeans do this too? What is so wrong with wanting to be the best that we can be?
I hope that Singaporeans will not think that because we were born in so-called “third world” countries, we have no right to share the fruits of the first world. We didn’t choose to be born in our respective home countries. But we chose to come to Singapore. Most Singaporeans today are the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of immigrants from countries such as China and India. Their forefathers came to Singapore in search of a better life. Generations later, a new wave of immigrants is now doing the same. Even Americans and Europeans are now flocking to Singapore in search of opportunity. This is testament to Singapore’s success at creating abundant opportunities for all.
Many of my friends are Singaporeans. I find Singaporean culture unique and interesting. I love Singaporean food and I have even begun to use Singlish expressions in my speech. I hope that Singaporeans can see us for what we really are – we are just fellow human beings who want a better life for ourselves and our children. We are not here to steal anyone’s jobs, nor are we here to use Singapore as a stepping stone. In fact, by working hard, we are contributing to our companies, and therefore contributing to the Singapore economy as well.
–
The author was born in Manila. He moved to Singapore four years ago as an Employment Pass holder. He is a degree holder and a white-collar professional. He is married with one child, and hopes to obtain permanent residency in Singapore for his entire family.
Hmm, many question on why all this resentment against foreign “talent??” .Just to note singapore back in the 80s and 90s already have Pinoy ,indians ,prc,malaysian, there was never such an issue raised,we were happy to live alongside. In fact I did my ns with a 2nd gen prc from guandong. Simple these are the immigrnats who came hear really want to improve their lives and integrate with singapore ,calling it home,
The current new wave of useless talents that came in since mid 2000s have no intention of integrate themselves to singapore, in fact I find a great majority of this new wave whom I have work with would spout ridiculous gibberish comments like how singapore would never prosper without them foreigners, pui. Do note my ancestry can be traced back to singapore at least 600++ years maybe even longer , we orang laut are pretty peaceful lot.My point is if these new wave of trashes who come to singapore do not learnt to respect the citizens and come with baggage of attitude,backstabbing and dishonest politics ,please do not expect singaporeans to
change our mindset about these cuurent wave of FTs.
LOL nothing good coming out already LOL …. haiz i can only say this , they dont qualify to be singaporeans .. if you really want to become singaporeans first go in the army next go in reservist . you will understand the PAIN . feel the pain of 2yrs 6months with only 240 SGD per month LOL .this rate is 10yrs++ ago . after you do that . then call singapore your home.(its because they dont understand our pain . time wasted and also when going Reservist on such an important time . you could get fired and lost your jobs sometimes!!) go apply for reservist . oh yeah sandman your Combat engineer ? nice to know
I am a Singaporean but my great grandparents are from china. My ancestors did not do national service but more than 10 of their male descendants like me did in the last 30 years. 1 or 2 of them were in the first batch of NS where they were trained by israelis and have live rounds fired next to them.
My point is that we (meaning non-malays) were once foreigners but are now 110 per ct local. All along we have welcome foreigners and assimilate them into our society. That is our roots.
The difference then and now is an incompetent government that takes in more than foreigners than what the country can cope with the current infrastructure and do so at the expense of taking care locals better, either in housing, education or jobs. That is the nub of the issue!
So, we should channel our anger and frustration at the right source!
Another perspective from someone in TR:
Author: Out Of Job
Comment:
Brian, allow me to take a point by point rebuttal to all the fatuous remarks and comments you have made:-
(1)“I am contributing to the Singapore economy. At heart I remain a Filipino. Workforce is becoming more global. Globilisation is the way forward. Resist it would be foolish. “
My response: We don’t need your contribution to the Singapore economy when we have scores of indigenous, well trained and qualified, that can do better and yet unemployed/underemployed today. At heart you are still a Filipino and do not intend to sink your roots here to become a citizen, a bird of passage, who owes no allegiance to this country of mine. You had better vamoose back to Philippines and have the job of yours be given back to a Singaporean. Globlisation is still a term loosely used. In no uncertain terms, given the democratization of information and the ease with which funds flow, enabled by a much wired world, all countries will be subjected to such an exposure. However, the concept of globalization cannot be readily applied to the flow of migrant workers without any untoward social consequences, especially to a small country like Singapore. With more than a third of our workforce from foreign sources, mostly from third world countries, what we do is bring a third world wage structure and living condition to a first world country. This is not tenable. Citizens paid a third world wage will have difficulties living in a first world country with it’s associated first world costs. A first world country do not compete globally on wages alone. Singapore’s human capital has been build up through five decades of education and nurturing, our superior physical infrastructure, the established administrative structure build over five decades of hard work by our forefathers, foremothers cannot be given to be milked on by birds of passage like you.
(2)“I have no comment on why the Philippine government has not provided adequate opportunities for talented Filipino professionals. But all I can say is that wages in the Philippines are definitely lower than in Singapore. For the same reason, many Singaporean professionals seek opportunities in Europe, the USA or Australia.”
My response: If you got no comment on your own government not providing adequate opportunities for you, that’s your own doing. Fleeing to Singapore to milk on our system you are just being defeatist. By the same measure, should Singapore goes through a bad patch, you will do the same, jump ship. We don’t need people with no spine. Wages in the Philippines are lower than in Singapore but the cost of living in the Philippines are also much lower than Singapore. Take it in perspective, Singapore professionals seeking opportunities in Europe, USA or Australia, don’t compare, the magnitude is vastly different. I bet you, Europe, USA and Australia don’t have such liberal immigration policies like Singapore. With such liberal immigration policies we created a great social divide, the true blue Singaporeans versus a big one third of birds of passages.
(3)“All I can say is that the Singapore government has done a much better job over the past 50 years . One of the cleanest cities in Asia, one of the best public transportation systems in Asia, one of the best education systems in Asia, one of the safest cities in Asia. The list goes on. I feel that Singaporeans should also take these things into consideration and not take them for granted. Your government may have made mistakes but everyone does.”
My response: Quit the bootlicking just because you are granted abode here, you got no comments on your own government, don’t comment on our government. Undoubtedly, our achievements cannot be accrued to the government alone, we the citizens have also done heck of a lot. We are not taking things for granted, the incumbent government has failed us miserably by bringing in F-Trash like you in. Government prior to this has done an outstanding job together with us. The current government is floundering and has caused untold miseries to the citizens and hence the way the votes went the last GE. Granted, the government may have made mistakes, everyone do make mistakes . With an out of this world’s remuneration package plus perks and hefty GDP bonuses, we don’t expect mistakes, at that kind of pay scale we expect them to “walk on water” so to speak. Government mistakes take decades to bear out and screwed the lives of forward generations. With their pay scale it cannot be tolerated.
(4)“I also hope that Singaporeans can be more accommodating to foreigners and not just see us as people who come here to steal your jobs. We are contributing to the economy and we are also adding to your cultural diversity. In so doing, we make Singapore a better place to live.”
My response: F-Trash make Singapore a better place to live in. You must be talking through your rear or you are just empty in between your ears. The congestions, the stagnation of wage, the high prices of public & private housing, the high cost of living, the moral decay, crimes (we see dead bodies here every other day – read the news), job losses for the indigenous, an eroding national identity etc etc that you birds of passage bring in.
Give us a break and vamoose back home. The obstinate hatred for
F-Trash persists.
Oh goosh, Liz is good , you are even better. First time I am on this site and I know I am coming back for more. Good entertainment, brush up my Singlish – English and best of all. FT bashing ….. yeahhhhhh
Brian, just get lost. You and your kind are not welcome here except your girls. Yeah, pinays are ok to work in Orchard Towers to help service the angmos. Otherwise, these horny angmos may rape or molest our girls.
you got that one right… you’re all just molesters.
Are the foreign talents from India and Philippines real talent?
Yesterday ( 5 July 2011) in the straits times there is an article complimenting our universities, NUS and NTU, being ranked highly in the Quad-Quarrelli Symonds world top universities ranking.
NUS and NTU have indeed done a good job by coming in at 31 and 74 respectively. Congratulations!
Given that we have a huge pool of foreign talents from India and The Philippines it makes sense to see how these countries’ tertiary colleges fared. It will also be interesting to see how Singapore stack against all other ASEAN countries.
This is what I found in the website of Quad-Quarrelli Symonds:
http://www.topuniversities.com/
World University Rankings 2010
Rank School Name. Country Size Score
31 National University of Singapore (NUS) Singapore XL 82.78
74 Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Singapore L 69.77
180 Chulalongkorn University. Thailand XL 50.21
187 Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) India M 48.79
202 Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD). India. M 47.39
207 Universiti Malaya (UM). Malaysia. L 47.09
228 Mahidol University. Thailand. L 43.74
236 University of Indonesia. Indonesia XL 42.90
249 Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) India. S 41.95
262 Indian Institute of Technology Madras. India S 40.87
307 Ateneo de Manila University. Philippines M 36.38
309 Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). Malaysia. L 36.16
311 Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur. India. M 36.13
314 University of the Philippines. Philippines XL 35.90
321 Universitas Gadjah Mada. Indonesia XL 35.25
365 Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). Malaysia. L 31.58
371 University of Delhi. India. XL 31.21
401-450 Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB). Indonesia L 28.60
451-500 De La Salle University. Philippines M 24.66
451-500 Thammasat University. Thailand XL 23.40
451-500 Airlangga University. Indonesia. L 22.60
451-500 University of Mumbai. India. XL 22.38
501-550 Prince of Songkla University. Thailand. XL 20.49
501-550 Bogor Agricultural University. Indonesia. L 18.16
501-550 University of Calcutta. India XL 21.37
501-550 Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati. India. S 21.94
551-600 Kasetsart University. Thailand XL 16.91
551-600 Khon Kaen University. Thailand. 16.74
551-600 University of Santo Tomas. Philippines XL 17.15
551-600 University of Pune. India S 15.73
601+ Diponegoro University. Indonesia XL 13.51
601+ Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology Indonesia. L 12.25
601+ University of Brawijaya. Indonesia XL 9.00
The revelation is shocking! The best university of India is Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) ranked 187! The best university from Philippines is Ateneo de Manila University ranked 307!
Unfortunately our polytechnics are not considered colleges otherwise I think our polys could even be ranked heads and shoulders above all the India and Philippines universities.
It immediately raises concerns on the selection process and the criteria used for granting employment passes, s-passes and PR status to the professionals from both India and Philippines.
Yet we know most of the PMET jobs in Singapore are largely staffed by ‘talents’ from these two countries. The implications of having a huge inflow of these low quality graduate imports to Singapore is worrying at the least:
1. Firstly, it is no wonder that our national productivity rate has dropped to such an alarming level that the government have to step in with measures to arrest it.
2. As we continue to push towards the goal of being one of the most advanced commercial, medical and financial centers in the world, we have to ensure our workers and output are world class in order to inspire confidence in foreign investors. How can this be achieved when our foreign talents are from the 187 and 307 ranked universities in the world (not even counting those in the 400-600 ranks).
3. The low qualification and therefore low wages of these foreign workers confirm once and for all the reality of singaporeans wages are suppressed as a result.
4. We are short changing our highly educated and highly qualified graduates from both our universities and polytechnics by denying our high quality people job opportunities by employing these low quality foreign workers.
5. We are in a sense a first world country with a third world workforce. Not surprisingly if we continue down this road we will see Singapore regressing from a first world country to become a third world economy.
Given that there are also so many india indians and filipinos working in our health care industry, I shudder to think that we are entrusting our health treatment and our life to a group of people whose qualifications are not even recognized highly in the world, and worse, a standard way below our fellow Singaporeans whom we produce on our home ground.
Are we becoming a charitable collection center of lowly qualified foreigners from low quality universities in India and The philippines?
But then I could be wrong. Maybe every single foreign talent from India and The Philippines could have been educated in Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Stanford, UCLA, Princeton…. no less.
We must revisit our foreign talents policy for the PMET jobs! Return these jobs to our well-qualified Singaporeans.
This is tangential, but relying solely on QS University Rankings is flawed. The metrics used to rank a university are not necessarily related to either the quality of teaching or the quality of graduates that they produce (for instance, the proportion of international students). For example,
Are you aware that the IITs produce graduates that are the cream of the crop of India? Only the very best are admitted (around 1% of applicants), and there are many prominent alumni doing research in places like MIT and Caltech or working in Silicon Valley. Can we say the same about our much better ranked NUS?
Reader’s comment from Temasek Review:
Author: SgpInForeignLand
Comment:
Brian,
I once asked an immigration friend in Manila how I should go about applying for PR in the Philippines. He told me that on a yearly basis, only 50 vacancies are reserved to Singaporeans and the chances is as low as zero if a Singaporean wants to get a PR. The fastest and easiest way is get a work visa through setting up a biz in the country and the biz must employ 10 locals. As well when a foreigner is to be employed by a company in the Philippines, the company has to justify the need for a foreigner over a local.
Foreigners in the Philippines are called ALIENS whereas here, we call every tom dick and harry a TALENT and welcome with open arms.
Let me ask you in all honestly, can you see the glaring differences in the policies for foreigners of the 2 countries?
Filipino: We make Singapore a better place to live
http://www.temasekreview.com/2011/07/06/filipino-we-make-singapore-a-better-place-to-live/
Comment from 3in1kopitiam Forum:
From: Emeritus Foreign Thrashes = 1st class (BabaEro11) 2:30 pm
To: wack0 (wack00) (27 of 31)
53603.27 in reply to 53603.26
Pinoys are notoriously well known to be fair weather friends.
Today, they and you are the BesTEST of friends … just like Philippines & China few years ago.
Now, Philippine almost declare war with china.
… Even Banned Chinese diplomat from attending Meeting ..
… still forgotten the Tourist Bus Hijack case …
… explainations still not given o china.
… Tomorrow, Pinoys will turn the table against you and make you the WORST enemy …
=========
Filipino officials ban Chinese diplomat amid spa
By JIM GOMEZ – Associated Press | AP ¨C 2 hours 39 minutes ago
To those employers who think hiring pinoy grads is a good bargain, please read these:
>>> http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleid=403930
Inadequate basic education is the culprit for the low quality of our college graduates, which in turn makes them less competitive in the global employment market, according to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
CHED Secretary Emmanuel Angeles said the 10-year elementary and high school basic education is not adequate for students seeking higher education, which resulted in the clamor for a pre-college bridging program.
“The Philippines is the only country in Asia that adopts the 10-year basic school program,” Angeles said during a news forum in Quezon City.
He said Asian countries including China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar and Cambodia, are adopting the six-year elementary and six-year high school program while Malaysia adopts a seven-year elementary and six-year high school education, making the length of basic education there 13 years.
Because of the “low quality” of graduates, Angeles said Filipino engineers are only considered as technicians when applying for overseas jobs.
CHED also expressed concern over the statistics of school dropouts. Angeles said only 14 out of 100 grade 1 pupils are expected to finish college.
About 30 percent of new graduates are unemployed.
Brian, your comments reflect the view of a majority of FTs here in Singapore – that Singapore is a ‘free-for-all’ buffet to solve your personal socio-economic problems. Singapore does not owe you a living. If you are that much of a ‘talent’ why aren’t you in a country with a higher or similar GDP than Singapore? Perhaps the immigration laws in those countries are stricter? Herein lies the problem – bcos of Singapore lax immigration policy, people like you regard yourselves as ‘talents’. Real talents can go anywhere. Being a person who pays taxes and living costs in Singapore makes you no different from a tourist – why not be one instead?
For all your talk, you still are not a citizen, and have not served NS and could technically flee back to your homeland when things go bad in Singapore. For all your talk, you are still opportunistic.
You claim not to have stolen jobs from Singaporean but unintentionally, it is people like you who have contributed to this problem. If there weren’t cheap foreign workers swarming into the country, would Singaporeans now struggle to compete for your job? Brian, a MANAGER with a degree hardly qualifies as a talent. Maybe this is so in Philippines but not in Singapore. Such qualifications are a dime and dozen in Singapore and there are many Singaporeans who can fill your job. It is people like you who keep wages low and oust Singaporean PMETs intentionally or unintentionally.
Hi everyone
I was surprised to see that my article received so many comments. Some of you want to know why I am not going to apply for Singapore citizenship. Some of you also ask why I am bringing my entire family here, and why the Philippines has failed to provide people like me with job opportunities.
Well, I can only say that my intention has never been to compete with Singaporeans for jobs or “steal” their jobs. I respect Singapore and Singaporeans. I am grateful for the hospitality that your country has extended to me. By working hard and doing my best, I am contributing to the Singapore economy. However, at heart I remain a Filipino. Some of you have rightly said that nationality is not simply a pragmatic or economic decision but an emotional one. The fact is that the workforce is now becoming more and more global. In cities like New York, London and Hong Kong, there are workers and professionals from every nationality. Globalisation is the way forward and to try and fight against it or resist it would be foolish.
I have no comment on why the Philippine government has not provided adequate opportunities for talented Filipino professionals. But all I can say is that wages in the Philippines are definitely lower than in Singapore. For the same reason, many Singaporean professionals seek opportunities in Europe, the USA or Australia.
I also have no comment on your government and their policies, because I am a foreigner and do not wish to concern myself with local politics. All I can say is that the Singapore government has done a much better job over the past 50 years than the Philippine governments. For example we had Presidents such as Marcos and Estrada who were bad for the country. So, we foreigners are extremely impressed by the Singaporean government, and feel that Singapore has everything. One of the cleanest cities in Asia, one of the best public transportation systems in Asia, one of the best education systems in Asia, one of the safest cities in Asia. The list goes on.
I feel that Singaporeans should also take these things into consideration and not take them for granted. Your government may have made mistakes but everyone does. Overall, your leaders have served you well, more so than Filipino leaders overall (even though we had good leaders in President Corazon Aquino and President Fidel Ramos).
I also hope that Singaporeans can be more accommodating to foreigners and not just see us as people who come here to steal your jobs. We are contributing to the economy and we are also adding to your cultural diversity. In so doing, we make Singapore a better place to live.
I hope my comments can be taken on board and if there is to be debate, let it be a constructive one.
Thanks
Brian
Brian, are you aware of Maslow’s triangle of hierachy? We Singaporeans have gone beyond mere material asset accummulation and aspire for self actualising needs that goes to the core of our being as creative humans, while you may marvel at the city’s infrastructure and its creature comforts, do not forget, we worked for more than 52 years to earn them. Many of our forefathers and senior citizens did precisely that. Now, what has happened? Some are in nursing homes only to be ill-treated by lowly-paid foreigners. What happened to the compassion of the efficient Singapore government, ah, you failed to ask? The Singapore government has done well you say, but it has failed to take care of Singaporeans. That is our fight? How would you feel if we Singaporeans flood your country and work for lower wages and still insist that our hearts are still in Singapore? You know why you got a job, not because you work harder than us Singaporeans, but because you are cheaper for the employers. Please, your argument is a fallacy of convenience, since it serves you well you list the advantages of this country and its government with back-handed praise. Have you walked two moons in our shoes, do you know or feel the pain of our betrayal? You seem to have the best of both worlds and is enjoying your cake while you eat it? Would that be fair, if you were in our shoes? Please, you are just an economic migrant, the least you should do is to keep silent and enjoy the fruits of Singaporeans’ labour and not proclaim your gloat to us. You know the meaning of grace? Just be that–be gracious–it is the least you could do for us while you are here earning for a better future.
By the way, Brian, New York, London, Tokyo and Seoul have quotas for foreigners. It is citizens first policy. Second, do you know why the US succeeded as a land of migrants? It is because regardles of race, langauge or culture many stayed and became ciitzens to build a better future, they were not planning to jump ship with the excuses of culture or identity. If foreigners want to become citizens, I welcome them because I know these people at least believe in the Singaporean dream, if there is one, anymore.
@Liz,
Thanks for bringing that up re:quotas for foreigners in New York, London etc.. I was about to write on it when I saw your post! These people just don’t get it. If immigration was controlled, we won’t be having this debate at all.
Liz , I couldnt write as eloquently as you, got to give it to you, you are my hero, heroines I mean..hehe
You says exactly what I feel and I believe what most Singaporean feel as well. Thanks
Dear Brian,
My first question to you is, “When are you going to become a Singapore citizen?” From your answer I will know whether you are here to advantage yourself. Second, we Singaporeans are not worried about foreigners who have talents to contribute or would like to work in jobs in the construction sector that have many vacancies, but we are asking why “cheaper, yes cheaper” foreigners are given job opportunities that do not consider Singaporeans? I guess your employer may not be paying CPF for you. Is this fair to Singaporeans who have to build a future in this expensive country? Third, Singaporeans have been fighting for a decent work-life balance. We do not want to work long hours, but we still do, precisely because we want to spend more time with our family, is this wrong? Next, as a Filipino, it is your government that owes you decent job opportunities and not Singapore, so don’t even pretend you understand our pain and disappointment, you don’t, you know why? It is because 200 babies are born each day in the Philippines, but will their parents be able to give them a good future? Isn’t it criminal negligence, bringing children into the world and making them struggle with abject poverty? Finally, first you will come, next you will bring in your entire clan to work here, is it fair to Singaporeans? And the irony is, you will still be a permanent resident and retire rich in your country of birth which could not even provide you with a decent living. So, do not even pretend you understand our dejection, you don’t because you are just another economic migrant taking advantage of all the loopholes in the policies. What can I say, my country men and women have voted in a government that has sold the citizens’ birthright to foreigners like you! Do you think you Filippinoes will be such pushovers?
In a short time over a short article, there has been multiple viewpoints and suggestions being made. There are valid viewpoints and some just plain bizzare like the one by Roy who said that “anyone who go overseas for work is a quitter.” argument. thats quite beyond my meagre understanding.
I think this discussion has gone on enough for me already and I will not be posting any further comments. I dun think i am capable of changing anybody’s mind or point of view.
But all i hope is for all to understand that this migration issue is a complicated issue which needs more than a single point of view, and under no circumstances should we turn abusive or insulting on any groups of people.
Cheers
see you guys in other article discussions!
Perhaps you should read the original article more closely. The writer said he hopes to make Singapore his home. He’s only committed that far, and I believe most PRs are like that as well. If push comes to shove, most would flee Singapore in a time of war or distress and revert to their old countries. Singapore is only as good as a hotel to most of them.
It’s good to see that he’s taking the first step to becoming a citizen. However the point I am making is that PRs rarely make the decision to become citizens. And that’s because they know that they can enjoy the best of both worlds without giving up their countries’ citizenship. It also means that only those extremely rooted to Singapore would do so, but few actually do so because the Singapore government is too generous to PRs in terms of benefits.
my response was more to refute your argument that moving from a developing country to a developed country would cause someone to take up citizenship easier. Not with regards to the author’s point of deliberation. Hope this clears up the issue.
But you do bring up a good point. If by getting Singapore PR and retaining the original citizenship allows the individual to enjoy the best of both worlds, then the individual will not change his citizenship. But looking beyond that little piece of plastic called an identity card or passport, what is the thing that binds someone to a country?
what if a foreigner surrenders his original citizenship to get sg citizenship and then change it to another country say US later? is it any different from a singaporean changing his citizenship to US?
My argument is that a document does not determine one’s loyalty to a country, it is one’s attachment and love for the country.
Sure you can share the fruit of a develop country
but are you willing to intergrate and sink your roots here?
Hi I am a moderate in my political views.
I believe in the following:
1.) I believe all men are equal be it locals or foreigners and they all deserve a fair go in any land.
2.) I believe the Singapore immigration policy is flawed and through lively discussions we might be able to come up with a better solution.
3.) No solution is perfect.
4.) I hate demonizing and generalization of people. namely foreigners are job stealers (is that even a word?)… or locals are just lazy…
And finally i think satayclub is a much better site that TRE. TRE started out pretty good but lost its way i believe.
To blame the government for the fact that Singaporeans are finding it tough to compete with FTs for jobs is just crazy. It is also irresponsible. Before criticising, people should point the finger at themselves and ask what they have done to improve their employability over the years. Many here have singled out CPF and NS as the two main reasons why Singaporeans are ‘disadvantaged’. Don’t tell me you want to do away with CPF and NS? CPF is a fundamental necessity as it helps citizens to plan for their retirement. NS is also a necessity in terms of the defence of our nation. Neither can be compromised.
If Singaporeans feel ‘disadvantaged’ because they can’t compete with foreigners for jobs solely on the basis of cost, then there is a real problem. I have said it before, how come the European/American FTs are able to command higher wages than Singaporeans in the same positions as them? And how come this isn’t a problem for companies?
Those of you who work in management or HR should know the answers.
You do have a very strong point. CPF and NS are cornerstones of the singapore society in more ways than one. Look at the social benefit system of Europe, they are going bankrupt in a hurry.
I think the argument is not about the top echolen of work force or the professionals. The professionals are globally mobile so no issues there. I have know people moving to AUS, then get sent back to SG on expat pay….cool ain’t it.
However we are talking about the population who are not in that professional bracket. they earn low to medium pay and are not globally mobile. If they are not protected even in their own country then where can they turn to? Again i say pursuit of happiness is for everyone not just for the elites, just becos they do not possess financial rewarding jobs does not mean that they dun deserve a better life. Also they elected a govt in the belief that their interest should be protected. Which populance would do otherwise?
@Sandman
At last, someone who has lived overseas before and can see things in the global perspective! You are absolutely right. The European system is heavily flawed. Yet, those who have never been out of Singapore and never seen the world just keep whining about Singapore and how things are so much better overseas. It is just an illusion. It’s not true at all. In Singapore we have things very good. With regards to the people who are not in the professional bracket, they can still upgrade their skills as technicians or specialists. Nothing is stopping them from taking courses. In fact, the government provides heavily subsidised courses through NTUC, WDA and e2i. In some cases you can get up to 95% subsidies. However, the thing is that many people are just too lazy to attend such courses. They want things to be handed to them on a silver platter. And when they can’t, they blame the government. The people who voted in the government have every right to expect that the government protects them. However “protection” in the sense of protectionism/affirmative action can often have serious effects, just like the bumiputra policy in Malaysia. Thankfully our government is far-sighted enough to avoid such pitfalls. In fact, many argued on this page that the CPF is one of the reasons why Singaporeans earn less take home wages.But the truth is that CPF is a visionary policy implemented to protect the people and ensure that they have enough savings for their retirement. Even Hong Kong has started to adopt a CPF-style system. So if it is so horrible, why are others following us?
With our CPF in place, with heavily subsidised HDB flats (nowhere else in the world do you see 75-80% of people living in government subsidised housing of a high quality), with Workfare, Medisave, and the many other policies, we are adequately protected. Those who still can’t survive after all these things have been set up for them need to rely more on themselves and less on the government. The government isn’t their nanny.
But of course, it is much easier and much more convenient to simply blame every thing on the PAP. Now, let me ask them, do you think life will be better under WP, SDP, NSP? The country will go bankrupt just like Europe.
Thankfully those who been overseas before are able to take on a global perspective instead of those who are ignorant and yet claim that they know alot.
CPF in itself isn’t a bad thing (although many of the modifications made to CPF policy in the last twenty years are). But we urgently need to reform the current system that encourages employers to favour a foreign worker (not PR) over an otherwise equivalent Singaporean national simply because, due to CPF contributions, he is cheaper. That’s completely unfair to Singaporeans.
But fixing the problem doesn’t mean eliminating CPF (why do you assume people are calling for that, Nani?). One suggestion I’ve seen is to replace the foreign worker levy with an appropriate tax equivalent to the employer’s CPF contribution had the worker been a local. This mitigates somewhat the imbalances present right now. Of course, it’s not perfect – foreign workers still have a larger take home pay than locals – but then they don’t enjoy the benefits of accumulated CPF savings either.
Alternatively, all foreign workers can be enrolled in defined contribution plans. This already happens in the US (401(k)), and completely level the financial playing fields between locals and foreigners.
All foreign workers must be levied with an employment tax for enjoying the opportuntity to getting a job in Singapore. This should equal the amount that the employers need to pay as CPF for Singaporeans, then we will truly find out whether these people are truly talents or opportunistic economic migrants?
Nani, Singaporeans are not lazy to attend courses. Do not generalise. Those who have lost their jobs, go to the CDAC, SINDA or WDA and sign on for courses, but who will put rice on the table while they attend courses. Second, please understand that subsidies are given to their employers for sending their employees for WDA courses, this is ensure that employers are not disadvantaged when their employees take time off to attend courses. It is a scam inside a vicious cycle. I know because I have interviewed some of these Singaporeans and have tried to help them. The moment they arrive for an interview, the prospective employer will tell them, “$2,000 is already a high sum, do you know I can go and get a Filipino or a Chinese foreign worker for less?” How would you feel, if you were told off in the a similar manner? Those without jobs are not given jobs, so no training, those who need to go for training have to work for a living. The workfare is a joke! The government knows it is! Why is it people are quick to label Singaporeans as lazy and spoilt when what they need is some empathy and a decent job? Imagine, a technician earning $2,000 a month with three school going children, but has to do overtime to pay the bills. How can he go for courses and still make ends meet. How far will $2,000 bring a family of six? What about their housing payments, utility bills? CPF? Yes, half your CPF will be used for housing payments, and the govt will hold a minimum sum to dole out meager payouts? Is this how the government cares for us? Do you know the meaning of golden years? Do we need to wait for monthly handouts for the cash that we have worked for all all our lives?
I believe those in the low-middle income bracket locals in Singapore do have a tough time and a legitimate gripe. Their pay rise is not coping with the rising cost of living, partly due to ease of foreign imports. Simple laws of demand and supply more technicians equal less pay, more foreigners equal more expensive housing, food etc.
Not all of them can afford to take up courses given the long hours they work or the financial pressure to work OT. i would say it is normal for a singaporean worker to go 50 to 55 hours workweek easy.. Where’s the time for leisure, family, rest and recreation? and on top of that improvement courses? is hard.
CPF and NS cannot go in the singapore context but they need to be tweaked for the better of the people. My thinking:
1.) Allow negotiation of CPF rates between employee and employer within a framework. Set minimum CPF rate at say 10% for both employee and employer and let them decide how much is reasonable.
2.) Provide tax benefits for companies with local serving NS men.
3.) Reduce stamp duty and GST of housing purchased by locals
Just some ideas i thought about when i can’t sleep at nite. not researched at all. could be bull swill for all i know
Because been white still carry a premium in colonial singapore. I work with one in a team before and is satisfied that it is the case.now been a boss myself, I’m looking for one too which can do the selling for me because singaporean sadly still think highly about them
Whenever people talk about Singaporeans’ grousing about foreigners, they always like to bring up how Singaporeans are all descendents of migrants. That is true, and anyone who denies it is silly, of course. However, what these critics of Singaporeans’ (largely) legimitate complaints fail to consider is that the British, when they were governing Singapore did enact migration controls.
If you consult the ICA webpage on History of Singapore Immigration (http://www.ica.gov.sg/page.aspx?pageid=208), you will see that there were two pre-war orders restricting migration into Singapore. In fact, the second of these, known as the Aliens Ordinance of 1933 practically caused migration into Singapore to plummet. If you look through newspapers.nl.sg, you will find illuminating source material on this (The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser on 2 March 1933, page 13, says “no shipping company and no owner or charter of any individual ship shall bring into and land in the Colony a number of aliens… exceeding twenty-five of any one nationality”). The book, The population of Singapore, by Saw Swee-Hock, on page 26 says that the immigration quota prior to this Aliens Ordinance being enacted was “1,000 during the last five months of 1932″.
In 1953, there was a new Immigration Ordinance (also mentioned on the ICA page). The Straits Times of 28 February 1953, page 4, quotes Mr. J.L.J. Haxworth (the Controller of Immigration) as saying, “The Colony can no longer afford the flow of fresh immigrants.”
The whole point of bringing this up is that the ancestors of Singaporeans also came up against immigration restriction. There is nothing inherently wrong or inconsistent in saying that there must be migration control now, simply because our own migrant fathers themselves faced up to the same problem themselves.
In fact, one of the historical facts about American immigration policy is the Chinese Exclusion Act. There is an entire wikipedia page about it. For more than 60 years, Chinese were entirely barred from migration into America (which is extremely ironic when you consider that America is the great nation built by migrants), and even after that act was repealed because the Chinese were fighting on the side of the Americans in World War 2, only 105 (yes one hundred and five only) Chinese immigrants were allowed in each year.
Now, this whole issue of migration is obviously very complicated, but I hope never to see the same naive argument about our ancestral migration again. It is the legitimate right of each and every society to decide its own future, so please spread this message as appropriate.
Oh, and the current Singapore government does not enact immigration controls? Do you know how many Chinese and Indians could not be here because of these controls?
But of course, these controls are necessary for every country. Bringing up this point is usually to counter those who lambast the foreigners (when you yourself are a descendent of such foreigner). The point is that you should not lambast the foreigners who are already here, but if you want to criticize the government policy instead, go ahead.
My comment addresses something very specific, and you are conflating something else altogether. I don’t deny that some here in Singapore hate others because they don’t speak “Singaporean” enough, or look “Singaporean” enough. But that is not what I, nor the original poster is talking about.
His second last paragraph implies in no uncertain terms that, as a migrant, he has a “right to share in the fruits of the first world”. By following this with a panegyric about migrant ancestors, he is saying that since our ancestors shared in “the fruits of the first world” back then, he should be allowed the same now, as a matter of right.
That is why my conclusion states that it is the legitimate right of every society to decide exactly how open and wide these doors should be, without being automatically branded racist or any other such nasty term for it.
The current immigration controls are already rather stringent. Doc is right. If not for immigration controls, many many more foreigners would have flooded in.
First of all, there is a quota for Work Permit holders and S Pass holders. It’s not so easy to simply hire them. Secondly, there are also strict requirements for S Pass and EP holders including educational qualifications, work experience and other criteria. MOM doesn’t simply grant EPs to every foreigner who applies. The rejection rate is higher than some of you might think. Fortunately there are people like Doc who understand what’s going on.
Stringent or not is a matter of perspective, and is an entirely separate matter. If you can agree that migration control is morally justifiable, then the only question is of course the extent. But unfortunately, there are many who automatically say that any form of migration control is, for all means and purposes, the moral equivalent of genocide. I shouldn’t think you to be one of those, should I?
Nani,
You are repeating the official line–can you for sure provide statistics that reveal the ratio of Singaporeans vs foreigners for the various professions with regards to S-Pass holders. Please, these foreigners are not talents, they are willing to work longer hours for lower pay. Can Singaporeans afford that luxury with families and parents to take care of? MOM doesn’t grant EPs to everyone? Do you have the evidence for your claim? The sad truth is that we have been deceived by the very government that we put our faith in for 52 years.
The people who support the current FT policies do so because they are either not affected yet or benefit from it. Think about it, if it is true that Singaporeans shouldn’t shirk away from competition because it makes us stronger, then why not open the doors fully? All areas, primary, secondary schools, polytechnics and universities and all other learning institutions, if we can provide 300,000 places take the best from all over the world that wants to come here. Singaporeans then should competed perfectly with them for a place. Same with jobs. Why restrict at any level? Open the doors fully, forget about permits and employment passes just the best competitor at any level from anywhere. And you can do so for any service in Singapore. HDB, Transport, food, medical services, old age homes, anything…..just have perfect competition. And also for NS, why make it compulsory for certain groups of people? Either have it for all healthy persons or none at all. If the logic for male singapore citizens to do NS is true,then why not is it not for foreigner workers and FT also. NS is not only in the army, but in police force and civil defense and maybe can be considered to be done in hospitals, old age homes and hospices, etc. NS for Singaporeans and PRs and FTs – well sauce for the goose should also be sauce for the gander.
So we cannot accept ‘truth’ as being absolute, we put conditions on it. We say “this is true and I agree to it except for ……………” and usually the exception is where it affects us. “Yes, we as employees should not have to work too long hours and have weekends off because we get stressed and tired………except our domestic worker, oh that is a different situation”. “People should take public transport and not jam up the roads…….oh, except me because I need to use a personal car because of……” and so on and so forth. Yes, we agree with all the “truths” unless we are personally affected by them. So with the FT policy. Talk about empathy, how about empathizing with the displaced Singaporean workforce. Maybe if, in their desperation, more of them turn to crime and mass mayhem, then people will start to empathize with them and their situation.
Agree.
Blame the system, don’t blame the man.
You are right David, many employers rather save a couple of hundred dollars than employ Singaporeans. With these type of citizens and government, we do not need enemies. I rest my case.
The NS issue is an unconvincing excuse to bash foreigners. Half of the Singaporean hasn’t done NS (women), yet no one complains about that. Likewise, half of the foreign workforce are women who wouldn’t have done NS even if they were Singaporean.
Even if all foreigners were forced to do NS, Singaporeans will still face the same problem of foreign competition. There will still be foreigners who are more hungry and willing to work harder than Singaporeans. And Singaporeans will still be complaining about their jobs being “stolen” by foreigners.
So let’s just state the real reason, ok? Singaporeans who complain about foreigners often do so because they cannot compete with them. They either refuse to work as hard, or are less capable. So they demand the government to practise protectionism and shield them from foreign competition. Obviously, given Singapore’s small size and limited local labour pool, this is impractical.
Is there anything wrong when citizens asked for protection from their govt?
Should not a govt protect the people who voted them into power?
Is it not within the rights of the people of ask for reasonable employment from their govt?
For you to state that Singaporeans who complain are not willing to work harder is generalization which does not further your argument.
The pursuit of happiness is a basic human right, when material happiness is achieved is it wrong to strive for worklife balance?
Face it, the NS and CPF system does put an additional burden on companies to employ locals.
John, you are barking up the wrong tree. Whether you finish NS or not does not make a difference. Foreigners are employed because they are “Shuuuuush, CHEAPER!” Do you get it? Why don’t you ask–why the governments of the countries that the FTs ail from are not providing job opportunities for them? By the way, are these same countries welcoming you as a foreign talent and offering you jobs?
WTF are you talking about? That being the case, why don’t you go and do 2.5 years of NS and 10 years of reservist?
To justify not serving National Service, you have to resort to grouping yourself with the ladies. How pathetic.
Unlike Singaporeans or PRs, employment pass holders don’t have any CPF contributions. This makes them a lot more affordable to employers.
Even if we set aside the issues about NS, the CPF issue is still a sticking point.
Agree. current govt policy is outdated. needs to be modified not so much as to prefer locals over foreigners. but at the very least it needs to be a level playing field for both locals and foreigners.
Make effective cost of employing both a local or foreigner be the same.
I disagree that EP holders are more affordable than Singaporeans. Many employers adjust the salary of foreign employees upwards to take into account CPF contributions. This is so that the employer’s wage bill doesn’t suddenly increase the minute the foreign worker decides to pick up citizenship.
Or if you look at it another way, there is nothing stopping employers from offering Singaporeans lower salaries that offset their CPF contribution. So, the effective cost of hiring a Singaporean and a foreigner will be the same.
huh?? so does the company also give the locals less leave to take into account the annual 2 weeks NS they have to serve? or does the company give the foreigners 2 extra weeks of leave?
Not sure what you are saying makes sense actually.
Maybe i am one of those locals who is not trying hard enough.
There was an earlier article by The Satay Club that explains what needs to happen for the effective cost of a Singaporean and a foreigner to be the same.
As an illustration, take a foreign worker with equivalent qualifications (say an S-Pass holder). The minimum salary is $1,800 (all of which is take-home pay). Add the foreign worker levy of $150, and the S-Pass holder can take home more than the Singaporean and cost the employer $430 less at the same time.
The system is even more skewed in favour of EP holders, who do not have a quota, and are not subjected to a foreign worker levy.
Our system is created in such a way as to disincentivise the hiring of Singaporeans, all things being equal. Alternatively, our locals will have to accept much lower salaries to compete on an equal footing. Isn’t that bizarre?
Take away rental, the remaining amount left for the foreigner is less. The Singaporean will normally stay with parents. Furthermore, the money in CPF is not really lost money. When it comes times to purchase homes, the CPF helps a whole lot, while the foreigner continues to pay rent. Not that the foreigner is complaining, just want to point out that the foreigner is not better off than the local.
uh..Doc
cannot directly reply you so i am doing in from Das post.
Would like you to further explain if possible.
To my understanding, you are saying completely different things from what we are talking about above. We are talking about cost to employers and your point is about whether a foeigner or local is better off financially. Maybe you do have a point, if so please elaborate.
Commuinication is 2-ways.
It’s very simple, Mr Carillo, why didn’t you stay in the Philippines and work to better the lot of your fellow countrymen? Why did you desert your country of birth and add to the congestion of our tiny island? You have a university degree, you have a managerial position – surely those qualifications should place you in a comfortable social strata back home, even in Makati. Plus, you have lower cost of housing, transportation and education. Why come over here, kids and all, and burden our system?
same thing then, why didn’t you ask your ancestors to stay in China, India etc. to fight the commies, caste system etc. instead of coming to Singapore?
Just becos we have the good luck to come first or be born here, we decide that no one else can enjoy this place anymore. This is like playground mentality i am here first so no one else can come and play…..
Not sure if the real world works like that.
Dear Sandman,
Your facetious argument is over the fact that our fore fathers and father were immigrants. Well, it was because there was a need, there were opportunities for immigrants. Today, our infrastructure is stressed and these so called foreign talents are not talents, but economic migrants who have quoted lower wages and are cheaper to employ. 12 hour shift, please tell Brian not to lie, I worked from 8.30 am to 9.30 pm without overtime pay and had to return home to look after my sick mother. I am not paid any overtime. But I need to pay for all expenses. Why don’t you ask what is the Philippines doing to help their citizens? Yes, I am writing this post close to midnight. Why argue and feel that stabbing pain of deception by the very government that you trusted for 52 years, it is not the foreigners, it is your own government that has sold our birthright.
In my opinion, i think we singaporeans should not be angry with FTs who has every right to pursue their happiness
We should blame singapore govt for not giving us singaporeans more favourable ground to compete jobs against FTs in singapore…For example CPF is either making our pay too high or making the take-home pay too low for singaporean to take up the job
hear hear.
I do not see why this chap is considered a “Talent” anywhere in this article.
He is a manager. That is about it.
He is merely a degree holder with a manager title.
Is his skill set so specialized that we cannot groom any local Singaporeans for his role?
Pls stop abusing the word “Talent”.
Singapore needs talents with specialized skill sets that Singaporeans do not yet possess to further our economy.
We need people that can create higher value-added jobs.
I do not see how this guy fits other than he self-proclaiming that he is a “foreign talent”.
The way I see it, he is nothing more than a “FOREIGN LEECHER”.
He is here merely to deprive locals of jobs and depressing the wage level of locals.
Think about cause and effect. Try to use your brains for a second and imagine what would happen if you throw out all non-Singaporeans from Singapore.
Nothing earth shattering will happen doc. What were you expecting? Nobody is dispensable in the 21st Century. There is a price for all occupations and professions.
I mean indispensable.
Everybody got talents sometimes the talent is available is Sg among singaporeans but is just that we singaporeans are not so good at advertising our capabilities. this guy on the other hand obviously has something which his boss saw and for him to come to a foreign land to survive. that in itself is a talent.
Your inability to see his talents just means he has not seen the need to self-advertise himself in his article or you do not have the talent to spot his talents.
Yes, his boss realised that he can save some S$500 or more on CPF. Secondly, you never know what other cuts Brian is subjected to but does not mention because in the long run, he still can convert all Sing dollars to pesos and still benefit right?
Did u do any National Service for Singapore?
You must resent your own womenfolk, then. How about female foreign talents? I guess there should not be any resentments then, since women don’t do NS anyway.
So let me ask this question for FTs and PRs. Why is it so few of you guys actually want to take up citizenship in Singapore? The big difference between Singaporeans’ forefathers and PRs in Singapore today (who are often accused of stealing jobs) is that when you actually push this people to take up citizenship, all of a sudden there’s much hesitation. Where’s the commitment?
Everyone have ties that goes beyond blood or citizenship. Singapore does not allow dual citizenship. I have lived in Australia for many years but refuse to take up citizenship here (though offered) becos i still call Singapore home.
Same with many foreigners in Singapore, there are ties which cannot be easily cut. It is usually an irreversible cut cos once you renouced a citizenship it is almost impossible to get it back.
A hypothetical question consider yourself a singaporean being asked to moved to say China for work for 5 years, you are asked to apply for China PR to facilitate salary and visa requirements. A PRC national asks you why you dun take up PRC citizenship?
Think about your answer.
OK… So I accept that you have your reasons (excuses) not to become one with Singapore and be truely Singaporeans. Yet somehow, you are unable to accept the fact that until you truely become one of us, you will be viewed differently. Lets give and take a little ok? Afterall, we served NS to give you a stable country to further your personal well-being.
If it is the same Roy who commented that i am a quitter down below.
I have this to say to you.
May you live long and prosper in Singapore.
You’re disingenuously omitting one consideration: Going from a developing country to a developed one. In this case the author went from Manila to Singapore. Going from Singapore to China is clearly the reverse.
A more appropriate comparison to make is to ask what I would have done if say I were to move from Singapore to London, and whether I would take UK citizenship. I’m willing to bet most Singaporeans if you had asked them would have said yes, or would give it serious thought.
So you think that when a singaporean leaves Singapore to a european country then he or she should take up citizenship in that country as well?
So meaning as long as you are going to a “better” country then you should take up citizenship there?
maybe you would like to rethink your concept of commitment. as i explained in my previous message it is not physical comfort that is the sole reason that drives people to make emotional decision.
FYI some of the cities of China is as developed as Singapore.
I will be glad to do so if PRC make me the offer.
Does that answer your question?
So now you are offered and you give all the bullshit about tie of your country etc., if that is the case, why not stay in your own country?
Good on you Icecold.
Now you shows both sides of a coin.
I presume you are a Singaporean who is willing to exchange his SG citizenship for a PRC one.
While i am a Singaporean who is not willing to exchange my SG for an Aussie one.
(Singaporean born and bred and served NS as a combat engineer, good enough for you?)
So similarly there are foreigners in SG of these 2 groups. And please dun rubbish my ties with SG, I still call Singapore home but work has brought me to Aus.
i think the main source of resentment is the fact that the citizens served national service while FT don’t. furthermore, i don’t think its appropriate to compare with our ancestor because when they came, singapore was nothing. they came here to build singapore.
most citizens cannot work 12hrs/day or on wkends because we have our families here while most FTs have theirs back in their hometown. in a similar vein, we have to support our entire family, bearing the full blown of raising cost of living. we have no exchange rates to talk abt here for singaporeans.
and lastly, to bring this issue to your context; if u had a child, and he turns out to be not as good as what you think, will replace him by adopting another child from foreign land?
PS: i am a pretty well-off singaporeans, capable of competing with FTs with relative ease. but i care for my fellow countrymen. that’s compassion. the ability to feel for others.
Quite tired of hearing this thing about Singaporean ancestors coming to Singapore to build the land. I think they came here to escape poverty and strife in their former lands, they worked hard to improve themselves. the fact that singapore prospered along the way was a by-product. They certainly did not come to this land with the altrustic purpose of improving the land. That sound familiar?
I am for the case of restricting foreign immigration, certainly I believe that Singaporean should be treated better. But i believe this should involve a mindset change rather than govt control. You can’t complain that the govt is a nanny state and yet wants it to solve every single problem you have! currently singapore MNCs dun try hard enough to employ singaporeans be it local or overseas whereas european, american or japan MNCs always prefer their own countrymen. Think about that.
BTW, EMPATHY is the ability to feel for others.
sigh… i am a singaporean living overseas.
Lets put this in context:
When singaporeans go overseas to work, they are considered to be entrepreneur and brave for getting out of comfort zone.
When foreigners come to Singapore, they are considered to be “job-stealers”.
Main concern of many singaporeans who stay in singapore is that they will be discriminated against when they are overseas. But when others come to singapore it is ok to discriminate against them.
sigh…
Are you? When you go overseas to work, yuo are a quitter. Duh.
hahaha maybe you are thinking about ppl who decided to leave Singapore for good.
If you think that anybody who leave Singapore for work purposes is a quitter, then obviously we have very different viewpoints of life. which in turn means we will not be able to agree on anything. so I leave you in peace and may you lead a peaceful and prosperous life.
Not all Singaporeans are xenophobic and racist. Yes, there are some who have voiced out their resentment at foreigners on this site and other websites, but these are generally those who are less-educated and not so well-travelled. Those of us who have been overseas before tend to treat foreigners well because we ourselves were treated well as foreigners in other countries. Those who harbour an intense hatred for foreigners are simply insecure about themselves. They also have an ignorant mindset, something which we call “frog in the well” in Chinese. I hope Brian and other foreigners in our midst do not form mistaken impressions of all Singaporeans just because of the actions and views of a small minority. These voices do not reflect the majority sentiment within our country. Singaporeans are generally friendly, hospitable people.
Singaporeans are a xenophobic, disgraceful, racist bunch. The author is 100% right. We are all human. We should belief in EQUALITY FOR ALL. Your parents and grandparents all are desendants of immigants so why hate all foreingers. This is hypocriticil behavior to the fullest of extent.
“Singaporeans are a xenophobic, disgraceful, racist bunch.” <- what a xenophobic, disgraceful statement. I bet you're a Singaporean! lol.
Hi Equality,
Are YOU Singaporean?
By your retarded ‘logic’, the concept of citizenship is a completely useless concept isn’t it? Been around the world much?
Brian Carillo, if you are not happy with the cost of living in Singapore, you are always welcome to go back to the Philippines. No hard feelings but you are taking up a reasonably well-paid job that could otherwise be taken by a Singaporean. Don’t bring our ancestors into the picture. You know full well that it was a totally different context back then.