<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"></TD><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>Rowbox <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>Aug-30 4:03 pm </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 12) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>20097.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt><TABLE class=contentpaneopen><TBODY><TR><TD class=createdate vAlign=top>http://www.yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/2638-another-pap-mp-echoes-sdps-policies
Sunday, 30 August 2009
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Singapore Democrats
PAP MP Josephine Teo recently called on the Government to "re-tune" the Foreign Talent Policy (see report below). She says that this is to reduce our "over reliance" on foreign workers.
If that sounds a wee bit familiar, that's because the Singapore Democrats have been saying this for quite a while now - ten years to be precise. We have been advocating our Singaporeans First Policy since the turn of the century and we campaigned on it in the 2001 general elections. It is engraved in our manifesto (see here).
We invite readers to compare what we have proposed with what the "labour" MP is now saying:
SDP: The foreign talent policy adds to the burden of Singaporeans by indiscriminately allowing foreigners to seek employment here.
Teo: Reduce the foreign worker quota in sectors with stagnating or falling productivity.
SDP: Require the Government and employers to employ foreigners only if locals cannot be found for the job. This will ensure that only qualified foreigners will be allowed into Singapore.
Teo: Raise the quality of foreign workers allowed in, by setting higher skills standards and tightening regulations to ensure their superior qualifications are what Singapore requires.
But even as she calls for this re-tuning, she inexplicably excuses her party bosses and instead blames the local companies, saying that they chose "to hire foreign workers as an easier, cheaper option to meet higher orders."
Wait a second, isn't that what the Government is trying to do, bringing in foreign workers because they are easier and cheaper to ensure GDP "growth"?
Ms Teo adds that by restricting the number of foreign workers, companies will be forced to "review their work processes and improve their standards and this will lead to a boost in productivity."
That's PAP-cum-NTUC-speak. In simple English it means that Singaporeans are paid so lowly (because they have to compete with foreigners) that they are demoralised and have to work another job or two to ensure they earn enough to survive. Being underpaid and overworked is the biggest destroyer of productivity, not some mumbo-jumbo "work process".
Still, we're glad another PAP MP now supports our alternative policy. Mr Inderjit Singh and even the prime minister have been echoing an idea or two from the SDP. (See here)
It's good to note that Ms Teo has finally seen the light. The only question that remains is: What took her so long?
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Sunday, 30 August 2009
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top>
Singapore Democrats
If that sounds a wee bit familiar, that's because the Singapore Democrats have been saying this for quite a while now - ten years to be precise. We have been advocating our Singaporeans First Policy since the turn of the century and we campaigned on it in the 2001 general elections. It is engraved in our manifesto (see here).
We invite readers to compare what we have proposed with what the "labour" MP is now saying:
SDP: The foreign talent policy adds to the burden of Singaporeans by indiscriminately allowing foreigners to seek employment here.
Teo: Reduce the foreign worker quota in sectors with stagnating or falling productivity.
SDP: Require the Government and employers to employ foreigners only if locals cannot be found for the job. This will ensure that only qualified foreigners will be allowed into Singapore.
Teo: Raise the quality of foreign workers allowed in, by setting higher skills standards and tightening regulations to ensure their superior qualifications are what Singapore requires.
But even as she calls for this re-tuning, she inexplicably excuses her party bosses and instead blames the local companies, saying that they chose "to hire foreign workers as an easier, cheaper option to meet higher orders."
Wait a second, isn't that what the Government is trying to do, bringing in foreign workers because they are easier and cheaper to ensure GDP "growth"?
Ms Teo adds that by restricting the number of foreign workers, companies will be forced to "review their work processes and improve their standards and this will lead to a boost in productivity."
That's PAP-cum-NTUC-speak. In simple English it means that Singaporeans are paid so lowly (because they have to compete with foreigners) that they are demoralised and have to work another job or two to ensure they earn enough to survive. Being underpaid and overworked is the biggest destroyer of productivity, not some mumbo-jumbo "work process".
Still, we're glad another PAP MP now supports our alternative policy. Mr Inderjit Singh and even the prime minister have been echoing an idea or two from the SDP. (See here)
It's good to note that Ms Teo has finally seen the light. The only question that remains is: What took her so long?
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