Mr Wong says that it is a natural human response that Singaporeans feel threatened by the number of immigrants that Singapore is absorbing, but he assured that the government will always consider the interests of Singaporeans first.
CURBING the number of foreign talents who are prepared to immigrate here would be counter-productive to Singapore's long-term interests, said Home Affairs Minister **** *** **** on Monday.
'In today's globalised world, human capital is extremely mobile, particularly the talented and driven. Our current economic and social conditions make us an attractive immigration destination for many nationalities around the world,' he said.
'It is important that we leverage on our strengths and continue to attract talented people to settle here, as we drive towards building a knowledge economy.'
Mr Wong, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, made this point in his written response to a question from Nominated MP Kalyani Mehta in Parliament on Monday.
Prof Mehta had asked if the Government would tighten future immigration policies in view of the need for a rooted local populace in Singapore, noting that citizens comprise only 65 per cent of the total population.
The minister said given Singapore's low fertility rate, the resident population and workforce would decline rapidly if the authorities shut out immigrants or substantially reduce inflows.
'This would have serious repercussions on our ability to maintain our standard of living. Encouraging immigration is therefore a key strategy which we must continue to pursue,' he said.
'Beyond population imperatives, immigrants inject new ideas and dynamism into society. Many countries, such as the United States and Australia, have benefited greatly from having absorbed a diverse group of immigrants. Singapore itself is an immigrant society and we would not be where we are today if not for the contributions of our immigrants over the years.'
Mr Wong acknowledged that some Singaporeans may feel threatened by the number of immigrants that Singapore is absorbing.
'This is a natural human response. However, Singaporeans should be assured that this Government will always consider the interests of Singaporeans first,' he assured.
'This is reflected in the way our policies are crafted, from healthcare and housing to education and other social policies. While we welcome immigrants to our shores, our own people are always closest to our hearts.
'We will ensure that there remains a sizeable group of Singaporeans which will form the core of our society - people who are here for the long haul, who will stand fast in times of difficulty, but who will also be first to enjoy the fruits of our success.'
Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents (PRs) account for 75 per cent of the total population, with citizens making up 65 per cent, as at Jun. The remaining non-resident population comprises transient foreigners working, studying and living in Singapore.
Mr Wong said by far, foreign manpower accounts for the largest proportion of the non-resident population. These are foreigners who are here on a transient basis to take up jobs in sectors which Singaporeans are not able to fill.
'The size of our foreign workforce is not fixed. It depends on the state of our economy, and also on other global factors,' said the minister, explaining that over the last few years, there has been a strong demand for workers in sectors such as construction and marine, leading to an expanded foreign workforce here.
'Without them, our industries would have been handicapped and we would not have been able to achieve robust levels of growth,' he added.
'Overall, our flexible foreign workforce policies have enabled us to maintain a critical competitive edge over competing economies by allowing companies to expand their workforce quickly to capitalise on opportunities, at the same time creating more and better jobs for our citizens.'
Mr Wong says that it is a natural human response that Singaporeans feel threatened by the number of immigrants that Singapore is absorbing, but he assured that the government will always consider the interests of Singaporeans first.
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