There was a very eye-catching headline in today’s The Straits Times Home Section, “More jobs created, but number of jobless still up”.
Perhaps it is better to save some ink in this time when our inflation is at a record 26 years high, by printing a much shorter headline: “Not enough jobs created.” Ok, now we got the very funny looking headline out of the way, how about the reason given for having more jobless people despite the fact that we have more and more jobs available. The reason given was unbelieveably simple: There were more school leavers than usual and more housewives looking to “return to work”. The reality though, seems to be different.
Firstly we look at 2007’s job creation figures. An astonishing 236,600 jobs was created. But, 144,500 of them when to PR/Foreigners. That is like nearly 62%? Only 92100 jobs were created for Singaporeans. That is 38.9%. Very strange considering the fact that this is SINGAPORE we are talking about?
Now lets take a look at 2006’s figure. A total of 176,000 jobs was created, a miserable figure compared to last year. But look at the break down: 90,900 jobs for PRs and Foreigners; 85,100 jobs for Singaporeans. So we see that in 2007, around 7000 more jobs were created for Singaporeans, while the number of jobs created for Foreigners and PRs increased by a staggering 54000?
And now we look at things logically. Most Foreigners and PRs were imported into Singapore for job purposes. Hence, although I don’t have any figures, it can be assumed that Foreigners and PRs have a very low unemployment rate, which, when coupled with the increasing unemployment rate, spells a verdict: There is an increasing number unemployed Singaporeans, because PRs and Foreigners are getting nearly 8 times more jobs than Singaporeans in our job market.
But does our ministers intend to do anything about this? Not really.
YOUNG and chatty foreign waitresses have been helping draw customers to some Housing Board coffee shops.
But they have also been raising eyebrows among some local co-workers.
One drinks seller at a coffee shop in Jurong West complained to Minister Lim Boon Heng that she felt threatened by a sweet, young lady from China who sells beer at the same joint.
She was worried that allowing such foreigners to work at coffee shops would undercut her wages. She was already working two jobs to make ends meet.
But the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office saw things differently.
The co-worker was drawing men in droves to the coffee shop, he said. This meant brisk business which, in turn, helped the local drinks lady keep her job.
Recounting this anecdote at a forum yesterday, he said: ‘Obviously, if Tiger or Carlsberg asks this mature lady to sell beer, it will not have the same result.’
That different way of seeing things simply made a big problem a non-problem.
I am now in the mood for a little “poem”:
My Singapore Love Story
My first wail was heard in Singapore.
Singapore gave me a cert of birth.
I became a Singaporean.
I was born in Singapore.
Singapore educated me.
In its textbook, I was taught how to love Singapopre.
Because I choosed to be born in Singapore.
And everyday I sang Singapore song.
I was taught how we should repay Singapore.
Although Singapore never say what for.
I became 18 and went to serve in Singapore.
“With my life” I fight for Singapore.
When I need to work in Singapore.
My employer told me that he hates Singaporeans.
Because Singaporeans have to go back In Camp Training.
He rather hire those not from Singapore.
So my family got no dollars in Singapore.
Thus my mother went to serve drinks in Singapore.
But then came those not from Singapore.
Took away my mother’s job in Singapore.
Singapore minister speaks in the news.
Say those not from Singapore are good.
They do not take Singaporeans job away.
They help Singaporeans keep their job.
I turn at look at my mother in Singapore.
I ask her why stay in Singapore.
She say no choice but to stay in Singapore.
Because Singapore has the best government.
When election came in Singapore.
My father had an accident at a construction site in Singapore.
PAP in Singapore gives us better lifts if we vote.
So we voted for it to rule Singapore.
Today newspaper in Singapore,
Tell me many many new jobs created in Singapore.
But nearly 8 times more job for those not from Singapore
Than people like me who was born in, was educated in, had served for, wanted to work in, continue stayed in and had voted for Singapore.
Singapore why you betray me and love other people?
Singapore I loved you.
Of course the content in the poem is fictional, but it spells out realistically what could happen to any Singaporean.
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