Singapore’s government appealed for firms to hire more locals as a pandemic-driven fall in foreign workers, together with an easing of Covid-19 curbs, continues to drive Singapore’s worst labour shortage in over two decades, reports Bangkok Post. Manpower Minister Tan See Leng said in parliament that while certain sectors such as construction has seen a recovery in employees from abroad to over 90% of pre-Covid numbers as virus curbs eased, other firms facing manpower shortages should tap on available sources of local workers to build up their manpower core.

“We expect labour market tightness to ease in the coming months as non-resident employment rebounds following significant relaxation of border restrictions,” Leng said. “Given the uncertainties in the global geo-political and economic environment, over-reliance on foreign workers will leave businesses vulnerable to disruptions.” Leng added that firms could hire around 5,200 workers working in short-term pandemic-related roles like enforcing social distancing and administering vaccines as their contracts end over the coming months.