Why Singapore cannot fix job woes of educated, mature S'poreans
now. 
Reasons?
Dec 5, 2007
I SHARE the same concern as Mr Frankie Ng Puck Nang ('Help mature
qualified Singaporeans find jobs') and Mr Poh Tip Twee ('MOM too
liberal about jobs for foreigners'; ST, Dec 1) that young
foreigners are taking away professional, executive and clerical
jobs from mature locals.
Employers prefer foreigners because they think locals demand higher
salaries.This is a myth. I believe one will not turn down a job
which pays $1,800 or more, especially if one has dependent
children, as many Singaporeans start a family in their late
30s.
Even if money does not matter, one would still prefer to be
gainfully employed because an unemployed person feels worthless,
leading to family quarrels and unhappiness.
Another myth is that older locals cannot perform as well as younger
foreigners.This is untrue because, being an advanced country,
Singaporeans are expected to live beyond 85 years of age. This
means that a 55-year-old Singaporean can be as energetic as a 35-
year-old man from another country whose life expectancy is 65
years, especially in white-collar jobs. Why, then, do we neglect
this group of willing workers for whom the country has spent money
on their education years ago?
Jobs should be offered to foreigners only if they are not
attractive to Singaporeans or if they require talents which
Singaporeans lack. They should not be given to foreigners if locals
are interested in them and are able to carry them out well.
At present, only the earliest baby boomers are in their late 50s.
If the job problem of educated, mature Singaporeans is not
addressed urgently now, it will intensify because, year by year, a
larger group of educated post-war babies will join the ranks of the
unemployed.
Disincentives, such as a higher S-pass levy, should be introduced
to ensure that this pool of mature workers will be tapped.
Alternatively, companies should show proof that they are not able
to recruit a local before they can employ a foreigner at the same
pay for professional, executive or clerical jobs.
May I also suggest that Singaporeans at senior-management levels
give a thought to the plight of their older countrymen in the
recruitment process. If Singaporeans do not help Singaporeans, who
will? Do not simply strike them off after looking at their ages on
the job application forms.
Yeo Boon Eng (Mdm)
