Comments on: Local vs foreign workers: Unravelling the debate

By: PG

PG — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 12:42:01 +0000

I do not make ridiculous comparisons , I am British and went through the real British educations system , not a copy. I have also lived in Singapore and have seen the bad productivity and inefficiency , even the government admits that efficiency is bad . As far as jobs go big numbers of jobs were brought there by foreign companies , not sinagporean .
Also there will be a drive to curb imports from countries like SIngapore and Malaysia who use cheap foreign labour , few social laws ,and even less ecological commitment .
I would suggest Singaporeans find out what really happens in this world and what populations think , not just what the government tells them.

By: born a singaporean

born a singaporean — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 20:18:09 +0000

I would like to highlight that majority of us, Singaporean since birth, have spent at least 10 years or more of our life in education under the system of the Bristish standard. Being productive is also about using our knowledge and skills attained in the jobs. Hence, please do not make any ridiculous comparision. Thank you.

By: PG

PG — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 09:52:32 +0000

Cheap foreign workers in Singapore and Malaysia are giving their industries an unfait advantage , and it can be called exploiting others . These countries should be have import and other dues charged on all their goods and activities . Wages , working hours , social cover , ecological laws are not the same as in the West or even China , things have to be levelled out , especially when we see the profits that companies in these countries are making ( not the population)
This will also make things better for Singaporeans and Malaysians , better pay , resonable working hours , better conditions . Also foreign workers do not have the same competency level or education and are allowed to live in conditions Singaporeans are not. There is a very big question of quality of work from these countries .
Singapore along with Malaysia and other countries have large breaches concerning human rights and if they don’t improve , have to have their products and services boycotted by western countries .
It is obvious the governments of these countries are not there to improve their populations quality of life , just make the country a place of cheap labour .
The advantages and salaries received by the governments and its services in these countries is excessive , and the governments are becoming stale with no ideas or competition due to the authoritarian regimes and lack of aloowed opposition . This should be taken into account , and free trade agreements with these countries should be avoided.

By: Raine

Raine — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:19:44 +0000

The author outlined unjustice about the overall treatment the foreign labour workers received in Singapore. However, whom he met are those who needed help and how many percent is that sample when compared to the no. of workers here? Written media often published bad news about those who had their work permit terminated and were unable to pay their costly agent fees. However, whomever in the right mind would demand their rights and be compensated before agree to go back to their country (they can always refuse to go back). There are also workers with excellent skills earning $2,000 – $3,600 per month. They do not have to complain to any authority or society that they are earning too much.

By: ann yap

ann yap — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 12:11:09 +0000

everyday many illegal immigrants and overstayers and foreign workers lie on the floors of void decks at 671 and 672 klang lane. They openly bring their food and beer and liquor and get into fights . but no officers arrest them.
its free for all.
every weekend, hundred and thousand of workers , foreign talents crowd at the hdb void decks, roads and block the traffic. they take up the entire bus lanes of serangoon road, belilios road and klang lane . there is no form of crowd control or spotcheck to see if they have valid passports and visas.

By: anthony

anthony — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 01:59:34 +0000

sg education system failed totally.

By: Young Professional Singaporean Engineer

Young Professional Singaporean Engineer — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 16:10:32 +0000

Foreigners are not only taking away singaporean jobs, they are also deprving us of the opportunities for training to move on to a management level. I am feeling very disappointed with my company for sending engineers who are foreigners instead of singaporeans for the training. And, to mention, my company is a local company who is able to receive the funding our govt gives out, in light of the economy recession. So, does our govt control the use of the fund given out? Or, in this case, a local company receives help from the govt to help foreigners advance their career?? govt fund is taxpayers money and the money comes from singaporean. This is so unfair. Furthermore, these foreigners degree are worth less than locals since we have a world class education system and NUS is one of the top 5 Asia’s university.

By: mr tan

mr tan — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 11:39:56 +0000

everyday there are trucks, lorries, cars, buses parked illegally in little india area.
The entire roads of klang lane, belilios road, chander road, rotan lane are packed with illegal parking and illegal workers and overstayers lying on the floors of hdb void decks and pavements and lift lobbies in hdb areas.
So why do singaporeans pay to live in hdb areas ? why do singaporeans pay conservancy charges ? To ensure that illegal workers sleep comfortably on their void decks and lift lobbies in hdb residential areas ?

If you visit 672 and 671 klang lane, residential void decks and areas are swamped with illegal workers, overstayers and these areas become permanent squatters on weekends and weekdays.

These non residents lie on the floors and on the pavements
On weekends, hundreds of them crowd the area.

By: Singaporean Bangala

Singaporean Bangala — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 13:23:49 +0000

We singaporean work, work and work for one average 90+ sqm four room flat for 99 years, foreigner go back buy big houses, big plot of lands, cars. cools… Who is the big winner here?

By: Jaslyn

Jaslyn — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 11:31:48 +0000

Increasing the temporary dorm sites for foreign workers, is temporary accomdations for them to lives in. Majority all Singapore workers or even to says all Singaporeans have a home to stay in,especially talking about in Singapore, Right .That is why I says foreigners workers working here in Singapore is considers already very fair and lucky for them to stay here to work with. .

This are just part of the benefits in Singapore . You know , previously foreigners worker even have CPF for working in Singapore but I don’t know now still have this benefits. After they went back to their own country , I dont know for how many years later, they can take back their this CPF money . This is not fair to them??Singaporeans treat them not well??? Still everyone is talking about we Singaporeans don’t take care of the foreigner workers , no place for them to lives in etc etc……. The foreigner workers , majority actually now staying around little india ,Right? By renting HDB rooms.You know why , as foreigner finds that it is cheaper to share with more friends for one room.There must be some control, right?

As too many foreigner workers living in a HDB room will cause much inconvient to our local people.Must be fair to us, local people too, Right? Why I says this then……..???

We saw NEWS saying they smoke , drank and some even fighting for those foreigner workers in HDB area.
Then you think is fair for us as a local Singaporean staying in our HDB flats with a lots of foreigners workers around. Mentally, Of course we feel uneasy for the way they behaves as above , majority everyone is just trying to protect our childrens safety., if too much of the foreigner workers living in HDB .

Thats why Our government is trying very hard planning out for their accomdations.Good for us and good for them.Both Win Win situations.

By: Moby303

Moby303 — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 05:47:45 +0000

If priority given to local workers, so what is the point increasing the temporary dorm sites for foreign workers? Which one they want?

By: Jaslyn

Jaslyn — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:44:44 +0000

Labour chief urges employers to give priority to local workers, said by our Labour chief Lim Swee Say at the Singapore Tripartism Forum on Thursday.

At last I find that it is very fair to all Singaporeans workers.

As you see how we Chinese working under some foreign countries (Those lower graded ) are those Chinese workers being treated well or not?? Even fair or not??

In Singapore foreign workers is being treated differently here, they are much more fortunate and lucky here.

IF As :
Acting Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong related a conversation he had with a company head
“If he were asked to employ only Singaporeans, his costs would have gone up and he would have had no choice but to shift the whole company out of Singapore to China,” said Mr Gan

Who says Singaporeans not a hard working workers , Right. Why always Singaporeans not helping Singaporeans?? Because of the Salaries.??
Not forgotten how much they earn in Singapore dollars rate converting it to their own individual countries dollar rates. How much their pay will be then in total.

For Singapore workers rate Salaries to Singapore dollar rates amount is already very fair to those employees already if you want to compare in dollar rates wise.

If Singapore Employees think this way , not trying to gives priority to local workers, then might as well all Singaporeans being unemployed then, all engaged foreigners workers then. Then Singapore will be given a NAME SOONER ” For Foreigners workers country” no more Singaporean workers.

This is my individual comments.

By: Vinnie

Vinnie — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 05:01:48 +0000

Singapore is being viewed by the international community as a country that breaches human rights. The living condition these workers live in are inhumane. Singapore is viewed similarly to Dubai which treats its own foreign workers the same. How can one live in a dog box with 15 others in unhygenic conditions? Aminals have the protection of the SPCA but foreign workers have no proper voice. Singaporeans need to see things from a more humane view and stop thinking about making money.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 23:35:48 +0000

student ,
what you said is agreeable. And that should be applied to the gahmen first. The problem has never been FT policies but the extreme at it. Apply it to the gahmen first who along has been protected from their own FT policies. Will the gahmen complain then if they themselves subject to their own policies they put forth ?

Listen to Mr Brown
http://www.mrbrownshow.com/2008/05/05/the-mrbrown-show-the-replacement/

and you see the obvious wayang.

By: dennis

dennis — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 20:42:40 +0000

student (#39),

Openness is the key. I agree with your last point that if one has a good attitude, one doesn’t have to be afraid of competition.

However, your acrid tone makes your overall message less receptive and less effective. If you could just hold your horses back for a minute and edit your post, it can become more convincing. You may find the following guidelines useful:

- stay composed; be civilised (for eg, don’t insult people)
- state your point in a positive tone
- KISS (keep it simple and sweet)
- imagine how people might react to your post; revise

Don’t just get your message in, get a strong message through. Challenge yourself to compose a more convincing message each time. Cheers!

By: student

student — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 19:02:54 +0000

I must say having foreign workers on our land will wake up SIngaporeans idea. One thing for sure Singaporeans are not hardworking, complain alot, want to work on easy tasks and hoping to earn big bucks. Just take a look around and compare it yourself. Want to earn big bucks but no education, so the tripatite people organise courses for them to upgrade but they think is wasting times and rather spend their time on their 4D, toto dreams.
If only our local workforce are as hardworking as these FT, then they dont have to worry about FT snatching their jobs.
Sometimes when we see big organisations having retrenchment exercise, they are actually getting rid of those staffs who are not contributing to the organisation.
I personally believe that if a worker has a good working attitude, he/she don’t need to worry about FT invasion.

By: Inta

Inta — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:04:53 +0000

I read a good comment here yesterday (last commnet & quite long). Where is it, why you all deleted?

By: Worker

Worker — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 05:02:07 +0000

I am here not speaking for those high level pay of the foreign worker because it’s known that they got high pay and also high allowances. I am here for the foreign construction worker. We need to treat them more humanly. There are some construction companies that required them to work from Monday to Sunday and for long hours from 8 am to 11 pm or 12 am (it means 1,5 days). Not only that, after finishes their job and return to their dormitory, they still need to cook (in order to cut cost) for their food to bring to their job site in the following morning. In the morning they have to wake very early to get ready for the job. So we can imagine that they only take a few hours to take rest in the night. Their food is very plain while they need a lot of energy in the work. They can not speak their own opinion because they are afraid to be sacked and to be sent back to their country. Before come to Singapore they need to pay a very high fee to the agency (S$ 6,500-S$15,000). There are a few systems need to be changed here: 1. Government should required the construction company to apply shift work system and only allow a worker work over time based on his own willing, not because of being forced by their employer. 2. The date line/delivery schedule of the project should not be too short and at the same time the project owner can not apply big sum of penalty to the contractor (which will lead the exploitation of the construction worker by their employer in order to avoid LD). Government need to realize that if the employer forces their worker to work overtime continuously, it will result fatigue on the workers, which is danger to their safety and also to the building safety. Tired worker can not concentrate well on their job and this may affect to their own safety and also building safety. Singapore land is vulnerable with earthquake and earth vibration so that everything must be done correctly in the construction project. Work result is not the same if it’s done by fresh worker and fatigue worker. 3. Urge job agencies to stop take high fee from those foreign worker (agent in Singapore and agent in worker’s originate country both took high fee from them) which is immoral because those workers need years to pay it while their families need the money to support their life. 4. Urge the employer to provide proper transportation for them, don’t wait until they have to lose their life. 5. Salary adjustment with current inflation 6. Housing improvement; there’re some companies have improved their workers dormitory but there are still a lot of companies need to do it. They come here to take job that many Singapore don’t want to take (based on the fact that even at the supervisory level, Singaporean can only stay maximum 2 or 3 months before leave the job).

By: Foreigner

Foreigner — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:57:56 +0000

Agree with “2nd class hoping to be first (no hope)” – for as long as we are around and entrenched.
Groundswell – none of my business – only concern is that my wallet should swell for the work I am contracted, with locals not accepted, which implied that the work I am doing is not easy.

By: Anon

Anon — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:03:09 +0000

Just ask any foreign scholar what is sacrifice and they will say “Coming to Singapore after all it’s not Yale or Harvard. But I’m working on creating a bogus company while I look out for chance to study overseas” see the bond is actually quite easily discharged.
“I thank the kind people(your mom and dad) of this country to finance my bright future while your son take his time to grow into a man.” Even If he score better than me.
And If the condition elsewhere is not so good I will come here and stay to make sure my fellow countrymen got service jobs. We _____ are not easily bullied and we can get away with anything Huang na, soup spoon,etc,etc.
“Poor us PRC worker, our rights not protected” another propaganda in the making.
We need to protect the right of people who knowingly lower their salary and then? say that they are not paid enough????