Tan Kin Lian's Blog: FOREIGN TALENTS “FT” vs FOREIGN TALENTS POLICY “FTP”

Sunday, January 17, 2010

FOREIGN TALENTS “FT” vs FOREIGN TALENTS POLICY “FTP”

Mr TAN Kin Lian

I like to suggest that you create a LABEL on “Foreign Talents” and “Foreign Talents Policy” in your website. I discover that there are a lot of mis-communications on “Foreign Talents” and “Foreign Talents Policy”.

FOREIGN TALENTS “FT” vs FOREIGN TALENTS POLICY “FTP”

With the discussion and reaction of some Singaporeans, it may seem that Singaporeans are not welcoming foreigners. I think this is a wrong description of Singaporeans.

Many of us, including myself, used to work overseas one time or another. We were foreign talents, once upon a time. We also have a lot of foreigners’ friends. I think Singaporeans are warm people. As a Singaporean, I am looking forward to Singapore Government to make a clear statement of what is their FTP. For example, what category of talents we are attracting and why. For example, what are the level of influx Singapore can absorb. The possibility lack of clear deliberation of FTP could result in Singaporeans calling for explanation. This is understandable because they are many foreigners living among our midst and doing the same job we used to do.

Some may have over-reacted, but many could be just striving understand what is FT and FTP. Unfortunately, calling for explanation and rationale could be seen as unwelcoming FT. This is sadly not the case for Singaporeans.

Maybe, MR TAN could help to elaborate what is Government’s FTP; alternatively, you can help Singaporeans to raise intelligent questions for the Government to answer them. I really hope that local breed and bred Singaporeans to live in harmony with FT in our midst. Even if Singaporeans do not agree with Government’s FTP, we cannot conclude that Singaporeans do not live alongside FT. Singaporeans want to welcome foreigners, but at the same time they need a FTP that fit the need of social and economics objectives of Singapore.

Demographics is an important fabrics of the society, and I think FTP should be deliberated clearly and convincingly to Singaporeans at large. This is the best way to cultivate sense of belonging to this little land we are living in, and the best way to welcome and integrate FT among our midst. I like to conclude that it is good to have FT coming to our country. Singaporeans at large just want to know who are these FT and in what level of influx Singapore can absorb – socially and economically.

Once again, I think you could be the person who has sufficient depth of knowledge and grace for this subject matter. Thank you.

CASHEW NUT

21 comments:

Tan Kin Lian said...: I have never used the word "foreign talent". I felt that this word was coined to deceive Singaporeans to accept them because they are "talents" and will make life better for Singaporeans, when the likely outcome is competition for jobs and depress wages.

If we allow them to come into Singapore, we should treat the foreign workers fairly and well, by providing fair wages and housing. I have written on this subject two weeks ago.

We should avoid classifying people in various categories, and treat everyone equally in most aspects of the daily lives, regardless of whether they are citizens, permanent residents or foreign workers.; January 17, 2010 6:59 AM
Anonymous said...: FT now includes young cleaners from China that replace our old aunties.; January 17, 2010 9:28 AM
Anonymous said...: REX comments as follows,

I have never understood the complains from people who claim that the chinese from PRC are replacing old aunties.

When this happens they cry foul\

When on the other hand, the old aunties work, some others will say, the govt is heartless, even they aunties are so old they have to work till die, they should retire and be happy.

do we really know what we want ?(other than criticising the govt all day long).

REX; January 17, 2010 9:55 AM
Vincent Sear said...: I view Singapore government's foreign talent policy as a population leverage policy.

What I mean is, there're only certain things of certain limited scales attainable by a small country of 3-million population and not increasing by itself. In order for a country of 3-million population to attain things of and in bigger scales, foreigners have to be attracted in.

An analogy I'd use is borrowing money or even selling equity by businesses. A small capital private firm may find it hard to swim among the giant sharks all around. So it raise capital by overdraft, issuing bonds or even selling shares. All these help raise capital, but impose various degrees of inconvenience and loss of privacy on the original management, stakeholders and even founders with sentimental pride.

However, the alternative may be nothing of value left but memories of sentimental value.; January 17, 2010 10:08 AM
Anonymous said...: I'm old enough to remember the phrase "foreign talent" and from which source and maybe even who it first originated from. But let's not go there unless we are very sure of our facts.

But just like the phrase "mis-selling" (word cannot be found in the dictionary), the phrase "foreign talent" has come into popular usage due to its use by the Straits Times and our other mess (oops! Freudian slip), I mean mass media.

Cashew Nut is correct to point out what is essentially a failure of communication.

Given the arsenal of local high priced talents implementing and administering the Foreign Talent Policy, I'm just not sure if the "failure to communicate" is by accident or design.; January 17, 2010 10:51 AM
Anonymous said...: There are now many foreign talents from the Phillipines. If you go the NUH, many nurses are from there, so is my debtist's receptionist, my son's tuition centre receptionist, Nokia customer service staff, my Singapore Samsung customer service operator, hotel guest relationship officer etc

hard to find sporean at the work place.; January 17, 2010 1:00 PM
A Singaporean said...: Just call foreigners "foreigners" and not "foreign talents". The name "foreign talents" is misleading.

I agree with Mr. Tan that foreigners and locals should be treated equally, once they are in Singapore. Therefore, the question is what kind of foreigners and how many foreigners of each kind to let in.; January 17, 2010 3:09 PM
A Singaporean said...: To Anonymous 9:28 AM:

Why should our old aunties and uncles be working at the first place? Why can't they retire? It pains me to see those old aunties and uncles having to slog while not even being able to walk properly.; January 17, 2010 3:12 PM
Anonymous said...: While I may have strong reservations about certain categories of foreigners coming into S'pore for work, I do not blame them. They are manifesting million-year old human instinct to improve their conditions and naturally take advantage of S'pore govt's policies. Same goes for certain companies who take advantage of the policies and go for foreigners and PRs as their first choice.
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3

The main focus of my displeasure is the S'pore govt and their going overboard policy of allowing practically any foreigner into S'pore for work, freely granting them permits and PR status. Also for the govt's lack of worker protection e.g. minimum wage, proof of unability of finding suitable local citizens by companies, unemployment benefits, strong anti-discrimination labour laws etc etc..

I would be more than happy if S'pore govt has similar "foreign talent" policies as US, UK or Australia.

Ex-Con; January 17, 2010 4:54 PM
Anonymous said...: The time for explanation is over. The point of no return has been reached. Vote out the PAP.; January 17, 2010 5:05 PM
Concerned said...: Even the night ladies in
Geylang are called foreign talents.
Wow!!!! Then what are we, Singaporeans then????; January 17, 2010 5:05 PM
Anonymous said...: FT= Foreign Troubles? 38 yrs ago when I married a girl from Malaysia, her fiends, said why live in Sardine Island (Singapore)??? I smiled not knowing that we now have more FTs who squeezed our jobs/ jack up property prices, causing a strain in our infractures - overcrowding trains and buses, ownership of cars, thereby creating massive jams on our roads with more ERPs to pay! overall increasing the cost of living at expense of retirees and Singaporeans alike.; January 17, 2010 5:20 PM
Anonymous said...: i thought that the old man has made it clear that those "highly qualified" foreigners let into singapore for work are "O"-Levels equivalent and above.; January 17, 2010 5:21 PM
Anonymous said...: Unfortunately the original objective of FT Policy to help create better jobs for Singaporeans seem to have deteriorated into cheap labor imports for the benefit of the employers. Instead offering better jobs for Singaporeans, it seems that they are worse off and have to accept lower paid jobs similar to that offered to the foreign labors from poor countries. I don't understand the benefits of such policy so I don't support it. I don't understand why we need this kind of so called "growth". I am of the opinion that the policy is likely to cause disintegration amongst the Singaporeans rather than helping Singaporeans to integrate with the FT's"; January 17, 2010 7:39 PM
Koen said...: I have worked in the Netherlands. It is very difficult to get a work permit. Basically, my company has to satisfy the Dutch government that my job cannot be done by the locals nor the citizens of EU. In my opinion, our FTP is overwhelmingly driven by economics. There will be social consequences in time to come.; January 17, 2010 9:35 PM
Anonymous said...: They also include Foreign Thrash who come to con, cheat, steal, rape and plunder Singaporeans.; January 17, 2010 11:10 PM
Anonymous said...: FTP includes breking the Rice bowl of locals to allow more FTs to work here???; January 18, 2010 7:21 AM
Anonymous said...: Go to Geylang and watch Foreign Talents ply their TRADES?
So by uing the term FT ......everything is under one roof!; January 18, 2010 8:35 AM
AC said...: All there is to do is to legislate fair wages for our blue-collared worker friends, foreigners or local, and all these injustice will disappear. The persistence of our government not wanting to even discuss a minimum wage policy leaves the FTP to abuse, by practically any business owner.; January 18, 2010 1:35 PM
Anonymous said...: Rex, whether old aunties should work or not is another issue. The fact that they need to work and get replaced is the issue here. If you look around the shopping malls, old aunties are all gone!; January 18, 2010 6:16 PM
Anonymous said...: Rex comments on anon. 6.16 pm

The point i was saying is that supposing the cheap migrant labour didnt exist, then you see the old aunties working, and someone is bound to complain, why old auntie working, govt is heartless, they should be retired and enjoy. And really, it is true, the old auntie should retire and enjoy and get assistance from her family members not going around cleaning tables.

So without knowing any details, as far as the migrant workers cleaning the tables in food centres are concerned, for me is an absolute non-issue, there are too many unknowns.

rex; January 19, 2010 4:58 PM