MOM bars marine firm from hiring foreigners

[Big Toe]

City Farmer is right, the job landscape is ever evolving. While Europe has very strict immigration/labor laws, it did not prevent a major loss of jobs to lower cost countries that are able to perform the same function more cost effectively. In any case, even our local SMEs(probably a majority of them) are maxing out their foreign worker quota and setting up operations elsewhere.

Local SMEs will need to step up their own game and compete globally while hiring/retaining as many local talent as possible.
We can't depend too much on foreign MNCs.

[Bibi]

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.

[CY09]

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.

I agree with Bibi and Cityfarmer.

In fact, our local working population is disadvantaged because we are not any better than foreign talents yet our cost of living is high and our exchange rate is strong. And I cant think of an overseas country where the cost of living is lower and has an exchange rate twice our strength

Just thinking out of the box, perhaps one way is to impose high taxes only for PRs/Foreigners on work pass (except construction workers and maids) who leave Singapore. This is because, many foreigners (PMETs) have the financial means to take budget trips regularly to visit their families back home. If the taxes is $2000 every time you leave Singapore, it will disincentive them. They will be less likely to work here because of the "home sick" felt for being alone/missing their family during an extended period of time. 6 months being alone in a foreign country can make one home sick! Personal Experience.

It also removes the "threat" of nearby Malaysians taking PMETs job because they cant commute on a daily basis due to the taxes.

[yeokiwi]

Just thinking out of the box, perhaps one way is to impose high taxes only for PRs/Foreigners on work pass (except construction workers and maids) who leave Singapore. This is because, many foreigners (PMETs) have the financial means to take budget trips regularly to visit their families back home. If the taxes is $2000 every time you leave Singapore, it will disincentive them. They will be less likely to work here because of the "home sick" felt for being alone/missing their family during an extended period of time. 6 months being alone in a foreign country can make one home sick! Personal Experience.
It also removes the "threat" of nearby Malaysians taking PMETs job because they cant commute on a daily basis due to the taxes.

So, after removing all the homesick PMETs, are we going to pay higher for non homesick PMETs?

The primary problem here is Singapore's economy is punching above its own local capability.
And that happens because the Singapore government and civil services are a notch above the rest in Asia especially in creating business opportunities.

Getting rid of current government is one way to reduce PMETs.

I am not sure whether there is a win-win situation ie. No competing foreign PMETs and a dynamic economy??

We can also try to reduce our GDP to a level that Singaporeans alone are sufficient to run the entire economy. But, when it happens, I am also not sure whether everyone will like it.

[CY09]

So i guess there are no ways except to maintain the foreign quota and watch our economy chug on

[Fish Head]

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.

I agree with Bibi and Cityfarmer.

In fact, our local working population is disadvantaged because we are not any better than foreign talents yet our cost of living is high and our exchange rate is strong. And I cant think of an overseas country where the cost of living is lower and has an exchange rate twice our strength

Just thinking out of the box, perhaps one way is to impose high taxes only for PRs/Foreigners on work pass (except construction workers and maids) who leave Singapore. This is because, many foreigners (PMETs) have the financial means to take budget trips regularly to visit their families back home. If the taxes is $2000 every time you leave Singapore, it will disincentive them. They will be less likely to work here because of the "home sick" felt for being alone/missing their family during an extended period of time. 6 months being alone in a foreign country can make one home sick! Personal Experience.

It also removes the "threat" of nearby Malaysians taking PMETs job because they cant commute on a daily basis due to the taxes.

I can't imaging there is an suggestion more stupid than this one. Are you sure you hate Singapore so much that is trying to kill the economy of our country. Today there is a very stupid argument that trying to convince us to give up economic growth to prevent foreigner for coming in and thinking that once foreigner not around we can enjoy good pay and good life. I am sorry to say that it is childish. Once we are no longer competitive in this world, people can easily forget SG and we are not going to have another chance to come back to what we have today. Our children or even ourselves will be foreign workers in another country sooner or later. If worker party has a tendency to think in such way. We have to think carefully to migrate to other countries. SG will be hopeless if any government think in this way.

[Fish Head]

The local population has no disadvantage against foreigner. The disadvantage is more an imagination or due to laziness of individual. There are many companies willing to pay much higher salary for a local than a foreigner to do same job. It's the life style, family education and personal altitude that make us into disadvantage. Many of us doesn't appreciate our job, unprofessional and inpatient in developing skills. The society encourages of enjoying life without hardworking. Any problem is problem of either foreigner or government. Always not our problem. In fact most of problem you are facing is a reflection of your own attitude. Think carefully about it.

[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...

[Big Toe]

I do have a friend who does not agree with the government, had a great job here but left Singapore and is doing well now in Hong Kong running his own business. I think I do agree with him that in Singapore, options are limited, whether business opportunities or employment. In fact, many do not realize that for certain businesses, it is far easier and less competitive in other countries...larger market too. So, instead of harping on letting foreigners in(not saying it is the right thing to do), why not market our skills or set up a businesses elsewhere? if they can take our job, we too can go elsewhere for better prospects. There are plenty of opportunities within the Asian Region alone.

If I had more time, I would set up businesses elsewhere, not possible at this point of time, plate is full, too many ongoing projects.
Staying in a lower cost country and working is always an attractive option for me. Since SGD is relatively strong comparatively, starting and running a business is actually much cheaper.

Come to think of it, cost is one thing that is preventing more people here to start their own business. Renting an office/shop/warehouse and hiring people, getting supplies/renovation/equipment would easily require hundreds of thousands. So kudos to those who succeeded here on their own. Even a simple franchise of a bakery costs >$2XX XXX.

[Fish Head]

People keeps complain about high living cost in SG which making themselves into disadvantage against foreigners. Please see the following numbers at my housing estate outside city.
Rental of a small room = $700 cash
Rental of a 4 rm flat = $2500 cash
Monthly payment for 5rm BTO flat = $1000 CPF.

Who is in advantage? The foreigner or Singaporean? Some foreigners is taking advantage by sharing a room by 3 people. If I want to have this advantage, I can give up my private space by renting 3 rooms out for foreigners, then I will likely make $2000 cash per month. It is your life style not the living cost that make you in disadvantage. Life style is personal choice, you choose it, don't complain.

Many people like to talk about Malaysians travel from JB to work here everyday. If you feel jealous on it. Please wake up at 4am, take bus go around SG then go to office, leave office at evening then take bus go around SG then go home at 12 mid night. If you can tahan 5-6 day a week for 3 months, congratulations, please find a second job, I promise you that you can save more money than those Malaysians. Some more you don't have to experience the 2 checkpoints between SG and JB. I experience them once a month to visit my in-laws by car (not by bus lei), be honest, I hate the checkpoints. They give up family life and personal health for those SG dollars, if you are not able to do it, don't complain.

I don't want to give up my life style, I want private space, I want family time, so I invest instead of complain.