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Is having too many foreigners in Singapore really beneficial to Singapore?…
Is having too many foreigners in Singapore really beneficial to Singapore?
Option 1: Fully closed borders
Advantages
Less dissatisfaction among Singaporeans
The Big Read: The foreigner issue - are we ready for a rethink?
Currently, some Singaporeans are upset with having too many foreigners in the country. They feel that they are taking locals' jobs, houses etc. Fully closing borders would hence remove that problem and letting Singaporeans be less upset
White Paper protests
More opportunities for local Singaporeans
Without foreigners in Singapore, it leaves more job opportunities for local Singaporeans
Singaporeans will be considered more carefully and there will be no discrimination against Singaporeans when looking for employees. This allows for increased meritocracy and egalitarianism, creating a fair society.
Local Singaporeans will not face competition for jobs and opportunities with foreign talents
Better governing
Issues related to fair treatment of foreigners with Singaporeans need not be emphasised, thus making governing a much simpler process.
National identity preserved
Stemming the flow of foreigners in Singapore ensure that no new ideologies and cultures infiltrate our way of life, diluting our sense of national identity.
Disadvantages
Unsustainable population
Singapore's ageing population is only sustained by the large volume of foreigners coming into Singapore
Lack of foreign talents
Diplomatic problems with other countries
Lack of motivation in locals
Without foreigners in Singapore, the competition between locals and foreigners is removed. However, this also means that there will still be jobs available for local as there will be no competition
Option 2: Fully Open Borders
Disadvantages
Dilution of national identity
Integration techniques still not very effective when immigration happens on a large scale.
Leads to enclaves of immigrants, unwilling to accept local culture as they come here only for work, not to permanently make Singapore their home.
Easier access to citizenship makes being a Singaporean not something as special, or as unique
Xenophobia may be present
Leads to societal instability and disharmony,
Dichotomy in culture, practices, idealogies will exist. These differences are further amplified when foreigners live and work amongst locals (e.g. as neighbours)
Foreigners seen as
stealing
job and employment opportunities from locals
Gives rise to negative feelings of discrimination and unfairness, causing locals to take it out on foreigners
Locals feel increasing competition
Foreigners taking jobs means fewer jobs available for the locals
On top of that, foreigners are far likelier to get jobs than Singaporeans without government intervention.
Perceived cheaper labour cost when employing foreigners
Perceived higher skill and technical expertise when employing foreigners
Singaporeans are unwilling to do certain jobs particularly if they have received higher education
Policies
Integration of Foreigners into Singaporean society
Allow for faster routes for becoming citizens
Removing the need for Permanent Residency to become citizens
Relaxing the citizenship criteria
Special programs to expose foreigners to the local culture
Make it a requirement for them to participate in community service activities (like delivering food to the elderly or the canal cleanups)
Organising classes in community clubs that teach them basic literacy in English and other frequently spoken local languages like Chinese dialects and Malay
This is so they can communicate with the locals in Singapore
Free movement of people and goods between Singapore and countries it shares a land border with
Not needing passports to enter
Could be a specific type of open border like conditionally open borders which only allow the movement of people across borders if they meet certain criteria
Easier access to Singaporean visas, or removed the need for visas when travelling to Singapore
Like the Schengen Agreement in Europe
Advantages
Allows foreigners to integrate into Singaporean society more effectively (will be repositioned)
Will not be viewed as "aliens"
Can communicate more effectively with the locals
Economic benefits
Increased expenditure from foreigners in Singapore
Increased tourism
Helps counter Singapore's rapidly aging population and low fertility rates, sustaining our workforce
Foreigners have specialised skills and expertises which may further boost our economy, especially in niche sectors
Moreover, it has been aptly pointed out that Singapore's manpower is our 'only natural resource', hence to boost our economy, one needs to boost our manpower, hence further necessitating the need for foreigners
https://www.mom.gov.sg/newsroom/speeches/2014/speech-by-mr-tan-chuanjin-acting-minister-for-manpower-at-the-singapore-business-awards-sba-2014-03-april-2014-745-pm-resorts-world-sentosa
Compromises
Only allow for important foreigners in
eg: People with sick relatives in Singapore
PR applicants will be required to possess a certain level of qualifications in order to apply
Opportunity costs
Regulate the number of foreigners in Singapore
Allow for population growth at a controllable rate by imposing restrictions to the number of foreigners
E.g. PR applicants may need to pay a sum of money when the number of PRs reach a certain quantifiable limit
Opportunity costs of losing the manpower
Mitigate overcrowding of the job market
Combinations
Require foreigners to learn and understand Singaporeans' cultures
To prevent foreigners from acting disrespectfully
To encourage their integration into Singaporean society
Will be viewed less as "aliens"
There may still be a divide, learning the culture may not enough for all Singaporeans to consider one one of them
Create posters or advertisements to educate locals on the roles and importance of foreigners in Singapore
Locals will be more understanding and not view foreigners as threats
Education not always effective, especially not on some stubborn members of the community
Enforce laws such that every company must have a certain percentage of locals
Gives Singaporeans fairer opportunities
Less dissatisfaction among locals
May discourage companies from staying here
Some foreigners may not have gotten a job they deserved because of a Singaporean who did not, basically the reverse of the scenario
