A gradated system of benefits for PRs?

QX179R SG

SINGAPORE: Singapore's pro-immigration policy was designed mainly to mitigate the falling birthrates projected to have dire consequences on the demographic and economic vitality of the nation.

Among the non-citizen population, permanent residents (PR) are accorded certain benefits not available to other foreigners who also contribute to Singapore, particularly in the area of housing, education and medical services.

The key justification for the extension of privileges customarily accorded only to citizens is that permanent residence is deemed as a first step towards the acquisition of Singapore citizenship.

Hence the benefits are to facilitate PRs' integration into society and signal to them that their long-term commitment to Singapore is valued.

The evolution of the concept of the PR in Singapore is revealing when considered in the current zeitgeist.

Following separation from Malaysia, Singapore had to contend with a number of stateless people within its borders and PR status was bestowed upon them to enable them to work towards becoming full-fledged citizens.

In effect, the situation Singapore found itself in at that time was - in economic terms - a buyers' market where these people were surplus for requirement and Singapore could take the pick of the crop.

TODAY'S DILEMMA

Now, Singapore finds itself a sellers' market where it is competing globally for talented labour in order to remain economically competitive.

Unlike the stateless PRs of the bygone era, the present PRs arrive with citizenship of their motherland which not all of them choose to give up.

Nevertheless, they are still accorded similar benefits as citizens to induce them to stay and contribute to Singapore's economic development, first as long-term PRs, with the hope that they will in future adopt citizenship, or - to employ the botanical metaphor - sink their roots in the nation.

These privileges have recently come under great criticism from Singapore's citizenry who fear that PRs are in a position to enjoy all the benefits of being in Singapore during the good times while also being able flee at the first sign of crisis with their own citizenship as the ejection-seat button.

Consequently, the challenge facing the Government is aptly summed up in an observation by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in a debate in 1990: How can we "make it attractive for foreigners with skills and talents to want to come to Singapore and to be PRs... (and) to make it even more attractive for such PRs to want to become citizens, instead of the other way around, to make it more attractive for citizens to wish that they were PRs?"

Unfortunately, it may be argued that the current response to the PR question merely attempts to stop citizens from wishing they are PRs. It may neither entice foreigners with skills and talents to want to come to Singapore to be PRs, nor make it even more attractive for such PRs to want to become citizens.

COST OF VALUING CITIZENS MORE

In a bid to reassure Singaporeans that citizens are valued more than PRs, a slew of policy adjustments have been introduced over the past year, such as the reduction in the number of applications for permanent residence approved and the clawing back of subsidies for PRs in education and medical benefits.

Few would fault a government for ensuring citizens enjoy better privileges than non-citizens. However, penalising PRs to underscore the value of citizenship is a well-intentioned but flawed response.

Firstly, the goal of attracting talented and skilled international talent to Singapore that underpins the permanent residence policy in the current context may be undermined.

Systematically scaling back on the number of PR permits and benefits creates uncertainty pertaining to their status should they choose to settle in Singapore. Hence talented foreigners who could potentially call Singapore home may be deterred.

Secondly, such an approach may alienate the current pool of PRs. Making them bear the burden of Singaporeans' anxieties inadvertently implies that they are to blame.

For instance, reducing educational and medical subsidies they are entitled to may vindicate anti-immigrant speculation that PRs have indeed been taking more than they have been giving. At the same time, it may also signal to them that their contributions over the years are not fully appreciated, which is counter-productive to integrating them into Singapore society.

A WAY FORWARD?

How then can the PR system continue to attract foreign labour, entice them to become citizens while also placate a restive citizenry?

Admittedly, there is no way to ensure PRs will adopt local citizenship. The most realistic outcome would be for PR status to be attractive enough for individuals to stay as long as possible to contribute economically with the hope that they will become citizens.

A problem with the current policy towards PRs is that it does not make a distinction between recent and long-term PRs, who have the same entitlements. A manner in which this may be achieved would perhaps be through a gradated system of benefits for PRs.

Effectively, such a system would reward the "long-stayer" PRs for remaining through thick and thin and drive home the point to all PRs that settling down has its privileges.

Within such a gradated system, not all PRs will have equal benefits of being a PR, be they educational or medical benefits; such benefits will increase perhaps in five-year blocks as they continue to remain in the country.

Furthermore, PRs within such a gradated system will not arrive at the full privileges of being a citizen. Instead, they will be made very aware that the telos of PR status is the eventual adoption of Singaporean citizenship with all its rights, duties and privileges.

Yolanda Chin is Research Fellow and Norman Vasu is Assistant Professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University.

- TODAY

Lazybumy SG

This fail to address one issue. There are PR that are still holding PR but they are not base in SG, in fact they are working overseas or their own business is overseas and they only come SG once a while only. On top of them, their whole family are not station in SG, or at least their sons are not PR (reason being simple). Thus how can we address this group which take advanagte of the PR system.

Dalforce 1941 SG

There are PR that are still holding PR but they are not base in SG, in fact they are working overseas

Then why are they called PR?

mancha SG

Singapore better start to form a contingent of Foreign Legions now.

Throw the Bangla, PRC, Indians, and others, (ASEAN nationals excluded) into a brigade and thay can take some responsibility of fighting for Singapore.

They of course must be proud to serve Singapore, and not for benefits, which will be paltry

Dalforce 1941 SG

want to reduce foreigners, must get rid of PAP first. Their policy is to increase foreigners.

Lazybumy SG

Then why are they called PR?

They still given the PR status by our beloved leader lar, so they are call PR.

Lazybumy SG

Singapore better start to form a contingent of Foreign Legions now.

Throw the Bangla, PRC, Indians, and others, (ASEAN nationals excluded) into a brigade and thay can take some responsibility of fighting for Singapore.

They of course must be proud to serve Singapore, and not for benefits, which will be paltry

Pls lar, most of them is finding mean and way to avoid NS for both themselves and their next gen, do u think that they will fight for Singapore. First sign of trouble, most of them will run.

mancha SG

This is not NS, national service, it is the Singapore Armed Forces Foreign Legion.

You would be surprise at the number that will step forward, if the recruitment is done at Tamil Nadu, Bangla Desh or The Peoples Republic of China.

Lazybumy SG

This is not NS, national service, it is the Singapore Armed Forces Foreign Legion.

You would be surprise at the number that will step forward, if the recruitment is done at Tamil Nadu, Bangla Desh or The Peoples Republic of China.

I thought the topic here is regarding the PR. So why bring in this and lost focus in the original point that plp try to discuss.

mancha SG

I thought the topic here is regarding the PR. So why bring in this and lost focus in the original point that plp try to discuss.

Apologies, for not realising you cannot see in depth.

This is about resentment of PRs, and therefore foreigners. If foreigners can be inducted into the Defence System, we can address this group which seem to take advantage of the PR system.

OK, I will leave you to your belly aching about the system, which is what this thread is about anyway.

charlize SG

I.imba SG

foreigners is one thing, PR is totally another thing. government have this PR thing just because they want to have more population in singapore, and hope that they will become singaporeans someday after they stay in singapore for so long.

But their plan didnt work in the first place, as the PRs remind as PR, then now the government not happy with the PRs who remain as PR for like 10+ years already and to ''force'' them to become citizen they increase all the fees PR have to pay.

But they are still seeing out how to make the PRs become citizen....

Lazybumy SG

Apologies, for not realising you cannot see in depth.

This is about resentment of PRs, and therefore foreigners. If foreigners can be inducted into the Defence System, we can address this group which seem to take advantage of the PR system.

OK, I will leave you to your belly aching about the system, which is what this thread is about anyway.

I think u miss out the points, the many resentment is cause by in the past, the foreigner is given nearly equal right as Singaporean and they absurd the systems, and NS is one of it. Thus even by inducted the foreigner into the defence system, it still won't serve a purpose unless the hole in the system was plug and disallow the foreigner (PR) to absurd the system. Maybe u could explain more on how by inducted foreigner into the defence system will prevent the PR to cont to take advantage of the system as I can't see any, unless it is like what taiwan in the past having been doing, which mean even the first gen PR (regardless u age is require to serve NS, or in the way inducted into the defence system).

Lazybumy SG

But they are still seeing out how to make the PRs become citizen....

This is just a very simple maths. Most plp make decision base on the push and pull factor. Thus in the past, when being a PR have equal right as citizens but less responsible as citizens, plus not to mention that PR still have the right as his home country citizens, who in the right mind will take up sg citizens. Plus, the only point is that I dun see it as the govt is unhappy. SG govt dun bother as long as the PR taxes and thus increase the elites "peanuts" salary. However since the last G.E result might be a warning sign that a number of singaporean is getting unhappy. Thus the elites are doing damage control now as it impact their interest. The govt in the past is not concern until now as it start to impact their interest (G.E. result).

charlize SG

Life is surreal.

mancha SG

Firstly go by strictly defining PR, as a person who holds the blue NRIC card.

This person is either a stateless person stuck in Singapore, or a foreigner who applied for it under various qualifications e.g. work, expertise, money, etc.

This PR how can you assume that he has the same rights and priviliges as the citizen, or even better. All you can come up with is NS. The PR can avoid national servce, whereas it is almost impossible for the Singaporean. Just from this you have the green eyes on PRs.

How much does the PR pay for primary and secondary education, public medical fees, just built HDB flats compared with the Singaporean. Don't point out Singaporeans who cannot afford public health care, Singapore has its poor, the foreign countries also have their poor. The PR here all have work, the foreign poor are back in their own country.

So the perception of PR mucking up the system is more of feelings than reality.

Thats why I proposed induction of foreigners into the Army at least, from this the perception of them will shift from xenophobia to one of acceptance.

When we can have foreigners playing for Singapore in sports, why can we have foreigners serving in the Armed Forces, notabaly as grunts. Then Singaporean will begin to appreciate them.

Cursing them and calling for their expulsion is very shallow.

Lazybumy SG

Firstly go by strictly defining PR, as a person who holds the blue NRIC card.

This person is either a stateless person stuck in Singapore, or a foreigner who applied for it under various qualifications e.g. work, expertise, money, etc.

So the perception of PR mucking up the system is more of feelings than reality.

Thats why I proposed induction of foreigners into the Army at least, from this the perception of them will shift from xenophobia to one of acceptance.

When we can have foreigners playing for Singapore in sports, why can we have foreigners serving in the Armed Forces, notabaly as grunts. Then Singaporean will begin to appreciate them.

Cursing them and calling for their expulsion is very shallow.

First, the change in the cost of health care and education is only with this 2 yrs, whereas in the past there no much different, if you bother to check out the different before the 2010. Regarding the point of NS, it is not just NS, there are follow up like mob/ICT/RT which make singaporean in a disadvanatage position in the eye of the employer. Assume u are the boss and there a urgent issue to settle on Sat/Sun, the employees suppose to handle this was call in for a mob (which is a sudden issue). Similar thing will happen for RT. Not to mention that during ICT, the employer is still suppose to pay the CPF (note: though the employer dun need to pay the salary, they are still require to make the CPF). And in real life, all this factors come into consideration for the management when come to promote someone to the next level (I won't want my decision maker go missing for a few days when there are urgent thing to handle). Or even hiring, of cos for one who are in the govt sector, such issue dun really exist. And finally, I believe most of the singaporean are not calling for their expulsion but calling for a greater different in treatment regarding the citizens and PR. Is this not what the topic is all about, discuss on the benefits for PRs.

charlize SG

Damn stressed being PR now.

charlize SG

The benefits all being cut one by one.

Lazybumy SG

The benefits all being cut one by one.

Many have the choice to convert to citizens yet they refuse, so does it mean that as a whole package PR is still better than citizens.