Job recruitment by local SME: PRs and Malaysians are “welcomed”
January 16th, 2010 | 
Author: Written by Our Correspondent
In yet another sign that Singaporeans are being squeezed out of the labor market in their own country, a local Small Medium Enterprise (SME) put up a recruitment ad seeking PRs and Malaysians.
Wang Foong Foodstuffs Supplies Pte Ltd has put up an advertisement for an account assistants on internet job portal JobsDB.com on 15 January 2010.
It is offering a full-time job with minimum GCE “O” level and one year of working experience.
When our correspondent called the company up today at 10am, a Chinese-speaking lady with a heavy mainland accent picked up the phone.
She told him that the company is offering between $1,500 – $1,600 for the position and asked him if he is a PR or Malaysian.
Such advertisements are not uncommon in Singapore’s job portals. Some companies even advertise overseas to recruit foreigners directly like the case of Courts which put up an advertisement in Johor to recruit Malaysians for various positions based in Singapore.
Due to the ruling party’s liberal pro-foreigner policy, local companies prefer to employ foreign workers instead of Singaporeans to keep labor costs down.
According to a recent article in Wall Street Journal, the relentless influx of foreign workers in Singapore has helped to depress the wages of ordinary Singapore workers leading to a lower quality of life. (read article here)
In an interview with Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam, an economist by training and the Secretary-General of the Reform Party, he opined that immigration has “kept our economic growth high but, at a tremendous cost.”
Another economist, Choy Keen Meng from NTU added that “relying on foreign labor to help boost growth is unsustainable” and that a “better model would involve the reining in immigration and accepting that Singapore is becoming a more mature economy like the U.S. or Europe, with a long-term growth rate of 3% to 5% a year.”
Though it is impossible to expect Singaporeans to compete directly with foreigners in terms of labor costs, PAP minister and NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Say continued to exhort Singaporeans to be “cheaper, better and faster”.
The monthly median wage of the average Singapore worker is only $2,600. Singapore has the highest income gap among the 30 most developed countries in the world, contributed partially by the influx of foreigners who now make up 36 per cent of its population, up from 14 per cent in 1990.
Leaders from the ruling party appear not to be too concerned about Singaporeans having an increasingly hard time competing with the foreigners so long as they achieve the target population of 6.5 million.
In an interview last year with National Geographic magazine, Singapore’s octogenarian leader Lee Kuan Yew said it is a “good idea” that Singapore has welcomed so many Chinese immigrants as they are more “hard-driving” and “hard-striving” than the locals.
“If native Singaporeans are falling behind because “the spurs are not stuck into the hide,” that is their problem,” he was quoted as saying in the article “The Singapore Solution.” by Mark Jacobson.
[Source: National Geographic]
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31 Responses to “Job recruitment by local SME: PRs and Malaysians are “welcomed””
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“Apparently the job vacancy is opened only to PRs and Malaysians. Singaporeans are not welcomed to apply”
Did you call up to ask? Or did u make an assumption / inference based on the wording in the advertisement?
I think you made a mistake here. When job ads say PRs and Malaysians welcome, they mean Singaporeans are not the only candidates they want.
You guys are incorrigible. Obviously Singaporeans are able to apply as well! Can you read?
I think the ad is saying that PR and foreigners are ALSO welcome to apply rather than saying that Singaporeans are NOT welcome to apply.
Geroge
This is the tactics that most employers are using nowadays. They cannot say Singaporeans need not apply otherwise they will be accuse of discrimation. They are indirectly implying their preference.
Hi all,
When this article was written yesterday, we were informed by a reader that he tried applying for the job and was rejected because it is opened only to PRs and Malaysians.
However, when we tried to confirm it today with the company, its staff is non-commital on whether Singaporeans are eligible.
We have made the appropriate changes to the title and content to make it more accurate.
Perhaps readers can help us by applying for the position and see if they get selected.
Thanks for the feedback.
Already the Ad so obvious “welcome PRs and Malaysians ” . It is not necessary to call in for interview ：
不要自讨没趣，留点尊严给自己和家人 ！
There is a chinese saying : Rather be killed than be insulted
宁可杀不可辱
Look like singaporeans are beginning to be victimized and flush out of certain employment market.
Of course any native singaporeans can call in for interview but chances of getting employed is slim because our salary for surviving in today singapore has to be realistic.
Frankly PRs & Malaysians have the advantage over us. Their homes not here and when they wish to return to their homeland, they just need to mulitply the currency rate.
Singapore to Malaysis Ringgit : SGD $1 = RM 2.4
Singapore to China ,RMB : SGD $1 = RMB 4.7
Example : Any china PR able to save S$1000 each month x 12 months = S$12000 x 5 years = SGD$60000
Five years of saving SGD$60000 x 4.7RMB =RMB 282000
Each china PR earn Two hundred eighty two thousand.
You should have mentioned that part about a non-PR/Malaysian getting rejected. Because as mentioned, “opened to PRs and Malaysians” does not imply that Singaporeans are not welcomed. Thank you for the clarification!
@J:
That’s an INDIRECT way of telling Singaporeans not to apply. You pple obviously have not tried applying for a job lately.
If Singaporeans are welcomed, the ad will put – “All are welcomed including PRs and Malaysians.”
Why highlight only PRs and Malaysians???
Use your head lah, bodoh!
Many companies discriminate against locals. You can send them the resume, but will never get selected for the job!
how i know???? I have been hunting for a job for the last six months now!!!
Hi Morvius,
Being “welcomed” to apply is one thing, being accepted is another matter altogether.
I worked in the HR department of a SME and I am well aware of the discriminatory policies they practice against locals.
Of course they cannot put it clearly that Singaporeans are not welcomed right? But the implicit meaning is there.
Agreed with anon at 12.05pm – even the blind can see from the ad that the job is ONLY opened to PRs and Malaysians. Don’t believe, try and apply and see if you get it.
Actually you can get rid of this type of third world foreigners easily regardless of whether you vote out the PAP or not. We should just increase their cost of living, including education, medical and housing. We can help increase their education and medical cost by pressurizing the Govt by writing to Straitstimes forum to cut their subsidies. The Government had already taken some action by increasing their childrens’school fees:
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1026209/1/.html
We should aim for a similar cut in their medical subsidies just like their education cost. Cut their medical subsidies.
To increase their housing cost, we don’t have to rely on PAP. We also don’t have to vote out the PAP, we get those PAP supporters to join us too. This is how we shall do it:
Since 80% of the affected working class Singaporeans are also HDB flat lessees, they should just increase the subletting rent to foreigners by 100% to 300%. If we can’t beat them due to lower wages, we force them to join us with the same high cost of living of Singaporeans.
I can only think of so many advantages and no disadvantage at all for Singaporeans by raising the rental fees for foreigners:
1. So far the relentless influx of foreigners only benefited the PAP, civil servants (stable job & high salary) and employers (low business cost and more profits). The ordinary working class loses out. Raising rental fee by at least 100% will ensure that the working class Singaporeans can benefit from the influx of foreigners too.
2. When the foreigners’ cost of living is increased in Singapore, they can no longer accept third world standard of salary in Singapore. When they asked for Singapore standard of salary, who do you think the employer will employ? The Singaporean or the foreigner? So you see, raising the rental fees for foreigners is the real solution to create jobs for Singaporean PMETs.
3. HDB now require every subletting case to be reported within 7 days. Failure to comply means a fine of up to $3000 for first offender and compulsory acquisition of your flat for repeat offender. It is only right that we increase the rental for the extra administrative work and risk involved.
4. Since HDB prices are rising rapidly and many Singaporeans also find it unaffordable to buy HDB flat, why should we be renting our flats cheaply to these foreigners? Increasing their rental could help Singaporeans pay their installment too.
5. No Singaporean would complain about the extra income.
6. If the lousy foreigners Ta Boleh Tahan the increase in cost of living, they would be forced to return to their third world country or forced to take up Singapore citizenship. We challenge and welcome them to take up Singapore citizenship. When they become Singapore citizens
, they will be subjected to the same high cost of living as us (and get the same treatment from PAP too).
7. It is entirely logical, practical and legal to increase the rental. The rental is a private agreement between owner and tenant and the owner is free to decide his own fate by increasing the rental appropriately. The foreigner problem can also be solved by giving an alternative to those Singaporeans who are afraid to vote out the PAP (SME bosses, civil servants, stat boards and GLC employees).
Agreed
just like how some coys say that must be able to speak madarin. Over here, discrimination is a lot more insidious.
They never say Sg cannot apply…..so by all means locals can go ahead…..but the interview is just wayang & symbolic… They will just go through the motion but in the end, they will pick the FT as they are willing to accept lower pay.
So,for those who spoke out for “fair competition”,where are they?
Soon,may I ‘FORCAST’ that the american people would consider to “create jobs for americans” rather than otherwise.
Then,some “smart” guys here will take the cue and follow the leader…they don’t have a clear kind as to what is good for the country in the long haul.
We need WISE leaders,not just clever leaders for WISE is usually clever but clever may not be wise.
greetings!
TR
Are you employing people from ST, Today, NP?
Piece could be from ST. Distorting truth.
Soon TR will not be able to point up ST’s mendacity because TR is as bad.
Do more George Yeo, pasang sai MP exposes, imitate not cheap MSM tricks.
Let’s not forget, this is the corporate world where profitability and the needs to answer to shareholders.
If the attitude can be twisted then there is no need for charity. Is part of the main problem.
Anon, please go see your MP and upgrade.
I can’t remember what was the ratio ruling ,set by MOM …was it: every two singaporean staff to One foreign worker ?
Any Poster here can help correct ?
So if 2 : 1 is the ratio…..and if this is allow to be taken to the extreme……dosn’t it also directly mean’t that 30plus percent of True SG population can be “Diluted” or “Wipe Clean” anytime overnite.?
Boy, sure looks like “Genocide” in the making, to me!
So, would any Potential Employer be BOLD enough to invite from both sides ( representative members of Ruling & Opp)..to seat in as a Observing Panel ,in any of this job interviews ???
Answer : Employer = NO
PAPe = NO
OPP = YES
Why? ,,,b’cos all these “F/ts” talk are Bulls.
Disagreeing Parties please Take this Challenge.
I bet you, Mdm Harimau and Lim Say Say…will avoid this at ALL COST.
They will be “EXPOSED” and GE will be a “Walkover” for OPP.
Get Rid of Lousy Foreigners said “The Government had already taken some action by increasing their childrens’school fees:
”
I think govt is just throwing smoke to blur our citizens.
It’s a “good” thing Singaporean workers are being discriminated against. Once enough Singaporeans starved, then they may wake up and do something instead of hiding or doing nothing for the current situation.
George, Terence Goh, anon and J as people who need to wake up to the silent discrimination of Singaporeans because Singaporeans are expensive to employ! This advert is already biased towards Chinese candidates as it stated “BILINGUAL in ENGLISH AND CHINESE”, so Malays and Indians are not welcome.
Also the advert tell Singaporeans not to apply as “only PR and Malaysians are welcome”
So simple yet you people cannot understand?
Dear PAP Supporters,
The PAP is wrong when they depress labor costs by allowing the influx of cheap, foreign labor. The way forward is to pressure companies into making productivity gains that can lower business costs.
Whats the point of having MNC’s etc set up business in Singapore – BUT – having them employ only foreigners and not Singaporeans ? Might as well they don’t set up shop in Singapore because their presence does not benefit Singaporeans ! Without a meaningful employment – Singaporeans simply CANNOT afford the high cost of living in Singapore. Singapore may be pretty – but for whom ? Not Singaporeans !
Allowing the influx of cheap, foreign labor is NOT they way forward because ONLY the companies benefit and NOT Singaporeans. Lets not forget that there are also SOCIAL and POLITICAL implications of a large presence of foreign workers.
Productivity gains – is the way forward.
Regards
Dr Syed Alwi
to Get rid of Lousy Foreigners on Sat, 16th Jan 2010 12:13 pm
that’s unworkable as only a minority of singaporeans rent out flats and don’t forget you have to pay property tax which goes higher as rental goes higher. what abt those who don’t rent out flats, they are already hurt by the higher property tax and you want to hit them with even higher tax.
__________________________________
The portrayal of negative image by MSM and PAP of singaporean workers has contributed partly to the problem of some employers shunning them. just look at the myanmar nationals blasting singaporeans, they obviously look down on singaporeans, partly due to this negative propaganda.
i am not sure which country’s government and MSM likes to cast its citizens in a bad light and always scold them for misbehaviour. we need more praise and encouragement. try doing that to your kid, your kid will rebel faster.
http://www.wanfon.com/indexhome.asp
They sell the “House of Gourmet” brand of sausages found in Cold Storage. I used to get this as it is “Made in Singapore” and I wanted to support local businesses. But I am going to boycott them in future.
Those who run a business would prefer a low manpower cost if given the choice to hire non local. We cant blame them.
To cy:
We have about 1 million foreigners living in Singapore now. All of them are here to earn money and send back to their home country. Besides they are accepting a lower salary than an equivalent Singaporean worker. Hence it is logical to believe that majority of them are renting a HDB flat or HDB room instead of private property. An increase in 300% in the foreigners’ rental per month would only result in an increase of about $300 per year for 4,5 rm and exec HDB owner occupied household (300% increase in property tax).
http://www.asiaone.com/Business/My+Money/Property/Story/A1Story20091118-180802.html
I am sure that most Singaporeans would not mind paying the extra property tax if we can level the playing field by increasing the foreigners’ cost of living in Singapore. What is an extra $300 per year compared to the 2 and a half year full time NS and 13 years reservist cycles we sacrificed for Singapore? BTW, I just saw on TV there is an Open Mob going on now. We Singaporeans sacrificed our weekend time with family to protect these foreigners so that these foreigners can rob away the jobs of Singaporeans.
During the hey days you will find job advert stating only Singaporean need to apply. The good old days are gone..Gone with the wind. We are finished. So Sad.
The word “WELCOME” is a show of preference over Singaporeans. As such, TR has done a good job to expose the culprit employers who were anti-Singaporeans.
There isn’t any magic economic policy that dictates, our wages must be higher than that of other countries. The fact is that under perfect market conditions, our wages will depress to that of foreign workers. =( Singaporeans just do not have any extra value.
If Singaporeans are so expensive companies will just go for bilingual Chinese which are much cheaper and you have similar chances of coming across high quality speakers.
Come on. What is there to fuss if you are capable enuff to get a job rather than commenting so much here. It is true most company want to get lower wages staffs. Wouldn’t you if you are the boss, logical thinking. They can hire u even though you are much higher pay than those FT. Tell them about your achievement. dude. It is obvious that singaporean are welcome to apply. I do not see anything wrong “PR and Malaysians welcome”. They never stated Singaporean need not apply.