Is it wrong?
By ahgong
@ahgong (10064)
Singapore
February 18, 2009 10:22pm CST
For the government to come up with policies to protect its own citizens from job losses due to foreigners working in the country?
I mean, there is much news reports about buying American, buying Japan... or policies that are invoking clauses that restrict the number of foreigners coming into the country to look for jobs, competiting with locals in an already tight job market.
I mean, when times are good, the rules are relaxed to encourage more foreign exchange. But when times are bad, is it wrong to invoke some measures of protectionism to keep the country's internal economy afloat?
4 people like this
9 responses
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
19 Feb 09
Regarding the current situation here in the United States, I'd have to say that I really WISH our government would restrict foreigners from coming here to find jobs.
American citizens are losing jobs left and right. Smaller businesses are closing down and a lot of American companies hire people from other countries (usually India) for their labor force because it's cheaper for them. That means even LESS jobs for Americans.
We are in the midst of a terrible economic downslide. The unemployment rate of citizens is at an all-time high, or close to it. Yet, I still see many Mexicans who come here to find work, and get it, then send that money back to their families in Mexico.
That means even LESS jobs for American citizens. We are rapidly heading towards a full-fledged depression in this country and I haven't seen our government doing much to stop it.
Yes, I believe some restrictions should be placed on foreigners taking the jobs that American citizens need so desperately right now. I am NOT against foreigners coming to the U.S. in order to provide for their families "back home", but, when it comes down to it, American's are losing out over the Mexicans in a time when more and more American's are becoming jobless, losing their homes, living out of their cars or even worse, living under bridges.
You have to make some sacrifices when times are bad and times are most definitely bad!
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
19 Feb 09
It's not wrong.. NO matter what, a country should always be taking care of its citizens first before they decide on the rest.. Because in terms of bad times, only locals and its own citizens will stand by our own country.. So why will the government bother to care about foreign workers instead??
After all, thyey only came to earn money and sending everything home.. Though it's supposed to be some foreign exchange, but we are actually losing out alot in terms of currency exchange.. haha =D
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
26 Feb 09
Precisely! That is why I find it funny that foreigners who couldn't find a job in another country are making so much noise. They are the outsiders and they are demanding that the government make way for them to get a job at the expense of the locals.
The other thing I cannot understand is this. There are jobs in the market. But the government is not willing to set up a minimum wage for this period of time to encourage more employment of locals. Citing a whole host of issues.
I guess not studying economics is my Achilles heel. Cos I can never comprehend what the top is thinking when looking at the big picture.
1 person likes this
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
26 Feb 09
Well, the top management will only be looking at one thing which is, Profit.. lol =D Nothing else matters to them.. Most companies will choose to employ foreign workers as their labour are cheap.. ANd so, if our locals wanna work, we have to either the same wages, or dun work.. lol =D
But to what the top says, it's a foreign exchange and it's also a form of competition for locals.. That's the nice way of putting things, but in actual fact, we are being forced to accept a lower pay, if not, we wont even have a job at all.. SO at the end of the day, the top is actually protecting thsoe foreign workers instead of locals!!
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
20 Feb 09
Hey, for the obscene kind of salary they are getting, they better be performing. Especially when the economy is down and they are suppose to be the one leading us to better grounds.
Sort of like Moses leading his people from suffering to the land of the free. The government lead us to believe that they can do that. That is why we elected them.
So they better be performing. Otherwise, it would not justify the obscene salaries they are drawing. A salary that seems to be impervious to cuts even when the rest of the country is gritting their teeth to bear the pain of a pay cut or a shrinking pay cheque!
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
26 Feb 09
It is of course not wrong for any government of the day to come up with policies to safeguard her citizens from being rob of job opportunities in their own country by foreigners. I applaud this move and would question the Government if they give flexibility to foreigners to dominate the workforce. Hard time like this the Government should step in to ease the difficulties in terms of jobs openings for her people. But policies like big established companies setting foot in the country should be most welcomed to reinforce job opportunities and the flow of foreign currencies in the country. This will greatly help to boost the economic status of that country.
1 person likes this
@CRIVAS (1815)
• Canada
19 Feb 09
I think that when a country is facing a shortage of job opening, they should try to fill those positions with people from their own country. I have nothing against people coming in from other companies, what I do have a problem with is when natives to said country are facing job shortages. I know that that are a lot of people that like to hire outsiders because they are "cheaper" but I still think its a bad idea. My opinion is that we should be taking care of our own countries before we try helping other people. I think one of the reasons we have so many problems is because some countries expect to be bailed out instead of trying to fix things themselves. I think it is in every country's best interest to look after your own
1 person likes this
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
26 Feb 09
Some see looking after your own in a different scope of things.
Hiring of foreign works to fill in low pay jobs is the key to keep cost down to encourage more foreign investors to set up shop in the said country.
Which some times comes at the expense of many locals. That is why this is a stick situation that is difficult to solve. If only there is a better solution to fix this chicken and egg problem.
@stacyv81 (5903)
• United States
19 Feb 09
To be honest, I think right now its less about foreigners working in the country, because, they would pay taxes to our country and things would be fine, the economy would still be supported!
Right now it is about giving our jobs to people living and working in other countries!
Almost all of the telephone customer service people are living and working in other countries,
One of my friends just got laid off because they were giving her job and 10,000 other jobs to those overseas.
I think that is the biggest problem in our economy right now
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
20 Feb 09
With the current financial crisis government of different countries need to protect their own citizens... even if it means sacrificing other nationalities that have stayed and worked there most of their lives...
Overseas Filipino Workers are the ones really affected since we have a lot of them from all over the world... and they are now returning in hordes with little hope of finding a job here in the Philippines... since the main reason they went abroad is because of the lack of jobs here...
1 person likes this
