Ok Singaporeans....Should we welcome foreign talent?

Question

I have aboslutely no problem with them but those guys do not assimilate. Why is it so difficult for them to do so?

Answer 1

I believe that at times, foreign talents are necessary, but the problem occurs when you work in a company (be it local or MNC), and you turn left, right or look infront and everyone around you is an expat. That's just so unfair. (I know I'm whining...but bear with me)

I believe that there are enough talented singaporeans who could do the job, just as well, if not better...but we are marginalised because we have local degrees and don't come with an ivy league stamp across our forehead. What diff does it make if I'm from U Penn, Insead or NUS? Just 'cause some of us can't afford these "branded" degrees, does not mean that we aren't as qualified.

And what's up with giving our managerial jobs to Filipinos and Malaysians? In the last company I worked for, the GM, PD (Publishing Director) and CD (Com Director) were Malaysians! No offence to them, they were great, and no offence to Malaysians..(I reallllly love Malaysia)...but why hire from there, when you can get the same, exact talent here? That's sadddddddddddd...and it's just gonna make us, (the good, intelligent and hard working) singaporeans become quitters.

Answer 2

gosh guys, some of you are pretty harsh, as an 'ang moh' working here, a lot of times the reason i've found it difficult to assimilate is because the people here have made it difficult. especially now being married to a s'porean (pretty good assimilation if you ask me) people stare so much....it's like lighten up....we're in an era of globalisation and inter-faith/cultural marriages....so get out of the box a little. Having foreigners makes singapore a melting pot of different cultures and it makes it a more interesting place to be.... and let's face it, you'd be pretty stuck nowadays to find any country in the world where jobs are only reserved for the locals.

Answer 3

You're talking about the Indians and Malays, right? Not about the Angmo?

You know, Singapore's a pretty difficult place to assimilate into. Especially the Chinese society, which does not exactly welcome outsiders with open arms. It's also a naturally multicultural place, so it's not entirely obvious which culture you're expecting the foreigners to assimilate themselves into.

Overall, the one thing that the Singaporeans have in common is their work ethic; so as long as the foreign talent is working its collective butt off, you should consider them to have assimilated themselves nicely.

Answer 4

There are ENOUGH foreign talents in Singapore. There is no need to take in more and more foreigners.

There are lots of talents among Singaporeans but they are not appreciated. Imagine if there are too many foreign talents in Singapore, where will the jobs go to? Foreigners. And Singaporeans will be left jobless. And Singaporeans will be foreign talent to other countries. Means, Singapore will have few Singaporeans than foreigners.

Answer 5

Hi, it does take time to assimilate into a new country, you know. It is not an instant process. Besides, I am sure they are proud of where their hometown, culture and tradition so I would rather they stay the way they are. I will wince if everyone is into Singlish and all that just because they are here!

They will make the local scene more colourful, don't you agree?

Answer 6

I believe that S'pore should emphases on the quality of Foreign talent and not the quantity of Foreign talents.

The 'down-side' to the increase of "Foreign Talents" (if not monitored properly), will result in social problems, like high unemployment. This eventually lead to increase of crimes such as robbery, murders, money laundering, gang fights, drug smuggling / taking, rapes, fraud / scams / con-jobs etc etc....In addition, through importing "Foreign Talents", we inadvertantly imported their social norms and beliefs(some of which are undesirable, e.g spitting, littering, jaywalking). Thus, destorying the clean and law abiding image (both locally and abroad) which S'porean have taken decades to built.

Furthermore, should there be allowed to purchase local properties in this country where land is scarce, it will inflate the prices. The cost of living will definately increase. Thus, making the younger generations of S'porean harder to survive and live here.

I have seen so-called 'foreign talents' coming to S'pore to work in 'MLM', Sales Executives, telephone operaters or just end up as baskers. These are jobs that I believe that there are enough local S'porean talents to sustain.

On a brighter note, Foreign Talents (hopefully) will introduce new investments, new skills & technology to S'pore. They will definately increase the competitiveness of S'pore

It would be good if they can contribute to S'pore both socially and economically.

I think most foreign talents will eventually assimilate into S'pore mainstream society. However, they might still feel a strong association to their country of origin as their relatives / friends are still residing there (just like our forefathers, Chinese - to China, Malays - to Malaysia or Indonesia, Indians - to India or Pakistan etc etc).

Cheers....

Answer 7

Welcome to the age of Globalization .. I understand the Govt push for embracing the foreign talents, but I hope Govt be wary of the level of incentives given and the potential lost of many job opportunities for S'poreans.

15 ~ 20years ago, we began losing many blue collar jobs to foreign labours, and for the last 7 to 8 years, many top executive positions are filled by foreign talents (thou it bring more investor into town). Now, with more FTs, our major middle white collar jobs are at risk.

Globalization perhaps meant the world is our home, and we better start looking around too .. when greener pastures are.

Till then, we will understand challenges of assilmilating to foreign land .. thus, better understanding how FTs felt here ..

Answer 8

Foreign talent in what industry? And perhaps they don't assimilate because there are too many different cultures living there. Assimilate to what, lah?

Answer 9

it depends on the industry that we are talking about and the number of places reserved for foreign talent. i'm alright with them coming down to singapore and taking up jobs here but there has to be a reasonable cap that does not disadvantage the locals.

Answer 10

Yes