MOM bars marine firm from hiring foreigners

[Fish Head]

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.

Normally, people believe that there are more opportunity in HK for doing business due to the big market - China. But the factors you list out to prevent people doing business in SG is irrelevant. Basing on HK Land annual report 2013, grade A office in HK central is 99HKD per sq ft (S$17.28), Grade A office in SG Marina Bay is SGD9.1 per sq ft. The cost of doing business in HK is about 100% more expensive than SG. The advantage there is only 1 word, China, nothing to do with cost.

[Big Toe]

Quite pointless to argue in a internet forum but to clarify there is not anything in my post to suggest that HK is a lower cost country to do business. It isnt.

Key words: maybe better prospects, more opportunities elsewhere
Singapore...expensive to start up biz.

[specuvestor]

The local population has no disadvantage against foreigner. The disadvantage is more an imagination or due to laziness of individual.

I dont think this statement is correct. In fact the foreign levy is to try to even out the cost differentials to the employer rather than for tax income per se.

Foreigners have lower cost of living at home trying to earn higher foreign income which is a primarily motivation for labour movement especially for lower skilled jobs. Secondly the vested interest of foreigners are not the same as locals. The interest and motivation of a hedge fund is very different from a long term strategic partner

That said i do agree that foreign labour is paramount to our economy, and we ought to remember that Singapore was and continue to be a migrant society, which I'm proud of with the myriad of races. Key is how to manage it and instill privileges for citizenship and welcome others to become citizen with same vested interest, and preserve our culture and way of life. Foreigners should be assimilated to our culture but the unmanaged huge influx has done the opposite: we are assimilating to their culture

Nonetheless Singaporeans do need to remain competitive. We can ask for more and more but we also have to be prepared to give more and more. So I agree with Fishhead that lifestyle is the issue and a choice we make. But lifestyle is not a direct equate to economic growth. The govt has realised that in past 5 years, from floods to transport breakdowns to crimes and suicides. All these things shape our lifestyle and environment. No man is an island.

[yeokiwi]

Life style is personal choice, you choose it, don't complain.

I know what you are getting at.
But, it is not entirely trued that life style is personal choice.

Singaporeans have moral obligations to Singapore and therefore, they will have to accept inconveniences in life as compared with foreigners.

National Services, In-camp training, maternity leaves, raising family in Singapore. These activities are typically exclusive to Singaporeans and each of these activities does influence the life style of a person.

The influence of foreign labour is more significant for lower-income Singaporeans. They are hand-tied to the rising cost of living and low wage increment due to foreign labor participation.

[Temperament]

The "environments" you live in play quite a part of your lifestyle. A frog who lives in a well only can have a "well's life style". So is a professional's lifestyle very different from a labourer's lifestyle. And again the labourer's lifestyle is so much better then a hungry & angry & jobless man's in some third world country. So it's not completely true you can control your lifestyle or you deserve it because you always dig your own grave to put it in the worst case.