have been here since 2007. got something to share with you.
Frankly speaking, over the past 3 years, the topic 'foreign workers' has bee hot and sensitave locally. in 2012, straight times reported that there's 1 million PRC (people from China mainland) in Singapore whereas the total population is below 6 million. If you consider workers from India, Philipines and other developing country, the foreign population is growing to a extreme level that threats local people's life.
Hereby, we simplify the problem into job opportunity
1. Job opportunity. Further simplify to high-end (IT, Finance, Biotechnology, Pharmacy) And low-end (manufacturing, construction, retail, service)
For high-end industry, obviously employees need tertiary education background (bachelor, master or PHD degree). Singapore government has been taking in scholars over pan Asia since 20 years ago. However, the scholarship programme has been down-sized since 2008~2010. Reason being, local people complains that too much foreign students are in their University (NTU, NUS). The simply think that the scholars have pushed up their admission line (A-level result: which is similar to Gao Kao in China). After all, this is not the major field that foreigners are critisized. The well-educated colleagues understand government's policy and importance of foreign talents.
a middle-aged man from Hei Long Jiang working in a construction site in Ha'er Bin, earns 3000RMB in China. When he pays the agent fee, he works in Singapore but the pay is around 10000RMB after converting by rate. Definately he will work hard for no reason nor excuse. Meanwhile, local workers are complaining about their pay and argue for holiday and CPF (central provident fund, like Gong Ji Jin). As an employer, the preference will be quiet clear. Locals' complaint is " You PRC are grabbing our job opportunity" In Chinese: Fan(4) Wan(3).
Such complaints are piling up and all the resentment and pressure are towards foreigners, and in some sense, Government as well. Government has to take action. Foreigners have to pay much more to buy HDB (cheap apartments). Less opportunities to be employeed. Lowever payment. Most unbearable, some rude citizens ( Let's hold a chestnut: Da(4) Ma(1)) will say something impolitely on your face. Though I haven't had such experience yet, I know this does exist.
As Sarajevo for the World War, the angry people and party just need an excuse!
The riot has been on the way, it's just a matter of arrival time. And it was here last week.
Lucky enough, on this island, people are calm enough and government is strong enough to get things under control. I've been sitting in the office waiting to discuss with my local colleagues. But they are not caring the riot at all! Just like nothing had happened.
Lastly, my apologize, this sucking computer doesn't support typing Chinese. Qiu(2) Zhe(2) Die(2)
