Daily Lessons from Life 03-04 September 2012 - Cost not main reason for hiring non-Singaporeans: survey

"Cost not main reason for hiring non-Singaporeans: survey - AFP 04 September 2012

SINGAPORE: Singaporean employers and employees hold different views about the contributions of non-Singaporeans in their company, according to a survey by JobStreet.com.

On the issue of the lower cost of hiring non-Singaporeans, 66 per cent of employees surveyed considered this as the reason for hire. This however was a pull factor for only 16 per cent of employers. 40 per cent of employers indicated that the main reason for hiring non-Singaporeans was their flexibility in taking up jobs that locals avoid.

Country manager of JobStreet.com Singapore, Anthony Ung, said many local employers do adopt the "Singaporean-First" policy when hiring. As such, Mr Ung advises that local employees should focus their best effort forward rather than speculating about the threats of a co-worker.

The survey also threw up other interesting views. 27 per cent of locals surveyed said that they saw value in working with non-Singaporeans. They said non-Singaporeans were thought to be less demanding at work and better skilled in their area of work than Singaporeans. 47 per cent of the employers surveyed reaffirmed their decision to hire non-Singaporeans, citing lower employee turnover rate as the key benefit. Employers surveyed also said non-Singaporeans have fewer demands at work and are more willing to put in longer hours at work."

This should SOUNDS the alarm for Singaporean workers!! It is NOT lower cost that Employers are hiring non-Singaporeans!!

Lessons for me are:

1. we need to understand the sample size of this survey and the methodology of this survey as it revealed many key questions that were being asked by politicians and Singaporeans alike!;

2. if it is indeed a case of non-Singaporeans are BETTER despite being at the SAME COST to the employers, Singaporeans will need to reflect deeply WHAT could be the reasons! Why are Singaporeans NOT attractive to Employers? Are the fundamental weaknesses in the make up of Singaporean workforce? Chilling thoughts really!!;

3. what do we mean by: 'foreigners are less demanding at work or at working condition and willing to put up longer hours'? Are these GOOD 1st world employment practices EVEN if the employees are WILLING to put up these? While I believe there is NO FREE LUNCH, I also believe that a government that touts its nation as a Vibrant Global 1st World City/Nation MUST also provide commensurate wages and quality of living instead of expecting its citizens to compete with 3rd world nation in its own country! Difficult task or even unrealistic expectations. Yet. Is this NOT why the government is the best paid in the world? To deliver 1st world quality of living to MOST of its citizens who voted it in and paid its wages? :-)