Yes I agree on this. I don't think the quality of Singapore engineers are any worse off than from other countries. But you are right that NS/IPPT will come into play plus the fact that although SGD3.5k is a good starting amount, we do have higher cost of living and this pay grade cannot stagnate but the foreigners can accept this for longer periods of time due to currency exchange.
i do appreciate some FT who helped us in building homes , doing health cares jobs .... but some jobs seriously needs to consider to let singaporeans to be consider first ....
u know my coy has employed a few engineers and drafters jobs last few weeks but all are foreigners . Dun tell me singaporeans cant do a drafter job or think the pay is low ? my coy pay quite well . min salary is 3.5k at least for any admin job. Seriously i think 3.5k is not bad already . But i heard coz NS will disrupt the progress of the project so they prefer to employ foreigners....