IT is unrealistic to expect companies here to give jobs only to locals - for the simple reason that there aren't enough of them to fill the vacancies, a human resource chief said yesterday.

Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI) president Ho Geok Choo called on the government to step up efforts to bring in more foreigners - especially in the services industry, where the manpower crunch is most keenly felt right now.

Speaking to reporters at the annual Singapore HR Congress and Business-Connect Expo, Madam Ho said it will 'take time' to instill a service culture in Singaporeans. While that happens, the government can help by bringing in more foreign talent.

'In very populous countries like China and Vietnam, there are people looking to level themselves up, and they will look at opportunities in Singapore,' she said. 'With the integrated resorts (IRs) coming up, we are going to need a lot of service staff - and there are not enough Singaporeans, even if you tap housewives and mature workers.'

Mdm Ho, who is also a Member of Parliament for West Coast GRC, said the fear among Singaporeans that foreigners will take their jobs is 'unnecessary'.

At last week's May Day Rally, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said foreigners are not here to steal jobs from locals but rather to help grow the economic pie. Foreigners make up 30 per cent of Singapore's workforce - a figure that has remained unchanged for years. But there has been a surge in absolute numbers as more have come here to fill jobs created in record numbers in 2007.

To allay the fears of locals, SHRI is proposing that a tripartite dialogue - involving key public agencies, the private sector and the local workforce - be organised soon.

'Locals and foreigners should not look at one another as competitors, but as team members trying to accomplish goals together. This ought to be the real talking point going forward,' said Mdm Ho.

Earlier during the congress opening ceremony, Minister of State for Trade and Industry Lee Yi Shyan said the government is committed to helping companies that are struggling with a talent shortage.

He urged employers to tap the pool of 142,000 economically inactive residents in Singapore, such as housewives and the elderly, who would be willing to take up flexible jobs in the next two years. As the government tries to grow the size of the local workforce, its economic agencies are constantly in talks with educational institutions to find out the specific skill sets required by companies today, Mr Lee said.

Mdm Ho, meanwhile, said the growing dependence on foreigners is partly due to the 'inevitability' of Singaporeans wanting to head overseas to work.

'Nowadays, our people are exposed to information readily available online, and when they read about the excitement that's happening in other parts of the world, they are inclined to go out and try something new,' she said. 'It's a very natural process, and helps them gain experience and different perspectives.'

Still, she advised employers to do their part to retain their best talent - or risk losing it to competitors.