SINGAPORE- Overly high expectations of pay and a sense of entitlement amongst Singapore workers will erode the competitiveness of its economy.

Some local workers reject jobs which require shift work, while others complain about fierce job competition and low pay, Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin said in a blog post on Tuesday.

Mr Tan said these complaints have come about despite the fact that real median gross monthly income for fully-employed residents grew 4 per cent last year. On top of that, Singapore also has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world.

"If we are not careful, we will imbue the wrong sense of entitlement in our workforce, and this can undo the position that we now enjoy," said Mr Tan.

Mr Tan was sharing his thoughts after attending the G20 Labour and Employment Ministerial meeting in Melbourne last week.

He met labour ministers from Australia, South Korea and Britain, which are grappling with problems such as degree inflation and stagnant wages.

Mr Tan said: "If we become uncompetitive and inward looking, perhaps at future meetings, I would be joining my other international colleagues in lamenting stagnant wages and high youth unemployment."