Unfortunately yes Farman, if you are on a work permit you are displacing the local workforce due to the downturn. Just like in Singapore the work permits were the first to go. Having a guess I would say the remaining aviation companies have more than 50% of their aircrew on work permits, blocking the local workforce for re-employment into their chosen profession.
It's going to be hard to justify those kind of numbers to the immigration department with the locally qualified manpower now available.