Allow me to offer my opinions and perspectives on this report that the Straits Times carried in its Wednesday, September 3, 2008 issue – “Foreign workers? Not in my backyard”
It is reported that residents of Serangoon Gardens are against the proposal by the Ministry of National Development to convert the former Serangoon Gardens Technical School in Burghley Drive into a foreign worker dormitory.
In the one page petition signed by more than 600 residents in the area, it mentioned that “the move would create security and social problems and spoil the ambience of the estate”.
As of today, the Ministry is still assessing the viability of locating a foreign worker dormitory in the private estate.
I have this feeling that the government has somehow or another, already made up its mind on this issue of managing foreign workers.
During the recent budget debate in February, then Minister of State for Manpower, Mr Gan Kim Yong said,
“The solution, therefore, cannot be to segregate foreign workers from areas where locals frequent. Indeed, we cannot completely keep them off our housing estates, because they are there. Except for those in the construction and marine industries, work permit holders are in our midst in the housing estates. Rather, we need to balance the housing and recreational needs of foreign workers with the concerns of Singaporeans. And this will require Singaporeans to adopt and accept foreign workers within our society. applaud Ms Phua [Ms Denise Phua] for recognising this and refusing to take a “not in my backyard” attitude. We need to bring this message to the heartlands.
Filed under: Ministry of Manpower, Ministry of National Development , Foreign Talent, Immigration, Ministry of National Development, Nation Building
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