Friday, May 2

recent news abt how foreign china workers employed as beer promoters threaten the older Singaporean promoters prompted yet another round of discussions abt the threat of foreign workers in Singapore....well, feedback from PM in today's straits times mentioned that having the presence of foreign talent will help the economy overall and that because of them, jobs are created...

well i do agree to his comments on a large scale as foreign workers, who can be rather hardworking and possibly more talented do help in many sectors of our economy, increasing the competitiveness of our global economy..however, despite the benefits to the overall view, what abt on the small scale, the people who are directly affected by the presence of these foreign workers who cause them to lose their jobs as a result of direct competition? what abt a scenario where the singaporean beer promoter who could lose her job because the beer company decides to hire cheaper and more hardworking china workers?

yes, maybe the beer company could earn more money as business improve and the coffeeshop gets more customers and that translate to better business..all these are benefits in the bigger sense..but if we put the focus on that beer promoter who lose her job, will the better businesses of the beer company and coffeeshop benefit her? maybe in a very indirect manner but by and large, she still has to suffer from a lose of job and a need to find another...her life is thus affected...

just to give another scenario more closely related to me...more foreign students are admitted into nus on a yearly basis and these people up the standards and as a result, those singaporeans who fare less well are denied a place in locally-funded universities..yes, ultimately on a larger scale, there are benefits..local students strive a more competitive environment, nus gets more recognition with its large percentage of foreign students...but what abt those singaporeans who end up being denied a place in universities? they could end up paying much more to enter private ones in order to further their studies although their results are not exactly that bad....

my stand is i'm not against the presence of foreign workers or students in singapore..its all part of globalisation which we have to embrace and i personally have foreign friends who are pleasant to be with..but i'm just offering an alternative viewpoint to what is perceived as a broad happy overview of the situation and put the focus on those who are directly affected...

jel; 12:29 pm