Eight Reasons Why Foreign Workers Will be Preferred Over Our Local Ones
March 19th, 2010 | 
Author: By Gilbert Goh
When the Singapore government decides to ease the regulations in having more foreign workers few years ago so that employers can fill up those job vacancies, there was much cheer and giety. It was a roaring Singapore before the financial crisis hit in 2007 and everyone felt that this was the right thing to do. There was also full employment and no one paid the matter any attention then. No one also really knows how many foreigner imports will be let in until they saw the congested trains and swarmed shopping malls. Singapore is not the same again after 2007.
To the the employers, it is almost like receiving a big ang pow from the government without having to do much. Some I know went through their headcount immediately to see who they can replace with S-Pass work permit foreigners. Those that earn alot through their many years of service and experience were targetted for replacement.
Unfortunately, the floodgates were still open when the financial crisis hit us in 2007 with adverse repercussion. Many have been replaced by foreign workers when the financial crisis hit us in 2007. By then, lowering labor cost becomes a very real issue and having foreigners become almost a must-have agenda on every employers’ to-do list. If not, the business may just sink.
Most businesses can only have a foreign worker quota of 25% of the company’s total workforce. However, companies in the marine or construction sectors can have a higher quota due to their industry type as Singaporeans tend to shy away from such menial work.
However, we have heard by now how the local companies work their way around the foreign worker quota system by artificially implanting local workers in their company. They are merely phantom workers, even paid CPF monies in their account and
are used as a headcount so that more foreign workers can be employed. Thus, in some restaurants, it is not surprisng to see many foreigners working with no local workers in sight.
By now, you would have hear of someone being replace by a foreign worker. It could even be yourself reading this article right now. The after effect of globilisation? Don’t count on it…
Let us look at the eight reasons why our local bosses will always hire foreign imports over our own locally-bred PMETs:
1. Cost
To the employers, cost is the number one factor when they run a business. and this could not be disputed. So when the government sets up a sytem whereby the boss can hire cheaper foreign imports base on a quota system, you can understand why he will
grab it with both hands. Many are counting how many foreign workers they can bring in base on the type of business that they are in and the number of current local workers under their payroll.
S-Pass work permit holders only requires a base salary of $1800 plus levy and no CPF. The levy fee varies with specific industry and average around $200 per month payable to our government. It is not surprising to note that the S-Pass work permit
visa fee is a huge cash cow for the government during these few years. Several hundreds of millions of dollars in visa fees must have been paid to the government by now.
Most S-Pass work permit visa, more importantly, also comes with the promise that the employers will help them get their coveted permanent resident visa. To third world countries’ citizens like India and China, Singapore is a dream country to move out to and gain a steady foothold on. It will be foolish if the person does not grab the golden opportunity even though the offer salary is only $1800.
You can also imagine how much a company can save if he can replace just five local staff with foreigners who earns a salary of $1800 each. Most local university graduates command a starting salary of at least $2500. The costing effect is just too much to ignore here.
During the recent recession, I heard of many companies replacing their local staff with foreigner ones. No job is spared and there is no mercy here. Now you can understand why the locals are not opening embracing our foreigner counterparts with open arms. I am actually amazed that there is no reported arts of violence against foreigners in our country yet. In Australia, foreigners are reportedly been attacked as they are deemed to steal away the locals’ jobs.
2. Better Worker
To the employer, Singaporean workers though articulate and smart, sometimes talk back too much. They tend to argue back especially if they have work long and gain a good standing with the rest of the staff.
The Singaporean worker also likes to job hop for the slightest reason. When they want a salary raise and could not get it soon, they will start to look around. When they are most needed, they may also file in their resignation letter the next day. Worse of all, they often don’t come cheap.
The foreign worker will not have such issues. They will just come in and simply work as if their life depends on it.
3. Foreign Connections
I actually heard from some bosses how they try to benefit from the foreign workers’ business connection back home. This company may be exploring overseas business ventures and will not mind having his office staffed with foreign workers of a few nationalities. Thus, foreign workers with solid working experience in their own countries are held in high regard here esspecially for companies who are starting to explore overseas ventures. It makes sense to have a Indian staff working in your office when you are trying to do business in either Calcutta or New Delhi.
4. Scams and schemes
One of the worst offspring of the whole foreign worker saga is the exploitation of work permit visas issued by our Ministry of Manpower (MOM). Any registered companies have access to a certain quota of worker permit holders. What we are witnessing is perhaps the largest human trafficking scam that we have seen in modern days. The most frustrating thing is that it is all supposed to be legalised and legitimate.
Construction companies with a higher foreigner worker quota were set up almost overnight with the main aim of fleecing foreigners to come and work here at very high premium agent fee (between $5000 to $8000). Many foreigners borrowed from loansharks back home to accomplish their dream of coming here to make a pile to bring home with them. Due to the high exchange rate, what they earn here in a year can only be earned in ten years back home. Singapore lures even though the job is labour-intensive and sometimes dangerous. Many construction workers died building our infrastructures which we boasted.
Hundreds of millions of dollars changed hands when bogus construction companies with no job availability brought in thousands of workers and housed them in shanty squatters. Many worked less than a week in a month if they are lucky. The scheme made instant millionaires out of the shady business owners who are out to exploit the foreign workers right under the eyes of MOM.
I also heard of a restaurant owner who could issue S-Pass work permit to any foreigner who meets all the criterion issued by MOM. The problem is he will not pay out any salary for the first year though it is in the contract as he pays for the worker’s levy, board and lodging (normally four to a HDB room) and other administrative costs.
I heard and confirmed with a few other business owners that this is the acceptable contractual terms for any foreigner on our coveted S-Pass work permit. Restaurants are the main culprits of this unethical practice as they come in by the thousands hungry for work and a better future.
Employment agents who bring in foreigner workers for employers also make a pile when they collect high incentives from both the workers and the employers’ side. This almost sidelined the local workers from the employment scene.
It is almost unbelievable that such errant employment practices could happen right under our government nose! It is only recently that the government has hauled up a few of such errant agents and employers for persecution under the law when hundreds
are already flouting the law the past few years.
5. Companies with foreigners seem hip
Local small and medium companies staffed with local employees all along now can seize the opportunity to improve their work force by injecting some foreign manpower. Thinking that foreign means better, they target slackers or high earning PMETs and replace them with foreign workers.
In Singapore, previously, foreign workers either means manual workers such as domestic maids or construction workers or the high-end expats that earn tens of thousands of dollars. There is hardly any in-between until the S-Pass work permit comes into the picture few years ago to meet the shortfall in workers here. That present almost instant competition for the average Singaporeans.
Unfortunately, I have heard of companies with foreigner imports regretting their new prizes as they fail to impress with their work performances and know-how. Cheap does not mean better it seems.
6. Foreigner – More Than Just A Worker
We all know by now that the huge influx of foreigner workers is a huge national plot by the government to artificially inflate the dwindling population of our country. The intended country’s target is 6.5 million population. One in three of our population eventually will be a foreigner.
Businesses from government linked companies (GLC) to small and medium companies (SME) have no choice but to compliant. I am sure that big companies have a certain foreigner quota to fill even at the expense of locals losing their jobs.
I knew of GLC not renewing contracts of local workers just to fill in their foreigner worker quota. High end workers are also not spared the foreigner chop. I knew of a architect with a master degree in architecture who has to go as her contract was not renewed. She has to hand over her job to a Indian archtect. She is now working in China and may not want to return to Singapore anytime soon. When our local citizens have to give up their jobs to their foreigner counterparts so that the population growth is seen to be on target, something is definitely wrong here.
Migration among the local population is also seen as the highest during this five-year period in view of the drive by our government to step up foreign imports. It is strange that the locals are leaving the richest nation in the region. It goes to show that economic prowess may not be everything.
The way the government bulldozed its way to boost up the population growth may result in serious repercussion in the future. Social crime is on the rise and many Singaporeans now prefer their children not to return home too late at night. They are also advised not to loiter in areas that contain foreign enclaves. Integration programmes may have come too late now.
7. Political Agenda
Of course, there is the rumour that the government wants to fill up our population with foreign-born citizens so that when elections are here, they will pledge allegiance with the one that provides for them.
I find this reason somewhat difficult to believe.
All along, the government enjoys almost a clean sweep of the seats except for two. There is no reason for the government to desperately bring in hundreds of thousands of foreigners yearly so that they can win the next election. Moreover, the government could not arm twist their new citizens to vote for them even though they have provide them the citizenship rights. So this theory does not hold water for me.
8. Forming Alliance With China and India
It is not surprising that the foreigner imports are mostly from China and India. These two countries are known to be the super powers of the near future. They will dominant the world’s economy and Singapore wants to be on right terms with them now.
By importing workers from these two countries, we have formed a close relationship with these two countries and hopefully there will be business ties in future.
Already, I have heard of how Indian businesses flourishing here as a result of their ability to hire their own kind to work with them. If not, they will prefer not to set up shop here. Some nationalities just could not work along well with workers from other countries.
It is also seen as a bilateral advantage if our country can provide jobs to other countries’ citizens in this tough economic condition. It is for this reason that within Asean, Singapore is highly regarded. When their own country could not provide enough employment to their own citizens, in step Singapore with offers of hundreds of thousands of jobs. The only problem is that for every job given out to a foreigner, it is one loss for our local kind.
Conclusion
The government has promised to slow down the intake of foreign workers in the near future to appease a furious local population. However, the more than one million foreigners already in our midst has robbed the locals of much space and employment. Many are still jobless or under-employed. It may not take long before we witness incidents of violence against foreign workers who are seem as snatchers of what that are rightfully ours.
About the Author:
Gilbert Goh blogs at transitioning.org, a support site for the unemployed and retrenched in Singapore. It is a non-profit registered societyproviding counselling and group activities free of charge to Singaporeans who need them. The above article was sent to us for publication and was initially published on Gilbert’s site.
The UBS Series:
>> Part 1: Singapore has lowest wages and domestic purchasing power among Asian Tigers
>> Part 2: Moving towards a Russian standard of living
>> Part 3: Why Singaporeans are paupers in a first world economy
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Ever heard of Chee Koh Pay bosses using S-pass to keep mistresses – abuse of the system ?.
the govt dont care abt locals, they only care about the economic bottomline. what they dun know is they are rupturing the social fabric of the country as a result. but then, how could they know? they are all frogs that are ‘deaf to criticisms’.
One excuse that employers give is that they cannot find locals to do the job.
local students do not want to take up such industries (IT, Marine) becos of the employment situation now. Employers prefers to hire foreigners.
Very soon I fear that no local students want to go into these industries. It is a vicious cycle.
As long we do not have a favourable decent employment condition for our citizens, employers will continue to give the same excuse.
totally disgusted.
Hey Temasek Review, can we issue a boycott of firms using a majority of foreign workers? it wont help much, but at least it woould raise awareness…..
Gilbert Goh, I salute you not once but THREE TIMES for your article which is what every Singaporean knows and sad to say accept owing to the total control of the GOVT & PAP system and propaganda machinery.
This ARTICLE must be circulated to every nook and cranny of Singapore and especially the Opposition Parties BLOG.
You forgot to mention about how ICT, IPPT, RT, Mob Manning and other NS-related things cause unwanted continued disruption to the working lives of local men.
Foreigners don’t have to take time off work to serve, causing less disruptions to work. I’m not surprised why bosses prefer them over locals.
Jobs for foreigners, NS for Singaporeans.
All I could say is that if tomorrow,our MM or his son,the PM feels-for whatever reason/s,personal or otherwise-that companies should employ more locals and send back the foreigners,these companies hinchos would do just that!
Is’s so simple,though,heart-breaking at times.
ON htis thread,as the government has proposed to extend the retirement age,perhaps,either of them should start harping on companies employing older or recently retrenched matured workers?..If not,scrape the latter policy so that at least older out-of-job citizens could make better use of their CPF?
Members of the public had identified many of the serious problems that would ensue from the rapid influx of foreign workers, even at its onset. These included the displacement of local workers, the reduction in wage levels throughout the economy; the decline in productivity due to lower skills level of foreign recruits; overcrowding in public spaces and amenities especially public transportation; higher property and rental prices; fewer places for local students in education institutions at all levels; and a whole myriad of social problems caused by the cheap and untalented foreign workers who spit and litter, chatter loudly in strange tongues, seduce local men, break up families and abuse local elderly folks.
What happened was the PAP government rode roughshod over Singaporeans. They dismissed our concerns derisively. They ignored the social costs of the various problems which are borne by Singaporeans and which do not appear immediately in their GDP figures. They arrogantly accused native Singaporeans of being complacent and lazy, and placed the blame squarely on “those whose spurs are not firmly stuck in their hides”. They championed the rights of foreigners, conveniently ignoring their pledges to serve the people who elected them into office.
The day of reckoning is near.
Yeah! the STUPID gahmen knows that local Singaporeans are getting more intelligient and wiser to be fooled by them.
They are trying to expel the locals and import from 3rd low down countries, so they think they could control the new citizens and be in power.
Gd stuff. Glad he contributing to TR and not the other one.
ANYONE TO HANTUM THIS GUY?!
Adam Khoo: The expats will rule Singapore
Posted by admin 28 January, 2010
I have a prediction. My prediction is that in a couple of years, the
expatriates (from China, India, US etc…) will rule Singapore. They
will increasingly take on more leadership roles of CEOs, directors,
heads of organizations, award winners etc… If you observe closely,
it is already happening now.
Last year’s top PSLE (Primary School Leaving Exam) student is a
China National. Most of the deans list students and first class
honours students in the local universities are foreigners and more and
more CEOs, even that of go vernment link corporations are expats.
The top players in our National teams are expats.
As a Singaporean, I am not complaining. I think that in a meritocratic
society like Singapore, it is only fair that the very best get rewarded,
no matter their race, religion or nationality. Like Lee Kwan Yew said,
I rather have these talented and driven people be on our team
contributing to our nation than against us from their home country.
The question I have been asking is, ‘why are the expats beating the
crap out of Singaporeans?’
What I noticed is that these expats have a very important quality that
many Singaporeans (especially the new Y generation lack). It is a
quality that our grandfathers and great-grandfathers (who came from
distant lands) had that turned Singapore from a fishing village to the
third richest country in the world (according to GDP per capita).
Unfortunately, I fear this quality is soon disappearing from the new
generation of Singaporeans.
This quality is the HUNGER FOR SUCCESS and the FIGHTING SPIRIT!!!
Expats who come here today have the same tremendous HUNGER for
success that our grandfathers had. They are willing to sacrifice, work hard
and pay the price to succeed. They also believe that no one owes them a
living and they have to work hard for themselves.
They also bring with them the humility and willingness to learn.
Take the case of Qui Biqing, the girl from Qifa Primary school who topped
the whole of Singapore in last year’s PSLE with a score of 290.
When she came to Singapore 3 years ago from China, she could hardly
speak a word of English and didn’t even understand what a thermometer was.
Although she was 10 years old, MOE recommended she start at Primary 2
because of her lack of English proficiency. After appealing, she managed to
start in Primary 3. While most Singaporeans have a head start of learning
English at pre-school at the age of 3-4 years old, she only started at age 10.
Despite this handicapped, she had the drive to read continuously and practice
her speaking and writing skills, eventually scoring an A-star in English!
This hunger and drive can also be seen in the workforce. I hate to say this
but in a way, I sometimes think expats create more value than locals.
Expats are willing to work long hours, go the extra mile, are fiercely loyal to
you and don’t complain so much. They also come a lot more qualified and do
not ask the moon for the remuneration. Recently, I placed an ad for a
marketing executive. Out of 100+ resumes, more than 60% came from expats.
While locals fresh grads are asking for $2,500+ per month, I have expats with
masters degrees from good universities willing to get less than $2,000!
They know that if they can come in and learn and work hard, they will eventually
climb up and earn alot more. They are willing to invest in themselves, pay the
price for future rewards. Sometimes I wonder how some of the locals are going
to compete with this.
Of course, this is just a generalization. There ARE definitely some Singaporeans
who create lots of value and show fighting spirit.
Unfortunately, I have found that more and more young Singaporeans lack this
hunger for success. Instead, they like to complain, blame circumstances and
wait for others to push them. Some hold on to the attitude that the world owes
them a living. I shake my head when I see local kids nowadays complain that
they don’t have the latest handphones, branded clothes and games.
While I acknowledge that the kids of today are much smarter and well informed
than I was at their age (my 4 year old daughter can use my Macbook computer
and my iphone), I find that they lack the resilience and tenacity they need to
survive in the new economy.
Some kids nowadays tend to give up easily once they find that things get tough
and demand instant gratification. When they have to work first to get rewards
later, many tend to lack the patience to follow through.
So, how did this happen? Why is our nation of hardworking, hungry fighters
slowly becoming a nation of complaining softies? I think the problem is that life
in Singapore has been too good and comfortable. Kids today have never seen
hunger, poverty, war and disasters. What makes it worse is that parents
nowadays give kids everything they want and over protect them from hardship
and failure. Parents often ask me why their kids lack the motivation to study and
excel. My answer to them is because they already have everything!
Giving someone everything they want is the best way to kill their motivation.
What reason is there for them to fight to become the best when they are already
given the best from their parents without having to earn it?
It reminds me of the cartoon movie MADAGASCAR where Alex the Lion and his
animal friends were born and raised in the Central Park Zoo. They were well taken
care of and provided with processed food and an artificial jungle.
When they escaped to Africa, they found that they could barely survive in the wild
with the other animals because they had lots their instincts to fight and hunt for food.
They could only dance and sing.
I see the same thing in the hundreds of seminars and training programmes I
conduct. I see increasing more and more expats attending my Wealth Academy
and Patterns of Excellence programme in Singapore. Not surprisingly, they are
always the first to grab the microphone to answer and ask questions.
While many of the locals come in late and sit at the back. The expats (especially
those from India and China) always sit at the front, take notes ferociously and stay
back way after the programme is over to ask questions.
I feel ashamed sometimes when I ask for volunteers to ask questions, and the
Singaporeans keep quiet, while the foreigners fight for the opportunity.
For my “I Am Gifted!’ programme for students, I have the privilege to travel & conduct
it in seven countries (Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia etc…) and
see students from all over. Is there a big difference in their attitude and behaviour?
You bet!
Again, I feel really sad that in Singapore, most students who come are usually
forced by their parents to come and improve themselves, Some parents even bribe
them with computer games and new handphones to attend.
During the course, some adopt the ‘I know everything’ attitude and lack the interest
to succeed until I kick their butts. It is so different when I go to Malaysia, Indonesia
and once in India. The kids there ask their parents to send them to my programme
They clap and cheer enthusiastically when the teachers enter the room and participate
so willingly when lessons are on. I still scratch my head and wonder what happened
to my fellow Singaporeans to this day.
So mark my words, unless the new generation of Singaporeans wake up and get out
of their happy over protected bubble and start fighting for their future, the expats
(like our great grandfathers) will soon be the rulers of the country.
At the rate at which talented and hungry expats are climbing up, our future prime
minister may be an Indian or China PR or may even be an Ang Moh!
All they do is CROAK like FROGS… young and old!!!…
As in fact… the way they ‘big’ 3 have been talking showed VERY CLEARLY… that they likely have been SPOON-FEEDING their GLCs and linked companies as well as even MNCs… a multitude of FT… FWs!!! And thus… SHOOTING US Singaporeans First in the Foot… Then to justify their UNLIMITED actions… pep talk TO SHOOT US… In The Heads too!!!
Gilbert, good article but think the Financial crisis hit us from end 2008 with full impact in 2009 not 2007 right?
Remember, ministerial salary is pegged to top private sector earners, who are mostly company bosses. Cheap foreign labour will boost company profits and the par of bosses. Presto, there is great incentive for MIW to keep the floodgates open to foreigners.
Very good article.
Of all the harebrained policies conceived by our government, this pro-foreigner policy really takes the cake. It is like taking off the pants voluntarily and begging to be shoved in the ass.
Adam Khoo: “At the rate at which talented and hungry expats are climbing up, our future prime minister may be an Indian or China PR or may even be an Ang Moh!”
I am waiting for the day to come so Singapore can replace these useless local MPs with foreign talents. Gonna give these bunch of clowns a taste of their own medicine.
Anti-Government,
This problem does not exist in Singapore only. Look at the major cities of China. Shanghai, where a girl commited sucide just because her parents did not give her sweets. Japan, Korea, and many other Asian countrys.
ADAM KHOO is a complete moron and a tratior to this country. He is one of the greedy employers that prefers cheap labour than hiring a qualifed Singaporean.
He quoted that “Kids today have never seen hunger, poverty, war and disasters”. Is that their fault?? Or does he wish to see that happening in our nation so that our ppl can grow up stronger??? Bastard!!! What kind of person is he?? Wanting these kind of stuff to happen to our kids when we are trying our best to give to our children. I don’t even wish these things to happen to other nations but why Adam Khoo asks for this for our kids. He is a sickening person.
Is it our fault that our nation is well protected by our own locals. Look what happened when Mas Selamat was left with Gurkhas. Cheaper- hell yes, Faster- maybe, Better- NO WAY!!!!
These FRs grew up in a cheap enviroment without spending much cash. How much medical fees did your parents pay when you are born. Did you turn out anyway diffrent in a child born in China or India in a government hospital?? Yet we are treated as 2nd class citizens in our nation.
I feel so disgusted that our fine men and women who serve or have served in our nation, have to protect scums like him. One day, he would even say that i prefer forgien slaves than free Singaporean ppl.
I give you 1 soild reason why we Singaporeans are the best in Asia and problay in the world. No country has more safer enviroment than us. This is the hardwork of all Singapoeans, esp those who have served NS. I salute you all!!!!
That is why the FRs want to come here. We do such a fine job for making our nation stable, or else the PAP MPs will be shot down like Indra Ghandi or Rajiv Ghandi. Look what happened to those leaders when they made 1 dumb mistake.
If the FRs are that damn good, why do they come here and work so hard??? If they have done it to their country, their country can compete with Singapore.
Nothing against foreigners except the scale, pace and quality of the intake. It is upsetting and frightening…..
Oops, forgotten to add.
Btw, i dunno which of those clowns said that being an MP is difficult job and such.
So can we classify MPs as jobs which “Singaporeans shunned”???
Then we can officially replaced these clowns with younger, cheaper, better, faster, not deaf foreigners.
Anti-Government on Fri, 19th Mar 2010 10:58 am
ANYONE TO HANTUM THIS GUY?!
Adam Khoo: The expats will rule Singapore
Bro check out who he is first. http://www.adam-khoo.com/
“”dunbeanidiot on Fri, 19th Mar 2010 11:40 am
Adam Khoo: “At the rate at which talented and hungry expats are climbing up, our future prime minister may be an Indian or China PR or may even be an Ang Moh!”
I am waiting for the day to come so Singapore can replace these useless local MPs with foreign talents. Gonna give these bunch of clowns a taste of their own medicine.”"
Bro please think again. Why should we replace our PAP MPs with foreigners when we can replace them with our very own SINGAPOREAN OPPOSITION members who are cheaper, better, faster? Are you being pro-foreigner here?
Very good article Gilbert! Well done.
While the PAP is attempting to run this Country like a Company and merely focusing on the top and bottomline seeing Singaporeans as nothing but a number and $, they’re forgetting that the best run companies value their human assets first and foremost, and the top & bottomlines comes as a net result.
How best do we ensure every Singaporean gets to see this article!!
Aiyoooo….
TR writes so much. So long winded. Can summarise the main point and write it in less than 200 words or not!!
No time to read your thesis ok!!!
@ A dog named Boo on Fri, 19th Mar 2010 11:47 am
Nothing against foreigners except the scale, pace and quality of the intake. It is upsetting and frightening…
Absolutely agreed. The quality of FT intakes in the last 4 years have been shocking!!! Many imagine that they’ve been allowed into the country because they’re somehow better than the locals, when in fact they’re merely stooges brought in by the PAP to fill their number and $ quota.
Bloody disgusting.
@Ah Jack on Fri, 19th Mar 2010 12:55 pm
>>No time to read your thesis ok!!!
Then don’t read, its your choice.. BTW, how come you got time to post?
You should add one more point – some of those PRs dont do anything also earn big bucks and boost national income – they just need to ‘kah kui kui, tan dua lui’ and still get PR. wtf is happening?
@ah jack: no time to read then get lost. articles need certain details and substance, otherwise how wld we be informed? you go watch ur jack neo dvds and jack off at the sight of his face la.
Hisham on Fri, 19th Mar 2010 12:25 pm
Bro check out who he is first. http://www.adam-khoo.com/
>> Bro, I know who he is. He is the bloody idiot in my primary school class that got thrown out of school for trying to be a gangster, then his SUPER RICH lau peh sends him for some course, then gives him money to start his own business just so he can market himself as a “rags to riches” con man…i’m sorry, make that rags to riches “entrepreneur” or whatever he thinks he is.
Ask around– those who know AK will tell you he’s still the bum that he is three decades ago.
It is precisely the reason on why truely locally bred Singaporeans are a disadvantage group due this mass influx of foreign trash (FT). Globalisation is just an excuse.
I think I have re-instate that Singaporeans are being marginised and suffered, look at your surroundings,are you being the only local surrounded by foreign trash yawning away loudly on their handphone or hogging/blocking the road, thinking that it belongs to their grandfathers. Have you wonder are you in Singapore or some other foreign lands?
It is not that we don’t welcome foreigners, it just it pissed us off that being a citizen in our own country, we are not being given benefits of a citizen whereby these silly money grabbing PAPpies are helping those FT to snatch away jobs.
If a government does not ensure and provide it own citizens with employments and talking bout globalisation, it a shitty government cause they don’t even fit to get a vote.
I strongly urge everyone to join the 33% and vote for the opposition.
A Singapore for Singaporeans!
@Hisham on Fri, 19th Mar 2010 12:30 pm
Opposition also can.
Whatever that hits the MPs where it hurts most.
I am anti-foreigners.
Especially those who take the white-collar jobs which we ourselves can do.
I think some MPs should be replaced by foreigners so they can feel our sentiments at ground level. Imagine losing a $13k per month job which nobody shuns to a foreigner…
no standard article trying to evaluate a business decision make by the business owner from a poltical point of view instead of commercial.
Weak argument. I not pro pap just saying the article is written badly.
///Many imagine that they’ve been allowed into the country because they’re somehow better than the locals///
What to do. It has happened.
Imagine. Your own garment officially did such a good marketing programme by branding them as some good branded product and sends teams (very doggy kind with their tails wagged so violently) to propagate the idea to its own people that they are not as good as the former.
So what will be the result. Even the not so deserving type will feel like a proud polished diamond.
Adam Khoo just happen to be the guy who claims that he can turn your child into a genius for a fee.Motivate you to be a millionaire and employs FT with MBA for $2,000 and you can see his Fuck face practically every other day in the ST.
And we have a local employer who employs all the PRCs in his
coffee stall outlets that he boasted that he has to buy a cash counting machine to count all his cash takings!!
Just wonder what happened after his boastful saga??
Maybe by now he needs to buy up a BANK to store his money!!
Great article. What I took issue is PAP had blatantly hookwinded Singaporeans that ONLY foreigners that are of high calibre and low skilled workers are preferred to supplement what we don’t have to strengthening our economy in the face of globalisation.
However this is not the case, the author had exposed the PAP plot and sadly the scapegoats are true bred Singaporeans in the middle and low income group, worst PAP had accused us of “not hardworking, hard-driving and spurs not stuck in our hides” despite working the longest hour in asia and continuing depressed wages as a result of liberal mess foreign import?
Singaporeans need to take charge of its future now and starts to question if a one party system and its policies in Singapore is still relevant and beneficial moving forward.
# Ah Jack on Fri, 19th Mar 2010 12:55 pm
Aiyooo, don’t read lah.
Adam Khoo: The expats will rule Singapore
http://www.adam-khoo.com/304/the-expats-will-rule-singapore/
see Comments
————————-
March 16th, 2010
Parasites employ numerous strategies for getting from one host to another, a process sometimes referred to as parasite transmission or colonization.
Why China flag up in NTU?
http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/3552/4124/200716
Yes! Foreign Talents in Government at last!
—————————–
March 16th, 2010
Two weeks ago, Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng told Parliament that New Zealand and Australia are targeting Singaporeans “because we’re honest and hardworking”.
Professor Tan feels that countries could be attracted to the “Singaporean brand” because Singaporeans are thought of as “diligent”, “efficient”, “well-trained” and have a good command of English.
http://www.todayonline.com/Hotnews/EDC100315-0000002/Sporeans-eyeing-New-Zealand
Singaporean-Expats, The Grass Is Greener in New Zealand and Australia!
“Singaporean brand” is world’s best. Fake goods wouldn’t last!
@ Hisham on Fri, 19th Mar 2010 12:25 pm
Tks!
Adam Khoo big talk are the same to those Time Shares & MLM scheme.
Dear parents don’t be fool by this conman.
This KhooKhoo bird cannot make your child a genius, but he will make you poorer.
DPM Wong said in Parliament that Singaporeans are honest and hardworking??
Hey, something is very wrong here?!!
We have his Master, just a couple of weeks ago, announcing to the whole world that Singaporeans are ‘not hard driving and……….’ that’s why he has to bring in new stock from
China who are all ’struck with spurs in their hides’
So who is speaking the truth now???
There is a ninth reason: A foreigner could be more qualified and better suited to the job. So as a business, should you hire some who is better or some not as good?
There is a tenth reason: Many jobs are shunned by locals so what is a business to do? Close shop?
“I am actually amazed that there is no reported arts of violence against foreigners in our country yet. In Australia, foreigners are reportedly been attacked as they are deemed to steal away the locals’ jobs.” is Gilbert Goh suggesting that this should happen in Singapore too?
I don’t agree with certain points raised by Gilbert Goh. If he thinks Singaporeans are job hoppers, I know of many foreign workers who are also using company as stepping stone to greener pasture or higher pay. I have many Singaporeans friends who worked in company for many years until they got retrenched or company closed down. Besides, what is wrong for seeking better career when your existing companies cannot provide or having problems with financial situations. Singaporeans should never be stereotyped, as a matter of fact, all the bad cultures who have been putting its names on Singaporeans are mostly imported from overseas. Before the influx of foreigners, Singaporeans are really a nice lot of comrades to work and friend with.
A lot of foreigners are willing to learn “at all cost” so that when they return home, they have all the firepower to shoot, (learned from Sin) and you know what, they will outshine all of us here, just like SooChou Industrial Park Project which our stupid gov did. They start one next to yours.
Of course if they can quantifiy, innovate and create better ideas and managment, but do all of them, not with so much of corruption around and so many hands in the till, just like our gov. Will such country progress, i don’t think so, as all are into, “GREED IS GOOD”.
They say, “once bitten,twice shy” but here we have gov, that try and try, another project in north china going on, with our people money. Don’t be surprise if our gov is already bankrupt, shares, is that liquid, bought high, sell low, real estate bought high, sell low, very good business acumen, from NUS or Nanyang u, Cambridge,Eton, Wharton,??
your guess is as good as the old man by the sea.
Gilbert, you have written a very good article. Thanks.
However after I read it, I felt so sad… so sad for the predicament Singapore has become. For fellow Singaporeans who let the threats to come so close to their doorstep. For selfish people who wanted to grow at all cost without considering the problems they had caused while they are achieving this goal.
I will be depressed for the rest of the day.
Fed-up citizen on Fri, 19th Mar 2010 5:28 pm “DPM Wong said in Parliament that Singaporeans are honest and hardworking??
Hey, something is very wrong here?!!
We have his Master, just a couple of weeks ago, announcing to the whole world that Singaporeans are ‘not hard driving and……….’ that’s why he has to bring in new stock from
China who are all ’struck with spurs in their hides’
So who is speaking the truth now???”
DPM Wong was just ‘targeting’ what New Zealand and Australia said about Singaporeans being “because we’re honest and hardworking”.
( Two weeks ago, Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng told Parliament that New Zealand and Australia are targeting Singaporeans “because we’re honest and hardworking”. )
http://www.todayonline.com/Hotnews/EDC100315-0000002/Sporeans-eyeing-New-Zealand
DPM Wong is no difference from his master……they thump down Singaporeans for their selfish gain.
Temasek Review should keep this article sticky and available on its main page at all times so that every tulan sg citizen can read it and ask more tulan sg citizens to read it. With this MLM effect we will eventually have enough tulan sg citizens to overthrow the PAP traitors.
@ JamesToHolmes on Fri, 19th Mar 2010 5:31 pm
Only a retard and a nincompoop will think like you.
The Ah Tiong import drive started as early as 1999.
I read it twice and I can’t believe you didn’t include the Singaporean Male Liability – SAF.
All that time wasting ICT nonsense, IPPT and RT is very disruptive to the company, whereas foreigners are not liable for that national crap!
“I am actually amazed that there is no reported arts of violence against foreigners in our country yet. In Australia, foreigners are reportedly been attacked as they are deemed to steal away the locals’ jobs.”
Yawn.. spelling mistake, grammar mistake, reasoning mistake.
My Fellow Singaporeans,
This problem of foreigners taking jobs away from Singaporeans has gone on for much too long. Many warned of the coming problem long ago but the PAP chose not to reverse it like they did for the “Stop At Two Kids” policy which incidentally also contributed to the current problem. CAN WE CHANGE THIS POLICY THAT IS SLOWLY KILLING US? YES WE CAN!
Today we see the consequences of this flawed policy – so many affected Singaporeans who are out of work (or displaced) because they no longer have the opportunities to take the jobs they want. Every day they are out of work means the gap in their skills and the skills required by the job market widens and the fact that they out of work for so long will be used against them. They spend their savings and some even borrow to up-skill themselves only to find out the opportunities are not for them so they are now older and also poorer and/or indebted. So they will now become the BURDEN of society. Perhaps the PAP government will need to legalize suicide and euthanasia to get rid of them quickly. CAN WE CHANGE THE POLICY THAT IS SLOWLY KILLING US? YES WE CAN!
Since MOM still does not know how to protect Singaporeans from the consequences of people abusing the authorization system for issuing Work Passes, I can propose the following additional measures: -
MOM must ensure only genuine and justified cases for Work Passes are issued. MOM must issue clear guidelines and have good internal controls to ensure this policy is enforced. It is widely known that abuse of the system has been going on largely unchecked for many years hence the current problem of unwanted foreigners who are causing social unrest specifically in the job market. Abuse includes Employers who force their Singaporean employees to make these applications even if they do not believe the applications are genuine and justified.
Employers must prove to MOM that their case is justified e.g. by providing evidence that the job vacancy was actively advertised in Singapore and no suitable Singaporeans could be found to fill the vacancy. It must be the Employer’s responsibility to do this because their actions have the potential to create social unrest. The devil is always in the details so MOM must have severe penalties for any deception.
On receipt of an Employer’s application MOM should, if necessary, supervise one final attempt to find a suitable Singaporean to fill the vacancy. This process can be delegated by MOM to appointed recruitment agents. If MOM finds a Singaporean that matches the requirements, the Employer must pay for the cost of this recruitment. If MOM does not, the foreigner should be issued a Work Pass.
I think my proposal is fair and will satisfy all interested parties and the unemployment rate for Singaporeans (not “Singapore’s unemployment rate” because this rate includes foreigners. As more foreigners are employed “Singapore’s unemployment rate” becomes lower but that does not mean less Singaporeans are unemployed) should decrease as well as the risk of social unrest.
If the PAP government cannot change its flawed policy in the interest of Singaporeans quickly enough, I do agree with many that they should be voted out at the next election. This issue warrants such action because it directly impacts the survival of every Singaporean. We want a government that looks after ALL its citizens first, not foreigners. Foreigners are not forced to come or stay here. They come at their own risk. When their Work Passes expire they should go through the above proposed checks again because there may be Singaporeans who can do the job now. Foreign workers are essentially temporary staff because their Work Passes are issued for a fixed duration. Singapore Permanent Residents (SPR’s) are also foreigners so why should they be treated differently in our job market? Why should they be allowed to compete freely for jobs with Singaporeans? I think SPR’s should also be subjected to the same checks as foreigners because they are foreigners. Let’s be very clear about what “Singaporean First” means. Yes, this is all very sensitive but who should have thought about all this before it got to where it is now? If the PAP government had looked after Singaporeans first we would not have a problem to write or talk about, would we?
The performance indicators to measure the outcome we want (reduction in the number of unemployed Singaporeans) should be the ‘monthly unemployment rate for Singaporeans’ and the ‘number of unemployed Singaporeans’. If these figures are not being made available to the public then we must assume the PAP government does not want this transparency because they do not want to be assessed so all the more reason they should be voted out. An elected government must be assessable by the electorate. I hope some MP’s will ask for this information and ask for it to be made available to the public just like other economic indicators are.
SINGAPOREANS FIRST
Aiyah, you all don’t worry lah. Nowadays the FTs are all desperately trying to remain in Singapore. Ask anyone working in HR you will know– foreigners who are hoping to come in flood HR departments with their useless CVs with useless qualifications and experiences; FTs already in Singapore desperately trying to find replacement jobs because their employers realise how useless they are and that they only know how to talk cock and can’t do work for nuts.
Ask HR practitioners you know– you get the full picture.
Up till now, we have not seen a report breaking down the number of Native Singaporeans, New Citizens and foreigners in the different industries.
Seems like this report will break the ruling party’s hold on power… and they dare not release it.
Or, maybe they will wait until all the foreigners are converted to Singaporeans and then they will release this “enhanced” report.
Similarly,
Kevin Rudd would be preferred over LHL
Hillary Clinton over George Yeo
Timothy Geithner over Tharman
Robert Gates over Teo Chee Hean
Anybody would be better than Wong Kan Seng
Of course, Obama over Nathan
ALL OF THE THESE AT A FRACTION OF WHAT OUR MINISTERS COST!!!
These FT issue has been over this past 2 years.since working in society after my 2 “great” years of ns debt repayment which i did nt owe anyone?, i have handled tons of this so called FTs.
From my point of view they should nt be called as FT but FI(foreign IDIOTS) Having serious basic communication problem is 1 thing but even basic Knowledge also having tons of problems. i have since never trusted the services of these pple as they will commit everything and anything but do nothing.
As per part of being a singaporean i have did my part by bycotting them. nt letting them earn a single cent from my wallet. i believe that is wat every singaporean should stand united and fight against them. if every one jus cont to “support” their services, the bosses will think in this way. cheaper labour same result and sales. Y NT??? it is wat we should do to crush their rice bowls.
jus my 2 cents worth