115,900 jobs were created last year, but it’s not clear how many of these jobs were taken up by citizens.
As I mentioned previously, it is baffling when we see the term “locals” whenever job and salary statistics are released by the government.
Let me clear the air again: The term “locals” refer to BOTH citizens and permanent residents.
Citizens hold pink NRICs, while PRs hold blue ones. PRs also hold passports from their home countries. They don’t hold the red Singapore passports. To me, the difference between citizens and PRs is big. Very big.
So, why is it unclear how many of the 115,900 jobs went to citizens?
First, look at the Ministry of Manpower’s Labour Market 2010 report (emphasis mine, see press release too):
“In 2010, local employment grew by 56,200… Locals (also known as residents) refer to Singapore citizens and permanent residents.” (Labour Market 2010, bottom of page 3)
It’s also mentioned in the report that total employment growth last year was 115,900. This means about half of the new jobs went to locals. If it has not sunk in yet, let me say one more time: “locals” refer to “both citizens and PRs”.
Now, it appears that even the term “Singaporeans” can include PRs! As reported in ChannelNewsAsia (emphasis mine, see also printed PDF):
“Last year alone, 115,900 jobs were added, with half going to Singaporeans.” (CNA, by S Ramesh/May Wong | Posted: 29 April 2011 2033 hrs)
Singaporeans!? All along, I had always thought Singaporeans refer to citizens, and only citizens. Now, PRs are also called Singaporeans! Do we want to give them voting rights too?
Fortunately, in today’s Straits Times, the less ambiguous term is used, much to my relief:
“Last year, about half of 115,900 new jobs created went to locals.” (ST, page A8, April 30, 2011)
When will we get to see statistics on citizens, and citizens only?
103 Comments
lets all work hand in hand for the future of this great nation..
don’t argue so much. just vote them out. we are now repenting for 5 years. 5 years too long.
Are you here recently or been here before 2007?
You sound like a reasonable folk.
FT has been here in Singapore for decades and no one make a fuss out of it. Do you heard such kind of displeasure openly 10 years ago if you happen to stay here long enough? Most of my FT colleauges have work together with us for many years and we don’t feel them different from any of the local born. Even my boss is a FT whom has been here for almost 20 years. BTW, he is my mentor and I personnelly feel very grateful to him.
The current situation we are facing is the sudden influx/surge of FT since ~2007. For those FT who came here during the influx period & who does not stay long enough and make significant contribution to our country, don’t come and tell us Singaporean that “if without you folk here, there wouldn’t be today Singapore,” kind of comment. This is because you are not the FT that made those contribute.
I am from Spain working in New Zealand. It’s still surprising to me to read this kind of comments, especially from a country like Singapore where most of you have Chinese roots, Indian roots, or somewhere else roots.
You speak about integration.. And what does exactly integration mean to you? who defines the “pure” Singapore culture?
It makes me angry as well to read that permanent citizens who pay taxes and contribute to the development of the country should not have the same rights. A country is for those who live and work in the country, no matter where they were pushed away from their mum’s tummy.
It disgusts me this kind of opinions. Open the eyes and more important, open the mind. And don’t forget why Singapore has the quality of life it has..
Do you know anything about National Service?
Next time I’ll go work in your house, pay taxes, and demand the same rights as your father’s son. He should give me a share of your family’s inheritance too. Deal?
And who makes you owner of the land you dwell?
By the way, I would never hire a nazi like you..
But any other willing to collaborate with my business and pay taxes like everyone else would be welcome, as home is where you live, not where you were born.
Who knows, maybe one day you’ll need to emigrate too. Let’s see what do you think then in a “foreign” country, where you pay the same taxes than everyone else, where you spend your money, have your home,… and then people tells you that you shouldn’t have the same rights because in a stupid passport it says you were born somewhere else. Shitty world, where money knows no frontiers but people must have always a label.
Where would Singapore be without the foreigners. Study more history man..
When I emigrate, and I do wish I will one day, I will gladly know my position in the new country. I know I will be a second class citizen and not demand to be treated with full equality. I’m a new joiner and will thus be respectful to the incumbents and learn from them their likes and dislikes. I will try my best to assimilate and integrate with them, and not demand that they unconditionally welcome me instead. It also means I have to forego certain foreign habits and cultural nuances that are acceptable in my previous abode but unwelcome in my new homeland.
You know? you are lucky. I’m in Singapore until the end of the month due to business.
I can meet you and you tell me that face to face. If there is something i hate is nazis. And if there is something worse than a nazi is a faggot trying to be a nazi.
So tell me when and where. Let’s see how brave you are then.
I think the comments here reflect much more a sense of frustration and hopelessness among Singaporeans, not a deep-rooted disgust of foreigners. A feeling that they can not belong to the country anymore where they grew up in…
I grew up in Europe so I am very aware of the history and how Fascists & right-wing parties came to power. They tapped exactly into these kinds of xenophobic feelings. Therefore, I think demagogic phrases as “pure Singaporean culture” and “Singapore for Singaporeans” have to be fought against with all vigour by everybody.
Discussion about social integration of foreigners has also been raging in Europe the past decades. This has let to much tighter immigration policies. I am surprised that our government officials expected to get away with a very liberal immigration policy just because the immigrants had somewhat similar cultural backgrounds…
Diego,
why are you in a salary forum ranting and angry about Singapore not giving same rights to foreigners or PR? When the fact is very clear that foriegners and PR are given the same rights if not more. So why are you ranting about?
Singaporeans are not like your so called “Nazis” ideals. If you have travelled extensively, you will know that every country, there are bound to be some individuals who are xenaphobia. Look, Singapore already has almost 40% foreigners and PR here (where else can you find such a high number?), comparing to many countries, Singaporeans are already very welcoming. Have you experience protests on the streets or racial fights in Singapore? In other countries, foreigners are made to live in certain disticts, whereas in Singapore, they are welcome to share our public housings.
Instead of coming here with in-your-face criticisms, why don’t you suggest constructive recommendations that help foriegners and PR integrate effective into the nation? Posting your kind of comments will simply worsen the situations. I simply don’t get what’s your motivation for all these rants?
isnt it obvious Singaporeans are a bunch of immigrants who have melded to integrate together in Singapore, sacrifice personal time & life to contribute to the Singapore community, serve NS & reservists, etc, but now end up being discriminated, exploited & ridiculed by foreigner immigrants in Singapore !!
I think we should give voting rights to foreigners too. That way they can get to rule over us for sure. Maybe the government is already planning to amend the constitution once again, to make Singapore open to everyone around the world. Totally plugged into the global economy. The star trek ideal, where everyone works for the greater good of the w
Such foreigners want all the benefits without the responsibilities. This guy doesn’t even know what is NS and obviously hasn’t served a single day.
As always, we can link this behaviour to ministers… haha. Up till most recently, ministers get astronomical salaries “pegged” to top private sector jobs, but they don’t have to be accountable for mistakes. They are never sacked or reprimanded for making major errors (again, this is up till most recently, but those 3 are honourably “retired” from cabinet and maybe with huge pensions for life… so…)
Singaporeans should not have a problem looking for a job as there are a lot of jobs created every year.They should not be bothered by the increasing number of expats as native Singaporeans are still on the top of the list whenever companies are hiring new employees.
Meritocracy died a few decades ago la.