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SINGAPORE must continue to welcome 'suitable' foreign talent, Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng said yesterday.
Fewer foreigners are likely to seek jobs here amid the recession, and employers are more likely to hire or retain locals than foreigners, thanks to the Jobs Credit scheme, he noted.

But restraining the entry of foreign talent, even as unemployment rises, would be 'short-sighted' and 'could ultimately lead to more job losses for Singaporeans'.

During the Supply Committee debate on the Prime Minister's Office budget, Mr Wong, who is also Home Affairs Minister, said: 'Some countries, such as the UK and Australia, are limiting foreign manpower. We should not do likewise.

'Even in this economic downturn, there are sectors in our economy that still need foreign workers to supplement the local workforce to stay in business.

'For example, in the biomedical sciences industry, where there is a shortage of local expertise, highly-skilled foreigners have helped the industry expand its output from $6 billion in 2000 to $24 billion in 2007. There are also jobs that locals shun, such as those in construction.'

Stressing the need to integrate new citizens and new permanent residents, Mr Wong said that a National Integration Council will be set up, chaired by Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.

Singapore accepted 20,513 new citizens and 79,167 PRs last year, up from 17,334 and 63,627 respectively in 2007, Mr Wong said. The increase was due to the strong economy and a broadening of the eligibility criteria in 2004.

'The important issue is not whether they are new citizens, but whether they can successfully integrate into our society,' he said. 'When they do, they become part of us.'

Reporting on employment in the public sector, Minister-in-Charge of the Civil Service Teo Chee Hean said that the 18,000 jobs available in the next two years comprise 30 per cent for people with A levels and below, and 70 per cent for those with at least a diploma qualification.

'The jobs requiring degree qualifications are in more specialised professions, such as teachers, doctors, pharmacists and engineers,' said Mr Teo, who is also Defence Minister. 'Those requiring diploma qualification include positions such as nurses and technical officers.'

But he cautioned against looking to the public sector to provide jobs for everyone. 'Notwithstanding our intention to hire more people, the public sector currently employs about 110,000 people, which constitutes just about 4 per cent of the total labour force,' he said.

The civil service continues to maintain its high standards by hiring people with the right skills and, more importantly, the right values and attitudes for public service, he noted.

Mr Teo also said that the re-employment of workers aged 62 in the civil service has been rising steadily - from 96 or 53 per cent of the number who retired in 2006, to 57 per cent or 103 officers in 2007, and 64 per cent or 189 last year.

This article was first published in The Business Times