Foreign Talent

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Integrated Humanities Core - Worksheet HWA CHONG INSTITUTION High School Section

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Class: 3

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This is a sample of a Source based questions for the topic on Foreign Talent. You are to discuss this in class. Please hand in Question 1 (d).

Study the Background Information and the sources carefully, and then answer all the questions. You may use any of the sources to help you answer the questions, in addition to those sources which you are told to use. In answering the questions you should use your knowledge of the topic to help you interpret and evaluate the sources.

(a)

Study Source A. Do you think the cartoonist supports the policy of using foreign talent in Singapore? Explain your answer. [5]

(b) Study Sources B and C. How different are these two sources? Explain your answer.

(c)

Study Source D. Why do you think Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong made this speech? Explain your answer.

[7]

[6]

(d) Study Source E. How far can you accept what this source says about the policy of using foreign talent? Explain your answer. [7]

09/06/2009 Nancy Tay

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Issue: How far does Singapore really benefit from foreign talent?

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Read this carefully. It may help you to answer some of the questions. With a workforce slightly above two million, compared to the millions in the other cities in the world, it is difficult for Singapore to outdo its competitors based solely on efforts of Singaporeans alone. To enable Singapore to compete successfully in the global market, the government brings in foreign talent. It believes this helps the economy to grow and to create jobs through investments and expertise. Despite this, the policy of using foreign talent has been criticised. How far does Singapore really benefit from foreign talent?

Source A A cartoon on foreign talent in Singapore published in a local newspaper.

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Source B:

A view on foreign talent posted by a Singaporean on an on-line message board.

The government often says that Singapore needs foreign talent. But looking at the foreigners in Singapore, one can suspect that they are not talented. The danger is that the government, in its eagerness to push for foreign talent, overdoes it. By doing this, it would bring downfall for Singapore. Big organisations are headed by people who are unwilling to believe in Singaporeans. They seem intent on hiring foreigners, talented or otherwise. They would rather take the safe bet by following the government's stand of having more foreigners. This leads to the public overreacting to foreign talent. It would be a sad day if local talent chose to work overseas because they prefer to suffer discrimination there, rather than in Singapore.

Source C:

A view on foreign talent posted by a Singaporean on an on-line message board.

As the world becomes increasingly globalised, Singapore needs to gain a competitive advantage. Foreign talent brings skills and knowledge which would help us to gain such an advantage. As fresh ideas are injected into our society, we will be more creative and outward-looking. Having said that, we must not forget our own local talent which has as much to contribute as the foreign talent, if not more. Ignoring our local talent will cause disillusionment and worsen our brain drain problem. In other countries, it is the foreigners who must prove themselves to be better than the locals. But in Singapore, the situation appears to be that local talent misses out unless it can prove that it is better than foreign talent.

09/06/2009 Nancy Tay

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Source D:

A view on foreign talent expressed by the then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong in his National Day Rally Speech, 2001.

I understand that some Singaporeans have reservations about the policy of attracting foreign talent. Let me assure you that our own talent will always come first. We will help every Singaporean to blossom, and to put his talent to good use. But the reality is that we do not have enough people with the right skills and experience for our expanding economy. To make matters worse, some of our brightest young people are working overseas. We, therefore, have to make Singapore a powerful magnet so as to be able to retain our own talent as well as draw in foreign talent. The more talent we have, the stronger our economic capability. I am highlighting the issue of foreign talent because in an economic downturn, more people will feel that foreign talent is taking away their jobs. But you should look at it from the perspective of our long-term interests.

Source E:

From an interview in 2001 with the Chairman of the Feedback Group on Foreign Talent set up by the Singapore government. He was a partner with a major international company. Formerly a British subject, he is now a Singapore citizen and has been active in social work.

The Feedback Group includes a number of foreign senior managers. The majority of these managers would prefer to employ Singaporeans with the right experience and attitude. However, there are two main problems with finding the right Singaporean managers. The first one is the lack of creativity and the second is the lack of international experience. The group generally felt that the lack of creativity in Singaporeans resulted mainly from the education system which does not allow enough creative thinking. Also, at work, Singaporeans are afraid of taking risks and are reluctant to challenge higher management. In general, the group considers the government's policy of bringing in foreign talent as appropriate if Singapore is to remain competitive. However, increased efforts are needed to create more home-grown talent.

09/06/2009 Nancy Tay

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