I am from the electronics engineering sector, R&D/contract manufacturing/electronic trading.

Our small company is 100% singapore born singaporean. everyone served NS except a lady from marketing. The reason for this is because local are cheaper and easier to hire, deg starts from 2.45k, dip is even lower, much*

total hiring cost = 2.45 * 116 = 2.8+k approx still cheaper then 3k

Any total cost above 3k and FTs will come in. It just makes more business sense when doing the math.

Not to mention the savings due to not having the additional labor involved when doing the Q1 EP blar.

The coy can hire people meh? well, it is still running and operational as of today