MM Lee says, welcome foreign immigrants with open arms

[boyl]

Valid point, but that doesnt make my argument any wrong either. My observations are fact as well. You are thinking from the perspective of a foreigner but I on the other hand, is coming for a local's point of view. And how will you account for those high-ranking caucasian expatriate who come to Singapore to work? Are you also suggesting that they are paid higher in Singapore than back in their hometown?

And please put on your reading glasses. I understand and did mention briefly that they too have to support families back in their hometown, but they do have "LESS LIABILITIES IN THIS COUNTRY". And precisely that our currency is stronger, or that some are paid higher for the same job they do back in their country, they can better support their families back in their country. I specifically said "IN THIS COUNTRY", and I did give the benefit of doubt that they "probably have other things to worry about", but IN THIS COUNTRY, they have less financial liabilities, because in this country, they have only themselves to support (ok, i assumed that they came alone, you can fault me for that).

first of all, i was giving the point of view of a foreigner indeed, but not to shoot down the point of view of the locals, but instead, to let them see the bigger picture.

moreover, when we talk about foreign worker, i assume all along we were discussing mainly about the majority of them who come from third world countries and not those very little minority top-earning caucasians employed by certain MNCs to work here. this is really out of point because they don't represent the main problem that we've been discussing about. and besides, if you blame the caucasians as well, singaporeans are also equally guilty. please don't neglect the fact that singapore, being a more developed country, has its citizens being expatriates in other countries as well, and are paid expatriates rate. are you going to blame them as well?

and your last point doesn't say anything at all. less liabilities in this country? does that mean that they don't have the right and chance to work?

less liabilities here doesn't translate to less liabilities elsewhere! same as singaporeans, foreigners also have family/other people to support and they have come here to just do that.

but you're saying that because they are willing to take lower pay, thus they will get the job that are supposed to belong to singaporeans?

i'm not sure whether you are aware of this or not, but the fact is that singaporeans themselves are not willing or reluctant to take such jobs. talk about cleaners, waiters at restaurants or hawker centres, or what not jobs that don't pay zillions and have 'low image' yet are able to support the family. you'll be surprised how many locals are not willing to take the jobs.

oh, also, in case you're not aware, the government in fact is protecting local's job. they have employment rules, for example:
1. local-foreigners ratio (to hire a foreigner, they must hire 4 locals - correct me if the detail is not correct, but it's along this line),
2. tax-rebate when retaining locals (when companies don't retrench locals, they get ta rebate).

those are some stuff to give you a bigger picture of the whole thing..

 

[ymmak]

I am simply highlighting that as a result of lesser burdens in this country, they can afford to draw lower pays than the locals, and yet able to support themselves. I have not even vaguely suggest that they do not have the right to work.

They probably need rupi, peso, rmb, rubiah, to support their family, but we the locals need S$ to support our family, but we earn S$ all the same. Naturally, they are in a position to accept lower pays, yet still able to support themselves in this country as well as their loved ones in their countries. If you are the lowly-skilled local who is competing with these foreigners, how much are you willing to lower your demands when on hindsight, you have lots of liabilities and burdens on your hands in this country.

I think you should by now have noticed that I keep repeating that they "may probably have other problems elsewhere", meaning that I do recognise that they probably have liabilities elsewhere. It will be prudent in an argument like this to elaborate on this, but I have not, simply because I am a local, and I will not claim to know their problems abroad. But I do know, in this country, they have lesser problems money-wise (alright, I excluded examples of foreigners who got con or involved in agency-related complications etc).

Oh, by saying that they are willing to accept lower pay, I was implicitly saying that they have a more competitive edge. You have interpreted my meaning as "they are willing to take lower pay, thus they will get the job that are supposed to belong to singaporeans", such an interpretation has deviated a little from my original meaning. I hope I have not given you the impression that they have snatched our jobs or what, but rather, they offer more competitive and economical labor/workforce.

Yup, I am aware of the things you mentioned about. They were already mentioned by many earlier on. Thanks for repeating.

 

[cold_static544]

foreigners should get their families to singapore.

see if they would still want piss low wages if they have to pay for singaporean-priced milk powder, diapers, transport (for their families), food etc. etc.

 

[cold_static544]

As this is a music forum first & foremost - I say SG should adopt Malaysia policy of hiring forign musicians - One foreign band = 1 local band ..


If the authorities can somehow do this and make it work - a lot more SG band boys will be gainfully employed instead ...

if our government would do that, then god bless our music scene.