Search results

International migration has been part of Singapore since its foundation as a nation. Immigrants to Singapore include work pass holders, students, accompanying family members and permanent residents. Unlike immigrants, emigrants from Singapore are not obliged to apply for passes to exit the country, except for servicemen. The census collects data on foreigners in Singapore, while information on Singapore emigrants started to be collected in the 1990 census. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and the Ministry of Manpower are the main sources of data on international migration, and the Monetary Authority of Singapore is the primary source of data on remittances. The main issue in Singapore is access to data produced by government agencies.

The changes in Singapore's recent policies toward emigration correspond with the growing importance given to Singaporean overseas business ventures. Moving from viewing emigration as brain drain and the decision to migrate as an act of disloyalty to the nation, recent statements by government officials have begun to identify the overseas community as a valuable link to the world economy. "Globalization" and more recently "regionalization" are the popular terms which indicate Singapore's current economic strategy of shifting from a focus on high technology, high value added industries to a program of building an external economy through overseas expansion and the promotion of offshore activities. The Singapore example suggests that, in an increasingly borderless world, the relationship between emigration, citizenship and national loyalty will require reconsideration.

"Between 2000 and 2010, Singapore witnessed a huge influx of foreign migrants. The proportion of permanent residents in the total population increased from 7% to 11%, while the share of non-resident foreigners has risen from 19% to 25%. This was as much the result of the spontaneous movement of labour to economic opportunities, as it was of active policy direction by the Singapore government. The social impact, both beneficial and disruptive, of this movement was felt at all levels of society, and brought other attending public policy issues to the fore. Taking a multi-disciplinary approach, this book examines the social, economic, and political issues that have arisen with the influx of foreigners in Singapore since the turn of the 21st century. Drawing on empirical research, it documents the impact of increasing levels of immigration, and provides an analysis of the longer-term implications of these trends, with each chapter covering a different aspect of socio-cultural, political, or economic outcome arising from intercultural contact and adaptation. The contributors also provide policy suggestions to ensure Singapore continues to be a harmonious nation and a cosmopolitan and vibrant global city"--