The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) and the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA), which groups four parties, pressed the government to rethink its policy on foreign workers now numbering some 750,000 in a population of four million.

Snap elections have been called for November 3 after parliament was dissolved last week.

SDP secretary general Chee Soon Juan said the ruling People's Action Party's (PAP) insistence on opening the doors to foreign workers placed locals at a disadvantage.

"The PAP's foreign talent policy adds to the burden of Singaporeans by indiscriminately allowing foreigners to seek employment here," said Chee.

"What we're saying is don't let it be a free for all. Let's be intelligent on who you want to attract," he said.

The SDA echoed a similar line.

"At this time of recession and large numbers of retrenchment, it is unfair of the government to allow such large numbers of foreign workers into Singapore," said SDA chairman and veteran politician Chiam See Tong.

Chiam said the government should "make sure that no Singaporean worker is out of a job because of the presence of foreign workers in Singapore."

As many as 25,000 Singaporeans are expected to be retrenched by the end of the year, with unemploment rising to 4.5 percent from nearly full employment in normal times. Others are suffering from pay cuts.

The economy is projected to contract by three percent this year, a far cry from the 9.9 percent growth attained last year.

Chee charged that the government's policy of relying on foreign inputs to build the economy was to blame for the bread-and-butter woes now faced by average Singaporeans.

"The present recession is a manifestation of the economic direction taken by the PAP," Chee said.

He said reliance on multinational companies to build the island's industrial base had "consigned the people to an economic system that breeds more model employees than visionary entrepreneurs."

"This means that Singapore will forever be at the mercy of foreign investors on the lookout for cheaper wages," said Chee.

To protect local workers, Chee said the SDP would push for a "Singaporeans First Policy" to be be adopted so that only qualified foreigners can be employed as a last resort when suitable local candidates cannot be found.

Chee said the proposed policy, if put into practice, would also insist that foreigners be retrenched ahead of locals.

At the same time, he called on the government to immmediately implement a minimum wage guideline for locals.

"Ensuring a minimum wage for the lowest of the low skilled employee guarantees that prosperity is shared by all," said Chee.

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