The higher minimum income requirement for hiring semi-skilled foreigners to come to Singapore will not help locals get better jobs as the reasons they do not apply for such jobs are not always related to salary, said employers who are already paying more and still cannot always fill vacancies.

They are also not optimistic that compelling more companies to advertise jobs on the national Jobs Bank for a minimum period of two weeks before they can apply for an Employment Pass will do much to attract locals, for the same reasons.