Just past 30
years, today a new trend is emerging. China has grown so much that it is
thinking and planning to move up the skills level to high value added
industries. China is planning to move out its low skill labour intensive manufacturing
industries to Southeast Asia! What, what? And the countries in the region will be
benefitting from the relocation of low skill manufacturing back to the region.
China is moving up the economic ladder to provide higher skill and higher
paying jobs. It is returning the low skill and low wage industries and jobs to
the region.
Singapore is
going to be a beneficiary too. We are so well prepared to absorb all the low
skill and low wage jobs once again. Now you know why we need 6.9m and then 10m
population. We have topped up our labour force with plenty of low skill labour
hungry for any jobs and any pay. Singapore can become a low skill manufacturing
hub once more with plentiful of cheap labour available. China would be most
happy and generous to return the favour.
Singapore
could look forward to a new phase of low skill manufacturing activities. We
don’t have enough cheap labour then, today we have plenty of them. If this is
not enough can always import more workers from the region. 10m should be a good
number to start with to cater for the manufacturing boom coming our way.
Singapore is
going to get a new lease of life as a low skill manufacturing hub and more
economic growth.