Talent or Skill ?

The GE 2011  of Singapore just recently came to a close. There is much hype about the plans and changes that the incumbent government plans to do in hopes of maintaining and enhancing its support base.

I noticed that the issues that Singaporeans are most concerned about are transportation, housing and more importantly Singapore's foreign policy with regards to the influx of foreigners into this tiny island.

I was having a chat with my aunt this afternoon regarding the elections and she spoke about her concern about foreign talent. My aunt was originally from Malaysia and she converted her citizenship for a Singaporean one. It is kind of ironic to have her speak about Singapore's future, however I guess that this island is her life now and she wants a place where she can live in with a sense of security.

My aunt noticed that most of the skilled workers, mechanics, technicians, plumbers and those who work in the industrial sectors of the economy are not Singaporeans. They are all foreigners and this statistics somehow worries her because with the degree of discontentment felt among Singaporeans because of the astronomical number of foreigners coming into this island the government might quite possibly reduce and tighten laws in regards to allowing in foreigners.

I think the problem starts here. If the government were to make the rules more strict, it would mean that it would be more difficult for foreigners to come into Singapore to work. This might appease Singaporeans for a while. However the question we need to ask is this-
             
       Are Singaporeans willing to work and take over the vacancies that will be created when foreigners leave. Who is going to do manual labor, work in the construction site, fix pipes and cars? Are Singaporeans willing to get their hands dirty. I think one of the greatest challenge that the government will face is in trying to strike a fine balance between employing skilled workers and simultaneously doing it in a way that does not irritate Singaporeans.

The government need to convince and persuade Singaporeans to get their hands dirty and elevate the status and perceptions that Singaporeans have towards these jobs. Then only I think Singaporeans can truly claim ownership over their country, when they are willing to convert their talents into skills not only in prestigious jobs but as well as the industrial ones. When this is realized, the government then will be more willing to tighten their immigration laws so that Singaporeans are given priority