Your Say: Welcoming foreign talent while addressing Singaporeans’ concerns — TODAY readers weigh in 

WE DON’T NEED FOREIGN TALENT

Why are there so many retrenchments happening if there is a shortage of talent? For_Entertain_Only

Why do we keep depending on foreign talent? Hasn’t Singapore been building (local) talent already? Our education is considered on top of the world, we have local talent with international exposure. So, what's wrong here? Maybe the country isn't growing real talent, but used the wrong approach in talent gauging by numbers only for decades. geckosg

Getting more foreign workers to “solve” the economy is just throwing money at a problem that isn’t solved by money. Foreign talents will come in, do good work, and our economy will bump up a little bit. Then they’ll take their savings and go back to their country to live a luxurious life, and our economy will crash worse than it did before. Nivlacart

Why are those who were educated here and went through the system not able to get jobs that employers are looking to fill? If the education system is fit for purpose in the first place, we won't have to constantly lament the lack of talents and resort to massive importation. TP LEE

WE NEED FOREIGN TALENT, BUT CAN SYSTEM BE IMPROVED?

Singapore indeed cannot thrive without immigration, but is it thriving under the past and current immigration policies? Immigration when implemented well is a net positive thing. All the major financial and tech hubs in the world are highly cosmopolitan because talents are a global scarcity. Has Singapore become anywhere near the likes of San Francisco, London, and Hong Kong after two decades of massive immigration? Maybe we are not getting much real talent after all. wtf_m1

We need real foreign talent who can teach us things to help us get self-sufficient, but we don’t need cheap and fake talent from degree mills or fake degrees to compete with us Singaporeans. SAMSONITE SAM

Fighting over cushy office and specialised jobs for locals is good and all, but why then are the hard caps being applied to the lowest-end jobs? … I don't see Singaporeans lining up to fill jobs like waiters, cleaners and factory line workers. ASTIA HG

The policy needs constant review by people from different backgrounds with an unbiased approach to at least ensure policies and practices are not overdone to the detriment of local-born PMETs (professionals, managers, executives and technicians). HUDDER TOOFS

WE NEED TO CONSIDER OTHER FACTORS

Singapore isn't alone, practically all other developed nations are facing a TFR (total fertility rate) crisis. It almost seems like the trend is towards countries fighting for an increasingly limited pool of skilled workers globally. I think we really need to ensure that Singaporeans are able to compete on the global stage, and not just in the local job market. But of course there's going to be so much opposition to reforming our approach towards education because it’s much easier to stick with what we have now (mugging + regurgitating during exams). whydoweneedusers

We really shouldn't accept this framing unless there is an equal policy effort in promoting family-friendly policies and reversing the TFR trend. If not we might as well start questioning — what exactly is Singapore? A country? Or just an economy that needs to expand forever despite a dwindling number of people who are born here? FalseAgent

There are two distinct and separate issues when talking about foreigners. One, if they integrate and assimilate smoothly into Singapore society and adopt our ways, I see no problem. But, two, if they come here to work but their loyalty isn't with Singapore but elsewhere, and they bring their own kaki to replace or displace Singaporean workers, now that is a huge problem. Another problem is the ultra-rich foreigners who come here buying up everything and thereby pushing up the prices (cost of living). LARRY WHOSOEVER

TFR won’t be solved if the cost of living is high and WFH (work-from-home) is non-existent as a policy. Sending kids to childcare is expensive; grandparents need to be taken care of too. Only_Run7280

Let’s be practical, logical, and rational. We as Singaporeans are not reproducing ourselves fast enough — ageing population, high divorce rate, low marriage rate. If we keep complaining online and only remain keyboard warriors, soon we will not exist to even complain. Let’s post constructive criticism, take more ownership and think rationally in improving our country as citizens than being purely emotional. KUMARASON RAJAH

 
 
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