Foreign businesses voice labour concern to MOM

[peppertail]

http://www.todayonline.com/business/foreign-businesses-voice-labour-concerns-mom

SINGAPORE — Nine foreign chambers of commerce have issued an open letter to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), voicing their concerns over the impact of manpower constraints due to the stringent policies controlling the inflow of foreign labour.

Addressed to Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin, the letter was signed collectively by the American, Australian, British, Canadian, European, French, Japanese, New Zealand and German chambers.



“Our concerns relate to the certainty in the ability to employ candidates with the necessary skills, knowledge and experience required and also to be able to tap into a larger labour workforce than is available in Singapore,” the letter stated.

“One of the hallmarks of Singapore has been its open economy where skills and resources are readily available. But there are now businesses actively telling us that they have been impacted by the inability to obtain the right people,” said Australian Chamber of Commerce President Graham Lee.

“Can this manpower shortage be met by hiring Singaporeans? To some extent, yes, but Singapore is a full employment economy. Not to mention the rate of home-grown workforce is simply not there.” As a result, businesses have told the chambers that they would relocate or are considering that option, due to a perceived lack of skilled labour here, he added.

The letter follows a series of similar statements that have surfaced recently, marking the rising concern in the business community over the manpower situation.

And that situation looks set to worsen, with the Government planning to further limit the inflow of foreign labour, according to the Population White Paper.

More Singaporeans will also take up jobs as professionals, managers, executives and technicians in future, putting a greater manpower pressure on the lower-skilled segments.

The letter calls on the Government to consider increasing the number of foreign workers in nominated service, construction and manufacturing sectors. It also suggested allowing a larger number of younger foreign workers into Singapore to drive growth with greater productivity and innovation, citing the Singapore Business Federation’s position paper on population which said that productivity is higher in populations where the median age is lower than 35.

The MOM acknowledged that it had received the letter but would not provide immediate comment.

 

[chonburifc]

hahaha. 九国联军 want to hoot sinking land liaoz.

 

[Tuayapeh]

http://www.todayonline.com/business/foreign-businesses-voice-labour-concerns-mom

SINGAPORE — Nine foreign chambers of commerce have issued an open letter to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), voicing their concerns over the impact of manpower constraints due to the stringent policies controlling the inflow of foreign labour.

Addressed to Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin, the letter was signed collectively by the American, Australian, British, Canadian, European, French, Japanese, New Zealand and German chambers.



“Our concerns relate to the certainty in the ability to employ candidates with the necessary skills, knowledge and experience required and also to be able to tap into a larger labour workforce than is available in Singapore,” the letter stated.

“One of the hallmarks of Singapore has been its open economy where skills and resources are readily available. But there are now businesses actively telling us that they have been impacted by the inability to obtain the right people,” said Australian Chamber of Commerce President Graham Lee.

“Can this manpower shortage be met by hiring Singaporeans? To some extent, yes, but Singapore is a full employment economy. Not to mention the rate of home-grown workforce is simply not there.” As a result, businesses have told the chambers that they would relocate or are considering that option, due to a perceived lack of skilled labour here, he added.

The letter follows a series of similar statements that have surfaced recently, marking the rising concern in the business community over the manpower situation.

And that situation looks set to worsen, with the Government planning to further limit the inflow of foreign labour, according to the Population White Paper.

More Singaporeans will also take up jobs as professionals, managers, executives and technicians in future, putting a greater manpower pressure on the lower-skilled segments.

The letter calls on the Government to consider increasing the number of foreign workers in nominated service, construction and manufacturing sectors. It also suggested allowing a larger number of younger foreign workers into Singapore to drive growth with greater productivity and innovation, citing the Singapore Business Federation’s position paper on population which said that productivity is higher in populations where the median age is lower than 35.

The MOM acknowledged that it had received the letter but would not provide immediate comment.

Tuayapeh says this sounds a little like what happened in China when the foreign powers made their demands on the Qing govt.....

 

[moolightaffairs]

hahaha. 九国联军 want to hoot sinking land liaoz.

last time China 八国联军 want to hoot China is because China is big, rich and weak. 八国联军 is strong, rich and advance countries. now 九国联军 want to hoot Singapore because Singapore is rich, small and gov no back bone. this 九国联军 is all from third world developing countries trying to rob local people. but the gov always give in to them to rob own people.

 

[loneshark]

How do you think TCJ will respond?

 

[tonychat]

wahahahah.. i love it when sinkieland and the PAP incompetence surface and now other countries are questioning its ability.

When you allow any shit to go to sinkieland to work, that is what happen. cheap cheap foreign labour... yeah.. then what about quality? cheap = good?

I am a fan of high quality consumer products and most of those stuffs are at premium prices. hehehe

 

[Kinana]

Thats why I am against restricting foreign imports. It will just backfire on Singkies in the end.
We are killing the goose that lays the golden egg.

 

[lesMISERABLES]

http://www.todayonline.com/business/foreign-businesses-voice-labour-concerns-mom

SINGAPORE — Nine foreign chambers of commerce have issued an open letter to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), voicing their concerns over the impact of manpower constraints due to the stringent policies controlling the inflow of foreign labour.

Addressed to Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin, the letter was signed collectively by the American, Australian, British, Canadian, European, French, Japanese, New Zealand and German chambers.

Some of these countries have high levels of unemployment. They need to "export" their unemployed citizens to Sinkieland, a city-state which is very receptive to foreign labour.

 

[Glaringly]

The letter calls on the Government to consider increasing the number of foreign workers in nominated service, construction and manufacturing sectors.

Construction sector consider foreign business?

KNN, collectively this letter certainly had elements of those local cronies businesses crying out loud.

 

[SgParent]

Some of these countries have high levels of unemployment. They need to "export" their unemployed citizens to Sinkieland, a city-state which is very receptive to foreign labour.

I think those 9 countries are not really after exporting their own unemployed citizens to work in Singapore lah.

Rather, they want Singapore to open it's legs further for more cheaperest foreigners wherever their origins, so that these foreign companies can continue to enjoy the low labor cost.

 

[Vigilante]

PAP WILL BOW TO FOREIGN PRESSURE. Confirm +Chop

 

[peppertail]

I think those 9 countries are not really after exporting their own unemployed citizens to work in Singapore lah.

Rather, they want Singapore to open it's legs further for more cheaperest foreigners wherever their origins, so that these foreign companies can continue to enjoy the low labor cost.

Im sure foreign companies dont come to Singapore for cheap foreign labour. They will go straight to countries where that cheap labour comes from instead eg. china, india and so on.

 

[BlueBrother]

Who cares about these 9 chamber of commerce ? Who is putting the PAP in power ? Sure our economic growth will not be as spectacular but are we all going to stave if our economy declines ? Definitely not. Some of the companies that do not offer as much value to Singapore will leave and take with them the foreign workers. Companies that require a higher level of skills + better protection of intellectural property right will stay. We need to seek out better value investment. It's not like the 70's where we need to find any labour intensive investment to give ppl a job.

Stop giving so much money to Temasek to gamble, spend it on educating Singaporeans so that Singapore will have a higher skilled force to attract better value investment. Invest more and more in developing the ultimate high value skill hub.

PAP only want to seek economic growth and bring in so many foreigners to grow it. Not enough to eat or what ??? If we reduce our foreign workers and reduce our economy, can the life for Singaporean be improved ? Less hassle, more space, not super rich but sufficient wealth to live a good life. By then, we may see Singaporean being happier. Now it seems that every time the PAP says something, there is almost always a negative response.

 

[Travellor]

Thats why I am against restricting foreign imports. It will just backfire on Singkies in the end.
We are killing the goose that lays the golden egg.

Fuck you ....what are you saying? finally biting the hand that feeds you little cb dog?

 

[Leongsam]

Thats why I am against restricting foreign imports. It will just backfire on Singkies in the end.
We are killing the goose that lays the golden egg.

well said. I have added to your points.

 

[peppertail]

Thats why I am against restricting foreign imports. It will just backfire on Singkies in the end.
We are killing the goose that lays the golden egg.

As with everything else in life its about finding the right balance.

 

[biondi]

The letter calls on the Government to consider increasing the number of foreign workers in nominated service, construction and manufacturing sectors. It also suggested allowing a larger number of younger foreign workers into Singapore to drive growth with greater productivity and innovation, citing the Singapore Business Federation’s position paper on population which said that productivity is higher in populations where the median age is lower than 35.

As expected, it is often the construction and manufacturing sectors that are so reliant on foreign manpower that needs help. Even the F&B industry and retail have troubling hiring workers. These industry churn out long hours and low paying jobs which is why sinkies don't want them.

 

[ginfreely]

Tuayapeh says this sounds a little like what happened in China when the foreign powers made their demands on the Qing govt.....

not a little but exactly the same like what happened in China - basically demanding access to the country, be it importing opium like Qing case or importing foreigners like SG case - both cases cause harm to the locals, only benefit the traitors and the foreign countries.

 

[Cestbon]

Now all ministry department try to come out more stupid reason telling Sinkie . SG must import more FT.

 

[Logisex]

Don't you guys find it weird that 9 foreign chambers could actually get together to beg MOM to open the floodgates to FT right on the day the population white paper was supposed to be debated in parliament?