Agence France Presse October 19, 2001 SINGAPORE MOST Singaporeans still believe the country needs to attract foreign talent to remain prosperous, despite mounting local lay-offs as the economy spirals downwards, according to a poll released Friday (Oct 19). Of 724 Singaporeans surveyed in the Gallup poll, 64 percent said it was necessary that the island import foreign talent. However, the figure was down from 72 percent in the previous poll by Gallup conducted during the previous economic downturn in 1997. While acknowledging the importance of foreign talent, 68 percent of Singaporeans expressed worries that foreign workers would compete with their children or grandchildren for the same jobs. This figure was up from the 60 percent in the last survey. Seventy five percent believed foreign talent has contributed to the success of the island, up slightly from 72 percent in 1997. The issue of foreign talent has cropped up in recent months as Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and other senior minister repeated the need for the island's doors to remain open to workers from overseas even in the midst of its deepest slump in 37 years. Singapore relies heavily on imports of talent and workers with more than 750,000 foreigners in its four million population. |
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