S'pore PMETs not losing out to foreigners
Outgoing Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin has refuted claims that Singaporean professionals are being displaced by foreigners.
The unemployment rate of Singaporean PMETs (professionals, managers, executives and technicians) remained low at 2.9 per cent last year, while incomes have not stagnated in the last five years, Mr Tan wrote on the official blog of the Ministry of Manpower yesterday.
He will relinquish his position as Manpower Minister on May 4, and move to the Ministry of Social and Family Development in the latest Cabinet reshuffle.
The real median income, adjusted for inflation, of Singaporean PMETs grew by about 2 per cent per annum between 2009 and 2014, Mr Tan wrote.
He also highlighted that the growth of foreign manpower has slowed in recent years.
"The growth rate of Employment Pass (EP) and S Pass holders has slowed from 20 per cent in 2011 to 4 per cent in 2014," he wrote.
Mr Tan said that the Government will "protect the interest of our locals" and not allow unfair hiring practices.
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