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Foreign worker policy of Singapore is 'political and economic'
There is more than one reason why the Singaporean government is looking to reduce the number of foreign workers in the city state, according to a new report.
Esther Ng of Today Online explained that the Economic Strategies Committee (ESC) sub-committee wants fewer foreign workers and better productivity to drive a smaller growth rate in the gross domestic product.
It argued earlier in the week that a "large foreign worker presence" has "incurred infrastructural and social costs, adding that by raising the quality of foreign workers, it will "improve locals' perception and acceptance" of expats and industries dominates by overseas employees.
However, economist Shandre Thangavelu from the National University of Singapore believes there are both political and economic attributions to the strategy.
He asserted: "Productivity isn't just about innovation, it's also about improving middle management structure and worklife balance."
The original announcement from the government came at the end of January, when labour chief Lim Swee Say backed the Singaporean government's goal to increase productivity in front of 500 unionists and employers at the Singapore Tripartism Forum.
Posted by Michael Ewing
