Singapore faces far graver issues than foreign workforce in our midst

THE issue of foreign labour in Singapore was given a full and proper airing last week, with Members of Parliament across the political divide taking the opportunity to voice the grievances of Singaporeans who have been displaced by foreigners in the job market.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Cabinet colleagues reassured the House and reaffirmed the principle of the Singaporean core in the government's policy on foreign labour and investment. But the best way to protect jobs for Singaporeans is for the country to stay open to trade, investment and talent from the rest of the world. Regardless of where they stand on the issue, the robust parliamentary debate has given Singaporeans a deeper understanding of the trade-offs that Singapore faces.

As a nation, we are not unique as far as the blowback against immigration and competition is concerned. The Trump presidency in the US has unleashed the forces of deglobalisation and protectionism - the scale of which the world has not seen. This has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has stalled trade, tourism and investment as countries around the world shut their borders.

It is worth recalling the words of former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew in an interview with American journalist Tom Plate in September 2007. "Singapore is a superstructure built on what? On 700 square kilometres and a lot of smart ideas that have worked so far - but the whole thing could come undone very quickly," Mr Lee said.

Imagining and realising Singapore as a global hub for aviation, transhipment, bunkering, petrochemical and finance, as well as incentivising Singapore companies to invest overseas were some of the smart ideas.

But Covid-19 has threatened to unravel these success stories, and is arguably a greater peril to Singapore than even its separation from Malaysia or the pullout of the British's Far East naval base from Sembawang. Back then, the rest of the world had remained open and welcoming to Singapore.

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Today, nearly all nations have barred entry to visitors for fear of importing Covid-19 cases while geopolitical tension between the US and China is re-aligning supply chains and cross-border investments.

Under this new normal, Singapore leaders have to work even harder at reopening borders with like-minded trading partners and maintaining the country's role as a trusted and honest broker in international trade and relations - even as the US and China continue to ratchet up tensions between them. With no coronavirus vaccine in sight, countries - even those far less open than Singapore - cannot afford to stay shut indefinitely, and must find a way to live with Covid-19 while preserving the safety of their people.

Singapore is right to be bold in considering introducing reciprocal green lanes at Changi Airport for tourists from countries where the Covid-19 situation is well under control. The Republic is also working with the Group of 20 countries and international organisations to look into the gradual restart of cross-border travel.

As we batten down the hatches, turning insular or shutting out outsiders is not an option. Unless and until we come to terms living with the Covid-19 threats, including staying open, thousands more jobs will be lost in the months ahead.