Wednesday, October 9, 2013

They Will Leave

Ever heard of the NIC? The National Integration Council (NIC) is there to promote greater social integration in Singapore between newcomers and locals. In short, they are there to promote integration between foreigners and Singaporeans.

For their task, they have something called the Community Integration Fund (CIF). At $10 million, this fund is designed to ease the financial constraints currently faced by organizations interested in organizing integration projects. The fund will provide co-funding of up to 80 percent for integration projects over the next three years.

All good and well, but it's not going to work.

I don't think it's going to work because foreigners are not interested in integration. They are not interested because well...they are not staying! If you ask foreigners why they  are in Singapore, the vast overwhelming majority of them will say they are here for jobs. They are here to earn money to sent home. In short, they are here to make money and once that is done, they will go back home. That's their plan and I say fair enough. No one should be surprised by this.

However if you are one of them, would you be interested in integration? Of course not, why integrate into a community when you know you are going to leave in a few years? Hell, it might actually makes it more painful to leave when the time comes.

That is why I don't think the works by the NIC and its $10 million fund will have any effect on foreigners and Singaporeans. They are barking up the wrong tree. Community outreach is good and fine but few are going to stay due to ties to a community. If they want foreigners to stay, they need sell something other than money and community. They need something that will make foreigners come to Singapore, not to work, but to stay. It's no use to try to change their minds after they come into Singapore. By then it's too late because they already made plans! They need to sell a dream or an idea that would make foreigners want to make Singapore their adopted homeland from the every get-go. 

If not, then foreigners would have little incentive to adapt and integrate with the locals. Why should they? They are leaving in a few years.


5 comments:

Anonymous said...

$10 million drop-in-a-bucket peanuts change for integration project is just for show that they are trying.

do the powers that be CARE whether foreigners REALLY integrate into local communities?

They only want to import foreigners to boost the economy, buy more property, and everything else that makes the SG Inc's taxes and GDP grow.

Ghost said...

To Anon 3.02pm;
If the $10 million is just for show, then it's a very expensive show.

To Anon 11.30pm;
A corresponding increase in pay will not happen because it will defeat the purpose of letting in foreigners in the first place. They are here for cheap labor and to increase wages for Singaporeans defeat that purpose.

Anonymous said...

Get real, Singapore government. Remember 1997, HK? Outright failure, they rather be in the western countries and 2nd class citizens than immigrate here.
Ask any PRC, Indian, Filipino if everything equal, will they rather be here or in the western countries? They go there as PR and just can't wait to take up citizenship once the mandatory stay in period passes. Here? PR as long as possible. Just spend time and money to develop your own people. Punching above your weight is to make your people lean, trim and power pack. Adding foreigners is taking steroids, it'll work but in the long run, the after effects are fatal.

Ghost said...

That's why Singapore need to sell something other than money if we want foreigners to stay. Or else they will leave once they make their money.

Anonymous said...

Correct. Spot on.