Singaporean Sub-Contractor: There are no Singaporeans in the Construction Industry

Dear TRS,

I am a pure breed Singaporean and have been working since ORD (2011) in construction industry for close to 4 years now. Many people have been speculating that IT industries are hogged by Indian FT and local born and breed Singaporean could hardly get a job in that industry with a decent pay. I could not comment much on the industry but what I could tell you is my true story of the construction industry.

The first time I joined the construction line in a small SME company, I thought I have entered a foreign land where I am the FT instead. 95% of the workers are either from Philippines, Myanmar, India, China or Malaysia. My colleagues are either degree or masters holders in their respective country. I myself am a diploma holder from Ngee Ann Poly. During the first year of my job in the construction industry, I was always curious about how much pay they are getting in Singapore and what makes them want to come here to work. So I eventually got closer to them and asked them how much their pay is. To my surprise, they are getting $1,600 to $2,000 a month. With years of experience in their own country, degree/master holder and willing to get such minimal pay is actually extremely beneficial to the company bosses.

After working in the SME company for close to 18 months, I moved on to another bigger SME company. What I realise after a week of working in that company is that I am actually the ONLY Singaporean there. The receptionist, supervisor, engineer, construction manager, project manager, drafter all are FT. I am truly astonish by how the company actually hired so many PMET (Professional, Managers, Executive and Technicians) when there is actually the Dependency Ratio Ceiling controlling the intake of FT.

After working for more than 6 months in the company, I was given a project by my boss for me to handle on my own. As we are the sub-contractor to the main-contractor, we are obliged to attend regular meeting to discuss on the technical and coordination issue of my scope of work together with all the other sub-contractor from other trades. The very first meeting I went to, out of 22 people in the meeting room, 5 are from Myanmar, 3 from India, 1 from China, 11 from Philippines, and 2 are Singaporeans including myself. I remember asking myself what has Singapore become? Are there really no people wanting to work in the construction line or are the company bosses wanting to save more thus hiring cheaper FT from all over Asia.