The Online Citizen Concern: the Increase in the Population of Singapore to 5.7 Million

Online users are concerned about the increase in the population of Singapore to 5.7 million, due to a larger number of foreign employees

Based on the official figures released on Wednesday (September 25), the population of the Republic increased by 1.2% to 5.7 million in June this year. This happened with the help of a larger number of foreign workers in the country.

In addition, the number of Singapore citizenships granted was also at its peak in 11 years, said the annual Population in the short report, which was published by the Prime Minister's Office Strategy Group.

There were a total of 3.5 million residents of Singapore in the country from June 2019, an increase of 0.8% over the year before. Regarding the population of permanent residents (PR), the figure remained fairly stable at 530,000, while non-residents such as dependents, international students and individuals working in the country increased by 2% to 1.68 million.

The reason for the increase in the non-resident population was due to the increase in work permit holders, due to growth in the services sector and the construction sector. If that's not all, foreign workers, with the exception of domestic workers, get on with about 22,000 people between June 2018 and June 2019.

However, the figure for this group has fallen in the last two years. From 2017 to 2018, the number of foreign employees in Singapore fell by 10,000 and decreased by 36,000 between 2016 and 2017.

On the way to new citizens, there were a total of 22,550 in 2018, an increase compared to 22,076 the year before. Among these people, 61.6% were from Southeast Asian countries, while 32.4% were from other Asian countries. The remaining 6% came from countries outside of Asia.

About 1,576 (7%) of the new citizenship was granted to children born abroad from Singaporean parents, about the same number as the year before.

With regard to PRs awarded for citizenship, the figure also rose slightly in 2018 to 32,710, as opposed to 31,849 in 2017. Of this group, 62.5% were from Southeast Asian countries, 31.2% from other Asian countries and 6.3% from outside of Asia.

In one year, the city-state grants between 15,000 and 25,000 new citizenships "to individuals who are committed to making Singapore their home," the report said.

It added: "Immigration helps mitigate the effects of ageing and low birth rates in our civilian population and prevents it from shrinking in the longer term."

While reading this report, many online users on the CNA Facebook page have noted that they are concerned about a large number of foreign employees and new citizens in the country. They pointed out that Singapore is being 'given away' to foreigners and that they will soon surpass the local residents of Singapore.

      

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Others said that the large increase in foreigners is mainly due to the upcoming elections. They believed that since Singapore citizens "are ready for VTO, hence the need for new citizens as a countermeasure".

Some suggested that these new citizens should not be admitted for at least 5 or 10 years because it is clear that they are going to vote for the PAP. Paul Chen wrote: "They will not bite into those hands that have given them a new life in SG, won't they?"

     

On the other hand, a Facebook user named David Ho was of the opinion that the citizens are not completely against foreign talents, but if they take away the jobs of the local population, people will not be happy. As such he stated that: “My opinion is that the PR number must be reduced to min. This is the group that competes with the locals. "He also said that PMET jobs should only be reserved for Singaporeans.