Singapore works hard to attract foreign staff
By Sumathi Bala
Published: July 24 2008 01:10 | Last updated: July 24 2008 01:10
Singapore is a place in need of qualified workers.
This was underlined recently by the relaunch of Contact Singapore – an organisation that aims to be a one-stop shop for people from around the world who want to find a job there.
Contact Singapore is jointly run by the city-state’s economic development board and its ministry of manpower and the plan is to alert both potential workers and entrepreneurs keen to invest to local opportunities, in order to enlarge the existing talent pool.
Wong Kan Seng, deputy prime minister and minister for home affairs, told a conference that in today’s global economy, businesses moved to where manpower was readily available. Therefore, it was essential to boost Singapore’s status as an attractive place to live and work.
“Even as we enhance our efforts to reach out to and attract talent, we must ensure that Singapore is a great place to live. It is not just economics; it is about growing the Singaporean community and sharing in a common future,” he said.
“The new Contact Singapore, with its focus on talent attraction, is a critical node in the continuum of government efforts to this end.”
Its relaunch is one signal that recruitment and retention are a big worry, not just for the government, but for businesses as well.
A fifth of Singapore employers polled as part of a global survey are concerned about local employees leaving to work abroad, at a time when many vacancies need to be filled and qualified, able staff are in short supply.
Su-Yen Wong, managing director at Mercer (Asean), the business consultants, says it is imperative for the private sector to work with the government to attract workers, especially in the current climate where the battle has become heated.
“Talent, as a commodity, is in short-supply worldwide,” says Ms Su. “In Singapore, the government has taken many initiatives and has set the strategic direction. Implementation, however, has to come from the private sector to push things through.”
A recent survey by Mercer ranked Singapore as the city with the best quality of life in Asia this year, above Hong Kong and Tokyo. Globally, the city-state is ranked 32, climbing two places since last year.
The study considered a number of factors, including the political and social environment, medical and health systems, public services, transport and housing.
It underlines the competitive edge Singapore has over its closest rival, Hong Kong, in attracting employees from abroad.
“Hong Kong has always been a more transient place, with a wheeler-dealer kind of image. It attracts a younger talent pool, such as those working in the banking sector, who can become successful quickly,” notes Ms Su.
“But those who are family-oriented, with spouses and children, would prefer Singapore because it offers a better quality of life. When it comes to issues such as the environment, air quality and schools, Singapore comes out stronger.”
Nowadays, it is easier for people to move to most places in the world and industry experts say that compensation packages are becoming more similar in all continents. This means that financial incentives are no longer enough; people are looking at other factors before they move abroad.
While Singapore may be the most livable city in Asia, it still faces the challenge of becoming a “global” city. Currently, it is a tough balancing act for the government to make policy decisions favourable to job-seekers from abroad that are also palatable to locals.
A wide-ranging poll carried out last year revealed that a majority of Singaporeans were uneasy about the government’s policy of rolling out the red carpet for foreigners.
Nearly nine out of 10 feared losing their jobs to overseas professionals and therefore opposed efforts to attract them.
The results shone a light on low-level worries among Singaporean workers about foreigners living and working in their midst and competing for their rice bowls.
More telling was the negative perception Singaporeans had of their government’s handling of the issue.
The survey highlighted that nearly 43 per cent believed the government was more concerned about foreign workers than its own people and doubted whether the open door policy will help create new jobs and opportunities.
Most seem to think that foreign professionals enjoy all the privileges of living in Singapore, but shoulder none of the responsibilities.
Industry observers say that problems in attracting and holding on to employees will linger until this attitude changes.
This will need to happen, particularly if Singapore wants to become more cosmopolitan.
“A truly global city has to have a global mindset. If you go to New York or London, which are truly cosmopolitan cities, the issue of foreign talent doesn’t even arise,” says Ms Su.
“For Singapore to make the transition successfully some things have to happen.
“The ‘us and them’ mindset won’t change overnight, but it will in time.”
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2008
Recent Comments