THE current ratio of one foreign worker to two Singaporeans is
optimal and this has to be kept under firm control, even as
employers complain that it is difficult to find enough staff, said
Mr Yeo Guat Kwang, director for Quality Worklife and All
Nationalities at the National Trades Union Congress.
He added that it was the duty of companies to work within this
ratio and redesign jobs to make them more productive, and to
attract Singaporeans to take them on. 'From the labour movement we
are working to help these bosses to see how we can put in measures
to push up the productivity,' he said.
'That's important because if we don't make the job a better one,
fewer and fewer Singaporeans will be willing to do them.'
He was responding to questions from The Straits Times last night
about recent media reports that companies have had to turn away
business because of the lack of manpower.
Mr Yeo, who is also chairman of the Migrant Workers Centre
(MWC), which helps foreign workers settle workplace disputes, was
speaking on the sidelines of a roadshow at Tampines Dormitory.
He added that the 1.05 million foreign workers here make up
close to one-third of Singapore's total workforce.
-- ST
