Chapter Progress
0% Complete
- Singapore’s immigration policy is closely linked with the manpower needs of the country.
- After gaining independence in 1965, Singapore was a third world nation with massive unemployment and lacked foreign direct investment.
- The setting up of the Jurong Industrial Estate marked the start of Singapore’s industrialisation programme.
- Factories producing garments, textiles, toys, wood products and wigs.
- There were capital and technology-intensive projects together with labour-intensive industries.
- There was a demand for more workers in construction sites, factories and shipyards.
- This demand was addressed through issuing of work permits to foreign workers seeking employment in Singapore in 1971.
- However, these foreign workers were not allowed to stay permanently or start families in Singapore
- By the 1980s, Singapore was facing a declining population and a brain drain.
- Hence, the government had to review the immigration policies.
- Professionals such as doctor found it easier to work overseas in, for example, Australia as they could speak English.
- Hence, the Singapore government started to encourage another wave of immigration to Singapore in the 1990s till today.
- The government’s foreign workforce policy has evolved over time, with the key objective of meeting Singapore’s manpower needs, as Singapore faces a declining citizen population and a growing ageing population.
- The policy focuses on a higher-skilled foreign workforce to support a knowledge-based economy.
- Foreign manpower helps to mitigate the impact of an increasing tax and economic burden on the working-age population and shrinking customer base where companies may find Singapore unattractive to sell their products to.
- Migrants (foreign manpower who come to Singapore temporarily) who choose to make Singapore their home become our naturalised Singapore citizens (SCs) or permanent residents (PRs).
- The immigration framework to grant citizenship and permanent residence considers a range of factors such as the applicant’s ability to contribute to Singapore, adapt to our society and show their commitment to Singapore.
- These migrants and immigrants bring a diversity of cultures, practices, customs, skills, valuable experiences and business networks to contribute ideas and expertise to Singapore’s economy.
- Thus the inflow of migrants and immigrants has led to the greater diversity in Singapore today.