Singapore is considering creating a work environment where local workers can substitute lower-skilled foreign workers in a proposed move to generate more jobs for locals.
The high-skilled foreign workers, however, are exempted from the purview in this case.
Manpower Minister Tan See Leng told Parliament about the government's thoughts on the matter. According to him, tightening access to lower-skilled foreign workers rather than doing the same for higher-skilled foreign workers is likely to improve the employability of locals.
In a reply to a query from Leon Perera, Workers’ Party’s Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC, he said, “This is because businesses were then able to substitute lower-skilled but cheaper foreign workers with locals and therefore improve the production process accordingly."
Dr. Tan, who also cited findings from internal studies by his ministry on foreign workforce policies, said such as move can produce a conducive environment for locals, who can take on jobs at “slightly higher levels”,
He further spoke on the authorities' open approach to high-quality foreign professionals while maintaining a disciplined stance in regulating the number of Work Permit holders through quotas and also levies.
The minister also pointed out the fact that there is a limit to how much the government can restrict access to lower-skilled foreign workers considering the size of the city's population.
According to him, it can entail a “worse-off” effect on Singapore’s economic growth and industrial advancement.