In his speech at the opening of a manufacturing plant today, the Prime Minister took the opportunity to defend his government's FT policy stressing that foreign workers had help to "create more good jobs" for Singaporeans. He then used the following to support his assertions:
"In his speech, Mr Lee noted that six in 10 of the employees are 'Singaporeans and permanent residents'. Singapore residents also take up two-thirds of the managerial and professional positions," [Link]
""For every one foreign worker, we have created 1.5 local jobs in this project," PM Lee said. "[Link]
I find his assertions weak and unconvincing.
First, If PM Lee wants to be convincing, at the very least he should state clearly the ratio of Singaporean and non-citizen workers that are employed in the plant to prove his case. Adding PRs into the numbers will only make him appear evasive. It will make a lot of difference to the validity of his assertion if he had told us that of the six "resident" employees, there are 5 Singaporeans and only 1 PR. I guess the numbers aren't pretty, and that is why he dare not provide the breakdown of employment figures on Singaporeans workers. How to believe him then?
Second, it is illogical of him to say that 1 foreign worker had created 1.5 local jobs just by looking at the employment numbers without providing more background info. Citing his numbers, we can spin his assertion on its head and say that every 1.5 local workers had created 1 job for foreigners instead. So who is creating jobs for who then?
Related:
Singapore Premier Lee Says Influx of Foreign Workers Has Benefited Economy - Bloomberg
“Foreign workers help create good jobs for S’poreans: PM” - The Online Citizen
Foreigners Help Create Good Jobs for Singaporeans: PM - The Jakarta Globe
Lee Hsien Loong: Foreigner Help Create Good Jobs for Singaporeans? - Singapore Social and Political Thoughts
Singapore gains from hiring foreign workers, PM says - International Business Times (Australia)
