The Singapore Reservation

The US has special land set aside called reservations for the down and out native Red Indians so that they can be protected and continue to live as archaeological evidence that these were the original inhabitants of North America. So the reservation is a kind of protective place for people who are endangered, jobless, and need a safe haven to eke out a living, protected from the harsh realities of life and competition, a kind of living museum.

We have some quarters of our population that are down and out, but not deserving of living in reservations. No, Singapore does not have physical space called reservations for those whose existence are threatened. There is a new breed of citizens whose existence is actually threatened, the unemployed, not employable or not wanted. These are the oldies, defined as those above 45 or 50 years of age, retrenched or retired. Many have tertiary educations, degrees or diplomas, some with management experience, but could not find occupation in a rich country that has full employment and employing more than a million foreigners in PME positions. Unbelieveable but that is the situation.

So what shall the Govt do to this group of highly trained and experienced professionals? Or what should this group of people do to continue to live like human beans? Luckily for them, there is a protected profession for them to fall back on, ie as taxi drivers. I was told that only Singaporeans are allowed to drive taxis, no foreigners allowed. Not sure if PRs are allowed. Any way this is the only protected profession other than politicians/ministers that only Singaporeans need apply.

Isn’t the Govt kind and thoughtful and caring? It would be better, I may be asking too much, for the Govt to include a few more professions in the PME categories for Singaporeans only. Oh there is another one, the Presidency. But I know it would not be. Still it is good to have taxi driving as a protected profession, like the reservations in the USA.

There are merits to protect this job. The Govt must have carefully looked at the benefits before deciding to protect this job and the specie of people to be in it. Politically it is a wise move as it will keep a big group of people from being unhappy and angry to be dependent on the licence to survive. If they are contented, some votes will go the way of the Govt. Then there is the security issue. Some countries will allow the mobsters, drug addicts or new migrants to drive taxis and put their vulnerable women and children and the oldies in them. Here the Govt thinks safety is important and would rather put the safety of our citizens, the vulnerable group, in the hands of citizens. Of course it could turn out the other way when taxi drivers are often victims of bashing by foreign customers or even robbed and killed. In general, our people will feel safer with Singaporeans driving their wives and daughters and parents around.

The tourists will also benefit from the highly educated taxi drivers who could engage in a serious discussion on anything under the Singapore sky. The higher educated taxi drivers, and being more senior, are more respectable and reliable in a profession like taxi driving, both for them and their passengers.

Good thinking Govt, caring and inclusive. Our taxi driving reservation is definitely better than the reservations for Red Indians. Many PMEs will see taxi driving as a last resort, but it is still something to be grateful to the Govt. If some jokers decide to improve the service quality of taxi driving and open this profession to new migrants, our PMEs will have no where to run and no where to hide. The young and hungrier migrants, more eager and more willing to please, more hard working, will drive them out of jobs. Be grateful ya.