On Sunday, the Singapore government has decided to adjust the foreign worker policies in order to address concerns regarding locals over competition for jobs, even as the global business hub remains open to talent from overseas.
Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong stated in his National Day Message, “We have to adjust our policies to manage the quality, numbers and concentrations of foreigners in Singapore. If we do this well, we can continue to welcome foreign workers and new immigrants, as we must.”
Foreign labour has always been a hot topic issue in Singapore but uncertainties due to the COVID-19 pandemic have increased employment worries among locals as the city-state recovers from last year’s record recession. The issue was also highlighted by opposition parties during last year’s general election campaign as they mounted a historic challenge to Lee’s People’s Action Party, which has ruled Singapore since its independence in 1965.
Just under 30% of Singapore’s population are non-residents, up from 10% in 1990. The number of people living in Singapore declined by 0.3% last year, the first drop since 2003, as travel curbs and job losses brought about by the pandemic pushed foreign workers from the country.
