Sectors with ITMs saw more jobs created for Singaporeans, PRs

Singapore

SOME 19,500 positions were created in the 23 sectors where Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs) were introduced, as the increase in employment of Singapore residents outpaced the decrease in employment of foreigners, Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad said.

Mr Zaqy was replying to a question in Parliament from Aljunied GRC MP and Workers' Party chief Pritam Singh on Monday, on the number of jobs filled by Singaporeans, permanent residents (PRs) and foreigners for each industry covered by the ITMs.

Mr Zaqy said it will be meaningful to look at employment outcomes over the medium to longer term, but said in the meantime, one can look at employment change from 2015, before the launch of the ITMs, to 2018.

The 19,500 jobs were made up of an increase in employment of 39,300 by Singaporeans and 8,600 by PRs, which was offset by a decrease in employment of foreigners by 28,500.

Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MP Liang Eng Hwa then asked if the economic growth and job creation resulting from the ITMs benefited Singaporeans more than they did foreigners.

Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing said he acknowledges the anxieties that lie behind the questions, adding that the crux is whether the government has gotten the local-foreign workforce balance right.

He explained the rationale of welcoming foreign investments even if the top-paying jobs may initially go to foreigners while Singaporean workers upgrade to get the relevant skills. This was how Singapore grew its electronics industry in the 1970s, but those higher-paying jobs now go to the better-trained children of the Pioneer and Merdeka generations. The same thing is happening today with the infocomm technology and software industries, he said.

Mr Chan said what Singaporeans want is a fair chance to get that high-paying job over time.

"What Singaporeans do not want are unfair employment practices where Singaporeans are passed over because of non-meritocratic considerations," he said, adding that the Manpower Ministry's Fair Consideration Framework helps ensure a level-playing field.

Mr Chan also probed the objective of questions that ask for a breakdown of employment between Singaporeans and PRs, saying he is conscious of this divide.

"The real competition is not between the Singaporean versus PR here versus the foreigner here. The real competition is Team Singapore, comprising Singaporeans, PRs and foreign workers here, competing with the rest of the world to give our fellow Singaporeans the best chance possible to win, not just in Singapore but across the entire globe," he said.