• About Us
    • Fact Checking Policy
    • Ownership & funding information
    • Volunteer
  • Subscribe
  • Letter submission
    • Submissions Policy
  • Contact Us
The Online Citizen Asia
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
The Online Citizen Asia
No Result
View All Result

Employers in Singapore agree on long-term advantages of hiring locals, but note 100% local workforce is not possible

by The Online Citizen
22/09/2020
in Current Affairs, Labour
Reading Time: 5 mins read
18

Photo: edgeprop.sg

Companies in Singapore have pointed out that they see long-term benefits in hiring locals, but employing foreigners is still necessary to fill the gaps in manpower and skills.

In recent months, issues of preserving and expanding jobs meant for Singaporeans have been highly brought up given the worsening labour market conditions due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Based on the unemployment figures released last week, it showed that Singapore’s jobless rate had soared to 4.3 per cent among citizens, 4.1 per cent among residents and 3 per cent overall in July.

To make it worse, 11,350 retrenchments were recorded in the first half of the year, which is higher than the 10,120 reported during the SARS period.

Although the Government stated that it is looking back at its work pass policies and beefing up its efforts to stop unfair hiring practices, but it noted that Singapore cannot completely get rid of foreign talent.

“We must not undermine what has made us successful, by closing ourselves off from the world,” said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat during a speech last week, where he reiterated that the country must continue to open its doors to the world.

Hiring locals come with its perks

A company called Dyslexia Association Singapore (DAS) said that having a large amount of local talent helps the organisation prepare its curriculum and deliver its policies to match the local context, said the organisation’s chief executive Lee Siang in an article by Channel News Asia (CNA).

He explained that this is because these employees, who are Singaporeans or permanent residents (PRs), have better understanding of the local culture than foreigners, like the country’s bilingual and intensive education system.

He went on to point out that there are higher chances for locals to stay committed to either the job or the industry given that they are rooted here.

Echoing the same sentiment, the chief executive of SF Group, Collin Ho, added that he has not faced job-hopping issue with his local employees.

He noted that foreign workers are vulnerable to sudden quota cuts, which are applicable to work permit and S Pass holders.

As such, Mr Ho noted that having a large number of local employees is fundamental as the company has plans to expand despite the bleak conditions.

As to why his company, which runs the chain of Collin’s restaurants, prefers to hire Singaporean or a PR, the employer said to CNA that it is “because of the understanding of the local culture, customs, business practices.”

He continued, “(And) if it’s a Singapore brand going overseas … you want to fly the Singapore flag high overseas”, highlighting that the employees get excited of such possibility.

“They say, ‘wow, I’m not just being posted there but I’m bringing Singapore pride’. (They don’t just) represent our culture, our company, but (also) the Singapore pride that (they) go there with and try to set up the same standards of consistency in service and product,” he said.

Additionally, hiring locals also offer companies with cost-saving benefits.

Eugene Tan, who is the head of special projects of a bottled water manufacturer and supplier Wanin Industries, pointed out that it can save on accommodation allowances while tapping on hiring subsidies and grants when it brings in a Singaporean or PR.

A full local workforce is difficult

Over the recent months, issues that are constantly making headlines are Singapore’s foreign workforce and weak labour conditions due to the pandemic. One term that has been heavily mentioned is “Singapore core” and politicians have been pushing employers to prioritise locals over foreigners when it comes to job opportunities.

Economist and associate professor at the Singapore University of Social Sciences Walter Theseira expressed that it is not possible to think that foreigners are only required for the short-term “until some mythical transition to an all-Singaporean economy”.

Foreigners are still needed in jobs like construction workers and foreign domestic helpers, unless Singapore wants to redirect labour resources into these fields.

“The question, therefore, is how to accept foreigners in the workforce while protecting Singaporean interests, especially when Singaporeans compete with foreigners for desirable medium to high skill jobs. I think there is no simple answer to this,” said Assoc Prof Theseira, who is also a former nominated member of parliament.

As for certain jobs that do not require high levels of skills, it makes more sense to give the priority to Singaporeans without disadvantaging businesses. However, for industries where skills are in short supply and stakes are high, then businesses will be on the losing end if it is made compulsory for them to primarily select individuals from a small pool of Singaporeans, he explained.

“What we do need to remember is that Singapore’s main disadvantage is size. Even if Singaporeans are more capable and better educated on average than those from many other countries, the sheer size of many economies produces more talents,” he said.

In fact, the company’s representatives agreed that expecting organisations to function with only locals is difficult.

“More laborious” jobs that require workers to deliver many tonnes of water supplies and dispensers are disregarded by locals, said Wanin’s Mr Tan to CNA.

Mr Lee pointed out that a company “cannot be homogenous” and still needs people with different perspectives. He added that foreign expertise are needed to fill some of the skills gaps.

For example, DAS is looking to introduce dyslexia literacy programme in Malay and Tamil, and in order to do this, it will have to most probably hire experts from Indonesia or Tamil Nadu.

Separately, NUS Business School’s Department of Startegy and Policy assistant professor Ong Pinchuan told CNA that people cannot expect employers to replace foreigners overnight even if a company focuses its resources on local talent.

“Training takes time. (And) foreigners tend to have a more international outlook than locals, and firms might be looking for that, especially in their managerial job candidates,” he said.

 

For just US$7.50 a month, sign up as a subscriber on The Online Citizen Asia (and enjoy ads-free experience on our site) to support our mission to transform TOC into an alternative mainstream press.

Related Posts

Family of student killed in accident involving retired police officer, calls for transparency from Indonesian police
Indonesia

Family of student killed in accident involving retired police officer, calls for transparency from Indonesian police

04/02/2023
【财政预算案2021】2020年预算赤字达649亿元 占国内生产总值13.9%
AFP

China’s mega-rich move their wealth, and partying, to Singapore

04/02/2023
2024 Olympic torch relay to start in Marseille
AFP

2024 Olympic torch relay to start in Marseille

03/02/2023
India’s Adani shares plunge again after stock sale cancelled
AFP

India’s Adani denies rise due to Modi as shares fall again

03/02/2023
TotalEnergies says Adani exposure ‘limited’ at US$3.1 bn
AFP

TotalEnergies says Adani exposure ‘limited’ at US$3.1 bn

03/02/2023
India’s finance minister says markets ‘well regulated’ after Adani storm
AFP

India’s finance minister says markets ‘well regulated’ after Adani storm

03/02/2023
Subscribe
Connect withD
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect withD
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
18 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Latest posts

Family of student killed in accident involving retired police officer, calls for transparency from Indonesian police

Family of student killed in accident involving retired police officer, calls for transparency from Indonesian police

04/02/2023
【财政预算案2021】2020年预算赤字达649亿元 占国内生产总值13.9%

China’s mega-rich move their wealth, and partying, to Singapore

04/02/2023
2024 Olympic torch relay to start in Marseille

2024 Olympic torch relay to start in Marseille

03/02/2023
India’s Adani shares plunge again after stock sale cancelled

India’s Adani denies rise due to Modi as shares fall again

03/02/2023
TotalEnergies says Adani exposure ‘limited’ at US$3.1 bn

TotalEnergies says Adani exposure ‘limited’ at US$3.1 bn

03/02/2023
India’s finance minister says markets ‘well regulated’ after Adani storm

India’s finance minister says markets ‘well regulated’ after Adani storm

03/02/2023
A man can be sentenced to death by a testimony of another, but CPIB finds it hard to prosecute with mountain of evidence and self-confession?

A man can be sentenced to death by a testimony of another, but CPIB finds it hard to prosecute with mountain of evidence and self-confession?

03/02/2023

Myanmar junta imposes tough new measures on resistance strongholds

03/02/2023

Trending posts

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

by Yee Loon
30/01/2023
25

...

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

by Augustine Low
01/02/2023
47

...

Adani’s brother runs SG company and registers as director with local ID

Adani’s brother runs SG company and registers as director with local ID

by Correspondent
03/02/2023
23

...

Singapore warns slower economic growth in 2023

Less than 1 in 10 jobs created in first three quarters of 2022 went to Singaporeans?

by Leong Szehian
28/01/2023
69

...

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

by Yee Loon
26/01/2023
24

...

Excessively charging for an essential need, and calling it affordable because people still can pay for it?

by Terry Xu
31/01/2023
40

...

September 2020
M T W T F S S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930  
« Aug   Oct »

The Online Citizen is a regional online publication based in Taiwan and formerly Singapore’s longest-running independent online media platform.

Navigation

  • Editorial
  • Commentaries
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Community

Support

  • Contact Us
  • Letter submission
  • Membership subscription

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Fact Checking Policy
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Subscribers login

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

wpDiscuz