From http://m.todayonline.com/singapore/nsp-wants-pause-foreign-workforce-growth
Criticising the Governments White Paper on population released on Tuesday as placing immediate economic growth at its core, the National Solidarity Party (NSP) yesterday called for a referendum on the paper.
At a session announcing its own population plan, NSP Secretary-General Hazel Poa said the White Paper should not be rushed through parliamentary proceedings.
Given its potential long- term impact on Singaporeans, the Paper would cause a societal rift if it is not accepted by the majority of the nation, she said.
The NSP will consider whether to petition the President to call for a referendum, she added. The Opposition partys plan proposes a pause in foreign workforce growth to give Singaporeans time to increase fertility.
Increasing Singapores population to 6.9 million by 2030 is likely to further depress our fertility rate, creating a vicious cycle, the NSP proposal stated. NSPs head of policy Tony Tan also sought to debunk the old-age support ratio cited in the White Paper of 5.9 working citizens to one citizen aged 65 and above presently, and 2.1 working citizens to an elderly citizen in 2030 without immigration.
Economic support of the aged is shared by both citizens and non-Singaporeans who work, and the Central Provident Fund scheme allows Singaporeans to save for retirement, he said.
There is no reason to bring in new citizens now as Singapores old-age support ratio when Permanent Residents and foreigners are taken into account is currently high, the NSP plan added. When we bring in new citizens of working age now, they become part of our aged 20 to 30 years later. It proposed no more than 10,000 new citizenships awarded per year.
The 17-page document, prepared by Ms Poa, Mr Tan and members Bryan Long and Ravi Philemon, suggested housing, education and other measures to get Singaporeans to have more children.
First- time Housing and Development Board flat buyers could be allowed to jointly select units with their parents, and the resale levy could be removed for parents to move near to their children.
Free upgrades to larger flats of up to five rooms could be given to families with three or more children. Turning to the workforce, the party suggested pausing growth of foreign labour, until productivity grows at more than 1.5 per cent and public infrastructure has been expanded.
Anticipating renewed cries of manpower shortage if such a measure is introduced, the NSP said there will be job takers if salaries are sufficiently high.
For small companies with five workers or fewer, however, the Government could look at reducing overall business costs, or apply more lenient foreign-worker quotas.
The Reform Party last night said in a statement that the White Paper was noticeably silent on how much green space will be left after the projected increase in population and how much new land area will be developed. It called for more financial help for lower-income families, more investment in education, as well as a minimum wage.
The Democratic Progressive Party, meanwhile, questioned if population growth is assumed to be necessary for economic growth, among other things.
Criticising the Governments White Paper on population released on Tuesday as placing immediate economic growth at its core, the National Solidarity Party (NSP) yesterday called for a referendum on the paper.
At a session announcing its own population plan, NSP Secretary-General Hazel Poa said the White Paper should not be rushed through parliamentary proceedings.
Given its potential long- term impact on Singaporeans, the Paper would cause a societal rift if it is not accepted by the majority of the nation, she said.
The NSP will consider whether to petition the President to call for a referendum, she added. The Opposition partys plan proposes a pause in foreign workforce growth to give Singaporeans time to increase fertility.
Increasing Singapores population to 6.9 million by 2030 is likely to further depress our fertility rate, creating a vicious cycle, the NSP proposal stated. NSPs head of policy Tony Tan also sought to debunk the old-age support ratio cited in the White Paper of 5.9 working citizens to one citizen aged 65 and above presently, and 2.1 working citizens to an elderly citizen in 2030 without immigration.
Economic support of the aged is shared by both citizens and non-Singaporeans who work, and the Central Provident Fund scheme allows Singaporeans to save for retirement, he said.
There is no reason to bring in new citizens now as Singapores old-age support ratio when Permanent Residents and foreigners are taken into account is currently high, the NSP plan added. When we bring in new citizens of working age now, they become part of our aged 20 to 30 years later. It proposed no more than 10,000 new citizenships awarded per year.
The 17-page document, prepared by Ms Poa, Mr Tan and members Bryan Long and Ravi Philemon, suggested housing, education and other measures to get Singaporeans to have more children.
First- time Housing and Development Board flat buyers could be allowed to jointly select units with their parents, and the resale levy could be removed for parents to move near to their children.
Free upgrades to larger flats of up to five rooms could be given to families with three or more children. Turning to the workforce, the party suggested pausing growth of foreign labour, until productivity grows at more than 1.5 per cent and public infrastructure has been expanded.
Anticipating renewed cries of manpower shortage if such a measure is introduced, the NSP said there will be job takers if salaries are sufficiently high.
For small companies with five workers or fewer, however, the Government could look at reducing overall business costs, or apply more lenient foreign-worker quotas.
The Reform Party last night said in a statement that the White Paper was noticeably silent on how much green space will be left after the projected increase in population and how much new land area will be developed. It called for more financial help for lower-income families, more investment in education, as well as a minimum wage.
The Democratic Progressive Party, meanwhile, questioned if population growth is assumed to be necessary for economic growth, among other things.