Doubts about value of foreign workers are striking a chord
By Rebecca Lee
Straits Times, 26 September 2003
Survey finds more Singaporeans worry about opportunities being taken away
THAT foreign workers are taking away jobs is a common grouse among jobless Singapore residents - and a notion that the Government is keen to dispel.
But the perception continues to persist - and spread - as Singapore roils in a long economic downturn and rising unemployment, said a Gallup poll released yesterday.
It surveyed 1,013 Singaporeans and permanent residents aged 18 to 54 and found that the number of people doubting the role played by foreign workers was growing steadily.
More Singaporeans also felt that they were not treated better than non-citizens, they were worried that foreign talent would take away their opportunities and were sceptical about how much the foreigners had contributed to Singapore's past success.
Although more than half, or 56 per cent, still believed that foreign talent was necessary to help Singapore achieve continued success, the pool of believers was shrinking.
Two years ago, they numbered 64 per cent and in 1997, 72 per cent.
Gallup's regional practice coordinator, Mr Ashok Gopal, suspected the slow economy was causing people to disbelieve.
'Given the double whammy of an economic slowdown and rising unemployment, it is perhaps to be expected that more Singaporeans are now questioning the impact that foreign talent has on shoring up the nation's future success,' he said.
Another reason could be the timing of the survey.
It was conducted in the last week of August, after a controversial report by two Nanyang Technological University researchers sparked a public debate on the role of foreign workers.
Acting Manpower Minister Ng Eng Hen defended the Government's open-door policy to foreign workers and noted that between 1993 and 1997, when the economy was chugging at full steam, no one complained when 60 per cent of new jobs went to foreigners.
Mr Gopal acknowledged that some respondents' perception might have been coloured by the debate at that time, but noted that they could have been swayed to take either side in the debate.
More than half of the residents, or 55 per cent, also disagreed that they were being treated more favourably than non-citizens, up from 50 per cent two years ago.
The view was misguided, said Mr S. Iswaran, an MP for West Coast GRC.
'Which rational government in the world would want to do that to its own people?
'The trouble is that some of the economic privileges of citizenship, such as subsidised HDB housing with the prospect of capital appreciation, don't look so appealing now,' he said.
About the same proportion, or 56 per cent, were also concerned that foreign talent will take away their opportunities. This was a jump from 47 per cent two years ago.
Mr Shaari Jamal, 31, a sales manager, believed rank-and-file workers were especially vulnerable.
'A friend was laid off as a mechanic because he earned $2,700 a month, while a foreign worker was willing to accept about $1,500,' he said.
Mr Noel Tan, 25, a free-lance writer, said: 'They do contribute, but there is no indication of how much they contribute.'
MP Amy Khor (Hong Kah GRC) thinks the Government could do more to change the common view against foreign talent, especially among the less educated who seem to have more misgivings.
'I think we must continue to explain to them, in language they can understand, that foreign talent can enhance the skills and knowledge of Singapore's labour pool and that they can help to create more jobs,' she said.
