What took them so long to realise we are losing our jobs to foreigners?

01-11-2011, 02:24 PM

source :
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/don-t-hire-...-managers.html

The government has warned foreign managers that they should not marginalise qualified local candidates in order to hire and promote their own kind.

Minister of State for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin announced on Monday new guidelines targeting discriminatory practices against Singaporeans such as job advertisements indicating that foreigners are preferred and the preferential hiring of foreigners over suitable Singaporeans.

These new guidelines were drawn up in response to the high number of cases -- 51 in the first nine months of this year -- of unfair treatment based on nationality lodged with the Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices (Tafep), reported The Straits Times.

Here are three case studies on why Singaporeans are lodging complaints of preferential treatment:

.Case study 1: Foreigners hire fellow countrymen - A Singaporean complains that a foreign manager in her IT firm prefers his own countrymen to qualified Singaporeans. Management tells Tafep that it had trouble finding suitable local candidates, but later admits some departments have seen an increased representation from a particular country in recent years. Company then agrees to hire and develop Singaporeans as its workforce core.
Case study 2: Discriminatory practices by an employment agency - An employment agency specialising in foreign recruitment raves about why foreign workers are better than Singaporeans in an e-mail to clients. The agency corrects its e-mail and pledges not to do so again after Tafep steps in. Manager involved is counselled and makes a public apology while staff are sent for relevant training. Manpower Ministry issues a written warning to the agency after conducting its own investigations.
Case study 3: Over-reliance on foreigners - A chief executive was swamped by complaints from his local staff about the company hiring too many foreigners from a certain country. CEO was surprised of this practice as he was not aware of it. Many employees left for another company which hired less foreigners.
.Tan, who was speaking at a tripartism forum, stressed that while foreigners are still welcome to work in Singapore, the core of a company's workforce must remain Singaporean.

The Member of Parliament for Marine Parade group representation constituency said that even though the government is tightening its grip on importing foreign labour, employers on the ground must still be watchful over their actions as many Singaporeans have expressed displeasure over discriminatory practices in their workplace.

“Let me emphasise that discriminatory practices have no place in Singapore,” he said. He added that companies have a responsibility “to attract, recruit and develop Singaporeans so that Singaporeans remain at the core of our workforce”.

When asked why laws were not drawn to fight discrimination, Tan replied that this issue isn’t straightforward. He said that employers’ mindsets must be changed to tackle the problem, and it’s better done through moral suasion.

He added that anti-discrimination laws would reduce flexibility in the labour market, which is a strength for Singapore, the same paper reported.

Tan, however, assured that the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will act against employers who refuse to eliminate discrimination.

MOM will work with consult employers to resolve issues, but if that doesn’t work, the ministry will have to use other methods, such as slapping demerit points on employment agencies.

In addition, Tafep will hold workshops to educate employers and ease them into the new guidelines.

Labour chief Lim Swee Say and employers’ group chief Stephen Lee both support the new guidelines.

Lee, president of the Singapore National Employers Federation, said that firms having Singaporeans as their workforce core enforces their competitiveness in the long-term as foreign workers tend to be more mobile.

He also pointed that Singapore’s foreign worker cap, which stands at one-third of the three-million-strong workforce, is one of the world’s highest. Lee also said that companies must nurture Singaporeans as their core.

“If you replace your core with all foreigners because of short-term expediency, then I start to question the viability of the company in the long run,” Lee said.

Lim, NTUC secretary-general, said that employers need to change their mindsets. Some employers don’t think Singaporeans are willing to take on low-level jobs, while not possessing the ability to take on high-skilled ones.

Many Singaporeans also complain that employers are not willing to pay better for low-level jobs, while not doing enough to help them move up to higher-level ones.

...

AlvinLeong · 01-11-2011, 03:29 PM

They are so high up......... information need to travel up slowly.....level by level...... then sometimes information kana blocked...... back to level 1 start to travel up again.............

When finally reached them, need to form a super task force to look into it, come out with paper, professors then read, then simi manager read, then parliamentary sec read, Minister of State read, Minister read........

Woo hoo.... finally!

therat · 01-11-2011, 03:56 PM

Quote:

The government has warned foreign managers that they should not marginalise qualified local candidates in order to hire and promote their own kind.

This has been practise for so many yr.
Way back during IT fever.

Now then they warn those FT manager.
Got use meh.
They already move their whole village to Singapore liao.

therat · 01-11-2011, 03:58 PM

Instead of warning, why don't just name those company.

AroHong · 01-11-2011, 06:21 PM

Our young new Minister gave 3 examples in the newspapers today, say in one company the CEO didn't know this was happening.

Our CEO Ministers and MPs also didn't know la, as long as GDP grow and their own salary keeps increasing means no problem - until lose some seats.

canopy · 01-11-2011, 06:24 PM

and also the information passed up to the head... you think the info given is accurate? I have doubts...

therat · 01-11-2011, 11:45 PM

http://www.fairemployment.sg/index.asp

http://www.fairemployment.sg/contact...subid=1&fid=12
Feedback on Workplace Discrimination

Thank you for contacting us. If you have experienced discrimination at the workplace relating to age, gender, race, religion, language, family status (e.g. parenthood) or disability, please provide details below or call 6838 0969 for advice and assistance.

**jwhtan** · 02-11-2011, 12:18 AM

This has been going on for years ......

I really dun believe they didn't know

But if they really didn't know, then I can only say they didn't know the ground at all

foxwagon · 02-11-2011, 12:31 AM

If you are a Singaporean working in a group of foreigners, they just need not cooperate with you, your work will suffer, soon, you also have to go, then they recruit one of their own.

canopy · 02-11-2011, 12:47 AM

that's one of the reason why MIW lost ground in Ajunied.... now the transport minister took public bus/train by himself to see the situation rather then relied on the reports from his staff. I believe this is a wise move. Hopefully the new batch of MIW will be different this time else next elections expect more area to be surrendered easily.

01-11-2011, 02:24 PM	#1
redvine Guest Posts: n/a	What took them so long to realise we are losing our jobs to foreigners? source : http://sg.news.yahoo.com/don-t-hire-...-managers.html The government has warned foreign managers that they should not marginalise qualified local candidates in order to hire and promote their own kind. Minister of State for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin announced on Monday new guidelines targeting discriminatory practices against Singaporeans such as job advertisements indicating that foreigners are preferred and the preferential hiring of foreigners over suitable Singaporeans. These new guidelines were drawn up in response to the high number of cases -- 51 in the first nine months of this year -- of unfair treatment based on nationality lodged with the Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices (Tafep), reported The Straits Times. Here are three case studies on why Singaporeans are lodging complaints of preferential treatment: .Case study 1: Foreigners hire fellow countrymen - A Singaporean complains that a foreign manager in her IT firm prefers his own countrymen to qualified Singaporeans. Management tells Tafep that it had trouble finding suitable local candidates, but later admits some departments have seen an increased representation from a particular country in recent years. Company then agrees to hire and develop Singaporeans as its workforce core. Case study 2: Discriminatory practices by an employment agency - An employment agency specialising in foreign recruitment raves about why foreign workers are better than Singaporeans in an e-mail to clients. The agency corrects its e-mail and pledges not to do so again after Tafep steps in. Manager involved is counselled and makes a public apology while staff are sent for relevant training. Manpower Ministry issues a written warning to the agency after conducting its own investigations. Case study 3: Over-reliance on foreigners - A chief executive was swamped by complaints from his local staff about the company hiring too many foreigners from a certain country. CEO was surprised of this practice as he was not aware of it. Many employees left for another company which hired less foreigners. .Tan, who was speaking at a tripartism forum, stressed that while foreigners are still welcome to work in Singapore, the core of a company's workforce must remain Singaporean. The Member of Parliament for Marine Parade group representation constituency said that even though the government is tightening its grip on importing foreign labour, employers on the ground must still be watchful over their actions as many Singaporeans have expressed displeasure over discriminatory practices in their workplace. “Let me emphasise that discriminatory practices have no place in Singapore,” he said. He added that companies have a responsibility “to attract, recruit and develop Singaporeans so that Singaporeans remain at the core of our workforce”. When asked why laws were not drawn to fight discrimination, Tan replied that this issue isn’t straightforward. He said that employers’ mindsets must be changed to tackle the problem, and it’s better done through moral suasion. He added that anti-discrimination laws would reduce flexibility in the labour market, which is a strength for Singapore, the same paper reported. Tan, however, assured that the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will act against employers who refuse to eliminate discrimination. MOM will work with consult employers to resolve issues, but if that doesn’t work, the ministry will have to use other methods, such as slapping demerit points on employment agencies. In addition, Tafep will hold workshops to educate employers and ease them into the new guidelines. Labour chief Lim Swee Say and employers’ group chief Stephen Lee both support the new guidelines. Lee, president of the Singapore National Employers Federation, said that firms having Singaporeans as their workforce core enforces their competitiveness in the long-term as foreign workers tend to be more mobile. He also pointed that Singapore’s foreign worker cap, which stands at one-third of the three-million-strong workforce, is one of the world’s highest. Lee also said that companies must nurture Singaporeans as their core. “If you replace your core with all foreigners because of short-term expediency, then I start to question the viability of the company in the long run,” Lee said. Lim, NTUC secretary-general, said that employers need to change their mindsets. Some employers don’t think Singaporeans are willing to take on low-level jobs, while not possessing the ability to take on high-skilled ones. Many Singaporeans also complain that employers are not willing to pay better for low-level jobs, while not doing enough to help them move up to higher-level ones. ...

01-11-2011, 03:29 PM	#2
AlvinLeong Dragon Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 1,759	They are so high up......... information need to travel up slowly.....level by level...... then sometimes information kana blocked...... back to level 1 start to travel up again............. When finally reached them, need to form a super task force to look into it, come out with paper, professors then read, then simi manager read, then parliamentary sec read, Minister of State read, Minister read........ Woo hoo.... finally!

01-11-2011, 03:58 PM	#4
therat Arofanatic Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 279	Instead of warning, why don't just name those company.

01-11-2011, 06:21 PM	#5
AroHong AFC Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 769	Our young new Minister gave 3 examples in the newspapers today, say in one company the CEO didn't know this was happening. Our CEO Ministers and MPs also didn't know la, as long as GDP grow and their own salary keeps increasing means no problem - until lose some seats.

01-11-2011, 06:24 PM	#6
canopy Dragon Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,451	and also the information passed up to the head... you think the info given is accurate? I have doubts...

01-11-2011, 11:45 PM	#7
therat Arofanatic Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 279	http://www.fairemployment.sg/index.asp http://www.fairemployment.sg/contact...subid=1&fid=12 Feedback on Workplace Discrimination Thank you for contacting us. If you have experienced discrimination at the workplace relating to age, gender, race, religion, language, family status (e.g. parenthood) or disability, please provide details below or call 6838 0969 for advice and assistance.

02-11-2011, 12:18 AM	#8
jwhtan Barney Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 9,118	This has been going on for years ...... I really dun believe they didn't know But if they really didn't know, then I can only say they didn't know the ground at all

02-11-2011, 12:31 AM	#9
foxwagon Dragon Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,181	If you are a Singaporean working in a group of foreigners, they just need not cooperate with you, your work will suffer, soon, you also have to go, then they recruit one of their own.

02-11-2011, 12:47 AM	#10
canopy Dragon Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,451	that's one of the reason why MIW lost ground in Ajunied.... now the transport minister took public bus/train by himself to see the situation rather then relied on the reports from his staff. I believe this is a wise move. Hopefully the new batch of MIW will be different this time else next elections expect more area to be surrendered easily.

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