Pritam Singh asked Chan Chun Sing whether is PAP releasing the amount of jobs between locals and foreigners

[AvatarViper]

Quote

SINGAPORE — In calibrating the “never-ending balancing act” between locals and foreigners in the workforce, Singapore must reject “extremist positions” on immigration, said Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing in Parliament on Monday (6 January).

Chan told the House that the balance was based on three factors: the needs of Singapore’s industries and enterprise, the needs of the workers of this generation and the opportunities for children in the next generation. He added that the goal was to strive for a Goldilocks balance, or the principle of ‘just the right amount’.

In the process, said Chan, the government must not “open the floodgates” and drown Singaporeans, but neither must it close borders and reject foreigners in the workforce. “Above all, in this House, we must firmly reject efforts to stoke anti-foreigner sentiments by spreading falsehoods or creating invidious comparisons out of context.”

“This is not the kind of politics we want… this is not how a confident and capable Singapore should face the future.”

The 50-year-old was responding to questions from fellow Members about, among others, how the 23 Industry Transformation Maps (ITM) have benefited Singaporeans. The $4.5 billion programme, launched progressively from late 2016, aims to deepen partnerships between the government, firms, industries, trade associations and chambers.

‘The government will always have your backs’

Earlier, Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad revealed that from 2015 to 2018, the total employment in these sectors, excluding Foreign Domestic Workers, grew by 19,500. Jobs for Singapore citizens grew by 9,300 and by 8,600 for PRs. Jobs for foreigners decreased by 28,500.

Chan also noted that between 2015 and 2018, local employment increased by nearly 60,000 for the whole economy. The proportion of locals in PMET (professionals, managers, executives and technicians) jobs also increased to nearly 57 per cent, one of the highest rates in the world. “Growth in real wage monthly earnings for locals was 3.2 per cent per annum during this period, higher than the 2.4 per cent per annum during the preceding three years, higher than most advanced economies such as the US (0.5 per cent), Japan (0.8 per cent) and Germany (1.2 per cent).”

In responding to Holland-Bukit Timah MP Liang Eng Hwa’s query on whether the ITMs have benefited Singaporeans more than foreigners, the Minister acknowledged the “anxieties” of Singaporeans and pointed out that the government has invested heavily in programmes such as SkillsFuture and Adapt and Grow.

It has also put in place the Fair Consideration Framework, which penalises unfair employment practices where Singaporeans are passed over for non-meritocratic considerations.

“Too few foreign workers… mean that our businesses cannot seize the opportunities out there… too many, and there will be pushback, especially if Singaporeans feel unfairly treated. It is a never-ending balancing act with difficult trade-offs.”

Singaporeans v PRs

Noting that official statistics on ‘locals’ often combines Singaporeans and PRs, Aljunied MP Pritam Singh repeatedly asked for clarification on Chan’s point about employment figures between 2015 and 2018. He wanted to know how many jobs went to Singaporeans and how many went to PRs, and whether the government would provide that data in future.

“If the government’s approach is going to be ‘No, we are not going to provide that data’, can the Minister please share that detail with us here? Because it’s pointless for us to keep asking the question if the government is not going to provide that data,” said the Workers’ Party chief.

In response, Chan said, “We can get you the numbers, but let me say this: what is the point behind the questions?

“Has local unemployment increased? The answer is a resounding no… are our wages going up? Yes, and it’s faster than many other countries. Those are the proof points to show that we are doing right by Singaporeans. But I’m always very cautious about this constant divide: Singaporeans vs PR. The insinuation seems to be that somehow, Singaporeans are not benefiting.”

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/singapore-must-reject-extreme-positions-on-foreigners-in-workforce-chan-chun-sing-093912997.html

[Kyrios]

Wah captain pritam indeed beh zai xi.....he wants to be sued until teng kor issit...

Oh wait a minute....with or without asking this question...already teng kor anyway...so ask away sir! 😁

[Windwaver]

I saw the video.

I kind of like Chan Chun Sing but quite obviously (from his reaction) releasing the figures will affect election votes 

[1fast1]

4 minutes ago, Windwaver said:

I saw the video.

I kind of like Chan Chun Sing but quite obviously (from his reaction) releasing the figures will affect election votes 

What's there to like about kee chiu? 

[Mkl22]

2 minutes ago, Turboflat4 said:

What's there to like about kee chiu? 

You are not “hokkien pai”, the act of Kee chiu doesn’t resonate with you! 🤪

[Voodooman]

After next GE, PAP own self ask question own self answer.  Noone to ask such hard questions.

Edited January 6, 2020 by Voodooman

[1fast1]

48 minutes ago, Mkl22 said:

You are not “hokkien pai”, the act of Kee chiu doesn’t resonate with you! 🤪

Maybe not, but he certainly evokes the feeling of this AMDK form of kee chiu in me. 😂😂😂

[Freeder]

This CCS really small gas..

ask probing questions like machiam questioning his integrity..

Think no need parliament better..

[Xers007]

51 minutes ago, Freeder said:

This CCS really small gas..

ask probing questions like machiam questioning his integrity..

Think no need parliament better..

Who will like ppl gate crashing their party. Play their song, dance their step is the best.

[Playtime]

3 hours ago, AvatarViper said:

Singaporeans v PRs

Noting that official statistics on ‘locals’ often combines Singaporeans and PRs, Aljunied MP Pritam Singh repeatedly asked for clarification on Chan’s point about employment figures between 2015 and 2018. He wanted to know how many jobs went to Singaporeans and how many went to PRs, and whether the government would provide that data in future.

Why 2015?.. 

[Wind30]

2 hours ago, Playtime said:

Why 2015?.. 

why 2010? .... pot calling kettle black.

[Wind30]

Honestly if u read CCS speech, it makes a lot of sense. My job for one would be gone if I cannot hire pr or foreigners. 
no local talent

[Playtime]

2 hours ago, Wind30 said:

why 2010? .... pot calling kettle black.

Cos the graph shows better trend picture?

Cos the whole historic point is the deliberate selective use of data to pofma others?

Cos .... unpleasant facts?

 

[Victor68]

I didn't understand why and what so difficult to release the numbers of citizen and PR against FT. Are these info confidential or PDPA? 

We hear and read many reports from ST and our official media but we also work in environment or have direct contact with people around us where we experience first hand. Somehow story is completely different. 

[Ash2017]

8 hours ago, Turboflat4 said:

What's there to like about kee chiu? 

basket i thought we were friends

[RadX]

4 minutes ago, Ash2017 said:

basket i thought we were friends

you have friends?  fiend, you are more like....

[Ash2017]

5 minutes ago, RadX said:

you have friends?  fiend, you are more like....

you post so few nowadays

 

anything you post also accept

 

can help think of a new nick for me, just in case

 

 

[Sdf4786k]

8 minutes ago, Ash2017 said:

basket i thought we were friends

To be fair, the business of hiring is very dynamic. And on a larger scale, the integration of foreigners is still the number 1 worry. So its either we adjust to them OR they adjust to us. 

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/businesses-should-diversify-foreign-workforce-invest-in-local-workers-chan-chun

SINGAPORE - Businesses should diversify their foreign workforce and avoid being reliant on manpower from any one place, just as Singapore avoids depending on a single source of revenue or resources, Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing said on Tuesday (Dec 3).

They should also invest in developing local workers and giving them opportunities to upgrade and advance, he added.

Mr Chan was speaking at a bicentennial commemoration dinner organised by the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) at the Shangri-La Hotel Singapore.

Mr Chan acknowledged that it could be more expedient to recruit from a more familiar source, but said: "Businesses should also diversify your foreign workforce as an important step in managing your concentration risks... Diversification is an important part of business continuity."

In addition, more can be done to help foreign workers better settle in Singapore.

"As our multicultural social norms can be rather unfamiliar to foreign employees, it is important that businesses also play a part in integrating them into our companies and into our society," said Mr Chan.