Why should Singaporeans be forced to accept having more foreigners living amongst us when the decision to go for economic growth is made solely by the government ? Did we ask for such a fast pace of growth ? And may I ask who has benefitted most from this “growth” over the years: the big GICs, corporate firms, businesses, the rich elites or ordinary folks on the street like you and me ?
According to a report published by the Singapore Department of Statistics in February 2008, the higher-income employed households continued to experience faster income growth, reflecting higher wage increases for skilled and knowledge workers while the wages of the lowest 20% of the income group remains mostly stagnant between the years 2000 to 2001.
Singapore’s Gini Coefficient, a measure of income inequality, has been increasing consistently from the last 7 years from 0.442 in 2000 to 0.485 in 2007. The ratio of average income of the top 20% to the lowest 20% jumped from 9.99 in 2000 to 12.90 in 2007.
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While it is undeniable that foreign labor is critical to maintain our competitive edge, they have an unfair advantage over local Singaporeans for the following simple reasons:
1. Foreigners often come here to work only for a purpose - to earn sufficient money in order to improve their living conditions back home. As they do not have any families or friends in Singapore, they are highly motivated to work hard for long hours and low pay. How can we expect a Singaporean who needs to feed his or her family and spend time with them compete with these foreigners on an equal footing ?
Read full article and watch the 2 CNA videos here:
http://wayangparty.com/2008/11/03/pap-leaders-welcome-more-foreigners-for-our-national-interest/
According to a report published by the Singapore Department of Statistics in February 2008, the higher-income employed households continued to experience faster income growth, reflecting higher wage increases for skilled and knowledge workers while the wages of the lowest 20% of the income group remains mostly stagnant between the years 2000 to 2001.
Singapore’s Gini Coefficient, a measure of income inequality, has been increasing consistently from the last 7 years from 0.442 in 2000 to 0.485 in 2007. The ratio of average income of the top 20% to the lowest 20% jumped from 9.99 in 2000 to 12.90 in 2007.
XXX
While it is undeniable that foreign labor is critical to maintain our competitive edge, they have an unfair advantage over local Singaporeans for the following simple reasons:
1. Foreigners often come here to work only for a purpose - to earn sufficient money in order to improve their living conditions back home. As they do not have any families or friends in Singapore, they are highly motivated to work hard for long hours and low pay. How can we expect a Singaporean who needs to feed his or her family and spend time with them compete with these foreigners on an equal footing ?
Read full article and watch the 2 CNA videos here:
http://wayangparty.com/2008/11/03/pap-leaders-welcome-more-foreigners-for-our-national-interest/
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