|
6 May 2008
The
Business Times
More foreigners needed for service jobs: SHRI
IT is unrealistic to expect companies here to give jobs only to locals - for
the simple reason that there aren't enough of them to fill the vacancies, a
human resource chief said yesterday.
Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI) president Ho Geok Choo called on the government to step up efforts to bring in more foreigners - especially in the
services industry, where the manpower crunch is most keenly felt right now.
Speaking to reporters at the annual Singapore HR Congress and Business-
Connect Expo, Madam Ho said it will 'take time' to instill a service culture in
Singaporeans. While that happens, the government can help by bringing in more
foreign talent.
'In very populous countries like China and Vietnam, there are people looking to
level themselves up, and they will look at opportunities in Singapore,' she
said.
'With the integrated resorts (IRs) coming up, we are going to need a lot of
service staff - and there are not enough Singaporeans, even if you tap
housewives and mature workers.'
Mdm Ho, who is also a Member of Parliament for West Coast GRC, said the fear
among Singaporeans that foreigners will take their jobs is 'unnecessary'.
At last week's May Day Rally, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said foreigners
are not here to steal jobs from locals but rather to help grow the economic pie.
Foreigners make up 30 per cent of Singapore's workforce - a figure that has
remained unchanged for years. But there has been a surge in absolute numbers as
more have come here to fill jobs created in record numbers in 2007.
To allay the fears of locals, SHRI is proposing that a tripartite dialogue
-involving key public agencies, the private sector and the local workforce - be
organised soon.
'Locals and foreigners should not look at one another as competitors, but as
team members trying to accomplish goals together. This ought to be the real
talking point going forward,' said Mdm Ho.
Earlier during the congress opening ceremony, Minister of State for Trade and
Industry Lee Yi Shyan said the government is committed to helping companies that
are struggling with a talent shortage.
He urged employers to tap the pool of 142,000 economically inactive residents in Singapore, such as housewives and the elderly, who would be willing to take up
flexible jobs in the next two years. As the government tries to grow the size of
the local workforce, its economic agencies are constantly in talks with
educational institutions to find out the specific skill sets required by
companies today, Mr Lee said.
Mdm Ho, meanwhile, said the growing dependence on foreigners is partly due to
the 'inevitability' of Singaporeans wanting to head overseas to work.
'Nowadays, our people are exposed to information readily available online, and
when they read about the excitement that's happening in other parts of the
world, they are inclined to go out and try something new,' she said. 'It's a
very
natural process, and helps them gain experience and different perspectives.'
Still, she advised employers to do their part to retain their best talent - or
risk losing it to competitors.
# # ##
Return to SHRI in the News
|
