Foreign business chambers worry about anti-foreigner sentiments

Singapore

FOREIGN business chambers in Singapore are concerned about the rise in anti-foreigner sentiments and the possible effect on foreign investment, as they shared in an Oct 1 dialogue with Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing, hosted by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF).

The representatives from 16 foreign business chambers also called for further resumption of business travel and hoped for additional easing of safe management measures to support business recovery.

"The issue of foreign manpower and the role they play in Singapore's economy have attracted much attention over the last few months," said Mr Chan on Friday, in a Facebook post about the dialogue. Even as Singapore remains committed openness, it must assure Singaporeans of a level playing field, he added.

The chambers expressed confidence in Singapore's Covid-19 measures and economic fundamentals, but were concerned about "the recent rise in anti-foreigner sentiments and scrutiny on the role of foreign manpower in the Singapore economy", said the SBF in a statement on Friday.

"They noted that many of their members were worried that such sentiments and scrutiny were giving the wrong impression to the international business community that Singapore was becoming closed to foreign investments and global talents. This could affect global businesses' future investment decisions."

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The chambers highlighted the continued need for global talent, the existing systems for skills and knowledge transfer from foreign employees to Singaporeans, and their commitment to fair hiring practices.

"I assured the participants that Singapore is deeply cognisant of the importance of staying open and connected to the world. This will never change," said Mr Chan in his post.

Yet in these unprecedented times, Singaporeans are increasingly anxious about the future, he noted. "It is important that we work together to support our Singaporean workers and assure them that we will always provide a fair and level playing field."

He said he was heartened by the business chambers' assurances that their members "were deeply committed to developing their Singapore workforce and would continue to abide by fair hiring practices".

With the chambers having given examples of their members' efforts to develop the Singapore core, such efforts should be publicised, to show "how our foreign companies are here to add to the economy and not to take away value from it", said SBF chief executive officer Ho Meng Kit.

On business travel, participants called for further opening of borders with more countries, extension of the pilot business travel pass scheme to more companies and employees, and a shorter stay-home notice regime for business travellers.

"I assured them that Singapore was actively exploring ways to allow for more travel," said Mr Chan. "We have made some moves to open up our border unilaterally to countries like Brunei, New Zealand, Vietnam and most parts of Australia; and hope to see more countries reciprocate and allow for those based in Singapore to travel to their countries as well."