Singaporean talents leaving to other countries
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To my dismay, I know tons of people, my own friends or friend's friends are all leaving Singapore to work in foreign countries. Most of them already have their green cards and PR citizenships or in the process of doing so, while earning a big salary and a comfortable lifestyle.
So why are people leaving their hometown? -
u sure they are "talents"?
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mayb can get better job n $$$ lor...
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we oni heard of glorified stories of how ppl made it big elsewhere.........
but wat about the plights of those who were not as lucky?.......
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Is this the time for us to find better paying jobs overseas, since our own domestic employment situation is poor ?
The present situation in Singapore is similar to the Filippinos during the early 1980s - and those from Indonesia and Vietnam from early 1990s - when their economies were shattered by political incompetency and lack of economic planning.
The warning cards were already on our table since the EARLY 1980s, when businesses were all complaining about the high costs of doing businesses in Singapore - such as stubborn insistence of annual wage increases, high CPF contribution to achieve a 40 percent mark, high land prices that resulted in high cost of developments and subsequent rentals and property prices - that affected all down stream costs.
The Government had claimed that THEY KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR SINGAPORE.
How can they NOT know everything ?
They insisted on having ALL THE AVAILABLE and LIMITED SINGAPORE TALENTED PERSONS on their side, and every angles were supposed to have been covered.
Still we had the experience of the 1987 crash, and had almost recovered by 1991 - by then the Government returned to set the pace of wage increments in the Civil Service that affected the wages paid to Commerce and Industries.
CPF contribution was pushed back to 40 PERCENT again.
New fiscal policies were introduced with high COE prices that affected commercial vehicles, followed with ERP being introduced; while tax on fuel remained relentlessly high.
URA land sale prices were kept continuously high to maintain the 'false value of the bubble' that the Banking Community need, so that past property financing plans are not jeopardised.
Some would claim that these comments are with the benefit of hindsight. However, these were already the complaints that were voiced by nearly all sectors of Singapore Life - from ordinary housewife, hawkers, Small and Medium Enterprises to large Corporations; home buyers to industrial developers; entrepreneurs and established businessess planning new investments had begun to pick alternative sites with lower overheads.
These were already the writings on the wall, that were ignored.
Even the Opposition Party had written books about it, and offered solutions that were derided - but now we see Government adopting ideas that were already suggested more then TEN YEARS AGO.
Fortunately, those who are going overseas have found jobs based on the HIGHLY TRAINED SKILLS of these Singaporeans - as middle or high level managers, consultants, specialists.
We have yet to experience husbands and wives leaving the family to seek menial jobs overseas - as laborers, maids, farm hands.
Let us not fall into the silly and cheap political cliches created by the senior members of the Ruling Party, who had contradicted themselves by coining this label for these Singaporeans as QUITTERS; when at the same time these same Political Leaders had failed in their economic planning had also encouraged Singaporeans to 'SPREAD THEIR WINGS'
Many Singaporeans had 'spread their wings' since the late 1970s, more during 1980s, AND even MORE during the 1990s.
Those who DARE, WINS.
So are those who 'SPREAD THEIR WINGS' now 'QUITTERS' ? -
hmm..sg values FT alot...so in order for us to be FT, the only way is OUT!!..
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That statement says it all, FireIce - probably more than you intended. A good part of the time, the ones who leave are treated as "talents" with the inverted commas.Originally posted by FireIce:u sure they are "talents"?
These people leave Singapore and go to environments in which they can perform to their maximum potential, instead of being hampered by people who either have some inferiority complex or want to protect their rice bowls instead of being truly competitive.
These are the people who want to have the freedom to do what they see to be the right thing, instead of following the yes-sir-no-sir-three-bags-full mentality that pervades right from the beginning of the education process. Unfortunately, Singapore is the kind of place where thinking for yourself makes you a pariah.
The strangest thing is that these are exactly the people that Singapore needs right now in its current stage of development. The growth of the economy has resulted in a population that can no longer afford to play the game of producing goods that are cheaper than anyone else's. Right now, they need people who can think outside of the square, but with the atmosphere of hierarchical compliance, they have done themselves in. Recognising this need, the government instead decided to launch into its "stayers and quitters" nonsense. The message they effectively delivered was "Singapore - love it or lump it". Fine - faced with such a choice, many have chosen to lump it, and it's the government's poor judgement to have offered such a challenge instead of trying to coax these people back.
So, yes, in other parts of the world, they're talents. It's only in Singapore that they're "talents". -
Are the ones who are not as lucky those who don't go overseas or those who go and don't make it big?Originally posted by FireIce:we oni heard of glorified stories of how ppl made it big elsewhere.........
but wat about the plights of those who were not as lucky?.......
If it's the latter case, that question doesn't really add up. The migration process usually requires that applicants be able to demonstrate their ability to support themselves, either by gaining employment or by setting up viable businesses (their previous business track record is also taken into consideration). In countries where there is social support, this is done so that they don't end up taking in migrants who will be a drain on the welfare system. So, I don't know if these are "glorified stories of how ppl made it big elsewhere", but at the point of entry, they are already in a good position to make it. -
u want a frank answer?Originally posted by :To my dismay, I know tons of people, my own friends or friend's friends are all leaving Singapore to work in foreign countries. Most of them already have their green cards and PR citizenships or in the process of doing so, while earning a big salary and a comfortable lifestyle.
So why are people leaving their hometown?
my answer is that, my passion is motorsports.
i want to, and dare to, make my passion my career. unfortunately singapore is not supportive of motorsport. hence, i will leave singapore, because my passion is that strong. -
bravo!!! well said!Originally posted by Gedanken:That statement says it all, FireIce - probably more than you intended. A good part of the time, the ones who leave are treated as "talents" with the inverted commas.
These people leave Singapore and go to environments in which they can perform to their maximum potential, instead of being hampered by people who either have some inferiority complex or want to protect their rice bowls instead of being truly competitive.
These are the people who want to have the freedom to do what they see to be the right thing, instead of following the yes-sir-no-sir-three-bags-full mentality that pervades right from the beginning of the education process. Unfortunately, Singapore is the kind of place where thinking for yourself makes you a pariah.
The strangest thing is that these are exactly the people that Singapore needs right now in its current stage of development. The growth of the economy has resulted in a population that can no longer afford to play the game of producing goods that are cheaper than anyone else's. Right now, they need people who can think outside of the square, but with the atmosphere of hierarchical compliance, they have done themselves in. Recognising this need, the government instead decided to launch into its "stayers and quitters" nonsense. The message they effectively delivered was "Singapore - love it or lump it". Fine - faced with such a choice, many have chosen to lump it, and it's the government's poor judgement to have offered such a challenge instead of trying to coax these people back.
So, yes, in other parts of the world, they're talents. It's only in Singapore that they're "talents".
*standing ovation* -
can u blame them? the government hasn't been exactly very good to the people. idealistically was that the government serves the people, but thats just an idea... whether the government is actually helping the people is another issue, whatever goes on behind closed doors, no one knows.
the government always tell us not to complain, as quote " we shouldn't act as though singapore owes us a living"
if thats true, and i accept it. i don't owe singapore anything to stay on when the grass IS indeed greener on the other side -
*takes a bow*Originally posted by HENG@:bravo!!! well said!
*standing ovation*
Thank you, thank you!
About the point of salaries, that's not all there is to life. I quit a job that paid me $72K a year, with travel on top of that, but ultimately left me with no space to move - basically I ended up surfing the net 4 hours a day. There are many studies that already show how money only has a short term effect on motivation. The fact that Singaporeans think that something as banal as money is the key issue is in itself a reflection of the reasons why people choose to leave. -
well said too!!!Originally posted by dumbdumb!:can u blame them? the government hasn't been exactly very good to the people. idealistically was that the government serves the people, but thats just an idea... whether the government is actually helping the people is another issue, whatever goes on behind closed doors, no one knows.
the government always tell us not to complain, as quote " we shouldn't act as though singapore owes us a living"
if thats true, and i accept it. i don't owe singapore anything to stay on when the grass IS indeed greener on the other side
*another standing ovation* -
you're most welcome.Originally posted by Gedanken:*takes a bow*
Thank you, thank you!
About the point of salaries, that's not all there is to life. I quit a job that paid me $72K a year, with travel on top of that, but ultimately left me with no space to move - basically I ended up surfing the net 4 hours a day. There are many studies that already show how money only has a short term effect on motivation. The fact that Singaporeans think that something as banal as money is the key issue is in itself a reflection of the reasons why people choose to leave. -
Is it so surprising at all that more and more younger singaporeans feel they can prosper overseas? Given a chance, half the scholars who are bonded to gahmen linked corporations would run at the first opportunity open to them in the region and the west. This coupled by a healther, more relaxed lifestyle (you dun need to work yourself to death just to earn peanuts) has prompted many of our talented individuals to seek their futures away from our society.
In fact, in a recent article in a magazine (the name slipped my mind), some parents were even urging their children to stay overseas if they were offered a job after they graduated.
A lack of distinct opportunities have made some ppl sit up and take notice. Singapore has limited chances and those few are already "streamlined" for the select high profile scholars whom certain companies have invested tons of money and time to groom.
It is not enuff that you have an impeccable and polished degree. You need to be a recognised scholar to stand any chance of reaching those upper echalons in a corporation. As a result, those on the not-so-prestigious parent's scholarship find themselves 2nd best in all departments, not because they lack the qualifications mind you, but simply because they are not scholars.
Hard work and proven results does not come close to a scholarly rite of passage up the corporate ladder. While we emphasize a significant portion on manpower qualifications, it seems the basics of track record and hard work have been forgotten. It is no longer enuff that you diligently perform your duties, you need to be "value-added" so that a company recognises your "talent" and contribution to the continued success it may have.
It's sad that we now have an overreliance on paper qualifications. -
because Singapore is no longer our home.
it belongs to the autocrats in charge.
It belongs to the Lee Family.
We can have a better life elsewhere. -
as azrael put it down in truthful but brutal and concise terms..
we haven't much to fight for and few things holding us back..
myself, it's a matter of time too...
alas... -
When the reality of Singapore belonging to the Ruling Party and you are subject to their whim and wane, and you can do little in this nation but allow your bodies to be used and broken in your predefined role in this nation for life... morale and patriotism suddenly drop.
Especially when not expressing allegience to the Party is often considered subtle treason. -
very true. something i've repeatedly tried to tell my friend, who still believes in "get a stable job with stable pay and little risks/work". and yet he counters me with stuff like "be content and you'll be happy".Originally posted by Gedanken:There are many studies that already show how money only has a short term effect on motivation. The fact that Singaporeans think that something as banal as money is the key issue is in itself a reflection of the reasons why people choose to leave.
sadly same thing with most my other friends, low expectations, little to no ambition, aversion to work and risks. -
i don't share any of your pessimistic views about the country and the PAP though. as much as there are problems, things are still changing, and we can't expect it to happen within a year.
10 years later, singapore will probably be very different. i foresee some political change around 5 years from now. -
very very well said!!!!Originally posted by AzRaeL:because Singapore is no longer our home.
it belongs to the autocrats in charge.
It belongs to the Lee Family.
We can have a better life elsewhere.
*thunderous standing ovation* -
I don't share any of your pessimistic views about the country and the PAP though. as much as there are problems, things are still changing, and we can't expect it to happen within a year.
agreed...try living outside for acouple of years..still think Singapore is better.
10 years later, singapore will probably be very different. i foresee some political change around 5 years from now. -
When FTs are treated better than Citizens, it's a wake up call.Originally posted by HENG@:very very well said!!!!
*thunderous standing ovation*
When foreigners throw breadrolls at our women, and the offenders are not ejected from the restaurant (like they would be in North America), perhaps it is time to leave.
When I am in Canada, I'm treated much better by the Canadian Government (though i am only a Canadian PR) than I am treated by Singapore, where i am a citizen. -
5 years from now, the Dragon Prince will be in charge, the nation held in the grip of his talons.Originally posted by nismoS132:10 years later, singapore will probably be very different. i foresee some political change around 5 years from now.
Leave now while you can. -
Many animals do not breed in captivity.
Why do you think Singapore's birth rate is one of the lowest in the World?