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SAMUEL HO (2E)

The influx of migrants into Singapore has brought about mainly negative impacts

to the country. To what extent do you agree with this view? Explain your answer

[12m]

I agree with this view to a large extent. I think that the influx of migrants into

Singapore has brought about mainly negative impacts. Firstly, let us define what

a migrant is. It refers to someone who has moved from one country to anotherpermanently. Also, for the sake of clarity, Singapore will refer to locally bornSingaporean citizens.

Let us first consider a positive impact that the influx of migrants into Singapore

has brought, before evaluating it alongside the negative impacts.

The influx of migrants provides continuous economic stimulation for Singapore.Contextually speaking, Singapore has been facing a decline in her citizensfertility rate, having fallen to 1.20 births per women in 2011. If no action were to

be taken, there would be insufficient manpower in the future to support the

workforce, adding on to the increased burden of taxes and parental care to the

citizens of Singapore. Thus, in the first place, there is a necessity to bring in more

migrants. The influx of migrants comes in two main forms: low-skilled foreign

workers and highly-skilled foreign labour. Low-skilled foreign workers take on

low-skilled jobs which are conventionally not taken on by home-born

Singaporeans who are often more educated, thus supporting infrastructure

which leads to more stability. High-skilled foreign labour provides a human

capital for Singapore which is one of the few viable economic strategiesSingapore can take to become a major player in the global economy. Both

stability and human capital are highly attractive to multi-national companies

who want to set up administrative centres, and can lead to these multi-national

companies establishing themselves in Singapore, providing more high-skilled

jobs for Singaporeans, thus benefitting Singapore.

Economically, the influx of migrants is highly feasible. However, this act brings

along with it many social problems for Singapore.

The rapid influx of migrants has brought the social problem of the difficulty of

assimilation for the foreigners. The most prominent incident that had appeared

as a result is the curry incident, where PRC nationals had demanded their

Indian neighbours to stop cooking curry (which was a central ingredient to

Indian cuisine and much of Singaporean cuisine). The lack of assimilation leads

to nationality-based conflicts between local-born Singaporeans and foreign-born

ones. These conflicts may increase in intensity if left unsolved and eventually

lead to physical violence and instability, which is a negative impact for the

country.

The influx of highly-skilled foreign workers, or foreign talent, has also brought

discontent among the local-born Singaporeans. Local-born Singaporeans haveexpressed their discontent along two lines: the violation of national identity and

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the lack of job opportunities as a result of the influx of migrants. They feel that

there is a violation of national identity as they worry the rapid increase of

migrants dilute the national demographics, leading to citizens becoming a

minority and the erosion of national fervour. They also feel that there are fewer

job opportunities as they feel foreign talents are chosen to take highly-skilled

jobs over local-born Singaporeans by multi-national companies who establishthemselves in the country. Discontent within local-born Singaporeans leads to

political, economic and social instability, which is a negative impact for

Singapore.

Evaluating both kinds of impacts, I think that the negative impacts would be

more far-ranging than the positive ones. This is because the negative impacts are

primarily social ones. Singapore, being a nation and not a corporation, is still

made up of people. Should social stability be removed, the country is unable to

operate in all domains, including in its economy. However, if economic stability

were removed, the Government would still be able to manage the situation, by

ensuring the infrastructure is still in shape and making attempts at rebuilding

the economy.

Thus, I agree with the view that the influx of migrants to Singapore has brought

mainly negative impacts, to a large extent.