How can the government create more jobs

last SG · 2005-11-09T11:57:20+00:00

From my POV: >> All companies operating in Singapore, MUST employ 70% local employees >> Put a cap on number of foreign workers coming here for...

sbst275 SG

Well, dun think so much that they need ppl with dip in hosp and tourism...

Actually more engineers are needed

pat33 SG

Hi Mr Salman,
All govt do micro-manage albeit to variable degrees.

I say let the companies decide whom they want to hire. There are already quotas, levees and restrictions on the hiring of foreigners. We do need them to increase competition and lower costs.

I agree with you that we need to let firms access to good labour and to lower production costs. But this can only be done through govt management, no govt in this world will allow for laissez faire labour movement.

av98m SG

Your friends must be very unobservant indeed, or did they only walk around orchard road? I guess they never stepped into a hawker centre either?

There are homeless, and there are beggars, and there are the very poor. And lots of frail old folks doing menial jobs for very little money

av98m SG

That is such an amusing, and downright ignorant statement I don't know whether to laugh or cry. And oh, btw, GDP and per capita income does not really show the true picture, especially in Singapore when most of the money goes into the pockets of a select few.

Salman SG

Hi Mr Salman,
All govt do micro-manage albeit to variable degrees.

don't make such nonsensical statements please.

[/quote]
I agree with you that we need to let firms access to good labour and to lower production costs. But this can only be done through govt management, no govt in this world will allow for laissez faire labour movement.
[/quote]
What are you talking about?
Govt already have quotas and levees.
What guys like Robert Teh wants is true what I call micro manage based on who is qualified enough etc. Not only is this impossible, this will really make the govt look very silly.

pat33 SG

Originally posted by Salman:
don't make such nonsensical statements please.

I quote what you wrote "What guys like Robert Teh wants is true what I call micro manage based on who is qualified enough etc. Not only is this impossible, this will really make the govt look very silly. "

So by micro manage you mean "who qualified enough". By your definition, all govt do micro manage to variable degrees based who qualified enough. What so nonsensical about my statement?

What are you talking about?
Govt already have quotas and levees.
What guys like Robert Teh wants is true what I call micro manage based on who is qualified enough etc. Not only is this impossible, this will really make the govt look very silly.

I quote what you wrote "I say let the companies decide whom they want to hire. There are already quotas, levees and restrictions on the hiring of foreigners."

If your meaning is to let firms have total free access to labour given the restrictions in placed. You missed the whole argument altogether.

In Singapore context, restrictions of labour are for semi-skilled or non skilled labour. These restriction were in placed to protect the lower income group only.

But if your are talking about the professional (by this, I mean graduate entry level), generally (I use the term "generally" because professions like medicine, law are still protected industries) there is no restricton or whatsoever.

I think one of Robert's points is "selective professional labour restriction based on supplementary needs rather than based on mere paper qualification so that we can grow our professional industries as well as our economy.

Mere entry based paper qualification may not necessarily add up to a quantum increase in performance, output or productivity. And I think he has a good point here. But the think we all looking at the migration issue from the wrong tree.

From media articles, the govt's strategy is to grow our population size so that we can be a well populated vibrant city state. It wishes to grow our population to 5 million (quickly, if not by x year).

One reason is to have a sizeable population of domestic consumers to conter the vagaries of international trade. Another is that with this sizeable population, it would be easier for us the project and grow our soft industries like the arts, movies, know-how export etc.

But it remains to be seen if these new migrants from India and China are here for the long haul or mere fair weather people on transit.

dragg SG

we are more like at a point of no return. the root problem of our difficulties is rising cost. high property prices stand out like a sore thumb. it cannot be corrected without hurting all homeowners.

coffeeortea SG

build more factories, encourage more foreign companies to invest in singapore

Salman SG

We have many empty factories. Are you living in Singapore?

Salman SG

I quote what you wrote "I say let the companies decide whom they want to hire. There are already quotas, levees and restrictions on the hiring of foreigners."

If your meaning is to let firms have total free access to labour given the restrictions in placed. You missed the whole argument altogether.

Thats exactly what shld be done. You want the govt to control the economy more? It will cause many companies to collapse.

In Singapore context, restrictions of labour are for semi-skilled or non skilled labour. These restriction were in placed to protect the lower income group.

But if your are talking about the professional (by this, I mean graduate entry level), generally (I use the term generally because professions like medicine, law are still protected industries) there is no restricton or whatsoever.

Not true, there are quotas in place. You are not aware of it because you don't run a company.
A lot of start ups simply cannot take place w/o Indian professionals. Same for MNCs. They would have left if they were not allowed to hire these educated foreigners cos locals don't want such jobs. The result would be, locals will not have any jobs at all if the MNCs pull out.

dragg SG

temasek should invest more overseas and reduce their stakes in listed companies in singapore.

ben1xy SG

hmm ... my take on this is slightly different.

attract more MNEs and form domestic supplier clusters around these firms. Try and capture the externality spillovers that occur from this relationship. The problem that s'poreans face is a lack of entrepreneurship.. therefore, use the MNEs to develop the required supplier network and reduce the market risk for the smaller SMEs.

Foreign talent is necessary. without foreign talent and flexibility of the workforce, MNEs might not choose to come to S'pore. human capital is increasing playing an important resource in the competitiveness of firms, and therefore lower cost workforce is contigent for MNEs in their decision to locate here. i am straying a bit... but wad i'm saying is... build a niche knowledge sector (like how we did for precision engineering and the bio tech industry) by leveraging on the MNEs.

pat33 SG

I am not here to dispute the pros and cons of foreign restrictions. But there is no quota for professional foreign entry into Singapore. But if you are talking about other difficulties, yes many.

Salman, it is becoming clear from the manner you wrote that you argue for the sake of argument, is not it? Other people's point of views are all wrong but only your are correct. You want people to be balance and factual but your are highly personal and unfactual as well.

Salman SG

Right on man. The formula has worked and is still working.

ben1xy SG

meritocracy is wad caused this problem. but the government has been trying to inculcate entrepreneurship these days right? Don't think it'll be easy. u can't change a mindset that has been in place for the past 40years overnight.

and from another perspective. the citizens have a right to complain. they voted the government in to represent their interest.. so if they can't find jobs the government should be accountable. i'm not advocating a welfare system (the day s'pore adopts this... is the day our competitiveness ends - adverse selection.. enough said) but i do hope to see the government setting in place social safety nets.

What abt overseas job placement? it's just a thought.. although i dun think its feasible.

this is indeed a problematic issue.

o and 1 thing that i am pissed abt.. is the government adopting contract employment. i am really dissapointed with that.

Salman SG

I think the govt's real fault is to make life too comfortable for Singaporeans. So much so that we become soft and uncompetitive.
Even the army is getting soft fat and thick today. My reservist unit embarassed our CO in protest in front of Thai officers in Thailand over having to wait and having not enough tables in the Thai canteen.
Singapore is such a clean and convenient place. Singaporeans go overseas and complain about everything wherever they are. too dirty, too slow, too troublesome bla bla bla............ so arrogant and unable to adapt, its embarassing.

I suggest we lengthen our NS to three years and make our boys station 1 year each in Thailand to train under the Thais. This will solve the problem of arrogance, laziness and complacency and kick our economy into creating a boom and lots of jobs.

ben1xy SG

i do not disagree with the first paragraph.

the 2nd.. i beg to differ. i say we follow Germany's example and bring it down to 1 year. (i ain't too sure the exact duration but i know its shorter than s'pore)

if a country is cosy and everything is going well... it will be hard to inculcate entrepreneurship. its not easy starting up a business anyway.

but its nice to see S'poreans viewing their opinions abt the govt. it acts as a check and balance at the very least

Smile

Salman SG

Germans do 18 mths of NS.
They are getting soft too, thats why they are in recession for such a long time.
And you can foirget abt entrepreneurialship among Germans. The taxes are so high & hiring labour policies so socialist that its better to work for others.

I blamer spoilt upbringing of brats with no brains like Robert Teh for our problems. Whine whine, whine whine, complain coimplain complain. Losers who cannot stand hardship, don't want to work hard and compete.

ben1xy SG

first paragraph- i got my own explanation for the German recession. but that will be out of point.

2nd paragraph- name calling wun get us anywhere Smile

sometimes it is not fair to judge whether a person is just a whiner. some tried hard ... some get retrenched when they r 40 and can't find jobs. so they r entitled to lobby for what they deem is right.

contrary to what u might imagine.. i am on your side. i think s'poreans are spoilt and soft. but thats because both u n i subscribe to the school of hard knocks. people might not concur.. and they have every right not too.

Robert a whiner? maybe. but he is making his view known. which IMO is a brave feat in S'pore.

Very Happy

Salman SG

Good to share the same view with you on the school of hard knocks. We Singaporeans need that to survive and build this country.

I don't think it takes any kind of bravery to whine and complain. Its always easy to complain and find fault. Anyway I named Robert for shock treatment effect. Hope he gets the idea and shake off from his anti mentality. I think he's too anti and he honestly think what he is writing is correct.

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