MSM REPORTS ON WHY PMETS ARE JOBLESS, BUT REFUSES TO MENTION FOREIGNERS COMPETING FOR LOCAL JOBS

PMETs’ job woes

According to the Straits Times article “Highly trained, middle-aged and out of work” (Jul 20) – “Fifty-seven per cent of Singaporeans and permanent residents who lose their jobs are able to find a job within six months, according to the Manpower Ministry. For professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs), however, the proportion was below average at 49 per cent for the same time period.”

Not a single word about foreigners?

Such a long article citing so many reasons why PMETs find it hard to get jobs, but not a single word of mention about the obvious – that foreigners may be a contributing factor.

The percentage of foreigners in the total workforce is 37.4 per cent (1,355,700 foreigners divided by the total of 3.622,800 in employment), and the number of foreign workers is still increasing.

The unemployment rate of Singaporeans, PRs and foreigners is estimated to be 2.6, 1.9 and 0.6 per cent respectively.

348,654 new PRs, 153,923 new citizens

With a total of 348,654 new PRs and 153,923 new citizens granted from 2007 to 2014 – how many of the about 340,000 increase in jobs for locals around the same period went to “true blue” Singaporeans– against the about 490,000 increase in jobs to foreigners?

Employers prefer foreigners? 

Moreover, the playing field is not level for Singaporeansvis-a-vis foreigners.

We  are being discriminated in favour of foreigners because

… they don’t pay CPF– cheaper for employers

… they don’t need to take leave  for National Service reservist training

… they cannot get pregnant if they are work permit holders

… they cannot change jobs as they are typically on a two-year contract – no turnover problems for employers

… they are generally willing to work for lower pay

… they can come as tourists to apply for jobs and may thus be more desperate to take on any job with any conditions

Win battles lose war

A.S.S. Contributor