Another perspective ....
Why do companies look at FT ?
For me 2 things Loyalty and Committement.
Why do I say this.
I am a foreigner been living in Singapore since 1990. I come here because I was offered a job and had the right skillsets required to work offshore.
In 1997 there was a semi downturn in the Oil industry offshore, but onshore projects booming.
So as I was out of work, I applied for a position being offered by Caltex, for Mechnical and Maintenance Engineers. The 350 that applied were whittled down to 30 and we all sat in a ballroom at the Mandarin Hotel, to do 3 hours of aptitude tests.
At the end of this, further whittled down to 15, for further tests in the afternoon. While waiting for the results of whom would be in the final 15, I asked most present if they were also out of work, out of the 30 there 93.33% already had jobs. So I asked why they have applied, answer was more $$$$, chance to travel to USA paid for training, they all said stated that they only stay in one job for 2 to 3 years maximum and then move on.
Another example of this, was another company whom I setup a Maintenance System. Got EDB grants, spared no expense in setting up this facility, (high tech aerospace), spent alot of time interviewing all people for the positions, from Engineers, QA/QC, Production Operators etc. In the end they employed 20 people all Singaporean. While the plant was getting constructed, all these people were sent to the US for training, in some cases 8months of training spread over 18months.
This plant has been operating now for 5 years, within 2 years, 50% of the original staff had quit, gone to other aerospace companies. I was just at this company 4 months ago and out of the original 20 people hired, only 1 person is left.
As the GM lamented to me, on training no expense spared, higher than average salaries, because they wanted the best, training per person was estimated at USD150K. So they have learnt their lesson, 75% of all the staff now are from outside Singapore, Malaysia / China / Phillippines / India. Salaries are on par with what the Singaporeans had been paid, but in this period not one of the new hires have left, most have been there 3 or more years.
Look at construction sites, shipyards, manufacturing plants, where do most of the people come from.
So tell me, whom is to blame if companies are employing FT to do jobs.
Just giving my views on what I observe here in Singapore.
Cheers ....
