Comments made in these two news articles indicate hard times ahead for Singaporean PMETs:
1. Manpower realities: Beyond the numbers: Tan Chuan-Jin - The Malaysian Insider
"Our Employment Pass (EP) stock contracted marginally (-700), the first half-yearly reduction since 2009 when the recession hit us. I think our adjustments are beginning to be felt at the Professional-Managerial-Executive (PME) level. However, S Passes registered strong growth of 14,200 in the first half of this year. Because of the tightened EP requirements from January, it is likely that companies are using S Passes to bring in the more junior level PMEs"
2. 10,000 PMEs to join labour movement by 2013 - Today
"In a statement, the NTUC said it is important that the labour movement adapts to meet the needs of PMEs as they are the rank-and-file workers of tomorrow.
In the first article, Tan Chuan-Jin has admitted that more S-passes are being issued as employers are switching from E-pass to S-pass hires. In the process, local junior PMETs are being replaced by S-pass foreign manpower.
The second article reveals that the Govt is fully aware of the problem, and NTUC is gearing up for a surge in PMETs losing their jobs and becoming rank-and-file workers.
