Population woes

[Nebbermind]

hmmm....mindef or some stat board under them....that's my guess

[limlim]

3Boys:

IN your world, only PMETS need to be protected, upper management, bring from HQ, production line, open to foreigners.

And I thought you were taking a holistic view.

I never say only PMETs need to be protect. That's your own erroneous conclusion.

I am just considering practically. On why FW is necessary but FT is not much so. By considering supply and demand.

Consider Blue collar workers. Assuming you eliminate/restrict FW and protect the workers.. Is it able to solve the labor shortage problem? NO! Yes it would make it SLIGHTLY easier to hire workers, but, many biz still will have to fold because THERE IS NOT ENOUGH WORKERS!

Why? bcoz most locals doesn't want to do blue collar jobs! That's a simple fact isn't it? For the SAME pay, would you rather do white collar or blue collar job? Would you rather be admin clerk in air con room or washing dishes and clearing tables?

IT is not a simple case of reducing profit.. If there is NO SUPPLY, even if every F&B companies pay $2k for dishwasher they will not be able to fill all vacancies! For that pay, pple would rather go and be a clerk or admin. Are you NOT aware of this or do you feel that my comment is pure speculation, that increasing pay will not solve the blue collar labor shortage issue?

That is why, I say, FW is necessary. simply because local supply CANNOT meet DEMAND.

However, the case for PMETs is DIFFERENT.

Locals do NOT shun these jobs. Every year, the local Universities churn out how many graduates? How about the Polys etc? Do we not have enough skilled workers?

Why do we need so many FTs? Are there not enough local supply?

COST, profit is the only consideration for these positions, not availability/supply.

That is why, I feel, so much FTs is NOT necessary.

However, even for PMETs, in healthcare, environmental engineering etc.. if there is not enough supply of locals, I would also agree that FTs for these positions is necessary. Because local not enough SUPPLY, not bcoz they are not cheap enough.

If there is NOT ENOUGH local supply (due to nature of job, not pay), I am not against FTs for those positions.

Is this not holistic view?

[limlim]

3Boys:

limlim:

[quote=\"3Boys\"]

So the only group that are deserving of wage protection are the PMETs? Because you are one of them? Why not the production line workers, why not upper management?

My job is immune to FT competition.

That's all I want to say now.

Don't just stop here and forget everything else I wrote.[/quote]I don't type as fast as you.

[limlim]

3Boy, I do not discount what you wrote about biz operations.


I just want to clarify why my views towards importing foreign labor with regards to FW & FT is different.

[Lilac66]

limlim:

3Boys:

Don't just stop here and forget everything else I wrote.

I don't type as fast as you.

Somehow this just tickles me.. :rotflmao: It's like during a debate whereby one speaker says, \"I don't speak as fast as you\"..

Oops.. :oops:

Nevermind about me, just carry on.

[3Boys]

limlim:

3Boy, I do not discount what you wrote about biz operations.


I just want to clarify why my views towards importing foreign labor with regards to FW & FT is different.

But you keep repeating over and over and over, \"if all those companies are so profitable, why don't they pay more.\"

You say \"Landlords should bite the bullet\".

I mean, do you even know what you are asking for?

[limlim]

3Boys:

limlim:

3Boy, I do not discount what you wrote about biz operations.


I just want to clarify why my views towards importing foreign labor with regards to FW & FT is different.

But you keep repeating over and over and over, \"if all those companies are so profitable, why don't they pay more.\"

You say \"Landlords should bite the bullet\".

I mean, do you even know what you are asking for?

Just saying.. I mentioned before, most pple like me are only exposed to 1 side of the story most of the time.. you cannot expect any layman to be economic or biz experts.

Does it mean layman cannot comment? cannot post in forums? No right?.......

It also created opportunity for you to share the \"other\" side of the story for readers who may never post. Isn't it?

You mentioned \"vacuum of understanding of how business\" work.. ok lor.. I'm not a businessman so not going to dispute that.

no need get so worked up mah..

Anyway, I guess the govt knows best how to deal with it.. I don't want to debate further as I have nothing constructive to add at the moment. Also not free to dig deeper.. I'll trust them in their judgement for now.

[WeiHan]

I am quite surprise that Singapore is keeping a strong currency policy which inadvertently hurt the competitiveness of our SMEs. I get the sense that export is not the top priority of the government anymore but attracting money that will like to park in Singapore is. The world is in a currency war, almost all countries are trying to devalue their own currencies so that their export becomes competitive…I wonder why Singapore is the exception?


But even with a strong currency, our inflation is already so high, what if we have a weaker currency, wouldn’t price just shoot to the sky?

[mamago]

WeiHan:

I get the sense that export is not the top priority of the government anymore but attracting money that will like to park in Singapore is.

This, is very true. (Kudos that you mentioned it.)

Foreign Investors' assets (e.g.. fixed and non-fixed, monies etc) appreciate to off set the low margin biz profit in SG.... a very capable economic board we have.

WeiHan:

The world is in a currency war, almost all countries are trying to devalue their own currencies so that their export becomes competitive....I wonder why Singapore is the exception?

But even with a strong currency, our inflation is already so high, what if we have a weaker currency, wouldn't price just shoot to the sky?

The countries that devalue their currencies are apparently not doing well.

China Yuan, pegged with USD at 8.3, was gate crashed... market force!



To add, people bear the biggest lost if the country economy is in the recess mode.

[3Boys]

WeiHan:

I am quite surprise that Singapore is keeping a strong currency policy which inadvertently hurt the competitiveness of our SMEs. I get the sense that export is not the top priority of the government anymore but attracting money that will like to park in Singapore is. The world is in a currency war, almost all countries are trying to devalue their own currencies so that their export becomes competitive....I wonder why Singapore is the exception?


But even with a strong currency, our inflation is already so high, what if we have a weaker currency, wouldn't price just shoot to the sky?

We are between a rock and a hard place, and I lay the blame on this squarely on the US government for their QEs. Savers are being brutalised everywhere, asset bubbles sprouting all over the place and monetary authorities worldwide are being forced to react with difficult monetary policies. If we weaken our currency, inflation will shoot through the roof, as you say.

Export competitiveness is a pain and the g'ment is well aware, but inflation HAS to be the priority right now or the bubbles that build will prick at some point and crash the economy.