Kiasu Culture

KIASU, not English word. It is Chinese word which means afraid of lose. Who want to be a loser? It's obvious nobody to this question. But we have to accept it sometime in life inevitably because we cannot be winner every time in life. When I am working abroad, I could notice Singaporean are very used to complain to their associated places. It may include person, firm, council, even government. They would make noise if they feel going to suffer as a result of some action/policies.

Being foreign worker, I always felt unwelcoming voice by locals against the ruling party. They feel that foreign workers make their job market competitive and at worse cost their jobs. Also they are aware of higher property market price as well as uncomfort on public transport. We could understand but we also expect them to sympathy on their visitors who come here to plus the gap they left. We all know that construction industry and some service sectors jobs are usually shy by locals as they are considered less prestige and dangerous. It make ruling party no choice but to import required labour from abroad. Luckily, foreign workers are deem a necessary if republic is suppose to keep growth of its economic by the government. The PAP keep explaining its people how foreign workers have been contributing Singapore's economy as well as creating job opportunities for locals rather than stealing jobs from them.

Most recent report revealed that 80% of local SME are finding difficulties to recruit locals in line with the policy changes in favor of locals. The government is trying to switch to automation to boost productivity rather than relying on intensive labour. However, it seem not realistic for small local firms as it come more expensive in upfront cost unnecessarily. Most of SMEs are quite conservative with the labour enforcing act which they view not effective and practicable. The local employers realize that the locals cannot step in the shoe left by outgoing foreign workers due to tight quota system. Hence, SME association are requesting authority to review the system to suit their requirement. If it is the case, it is nothing to do with foreign worker to the joblessness of locals indeed. In fact, some Singaporean are just making it as an excuses to cover their laziness. They would ever say they cannot do less pay work that usually foreign workers happily do. If they are really want to get job, they should try it first before they can find a better paid job. In frank, no matter how good government is taking care, complain will not end to them because kiasu culture is in their blood, I think.