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Dependant Pass holders can help meet S’pore’s needs, too

The questions and views raised with regard to Employment Pass (EP) holders, and particularly their dependants, in the letter “Many questions to ponder in annual population report” (Oct 8) are rather one-sided.

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Priscilla Poh Beng Hoon

The questions and views raised with regard to Employment Pass (EP) holders, and particularly their dependants, in the letter “Many questions to ponder in annual population report” (Oct 8) are rather one-sided.

There are also positive aspects to the issue. For example, if an EP holder has six Dependant Pass (DP) holders living with him or her, it would mean they would need a flat or house to live in. Wouldn’t this need help give our property rental market a boost?

The writer must not assume DP holders are weak and sick, and will strain our medical resources. Even if they do fall sick, there are many private clinics and hospitals available, and these DP holders will not necessarily cramp our public facilities.

Also, DP holders are not subsidised patients, and if they pay their bills in full, they have in fact increased the financial flow into our public hospitals.

This also holds true in the education sector, be it in public or private schools.

The services sectors such as the food and beverage industry will also benefit from having a bigger pool of customers at restaurants and outlets.

In terms of EP holders, earlier this year the former Infocomm Development Authority said there were about 15,000 vacancies that could not be filled in 2014 because of a lack of local IT engineers in fields such as cybersecurity, data analytics and application development.

Another report, by RBC Wealth Management and consultancy firm Capgemini, said that the rich are flocking to Singapore to have their money managed here, but experienced wealth managers proficient in research, managing portfolios, evaluating investments across global markets and speciality areas such as foreign exchange are in short supply.

Singapore also faces a shortage of local doctors and medical professionals, and foreigners are being brought in to address the crunch.

The lack of competency among locals has been the key driver for the demand for foreign expertise.

The Government has kept a close watch on the number and profile of incoming foreign professionals, managers and executives, and it is helping businesses adapt to an environment with fewer foreign workers.

This is to maintain the numbers of foreigners at a level that is sustainable, and which can physically accommodate in Singapore over the long term.

Let us look on the positive side, and give the Government’s well-calibrated population roadmap a chance.

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