6.5 million - Part 3

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Tuesday, 14 September 2010

Singapore Democrats

In Part 1, we talked about the dangers of the PAP flooding this island with foreigners so that it can increase the population to 6.5 million people. In Part 2, we explained that it was in its own self-interest that the PAP is proceeding in such a reckless manner. In this concluding Part 3, we present the SDP's solutions on how we can bring in foreign talent to keep Singapore comeptitive without compromising the social and financial well-being of Singaporeans.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew said that we needed foreigners to make up for the short fall of the population. What he doesn't say is that it is the PAP's policies that have caused the shortfall in the first place.

It was the drastic and feckless Stop-At-Two policy in the 1970s and 80s that caused the population growth to be stunted.

Worse, it continues to implement policies that discourage couples from having children. The high cost of living is a major obstacle to young couples eschewing bigger families.

Additionally, younger Singaporeans are leaving this country in droves chiefly because they prefer to live in countries where their lives are politically free and economically less stressful.

This combination of a low birthrate and Singaporeans emigrating have caused a hollowing out of our economy.

But instead of reviewing these causes, the PAP has turned to bringing in foreigners to replace Singaporeans. This is a one-way ticket to disaster.

Economically, the influx of cheap foreign labour is causing wages of locals to be depressed. The widen income gap is unsustainable. Socially, the immigration policy is causing tensions that are beginning to manifest in unfortunate and ugly ways.

So what can we do to resolve this problem? Too alleviate the situation, there are a few important urgent that we can take:

1. Legislate minimum wage. A mimimum wage policy will make businesses more judicious in employing cheap foreign labour and force them to upgrade the workforce. This has the effect of raising productivity. In addition, workers will not be exploited which will lift their morale leading to increases in labour output and efficiency.

Not only will minimum wage reduce the income inequality in Singapore, it will also increase the spending power of the people which benefits businesses and the overall economy. Ultimately prosperity comes to all segments of society, not just the rich.

2. Democratise the political system. A more democratic system will encourage Singaporeans, especially young and talented Singaporeans, to stay put. Such a system cause them to be less alienated from the public process as their wants and interests will be heeded by a democratically elected and responsive government. This will stem the brain drain and foreign talent would not be needed in such frightening numbers.

3. Rely less on multinational companies (MNCs) and government-linked companoes (GLCs). We can do this by encouraging innovation and creativity to flourish in Singapore. MNCs have a voracious apetite for cheap labour, the cheaper the better. This means that they want workers from our neighbouring countries who are willing to work for wages that Singaporeans simply cannot survive on.

By encouraging home-grown entrepreneurs, we reduce our dependence on MNCs and, in turn, our reliance on foreign workers. Not only do we upgrade our economy, we also keep our population at a realistic and sustainable level.

Dismantling GLCs will also encourage local entrepreneurs to come to the fore, and add to the effort to upgrade our economy beyond one that simply relies on a cheap labour force.

A stark choice

Unfortunately, the PAP will not change course without political pressure. Such pressure can be brought to bear on the PAP by voting for the Singapore Democrats in this upcoming elections. SDP MPs will push hard to amend the current immigration problems to ensure that only genuine talent will be allowed in to work in Singapore.

Only a system of checks and balance can prevent the PAP from dragging our country down this dangerous road. Say no to 6.5 million. Our country will suffer irreparable damage if we allow the regime to go ahead with its reckless move.

The SDP needs the people's support and the people need the SDP's unyielding leadership in Parliament. We are the party that has through the years demonstrated our resolve to stand up to the PAP. We are the party that has gounded our fight on principles.

Help us be the opposition that you want to see in Parliament.

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Comments (9)

Tue 14 Sep 2010 5:49 PM | quantum - Resident Evil

The Umbrella Corporation has created this massive T-Virus outbreak of zombies who just want to ingest everything and occupy everywhere, but not think.

Tue 14 Sep 2010 9:37 PM | g_e - 3 million frowns

Say "NO!" to 6.5 million!

Now that would make a very good slogan for the coming GE. Seeing it written large in all 4 languages focuses the attention of the man-in-the-street on the basic reason for what is now happening to him and his loved ones. The evidence stares him in the face the second he steps out of his front door. No further proof is required.

From that, connecting the dots to depressed wages, soaring property prices, costly healthcare, and gross overcrowding is but a short step. The average Singaporean has been brainwashed by PAP into measuring worth by its monetary value to him. Very well then, here is the show-stopper which WILL dent his financial comfort zone.

Tue 14 Sep 2010 11:27 PM | April Fool - Say "NO!" to 6.5 million !

Indeed, a very good slogan for the coming GE.

Say "No" to 6.5 million even if you're a PAP supporter; it's "Our Singapore", not "Your Singapore".

Wed 15 Sep 2010 12:56 AM | Political_law - Foreigners and cheap labour.

The thing about the influx of foreigners and their cheap labour is that there are many foreigners who come to Singapore on a tourist visa, on the disguise as tourists, but they are actually looking for jobs here. They would accept extremely low pay to persuade employers to apply an employment pass for them.

Wed 15 Sep 2010 10:23 PM | BryanT - SDP's Befuddling Logic

SDP say that the influx of cheap foreign labour is causing wages of locals to be depressed.

But then it suggests that we legislate minimum wage. It says that a minimum wage policy will “make businesses more judicious in employing cheap foreign labour and force them to upgrade the workforce”.

I agree with the motivation towards upgrading the workforce.

However, by legislating minimum wage and hence making local workers at the lower end of the spectrum more expensive to hire, the employers will be further induced to bring in even more cheap foreign labour.

SDP’s economic logic is befuddling.

Minimum wages is useful to solve some other socio-economic issues such as income gaps and safeguarding the lower strata of society, but it is counter-productive in removing the need for (cheap) foreign workers.

Wed 15 Sep 2010 11:05 PM | Robox

Re: "However, by legislating minimum wage and hence making local workers at the lower end of the spectrum more expensive to hire, the employers will be further induced to bring in even more cheap foreign labour."

Minimum wage legislation is typically on an industry-by-industry basis, and not on the basis oof one's legal status. Hence, the possibility of a Singaporean being discriminated against at a particular job on the basis of his/her citizenship is nil.

Thu 16 Sep 2010 1:14 AM | Robox

Since Min Wage is regarded as an urgent measure in the light of stagnating and lowering incomes, I will write this here. The the PAP's Lee Yi Shyan has waded into this debate but his objection to it is his claim that 'minimum wage distort market mechanisms'.

What are those 'market mechanisms' which result in the monetary value of a person's work being determined by how one FEELS about the person being employed. That FEELING is one that is based on how the employer thinks about:

1. people who may not have done well academically despite those academic qualifications not being relevant to knowledge of the job and good performance in that job;

2. people an employer doesn't like on the basis of the what Singapore laws deem acceptable grounds for discrimination such as race, etc.?

I would suggest that Lee Yi Shyan cannot see the diffrence between "market maechanisms" and "emotional reactions arising from ideological forces".

Thu 16 Sep 2010 8:33 AM | Tan Tai Wei

I am trying to understand BryanT. Wouldn't "minimum wage" be applicable to foreign workers too? So, the danger to Singaporeans is that indusries might go elsewhere to get cheaper labour, rather than made to prefer cheaper foreigners for employment here?

Thu 16 Sep 2010 10:03 AM | g_e - Say "NO!" to BryanT!

Damn right too. BryanT is talking through his dunce's hat again. In many countries like the UK for instance, minimum wage applies across the board. Doesn't matter whether you flip burgers at Burger King or work as a cleaner at Nissan, it is unlawful to be paid less than the legislated minimum. Crucially, that holds for all employees whether or not they're British citizens.

Such a minimum wage policy in Singapore would mean that all employers are obliged by law to pay FTs the SAME wage as a Singaporean, instantly removing the 'cheap labour' incentive at a stroke. That lazy PAP way will perish because the employer must either make better use of his resources i.e. become more productive, or pay the price.

As for Lee Yi Shyan's assertion that 'minimum wage distorts market mechanisms', the very action of allowing 1.5 million lowly paid FOREIGN workers to take local jobs which could as easily be done by Singaporeans if only they were paid a living wage is itself a massive disortion of the labour market. Is the FAP saying there are no Singaporean takers for the casino jobs for instance? One cannot help noticing that the cheaper, better, faster tablets aren't being swallowed by the ones most in need of it.