In my presentation on budget 2017, I will talk about "creating jobs for Singaporeans".
I will suggest that certain domestic jobs should be reserved only for locals - teachers, nurses, bus and train drivers, cleaners, security guards.
Some people are against this suggestion because they say that locals do not want these jobs which pay lowly.
If we do not allow foreigners to take these jobs, the pay for these jobs will have to increase to a level that will attract locals. In Australia, these jobs pay better than office jobs because a higher pay is needed to attract locals for these jobs.
The pay of bus drivers is quite attractive, but most locals do not want to commit to the strict schedule expected of a bus driver. With modern technology, it is possible to allow some flexibility to the schedules.
I will suggest that certain domestic jobs should be reserved only for locals - teachers, nurses, bus and train drivers, cleaners, security guards.
Some people are against this suggestion because they say that locals do not want these jobs which pay lowly.
If we do not allow foreigners to take these jobs, the pay for these jobs will have to increase to a level that will attract locals. In Australia, these jobs pay better than office jobs because a higher pay is needed to attract locals for these jobs.
The pay of bus drivers is quite attractive, but most locals do not want to commit to the strict schedule expected of a bus driver. With modern technology, it is possible to allow some flexibility to the schedules.
The same observation can be made for nurses.
There is a concern that the high cost of workers in these jobs will increase the cost of living. The long term impact should be not serious. As workers get high wages, it is likely that rents will take a lower share of the cost of the final product. The higher wages will be mitigated by relatively lower rents.
I will also ask that the the public sector should set an example to recruit their workers directly, rather than go through contractors. For the private sector, the practice of outsourcing should also be controlled and restricted.
Currently, outsourcing is a way to exploit workers by forcing them to accept low levels of pay. If a benchmark wage is applied to each job, the exploitation of workers will be reduced.
Do you agree?
There is a concern that the high cost of workers in these jobs will increase the cost of living. The long term impact should be not serious. As workers get high wages, it is likely that rents will take a lower share of the cost of the final product. The higher wages will be mitigated by relatively lower rents.
I will also ask that the the public sector should set an example to recruit their workers directly, rather than go through contractors. For the private sector, the practice of outsourcing should also be controlled and restricted.
Currently, outsourcing is a way to exploit workers by forcing them to accept low levels of pay. If a benchmark wage is applied to each job, the exploitation of workers will be reduced.
Do you agree?
1 comment:
Each country has a responsibility to take care of its own economy and not rely on another country's economy to support its workers. Sia hire too many foreign workers and should reserve it's jobs for the locals as it is a singapore brand name, why let a non-singaporean be a singapore girl?
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