Foreign Workers Management Policy in Singapore

Foreign Workers Management Policy in Singapore

Singapore is one of the countries with the highest per capita gross domestic products (GDP) and a top-notch economic powerhouse making it the best space in the world both for the foreign investors and the migrants searching for a Greener pastures. However, the relationship between the native Singaporean and foreign workers is negatively influenced — ignorance and racial prejudice, from some of the few Singaporean natives. Anecdotally, the temperature between the natives and the foreigners has gone low compared to some of decades ago even though the issues still go vitriol when it comes to the social media platform. This concern is primarily displayed by the disgruntled group bordering on Xenophobia. They keep on posting a divisive online hate speech. Nevertheless, Singaporean sociologists and anthropologists suggest that such reflections are not for all Singaporeans and can only be some of the minorities’ views according to (Lim, Liang, Sim & Walter  2014).

Consequently, the scholars in Singapore agrees to the fact that time is ripe for  Singaporeans natives and the policymakers to change their attitude and the mindset towards the migrants’ workers as they show them love and embrace their need for community bonding. They further assets that the migrants should not be treated like lesser beings who are denied a chance to integrate and intermingle freely with other members of the society, refused right to set their foot in the recreational centers, and closed in the dormitories of residence. The scholars view the migrant’s issues in Singapore with the third eye as they suggest that it is needless for the migrant workers to call for a strike that leads to their death like the 2014 little Indian riot, which led to the death of a migrant under the wheel of the bus. They are seen as separate from the rest of the Singaporeans society, according to Professor of Sociologist Prechand Verma of Nanyang Technology University (Lim, Liang, Sim & Walter 2014).

Singapore, as a society with a diverse population and culture, should embrace and celebrate the rich cultural diversity with the migrants despite their background and the type of jobs they do, be it glamorous or not. Instead of looking for the differences and attacking the foreign workers.  Globally the notion that pitting the foreigners against locals is a false dichotomy is one of the changed debates that emotionally surrounds the immigration policies across the world boundaries. However, the transformational roadmap for Singapore cannot be fulfilled without the flexibility in its workforce policies (Angela, 2018). Professor Straugan asserts that Singapore should remain to be the multicultural society since their forefathers who originated from the Multi-ethnic groups decided to stay in Singapore even though their intention was not to stay.

Why Foreign Workers Are Distinct and Separate From the Mainstream Singapore Society

 The foreign workers are distinct and separate from the mainstream Singapore society in that they are racially segregated and judged according to the type of profession that they undertake. Singaporean believes in the mythical emotional policy of pitting the locals and treating them better than the foreign workers. Such systems have been implemented by the authorities and the policymakers of the Singapore government. Enables the natives to take advantage of the foreign workers and the immigrants in that the better and well-paying jobs are first assigned to the Singaporeans even if they underperform, and there are some of the foreign workers who are the best performers compared to them.

Nevertheless, the Government of Singapore has placed some of the strict rules and regulations that monitor the foreign workers by separating some of the public resources only to be used by the natives at the expense of ignoring the foreign and the immigrant workers. In some areas of Entertainment and recreational centers, only Singaporeans are allowed to use as the foreigners, and the immigrants are designated at their specific locations and locked within their area of residence (Lim, Liang, Sim & Walter  2014). The mainstream Singapore society is ignorant and stereotypically feels that they are far much better than the foreign workers, and they should get a better treatment compared to the immigrants (Yolanda, 2008). The mainstream Singapore society makes the foreign workers feel separated and distinct as part of the community. They can avoid the competition brought about by the foreign workers, which may lead to a shortage of the better housing, well paying jobs and the jams in the transport industries as well as the competition for quality education. The government of Singapore to limit the employability ration of the foreigners and the immigrants as they concentrate and offer their first available opportunities to the natives before they consider the foreigners through doing so the foreigners feel separated from the mainstream society (Noah, 2018). Additionally, the government of Singapore policymakers and the policy implemented directly contributes to the district separation of the foreign workers and immigrants. They make policies that only allow the foreigners to reside outskirts in the gated community that restricts their movement and interaction with the natives so that they can share some of the experiences and interchange their cultural diversity.

The Government Measures on Issues of the Foreign Workers

Although the foreign workers are racially segregated and separated by the native Singaporeans, the government of Singapore sensitively handles the foreign workers and the migrant’s issues through coming up with some of the active policy measures

Improved Infrastructure #Policy Measure I

The government of Singapore has improved its infrastructure through contraction of the quality roads, that support railways and 1000 burses which were added to the road in 2012 under the billion-dollar Bus Service Enhancement Program (BSEP) launched to tackle the long waiting times’ issues and congestions According to (Angela, 2018). Consequently, the government added more trains and expanded more houses that helped in the accommodation of the foreign workers who add significant economic value to the financial economy of Singapore through investment start-ups and technology.

Employment Opportunity# Measure II

.The government of Singapore realized that the foreign workers and the immigrants lead significantly boost the economy through reducing the taxable wages to the local, and this leads to a more significant boost of the economy hence its high rate of growth per capita. Through the employment measures, the government has improved its employability speed to the foreign workers more so to those in the areas which need more attention. It lacks skilled and professionals who are native to Singapore. The areas include green technology, Engineering, and Cybersecurity, which makes them get foreign workers with the aim of improving in such field of opportunity (Angela, 2018).

Proposed  Policy Measure For Foreign and Immigrants  In Singapore# III

Even though the government identifies and offers sponsorship programs to international students who possess the right brains that can help in building the economy. The fact that they still lack better and quality education in Singapore for the migrants is an undisputed fact. I, therefore, propose a quality education that is inclusive both for natives and immigrants children for future Singapore. Education without discrimination. However, the quality that the government of Singapore has in place is more effective without question through policy measures. Some of the foreign workers’ grievances have been addressed and improved as per their needs. For instance, more houses for foreign workers, working permits, and pass for the immigrants and reduced congestion through the quality transportation system.