Rationales and Constraints of Managers When Hiring Foreign Workers in Singapore: A Study of the Manufacturing and Manufacturing Related Services Sectors

Khemmanit Wattanatinnachot ； Chin Yee Whah

《Southeast Asian Social Science Review》 7卷1期 (2022/05) Pp. 45-74

https://doi.org/10.29945/SEASSR.202205_7(1).0002

摘要

The paper provides understanding of managers' rationales and constraints when hiring foreign workers in the manufacturing and manufacturing-related services sectors in Singapore. Using purposive and quota sampling methods, the study covers in-depth interviews with 25 managers from multinational companies in Singapore. Analysis of qualitative data from structuration perspective show that managers' choices are shaped by Singapore's changing foreign labour policy. Managers are constraint for hiring unskilled foreign labours from non-traditional countries. Reasons for hiring unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled foreign workers vary which ranging from 'blended low labour cost' to shortage of domestic labour, right attitude to work, skill mismatch of domestic labour, high salary demands by domestic labour, accreditation and innovation capability and relevant knowledge, skills and language proficiency. As the dependency ratio for foreign workers continues to narrow, in the near future, managers would have to search for limited skilled workers within the Singapore's domestic labour market.

關鍵字

Singapore Foreign Labour Policy ； foreign workers ； managers ； manufacturing ； manufacturing-related services