Over many forums, websites that online netizens frequent, the discontent and complaints have become a common sight.Yet, I so rarely found a comment/posts that was written from foreigner's point of view. At this juncture, it is important that I state my intent over this article. I have no intention of causing racial disharmony, neither do I intend to insult any groups involved in this article.
I did not do scientific nor statistics research in trying to find the reason. All I did was talk to/informal interview with my friends, acquaintances, school-mates and colleagues. Being a migrated foreigner, I have the privilege and am honored to have come to know many different kinds of friends; nationality-wise and identity-status-wise. Over the past few weeks, having talked to True-blue Singaporeans, migrated PRs, S-Pass holders and work-permit holding foreign workers, I came to realize that foreigners in Singapore are not well-represented (in terms of viewpoints and feelings) and not appreciated as much as they deserve to be.
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| For some, Singapore is the Land of Opportunities |
Many people have been saying: "Oh so many PRs! So many New citizens not born here!", "Damn bloody foreigners spoiling the market! Taking our jobs!", and worst of all, "I am so sick that I avoid going out at times because on MRT I hate seeing so many foreigners to my left and right, I am a foreigner in my OWN country".
"Do you even have any idea how it feels to be an immigrant in a country that you were not born in?",
"For goodness's sake, do you think it's all flowery and smooth to be living in a foreign country?".
Most of the answers would be a No.
I was born and raised to the age of 16 in a foreign country and subsequently migrated to Singapore in year 2002. Since then, my primary location of residence has been here. It is safe to say that I have lived each half of my life in two different countries. And having lived over past 11 years in Singapore, I can also empathize with some of the Singaporeans too. "This is our country. Our forefathers, grandparents and parents built Singapore to be like this. We should be having more privileges." Of course, I would feel the same way in your place. But is reduction in foreign workforce and immigration truly an answer to solve the problem at hand? Let us go topic by topic.
Privileges and Benefits in terms of Job Opportunities
I simply cannot grasp the idea that "privileges and benefits of Job Opportunities" for a Singaporean is affected by presence of foreigners. Look at any recruit advertisement, many a times one can find "Only Singaporean or PRs may apply" or "Bilingual and Local dialect speakers will be preferred", and only in rare occasion there are things like "Malaysians/Foreigners are welcome to apply". The rules and regulations itself already state the minimum requirement of local employment in order for a certain company to engage foreign labour. Having gone through the job-hunting process as a foreigner myself, how I wish I had the same privilege as the locals do! Let's talk about benefits. An average employer expects a foreigner to demand lesser benefits than a local. A foreigner working in Singapore would think twice about taking sick-leave even when he is sick or feeling unwell. A foreigner usually would keep his head down and get on with his/her work no matter how disgruntled or unfairly treated. Why? It's because job security is a big concern for a foreigner. Job hopping isn't necessarily something that is suitable to a foreigner.
One might say, "What about Permanent Residences? They have the same privileges as we do!". Well, in any area, be it housing application, purchasing of properties and/or assets, PRs have restrictions compared to a Singapore Citizen. During my talk with one certain Singaporean friend of mine, he made me smile with what he said to me. He said, "They spoil the market what... they take lesser salary because Singapore money is big to their money". To me, it simply is a matter of competition. Bear in mind that they are also living the same standard as others, paying the same bill every month.
Most of the time, a foreigner will not be too choosy over their job choices. To eliminate competition is to reduce the value and worthiness of oneself. Yeah sure, let's eliminate competition! Say, Singapore National Football team, let's make AFF Suzuki Cup a four nation competition, and put in Maldives, Taipei, Bhutan as our competitors. Shiok man! Sure win one! I am very sure you don't want that. One just have to improve and better himself all the time and win over the competition. In closing of this topic, I still do not really see anything concrete that foreign labour affect the locals.
Stay tuned for "Singaporean? PR? Foreigner? Looking from a different angle Part-II".
Credits to:
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/singapore-were-run-foreigners-happy-003444604.html
http://human-3d.com/3d-picture/republic-of-singapore-map-with-flag-silhouette-000076257287
Privileges and Benefits in terms of Job Opportunities
I simply cannot grasp the idea that "privileges and benefits of Job Opportunities" for a Singaporean is affected by presence of foreigners. Look at any recruit advertisement, many a times one can find "Only Singaporean or PRs may apply" or "Bilingual and Local dialect speakers will be preferred", and only in rare occasion there are things like "Malaysians/Foreigners are welcome to apply". The rules and regulations itself already state the minimum requirement of local employment in order for a certain company to engage foreign labour. Having gone through the job-hunting process as a foreigner myself, how I wish I had the same privilege as the locals do! Let's talk about benefits. An average employer expects a foreigner to demand lesser benefits than a local. A foreigner working in Singapore would think twice about taking sick-leave even when he is sick or feeling unwell. A foreigner usually would keep his head down and get on with his/her work no matter how disgruntled or unfairly treated. Why? It's because job security is a big concern for a foreigner. Job hopping isn't necessarily something that is suitable to a foreigner.
One might say, "What about Permanent Residences? They have the same privileges as we do!". Well, in any area, be it housing application, purchasing of properties and/or assets, PRs have restrictions compared to a Singapore Citizen. During my talk with one certain Singaporean friend of mine, he made me smile with what he said to me. He said, "They spoil the market what... they take lesser salary because Singapore money is big to their money". To me, it simply is a matter of competition. Bear in mind that they are also living the same standard as others, paying the same bill every month.
Most of the time, a foreigner will not be too choosy over their job choices. To eliminate competition is to reduce the value and worthiness of oneself. Yeah sure, let's eliminate competition! Say, Singapore National Football team, let's make AFF Suzuki Cup a four nation competition, and put in Maldives, Taipei, Bhutan as our competitors. Shiok man! Sure win one! I am very sure you don't want that. One just have to improve and better himself all the time and win over the competition. In closing of this topic, I still do not really see anything concrete that foreign labour affect the locals.
Stay tuned for "Singaporean? PR? Foreigner? Looking from a different angle Part-II".
Credits to:
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/singapore-were-run-foreigners-happy-003444604.html
http://human-3d.com/3d-picture/republic-of-singapore-map-with-flag-silhouette-000076257287
Very good view.. Agreed...
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