I remember a recent incident at my workplace that opened my eyes to the ongoing debate about foreign workers in Singapore. It was a typical Monday morning, and I was just settling into my desk when I overheard a heated conversation between my boss and one of my colleagues, Sam.
The incident
Sam had been with the company for over five years, and he was one of the most dedicated employees I knew. He often went above and beyond, staying late to ensure that projects were completed on time. However, he had recently been vocal about his concerns regarding the increasing number of foreign workers in our industry. He felt that it was affecting job security for locals like us, and he wasn’t shy about expressing his views during team meetings.
That day, the topic of discussion was a new project that required additional manpower. My FT boss, known for his no-nonsense attitude, suggested that we bring in more foreign workers to help with the workload. Sam, feeling frustrated, spoke up and said, “I think we should consider hiring locals first. We have the skills and experience, and it would be better for the company’s reputation.”
I could see my boss’s face darken at Sam’s comment. He leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms, and replied,
“Look, Sam, I can get rid of you and hire two more cheaper foreigners. They’ll do the same job for less money. You need to understand that this is a business, and we need to keep costs down.”
The room fell silent. I could feel the tension in the air. Sam’s face turned red, and I could see the anger boiling inside him. He took a deep breath and said, “But what about loyalty? What about the years I’ve put into this company? You can’t just replace people like that.”
My boss shrugged, “It’s not personal, it’s just business. You have to understand that in this competitive market, we need to make decisions that benefit the bottom line. If that means hiring cheaper labor, then so be it.”
I was taken aback by the callousness of my boss’s words. It was a stark reminder of the reality many Singaporeans face in the workforce today. The influx of foreign workers has been a contentious issue for years, and while I understand the need for a diverse workforce, it often feels like locals are being pushed aside in favor of cheaper alternatives.
After the meeting, I approached Sam to see how he was holding up. He looked defeated, and I could see the frustration in his eyes.
“I just don’t understand how they can value profit over people,” he said. “We work hard, and we deserve to be recognised for that. But our boss seem to only want to bring in his countryman, he talked as though he is the owner of the company but he is just another employee, profit is just an excuse”
I agreed with him. It’s disheartening to see how the narrative has shifted in recent years. Many of us have grown up hearing that hard work and dedication would lead to job security, but it seems that’s no longer the case. The fear of being replaced by cheaper foreign labor looms over many of us, and it’s a conversation that needs to be had.
As I reflected on the incident, I couldn’t help but think about the broader implications. What does it mean for our society when we prioritize cost over community? When we allow businesses to treat employees as expendable resources? It’s a slippery slope, and I worry about the future of our workforce.
I decided to share my thoughts on Facebook, hoping to spark a conversation among my friends. I wrote about the incident, expressing my concerns about the treatment of local workers and the need for a more balanced approach to hiring. I asked my friends for their opinions, wanting to hear their experiences and thoughts on the matter.
The responses were overwhelming. Many shared similar stories of feeling undervalued in their jobs, while others expressed their frustrations with the current hiring practices. Some even shared their own experiences of being replaced or overlooked in favor of foreign workers. It was clear that this was a topic that resonated with many.
One friend, who works in the tech industry, mentioned how he had trained a foreign worker only to find out that the company decided to hire them full-time while letting him go. “It’s like they don’t care about the investment they’ve made in us,” he said. “We’re just numbers on a spreadsheet.”
As the comments poured in, I realized that this was more than just a workplace issue; it was a societal one. It’s about the values we hold as a nation and how we treat each other in the pursuit of progress.
In the end, I decided to organize a small gathering with my friends to discuss these issues further. I believe that open conversations are the first step towards change. We need to advocate for ourselves and ensure that our voices are heard.