Photo from The Enduring Vision
So I read that 1984-ville's public housing authority has decided to make it illegal for foreign construction workers to rent public flats.
Before I go on about my personal feelings on this, here are a few scenarios of what might happen when the ban kicks in:
1. Construction cost goes up. This is because construction companies which hire these workers will have the responsibility of providing purpose-built housing for these foreign workers. Every company in Singapore hires foreigners because locals won't do the job. The cost will of course have to be passed on to consumers. The smaller firms who can't afford to do so will go under. So let's brace ourselves for another shake-up in this sector.
2. Employers re-classify their workers when registering with the authorities. One way to overcome the problem of building housing facilities is to register their workers as someone other than a construction worker. Maybe a stone mason, brick-layer etc. This then makes mockery of the ban.
3. Exodus of workers to private housing. If local leasees of public housing complain about the presence of foreign workers in their midst, imagine the kind of noise that the nouveau riche will make when they share cubic space in the sky with foreign faces. Bring out the popcorn for showtime.
4. Further social isolation of foreigners, creating pockets around the island where foreigners dominate and no locals would voluntarily go. This flies in the face of the current government's drive to promote integration of "foreign talents" into local society.
These are just some thoughts off the top of my head.
Back to why I'm against the ban. The public housing authority (and the residents who brought up the "problem") are essentially saying that foreign workers are of a lower class, behave badly, create social disorder and generally responsible for the bulk of crime statistics. This sounds very much like the message that's been sent out by ring-wing anti-immigration groups in Europe.
I walked through my estate at 6 this morning to go to work . I bet my bottom dollar that all the spittle, used tissue paper and general uncleanliness I see was caused by my neighbours - all local born-and-bred 1984-ville denizens.
The bottom line is this: we bleed red and the sewers are equally smelly.
1 comment:
"Before I go on about my personal feelings on this, here are a few scenarios of what might happen when the ban kicks in:"
1. Construction cost goes up. This is because construction companies which hire these workers will have the responsibility of providing purpose-built housing for these foreign workers. Every company in Singapore hires foreigners because locals won't do the job. The cost will of course have to be passed on to consumers. The smaller firms who can't afford to do so will go under. So let's brace ourselves for another shake-up in this sector.
*My tictacquestion: Everything happens for a reason. Qn to all readers: So would you do construction or pay higher prices???*
2. Employers re-classify their workers when registering with the authorities. One way to overcome the problem of building housing facilities is to register their workers as someone other than a construction worker. Maybe a stone mason, brick-layer etc. This then makes mockery of the ban.
*My tictacquestion: What gets around, comes around. No one can beat the Truth, for ever. So, don't play play.*
3. Exodus of workers to private housing. If local leasees of public housing complain about the presence of foreign workers in their midst, imagine the kind of noise that the nouveau riche will make when they share cubic space in the sky with foreign faces. Bring out the popcorn for showtime.
*my tictacquestion: For small-medium enterprises, why would the bosses rent private housing for their workers when they're living in public housing and don't enjoy the privileges of living in private housing themselves?*
4. Further social isolation of foreigners, creating pockets around the island where foreigners dominate and no locals would voluntarily go. This flies in the face of the current government's drive to promote integration of "foreign talents" into local society.
My tictacquestion to community: pockets or not....how far have you ventured when there "was freedom" to do so?
My tictacquestion to parents: maybe the governement is simply trying to give a longterm probable living space for our children???? Have you got a sure-win formula to provide now for your kids into adulthood when we could have been cold dead then?*
These are just some thoughts off the top of my head.
Back to why I'm against the ban. The public housing authority (and the residents who brought up the "problem") are essentially saying that foreign workers are of a lower class, behave badly, create social disorder and generally responsible for the bulk of crime statistics. This sounds very much like the message that's been sent out by ring-wing anti-immigration groups in Europe.
*My tictacquestion: Where was that from? Any name...any quote???
I walked through my estate at 6 this morning to go to work . I bet my bottom dollar that all the spittle, used tissue paper and general uncleanliness I see was caused by my neighbours - all local born-and-bred 1984-ville denizens.
The bottom line is this: we bleed red and the sewers are equally smelly.
*My tictacquestion: so how now?*
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