Foreign worker enclaves mushroom in Singapore

Yxxxone SG

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jBu5Bpn8yebrV_QKPxp_-EyfwT7g

Foreign worker enclaves mushroom in Singapore

SINGAPORE, Singapore (AFP) — More than 20 percent of Singapore's 4.8 million residents are foreigners, many from less-developed Asian countries, and it shows. On weekends and holidays, malls teeming with foreign workers add an extra dimension to Singapore's claim of being a multi-racial state.

For foreign workers like P. Baskaran, the sprawling recreation centre set up by the Singapore Contractors' Association is a home away from home.
On his days off, the Indian air-conditioning technician visits the complex to play cricket, buy cheap groceries and share a few beers with friends.

"This centre is very good, it has everything I need," said Baskaran, flashing a toothy smile as he gestured in the direction of the four-hectare (10-acre) complex located in an industrial suburb.

With a supermarket, clinic, remittance services and a cinema, the centre was built for foreign workers who help power Singapore's labour-short economy.

The centre has become a second "Little India" to workers from South Asia in addition to their original enclave along Serangoon Road, a 90-minute bus ride away.

While more affluent expatriate families live in upmarket areas, workers like Baskaran are often housed in far-flung, cramped dormitories, and congregate in their thousands at favourite locations to relax on their days off.

Lucky Plaza, a run-down shopping mall along swank Orchard Road, is where Filipinos gather to eat fried pork, drink San Miguel beer and send money home.

"This is the centre of the Philippines in Singapore, this is the place where we all come to," Imelda Rico, 43, who been a maid in Singapore for 15 years, told AFP.

At Golden Mile Complex, on the other side of the shopping district, is Little Thailand where famous Thai singers perform on two television screens in a music shop next to the entrance, while the scent of lemongrass and spices fills the building.

"I like to come here," construction worker Prayun Kalangram said at a supermarket where he buys Thai delicacies and other products from home.

In yet another part of town, Aung Soe Paing offers solace to nostalgic compatriots at an eatery in Peninsula Plaza, Singapore's Little Myanmar.

Movie stills featuring the history of the country formerly known as Burma, as well as pictures of its famous actors, adorn the walls of the cosy restaurant managed by the former design student belonging to the Shan minority.

"Every group has their congregation area. Peninsula Plaza is our gathering area. We come for the local food, and to hang out," he said.

Singaporeans are a minority in the foreign enclaves, highlighting a social divide between guest workers and locals that experts say is unbreachable.

"We need foreign workers, but we don't want them to integrate into society," said Gavin Jones, a sociologist at the National University of Singapore who has worked on population and development issues in other Asian countries.

But the foreign crowd is a boon for Singaporean entrepreneurs, providing a number of niche markets that many business people are happy to exploit for a number of reasons.

"Thai people are very friendly, more friendly than Singaporeans, they don't bargain with you over a five-cent difference, not like locals," said Jimmy Phua, owner of a mobile phone shop at the Golden Mile Complex.

Las Tang, a Singaporean saleswoman at a fashion accessory shop in Lucky Plaza, agrees.

"The Filipino customers are better than the locals, they're all very friendly," she said.

Maids like Rico look forward to spending their one day off a week at the mall, which on Sundays looks more like a busy Manila shopping centre.

"This place reminds us of home," Rico said with a smile

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4sg SG

Somehow LHL govt never explain to us the reason for increasing the pop to 6 to 7 millions and the reason for the growing number of work permit holders (only from particular countries).

webben SG

Yxxxone, I don't understand the point of the article and especially your underlined words. Singaporeans are welcome in all those places. I never hear of Singaporeans having a hard time in the enclaves. In Little India you get to have food as good as back in India, Singaporeans love going to Golden Mile for some good Thai food. In each of those places you get a chance to immerse yourself in another culture. I tell you it's far better than a homogeneous chicken rice nation.

The word unbreakable implies it's something that needs breaking. Loaded language at its best. Divisive, fear-mongering rubbish.

Atobe SG

These "foreign enclaves" have created sub-cultures in the identity of the respective foreign nationals that they served.

Money is the motivating force in setting up these "foreign enclaves" - and for obvious reasons there are no barriers to Singaporeans in these places.

The risks posed to Singaporeans are that these will become the future "ghetto" and all associated "activities" that are linked to such an environment.

At worst, these enclaves witll become socially or commercially "Second Class" districts that adds new stress lines - in terms of public security, property values, health and public hygene standards - and making life more difficult in a densely populated City that is taking on more cosmopolitan flavors.

It is fine, if these foreign enclaves will contribute their share to the National Budget that provide the necessary infrastructure and supporting services to take care of these "foreign enclaves".

It will be not so fine if the collected revenues fall below par, when most foreigners will repatriate their monthly earnings back to their respective homelands - with the tabs being taken up by taxes levied onto Singaporeans.

pearlie27 SG

webben, the gist of the article is that though more and more foreigners are in Sg they are not embraced by the locals. The article substantiates that statement by saying that few locals visit those foreign enclaves. No where does it say that the locals are having a hard time in those enclaves.

The word unbreachable is not divisive or fear-monfering as it merely means that the divide between the guest workers and locals can’t be broken down as locals don’t socialize with foreign workers.

Fire Cracker SG

every place sure will be domination place for the foreigners worker.

in OZ, there is china town for the chinese.

Well, they don't care u r hongkie, taiwanese, or PRC, or singaporean. they group u as chinese.

singapore have other foreigner. but these foreigner is getting more, more and more until you can't find places for singaporean.

OZ, their government is doing good job. their people will go strike and protest if they feel the threat.

eventually, singapore is gonna fall into the hand of other country.

haha879 SG

every place sure will be domination place for the foreigners worker.

in OZ, there is china town for the chinese.

Well, they don't care u r hongkie, taiwanese, or PRC, or singaporean. they group u as chinese.

singapore have other foreigner. but these foreigner is getting more, more and more until you can't find places for singaporean.

OZ, their government is doing good job. their people will go strike and protest if they feel the threat.

eventually, singapore is gonna fall into the hand of other country.

Other countries foreign worker will reside on a place that they work BUT singapore they occupied every heartland area...a food court i like to go used to have 2 - 3 prc now have about 6 -7 prc...

sgN00b SG

Other countries foreign worker will reside on a place that they work BUT singapore they occupied every heartland area...a food court i like to go used to have 2 - 3 prc now have about 6 -7 prc...

Then you should ask your own country men to go shopping/eating in the "heartland area"...

To think of the size of this country, from the Feetland and Handland areas to your Heartland area is too easy... ok?

haha879 SG

Then you should ask your own country men to go shopping/eating in the "heartland area"...

To think of the size of this country, from the Feetland and Handland areas to your Heartland area is too easy... ok?

Cant understand what are u trying to explain...