The
President of SMU commented that it was unsustainable and politically difficult
for any govt to allow the free movement of workers across national border. The
domestic political forces would not allow it to happen. But all these concerns
have proven to be nothing to Singapore and Singapore has embraced free movement
of human capital, we called in foreign talents, like fish in water. With the
right political leadership and political will, nothing is an obstacle. The
different education system, degrees and professional qualifications too were
non issues. These have never been a problem to Singapore and it has more than 2
million foreigners in the island to prove that all is well.
Singapore’s
successful formula is best seen in the broad and sweeping CECA agreement with
India. This is the most important formula to prove that freedom of movement of
talents can be done. Singapore simply accepts all the qualifications of all the
Indian universities, all the differences in educational system and standards
with no question asked. This is not
about stupidity or administrative convenience, but about building trust and
trusting the quality of India’s universities and human talents. When these
differences are set aside, there is no more problems to talk about.
In Singapore’s
experience, all the foreigners hired are genuine foreign talents. No one has
complained about hiring duds or fakes. Even if they were fakes, as long as they can
do the job, the piece of paper is irrelevant. There were one or two cases of
mistakes but too little and too few to worry about. Only stupid employers will
be hiring duds and fakes. Singapore’s employers are not stupid and therefore
have no stupid problems.
Singapore
should sell this wonderful CECA formula to the Asean countries, that this is
the way to go forward. Forget about the differences, ignore the differences,
don’t look at them, don’t bring them up, pretend that everything is fine and
all will be fine. And Singapore can use its 2% economic growth as proof. By
bringing in 2m foreigners, Singapore achieved a 2% growth. And to prove that
Singapore truly believe in this formula, Singapore will raise its population to
10m, ie, bringing in another 5m foreigners which will translate to another 5%
growth.
Singapore
has done it, see how successful Singapore is? Have no fear about free movement
of human capital. With the right political leadership and political will, all
problems will become non problems.
CECA is the
miracle formula that Singapore has signed with India that benefits both countries
greatly, economically. And Singapore now has so many spare and talented Singaporean PMETs to export to Asean
countries, armed with certificates with courtesies from the NTUC, trained for
export, to work around the world. Singapore would not have the luxury of sharing
these spare talents with Asean countries if we did not bring in the better
foreign talents to replace these no skill set local talents, or obsolete
talents.
Singapore
can be the leading light in the free movement of human capital in Asean. We
have been experimenting and enjoying a surge of productivity with so many
foreign talents to choose from. There are so many waiting at the door for
Singapore to pick and choose, attracted by the good working environment and
very excellent pay package and a very strong Singapore dollar. Singaporeans are so appreciative of these
foreign talents that many are giving credits to the foreigners for building
Singapore to what it is today. With the AEC, Singapore will have no problem
boosting its population to 10m and all the property prices will go up 100 fold.
Singaporeans will all stand to gain, to rent out
their expensive HDB flats and move out to live in Bintan, Batam and Johore. No
need to work any more, except for the young doing two years of guard duties.
The free movement of human capital with the implementation of AEC is the
greatest thing that can happen for Singapore and Singaporeans.