Singapore - NTUC suggests ideas for “Singaporeans First” employment strategy

Labour movement NTUC on Friday put forward two suggestions for a “Singaporeans First” employment strategy.

The first is to have a dependency ratio to hire professionals, managers and executives (PMEs), much like what is currently in place to hire work permit holders.

The second is to introduce labour market tests where employers have to show they have tried all means to hire locals first.

Unionist Patrick Tay, who is a director in charge of PME issues at the NTUC, said about 650,000 among the two million resident workforce are PMEs and this group is growing with rising affluence and education levels.

He said the labour movement wants to reach out to PMEs in more ways. One way is through linkages with associations such as the Nanyang Technological University Alumni Club.

An agreement was also inked on Friday between the NTUC and the Institute of Estate Agents.

To help Singaporean PMEs, Mr Tay hopes the government can look at a foreign talent dependency ratio and labour market testing to see if these ideas would work here, in which industries and to what extent.

Mr Tay, who is also an MP for Nee Soon GRC, said a “Singaporeans First” strategy need not scare off foreign investors.

“Countries like UK, Australia and New Zealand have already embarked on it,” he said.

“Labour market testing essentially requires or mandates companies or employers who want to recruit foreign workers into their pool, including PMEs, to show that they have exhausted all local sources, be it through advertising, through employment agencies to outreach to the resident population, before they are given permission or given the green light to employ foreign PMEs,” he added. 

CNA

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