Drop in foreigners may lead to labour shortage

QX179R SG

SINGAPORE : Observers said the drop in the number of permanent residencies granted last year reflected a change in the type of immigrants the government is trying to attract.

They said the move also needs to be seen against the backdrop of recent policies aimed at tightening the inflow of foreign workers, such as raising the criteria for S-Pass holders.

Economists said given Singapore's strong economic growth and full employment, the policy may lead to labour shortage.

This in turn may lead to a rise in wages and also higher inflation.

Manu Bhaskaran, partner, Centennial Group, said: "When wages rise, businesses will find ways to economise on labour, and that will drive productivity up.

"In the longer term, that would be good for Singapore. In the short term unfortunately, it will be painful for certain businesses and certain companies."

- CNA/al

sbst275 SG

time to spend more effort into better and faster.

efficiency and productivity by using machinery or technology...

Askingyouto SG

"In the longer term, that would be good for Singapore. In the short term unfortunately, it will be painful for certain businesses and certain companies."

Trying to fool people into believing that less foreigners are coming in, lots of GLCee are depending on these cheap labours to help PAPist cronies fill up their coffers. Locals can't survive on those cheap salaries, and many are working overseas and some would not be coming back.

I believe our economy have to be scaled down to reflect the real population but there's a lot of PAPist owned companies that needs to be fed with big monies.

Just think how much the local Telco is laughing all the way to the bank, so much foreigners are using their services, my foreigner colleague is still talking on the phone to his oversea friend as I type. Many of them are homesick and have side business here or back home, lots of business with lots of foreigners, without them PAPist will be lost.

Asromanista2001 SG

the only labour shortage will be in the sex industry..................

deathmaster SG

basically, i think we can afford not to do business with this sort of companies:

1) a foreign company located in singapore, managed and run by foreigners.

2) a local company which refuses to pay decent local-level wages, and instead spoil the market by hiring only foreigners who work for $2.50/hr.

as far as i see, the only labour shortage is the shortage of cheap foreigners, not locals.

FBFIce SG

growth from where?

why everytim never tell all?

βέτά SG

WTF?!?!

Now about 3%-4% resident Singaporeans are unemployed and they worry about labour shortage?

It's another lame excuse to suppress wages at the expense of Singaporeans.

Inflation is already very high, still higher?

Obviously the PAPians are not going a good job, maybe they need to be replaced soon.

troublemaker2005 SG

that's how the term 'bullshit' come to be.

Junyang700 SG

3 - 4% is probably those where the whole family is unemployed. Otherwise, they become dependents of the one that is working.

Not forgetting many uni and poly grads who cant find jobs and are working "part-time" temporarily while they look for jobs and considered as being "gainfully employed".

mistyblue SG

pay better, lots of locals will be more willing to work in the tougher jobs

its the low paying jobs with long hours and demanding customers... locals just give up because after working 12 hrs, still can't feed the family... LPPL

charlize SG

pay better, lots of locals will be more willing to work in the tougher jobs

its the low paying jobs with long hours and demanding customers... locals just give up because after working 12 hrs, still can't feed the family... LPPL

Those people up in their ivory towers can't see that.

Ask them to survive on $800 a month for a year and I can bet you they will cry after just one week.

likeyou SG

Certain type of work needs foreign workers such as constructions or roads contructions. Locals shun those jobs, we cannot reduce the workers in that particular sectors.

For other sectors, yes, need to reduce it so that more locals will have the chance to work rather than foreigners grabbing all the jobs leaving locals jobless.