Foreign Workers Entering Singapore who have been Tested Positive for COVID-19

Mr Ang Wei Neng asked the Minister for Manpower (a) from January 2021 to date, what is the breakdown on the number of foreign workers that have entered Singapore who are (i) domestic helpers, (ii) S Pass holders, (iii) Employment Pass holders and (iv) other work permit holders; (b) how many foreign workers have been tested positive for COVID-19 under each category; and (c) of those who have been tested positive for COVID-19 from each category, how many have suffered serious symptoms which required oxygen ventilators or to be warded in Intensive Care Units.

MOM calibrates the number of work pass holders entering from each country, based on MOH’s assessment of the COVID-19 situation in those countries, which is regularly updated. MOM does not differentiate based on the type of pass holder, because the exposure of an individual and thus the risk that they are incubating COVID-19 on arrival, is determined by the country of departure and not the type of work pass they hold.

From January to August 2021, about 12,200 work pass holders entered Singapore each month. Over the same period, the total number of work pass holders actually declined by about 9,900. This is because the number of work pass holders leaving Singapore upon the cancellation or expiry of their work pass exceeded the number coming in.

Among these work pass holders who entered Singapore, about 1% tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in Singapore or during Stay-Home notice.

In total, only five of the work pass holders among the imported COVID-19 cases above required oxygen ventilators. None among them was warded in Intensive Care Units.