SINGAPORE — One of the toughest balancing acts that successive Singapore’s leaders have had to manage over the decades is to bring in foreign talent to the city-state while mitigating the inevitable tensions that come with it.
The Big Read in short: The tough balancing act of welcoming foreign talent and assuaging S'poreans' concerns
Yet the need for foreign manpower is all the more critical now as Singapore’s population ages and fertility rate hits record low Some 40 years later, when Singapore was on the cusp of leadership change in May, both the incumbent prime minister and his successor would also broach the thorny issue. Political analyst from the Singapore Management University Eugene Tan said: “The harsh reality about immigration is that once the immigration genie is out of the bottle, it will not be easy to put the genie back in the bottle.”Over the years, the Government has introduced a slew of measures or enhanced existing ones to address Singaporeans’ concerns over foreign manpower.
Singapore’s total population as of June 2023 was 5.92 million. Out of this, the non-resident population — which includes foreign workers, their dependents and international students — numbered 1.77 million. If Singapore were to lag behind or miss out entirely on opportunities arising from new and rapidly growing industries, the overall competitiveness and economic growth of the nation may be put at risk, said the experts.
The Fair Consideration Framework — which ensures that firms try their best to hire Singaporeans first, before looking overseas — was introduced in 2009, and then strengthened in 2020 with tougher penalties.Numerous measures were introduced or reinforced since the 2011 General Election to address issue of migrants’ influx.by locals. This is further exacerbated by the fact that in being selective of the talents brought in, Singapore inevitably bring in the higher-earning ones.
Observers noted the Government has also put forth a more nuanced messaging: While foreign manpower and talent are critical, Singapore residents are still prioritised.
Foreign Workers Immigration The Big Read Manpower(19506)
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
The Big Read in short: Investigating the root cause of Singapore's traffic accident woesSINGAPORE — Just two weeks ago, a driver who decided to ignore the directional signs in a multi-storey car park in Choa Chu Kang almost collided into the vehicle that digital marketing manager Marcus Khoo was driving.
Read more »
The Big Read in short: The draw and pain of schooling your child at homeSINGAPORE — For a young Sukesy Mattar, studying at an international school in Kuwait, where she lived with her family till she was 11, provided her with a vibrant, holistic experience.
Read more »
Food hunt at Singapore theme parks: Science Centre SingaporeYou know what to expect at our local theme parks, but what about the food? Our team of taste explorers take you on a wild ride through Singapore’s awesome theme parks and their culinary offerings. We're on a mission to uncover the unique flavours that make each theme park a gastronomic adventure too. Today, we explore Science Centre Singapore! Do..
Read more »
Singapore surgeon and other female changemakers win big at 2024 Cartier Women’s InitiativeIn its 17th edition, Cartier's impact entrepreneurship programme invests in female-founded start-ups driving change.
Read more »
Good mix of players sees Singapore Pools make big breakthrough in corporate golf leagueSINGAPORE – Singapore Pools emerged overall champions of the Business Times Corporate Golf League thanks to a potent mix of players, sound preparation and the encouraging presence of chief executive officer Lam Chee Weng.
Read more »
Chinese national arrested in S’pore for creating malware that allowed criminals to steal billionsProperties subject to seizure include a Singapore condominium unit and a Singapore-registered Ferrari.
Read more »