Singaporeans FIRST 新加坡人为先*

Singapore Democratic Party has said it on national TV,

"Singaporeans FIRST."

Workers' Party almost said it.

Now I need the other parties, and every Singaporean, to recognise this too. SINGAPOREANS FIRST 新加坡人为先.

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Qn#1: What is 'Singaporeans First'?

'Singaporeans First' is a proposed employment policy that mandates that for any employment position to be filled, the employer has to fill it with a Singaporean, unless a better-qualified non-Singaporean has applied for it.

'Singaporeans First' does not mean filling employment positions with Singaporeans only.


Qn#2: Why is 'Singaporeans First' important?

There are many reasons. Here are the key reasons:

(A) This is to ensure distribution of job opportunities for Singaporeans within Singapore.
Singapore is designed as a WORK-fare-based society. In order for the government to help you, it is extremely crucial that you are gainfully employed. Hence, the basic requirement is that you have a job. Since the game is set up this way, it is only logical for Singaporeans to fight for more and better job opportunities.

(B) There are foreigner employers who practise 'employment enclaves' in Singapore.
This means, in some companies in Singapore, foreigners are employing their own kind, and hiring no/fewer Singaporeans.

(C) Most developed economies practise 'Our Citizens First'.
Hence, within such an international context, it is silly for Singaporeans to not request for this policy, and leave our gates wide open for competition to rush in.

Qn#3: Singapore has done well without 'Singaporeans First' for the past 46 years, why should we ask for this now?

It is not true that there was no 'Singaporeans First' in the past.

Back in the 80s and 90s, when MNCs came to Singapore, they were training locals for key positions. My uncle, an A-level cert holder born in the 1950s, was groomed and made a VP in IBM Singapore in the 80s. Will Singaporeans get this kind of opportunity now, even with an MBA?

Back then, it was not taken for granted that these foreign companies could bring in mainly their own kind, use Singaporean resources and infrastructure, and make money. These companies worked under the assumption that nothing is for free. They had to groom locals.

Somehow, post-2000s, we got really desperate and spread our gates wide open. We even went public and literally told the whole world that "Singapore needs foreigners more than they need us".


Qn#4: 'Singaporeans First' means foreign companies would pull out of Singapore, right?

Does it make sense to you that the only reason why these foreign companies have chosen to set up shop in Singapore is because they get to hire their own kind here?
Of course not.

Singapore provides a whole host of good reasons for these foreign firms and foreigners to want to work here. Safety and security, low taxes, efficient and pro business environment, good schools for their kids, enjoyable expat lifestyle (housing and recreation), clean air/water, easy-to-get PR-status, accessible Asian city with English everywhere etc. These factors will not change just because we ask for 'Singaporeans First'.

As a city, we are damn attractive to the world. And we will still be, even if we decide to button up a little. Show less cleavage, put on our panties... You get the pic.


Qn#5: Does this mean we reject foreigners?

No No No.
Singaporeans FIRST is not Singaporeans ONLY.

We are not xenophobic. We just have to learn to practise restrain, and not go overboard with the party invite list.

Qn#6: Can Singaporeans FIRST be applied to other key areas of concern, such as healthcare, housing and education?

Of course, as a principle, Singaporeans FIRST can be applied to these other issues.

But as explained earlier, because Singapore is a WORK-fare-based society, it is extremely crucial that you are gainfully employed.

Once you have secured a good job, you will be able to afford easy access public healthcare, housing, education etc.

*Updated
Qn#6: PAP MP Josephine Teo said on the Political Forum that we already have Singaporeans First. So this is true?

No. This is not true.

Josephine Teo tried to 'cleverly' argue that because there is a quota for hiring of blue collars workers in certain industry segments in Singapore, i.e. to hire the 3 foreigner workers, one has to hire 1 Singaporean first, as such PAP has already provided 'Singaporeans First'.

She is merely quibbling and obfuscating in an irresponsible manner, because:

1. The Singaporean vs Foreigner blue collar worker quota does not cover ALL Singaporeans. E.g. White collars are excluded.
2. In this policy, the quota of 'Singaporean' includes PRs.
3. The ratio of 1 Singaporean to X Foreigners is artificial, and will still deny Singaporeans of getting the job, because the employer only has to hire say 1 Singaporean out of every 4 employees.
4. It is known that the enforcement of this so-called quota, which Josephine Teo has claimed to be 'Singaporeans First', is very lax. Most obviously, many food and beverage establishments are flouting this rule openly. There is a pizza place near where I stay. I don't see any locals working there every time I walk past it, unless some of these Italians and Filipinos are PRs, which brings us back to Point 2.

Do remember, 'Singaporeans First' is a proposed employment policy that mandates that for any employment position to be filled, the employer has to fill it with a Singaporean, unless a better-qualified non-Singaporean has applied for it.

There is no artificial quota. No ratio. No quibbling. No obfuscating.
Only Singaporeans First.
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So, learn to say and ask for 'Singaporeans First', coz you and your children may not get another chance to.

为了您的将来
为了您的子女的将来
新加坡人为先
天经地义