MOM bars marine firm from hiring foreigners

[CityFarmer]

The key point should be productivity vs salary.

I had cases that European engineers were cut, and replaced by foreign engineers. It was done by closed-up the R&D in Europe, and relocated the jobs to Asia. Why? The foreign engineers can do them, at 1/5 of the salary, with similar qualities. One of them was willing to transfer to Singapore in local term.

With the advances of technology, you might not aware the mobility of the jobs nowadays.

Why do u think the foreigners can do it at 1/5 the salary? Because they do not need to retire in expensive Europe i guess. If our govt didnt implement PMET quota, i bet our professional workforce will be filled with Malaysians. They are equally good and some better than us. Some can work longer hours than us as their families are not here. Most can accept lower salaries since our S$ is almost 3 times stronger than theirs and they need not retire in expensive Singapore.

Well, I can't quote higher for a project with all European engineers, and saying because they need to retire in expansive Europe, while productivity remain the same. Can I?

Having said so, it is possible to retain high pay job, but must come with comparable productivity. We do have expansive European engineers, and very valuable to the company. They are world technology champions.

BTW, Penang is a comparable location to Singapore, which cost much lower. The competitor isn't very far away...