Urging Unity, Finance Minister Highlights Importance of Foreign Workers in Singapore
In Parliament, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong addressed Singapore’s foreign worker shortage, stating it will be resolved “within the next few months.” He cautioned against allowing “anti-foreigner sentiments” to take hold in Singapore, noting that some MPs have been vocal on this issue without specifying names.
Concluding the Budget 2022 debate, his first as Finance Minister, Wong highlighted the government’s commitment to addressing manpower shortages, particularly in the construction, marine, and process sectors, as border restrictions begin to ease. He emphasized that many businesses have expressed concern about manpower availability, declaring, “We should be able to clear the shortages within the next few months.”
Wong warned that Singapore must not create a perception of being unwelcoming to foreigners, as this could deter foreign investment. “If global investors perceive this to be true, Singapore will become less attractive to them, and ordinary Singaporeans will bear the consequences,” he explained. He urged caution among those in the House who have been particularly vocal about this matter, stating, “We must never let anti-foreigner sentiments take root here or give the impression that we are becoming more inward-looking.”
He also mentioned that the government has been implementing “careful, calibrated adjustments” to foreign worker policies, indicating that rapid changes might negatively impact small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Wong assured that these policy changes are designed to ensure foreign workers complement the local workforce. He reiterated that Singapore is not closing its doors to foreign workers and professionals, as they are “integral to our economy and competitiveness.”
According to Wong, foreign workers serve as “a valuable complement to our Singaporean core at all levels of the workforce.” He stated, “We continue to welcome everyone who contributes to building the strongest teams here, giving Singaporeans the best chance of success amid intense global competition. We welcome those with the capabilities and commitment who share our values and way of life to stay and help us shape the next phase of our Singapore story.”
Statistics from the Ministry of Manpower reveal that in 2019, before the onset of the Covid pandemic, there were 1,427,400 foreign workers in Singapore. This figure dramatically decreased to 1,231,500 in 2020 and further declined to 1,197,100 in 2021.
