<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Flexible policies on immigrants give us an edge
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Tessa Wong
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->RESTRICTING the number of talented foreigners prepared to come here would be counter-productive and not in Singapore's long-term interests, Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng said.
In reaffirming the Government's pro-immigration stand, he reminded Nominated MP Kalyani K. Mehta that in today's globalised world, human capital was extremely mobile.
'Our current economic and social conditions make us an attractive immigration destination for many nationalities around the world,' he said in a written response yesterday.
Associate Professor Kalyani asked if future immigration policies would be tightened given that recent population statistics showed that citizens made up only 65 per cent of the total population.
Mr Wong, who is Home Affairs Minister and chairs the National Population Committee, said citizens made up 65 per cent of the total population and permanent residents a further 10 per cent.
The rest - the non-resident population - comprises transient foreigners working, studying and living here.
Mr Wong said flexible foreign workforce policies enabled Singapore to 'maintain a critical competitive edge' over other countries, by allowing companies to expand their workforce quickly.
This also created more and better jobs for citizens.
Mr Wong also said that despite pro-family measures, the Government does not expect the total fertility rate to reach the replacement rate of 2.1.
If Singapore's doors were closed to immigrants, the resident population and workforce would decline rapidly. 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.
Immigrants also inject new ideas and dynamism into society, he said, citing countries such as the United States and Australia as among those which benefited from absorbing 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,' he said.
Mr Wong also gave this assurance:
'We recognise 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. This is reflected in the way our policies are crafted, from health care and housing to education and other social policies.' He said the Government would ensure that there will be a sizeable group of Singaporeans who will be 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'.
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Tessa Wong
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->RESTRICTING the number of talented foreigners prepared to come here would be counter-productive and not in Singapore's long-term interests, Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng said.
In reaffirming the Government's pro-immigration stand, he reminded Nominated MP Kalyani K. Mehta that in today's globalised world, human capital was extremely mobile.
'Our current economic and social conditions make us an attractive immigration destination for many nationalities around the world,' he said in a written response yesterday.
Associate Professor Kalyani asked if future immigration policies would be tightened given that recent population statistics showed that citizens made up only 65 per cent of the total population.
Mr Wong, who is Home Affairs Minister and chairs the National Population Committee, said citizens made up 65 per cent of the total population and permanent residents a further 10 per cent.
The rest - the non-resident population - comprises transient foreigners working, studying and living here.
Mr Wong said flexible foreign workforce policies enabled Singapore to 'maintain a critical competitive edge' over other countries, by allowing companies to expand their workforce quickly.
This also created more and better jobs for citizens.
Mr Wong also said that despite pro-family measures, the Government does not expect the total fertility rate to reach the replacement rate of 2.1.
If Singapore's doors were closed to immigrants, the resident population and workforce would decline rapidly. 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.
Immigrants also inject new ideas and dynamism into society, he said, citing countries such as the United States and Australia as among those which benefited from absorbing 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,' he said.
Mr Wong also gave this assurance:
'We recognise 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. This is reflected in the way our policies are crafted, from health care and housing to education and other social policies.' He said the Government would ensure that there will be a sizeable group of Singaporeans who will be 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'.
