Some implications of courting foreign talent

MORE foreign professionals and skilled workers are being courted by the Singapore government. The stage is set to increase their numbers currently given at 50,000 out of a total of 560,000 foreign workers or 15 percent of the people in Singapore.

The foreign dependency ceiling in the services sector has been raised from 25 percent to 30 percent as from October 1, 1997. For every local employed, employers may recruit three foreigners.

The foreign worker levy has been reviewed. Employers welcome the former measure but not the latter. The outcome is an increase in levy for unskilled workers (from $440/- to $470/-), for foreign maids (from $330/- to $345/-) and a reduction in levy for skilled workers (from $200/- to $100/-). This will hit harder the smaller companies which will pass on the burden to the workers.

The Jurong Town Corporation has launched a scheme to rent flats to foreigners at below market rates. Private landlords are more than a little unhappy in view of the sluggish property market.

The big Singapore law firms are concerned by the move to bring in foreign lawyers to handle the sophisticated corporate financing work, their turf till now. Unless they are able to compete with the quality of work the foreign lawyers are expected to deliver, these law firms will switch to compete for the work handled by smaller law firms.

The move to allow foreign spouses of Singapore women to work in Singapore has been applauded.

Foreign workers are not a new phenomenon in Singapore, forming roughly 10 percent of Singapore population since the 1970s and increasing in recent years. Singaporeans take for granted the presence of workers from Asian countries including India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Burma and Vietnam and the rich variety of their foods and colourful cultures.

More recently, foreign workers from western countries are also making their presence felt. Witness the proliferation of coffee clubs and new wave of Mediterranean cuisine. The labour market is tighter than ever. However, the move to bring in more foreign talent as they have been dubbed seems carefully calculated.

Singapore's research and development programmes are being pioneered mainly by foreigners and the trend is set to continue. In order to find niche in the global economy and to exert influence not just economically but also politically, Singapore has been augmenting its limited human resources. To kick-start its R & D programmes, it makes sense to recruit foreign expertise. However, brain drain could also be part of the problem. The government has been alternately concerned or dismissive of Singapore talent who vote with their feet. From whichever way you choose to view it, the steady emigration of Singapore talent to less pressuring societies such as Australia and Canada creates a gap which must be filled.

The population policies of the 1960s and 1970s which backfired must feature as another reason behind this preoccupation with foreign talent. Government leaders acknowledge but do not apologise for the alarmingly low birth rates which can only aggravate the problem of our ageing population.

Perhaps too, some Singaporeans suggest, it is an indictment on the Singapore education system. Mercilessly pressuring, the system has forced a significant number of Singapore students who couldn't make it here to achieve recognition abroad.

Selective and gradual immigration of foreigners with the right credentials, skills and political persuasions appear to be the answer. 30,000 foreigners were admitted as permanent residents in 1996.

Word has it that citizenship is offered to permanent residents who are from the right university and not just any university in their country. It is safe to say that citizenship is also being offered to eligible permanents with an eye to the general elections.

For these foreigners, being here is a great experience, learning about different cultures, savouring all the gourmet cuisine of the region in one place, enjoying the clean and safe environment.

Those who find the political reputation of the Singapore government formidable if not repugnant would most likely be weeded out at the application stage. Those who actually slip through would most likely refrain from giving vent to their own political views or take actions which could endanger their brief stay be it one, two or three years.

The rare one to deviate from the norm is usually dealt with swiftly. Singapore have voiced various concerns over the increase in the number of foreign talent.

Some say that work culture will be adversely affected, citing the example of sycophantic and backstabbing behaviour of some foreign workers.

Others believe that assertive Westerners or Western-oriented foreign talent could encourage locals to speak up for themselves, still a rare phenomenon in the office culture here.

The foreign workers will learn to shut up, so the observation continues. Ultimately, the increased presence of foreign workers will engender greater competition among Singaporeans.

Perhaps this was intend, to stem the complacent attitudes of younger Singaporeans in an employee's market.

Some in the Malay community wonder whether the seemingly large intake of Chinese foreigners aims to tilt the racial balance since it is an open secret that birth rates are lower among local Chinese.

Others express concern that their battle to be on par with the local Chinese is being undermined by a new and brighter competitor in the shape of foreign talent.

Whither is the concern with the Singaporean identity if Singapore is going to be swamped by foreign talent, many have asked.

It is true that the Singapore government watches like a hawk the development of a Singapore identity and culture. So long as they are able to orchestrate the preservation of Singapore cultural traditions and shared values and promote the National Education Programme, (Singapore history from the government's perspective), they are confident that the Singapore identity is well in hand.

They are equally confident that the foreign talent will adapt and assimilate the Singapore way of life. They may not be far wrong if the words of one of the "foreign talent" are to be believed: "I'm willing to forgo my freedom of expression to walk safely in the streets."