World Issue: A Singapore Perspective

Civil Unrest In France

Scope:

•Riot in 2005

•Riot in 2006

•Differences between the 05’ and 06’ Riot

•Comparisons between Singapore and France

•Imagined Future of Singapore in 2061

•Preventions

•Conclusion

•References

Civil Unrest in France (2005)

Nearly 3 weeks of riots

• From 27 October – 16 November

Affected 274 towns

• Throughout the Paris region• Suburbs areas that are

heavily-populated with Arabic-Muslims and Africans

Accidental death of two teenagers• From Malian and Tunisian

Died of electrocution • when hiding in a power substation

Triggering Incident

Triggering Incident- the story behind

A group of 10 friends playing football

Saw police approaching them

To avoid lengthy questioning

Fled in different direction

Three of them hide in a power substation

causing two deaths and one injured.

2 possibilities of the truth

2 possibilities behind the truth:

• Police denial of their ID check perform on the teenagers

• Teenagers assumed the police were chasing them

Situation in the suburbsThe situation Their feelings

PovertyHigh unemployment rateUnfair humanitarian policiesHigh crime ratePolice BrutalityRacism

CONCLUSION: Too much inequalities

AngryUnfairDissatisfiedOppressedResentedDiscriminatedDesperate

French Society towards Muslims

Muslims

Negative Stereotypes

Anti-Muslims Sentiments

Distrusts

Hostility

Intolerance

A WAKE-UP CALL

Their rage has been piling up for years.

A warning to many

To fight for their rights that lead to racist attacks

During February to AprilAffected 180 cities and towns across FranceHundreds of thousands of participants

• Mainly young adults and teenagers

Civil Unrest in France (2006)

Contrat Première Embauche (CPE)

Also known as :• First Employment Contract.

• Beginning Workers Contract

Triggering Incident-the Contract

Employers can terminate their workers' sessions without a valid reason

The purpose of this contract• Increase employers’ benefits

Triggering Incident-the Contract

Side Effects

Create instability to employees

Demoralize employees would affect performance

Reduces financial guarantee for employees

Potentially compromise job security and benefits

Encourage employers to lower wages

Side Effects

Opposing parties name it as “Kleenex contract”

Inexperience and young workers deemed as invaluable assets

Resentment are brewing among workers.

More difficult for immigrants to get a job when discrimination towards them already exist.

Social Prejudices• Stereotyping all Muslims as terrorists.• Stereotyping approach in French Media against

Muslims reports reinforces misconceptions.

French Society towards Muslims

French Society towards Muslims

Social Discriminations• High unemployment rate • Discriminatory hiring are widely practiced.• Frequent ID checks performed.• Racists attacks and harassments targeting

Muslims• Limited access to services and places

due to appearances.

French Society towards Muslims

Social Inequalities• Minimum protection for Muslims in every area, • Poor housing estates in Muslim populated areas.

Political Factors• Hijab-ban issue created controversies.• Lack of adequate space for Muslims mosques.

Social Inequalities Minimum protection in Muslim-populated areaPoor housing estates

Social Prejudice Stereotyping approach in French Media against Muslims reports reinforces misconceptions

Social Discriminations

Frequent ID checks in the suburbs areas.Growing number of harassment High unemployment rate Among Muslims

Differences between 05 & 06

2005

Differences between 05 & 06

This severely implicates the young adults age group when they are looking for a stable job.

Social Discrimination Companies prefer to hire middle-aged local people rather than young adults

Social Inequalities Not letting the young adults to earn experiences to maintain their low-cost salary

2006

Riots in 2005 • caused by the discriminations

Riots in 2006 • a result due to the unequal contract implemented by

government on employers in their worker-dismissal practices.

Differences between 05 & 06

Comparisons between Singapore and France

Singapore France

Most Singaporeans often show different attitude towards people from other countries

France show prejudice and discrimination towards immigrants

Few companies are willing to hire aging people

Companies prefer to hire middle-aged local people rather than young immigrants

Sometimes, companies rather hire foreign workers than Singaporeans because they are willing to work for a lesser pay.

Immigrants have difficulty in finding jobs

More than half of residents in Singapore are foreigners

Increasing unemployment rate due to drastic economic downturn

Two groups of protestors rises:• Locally-born Singaporeans against cheap foreign

labour• Another protests against “fair-weather”

Singaporeans who are not loyal to the country.

Imagine the future – 2061 Singapore

Locally-born Singaporeans against cheap foreign labour

Locally-born Singaporeans

Foreign workers

Educational background

Similar

Desired Salary High Cheap Labour

Job Selections Certain jobs Any jobs

Locals are less attracted to jobs with higher expectation compared to foreigner workers who do not mind.

Imagine the future – 2061 Singapore

More locals would be out of job resulting in poverty and even a standstill to the country

Foreigners would despise Singaporean for having a holier than thou mindset.

Foreigners might take part in political sectors and have a foothold in the government.

Locals would continue to blame government and create anti-government uproar.

Imagine the future – 2061 Singapore

Another protests against “fair-weather” Singaporeans who are not loyal to the country.

• Singaporeans migrate in seeking for a greener pasture abroad

• Waste of resources.

Imagine the future – 2061 Singapore

Preventions

Problems Solutions Challenges

Higher employment rate for foreign workers

Singaporeans should lower their expectations

The deeply-rooted concepts of certain jobs may not be easily overcome and accepted

Companies not wanting to hire aging people

Encourage more companies to hire aging people

Companies may still find young workers more efficient.

Preventions

Problems Solutions

Increase in Singapore Permanent Residents

Make the criteria of PR applications stricter

Companies may deemed foreigner as better worker.

Based on performance and meritocracy, not their foreign background

Drastic decrease in local citizens

Regulate the intake of foreign workers

Conclusion

Social equality should widely spread in the world

Civil rights should be taken into account

Fight for human rights and respect each other

The End Done By:

Cheryl Wong Li YinSerene Tan Xiu Min Lee Si QiaoTimothy Teo Kim Wen Jasmine Lim Jay Min

references

http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2005-03/07/article08.shtmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_youth_protests_in_Francehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contrat_premi%C3%A8re_embauchehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_civil_unrest_in_France

Q & A