Managing Growth in Demand for Foreign Domestic Workers

Assoc Prof Randolph Tan raised concerns about the sustainability of growing demand for foreign domestic workers (FDWs) and potential long-term issues, prompting a response from the Minister for Manpower.
Mrs Josephine Teo noted that FDW numbers have grown by 40% over the past decade, driven largely by elderly caregiving and family needs, and highlighted government efforts to expand alternatives like day care, home care, and preschool services to moderate this growth.
The government is implementing levy increases and adjustments, such as raising FDW levies to $300 and $450 for first and second workers and raising the qualifying age for concessions, while maintaining a $60 levy for households with caregiving needs.
Additional measures include the Household Services Scheme for part-time cleaning, a Settling-In Programme for new FDWs, and support from NGOs to address social friction and ensure FDWs’ rights and integration.

Full Transcript

Assoc Prof Randolph Tan

Assoc Prof Randolph Tan asked the Minister for Manpower whether the growth in demand for foreign domestic workers (FDWs) is sustainable and whether there are measures in place to address the long-term issues associated with a large and growing FDW population.

Mrs Josephine Teo

Over the last 10 years, the number of foreign domestic workers (FDWs) in Singapore has increased by about 40% to 240,000 in 2017. Most of the growth can be attributed to households with elderly caregiving needs, but households with no seniors or young children also hired more FDWs.

We are developing more options to support Singaporeans with caregiving needs. This will help to moderate the growth in the number of FDWs and manage the risk of over-dependence, especially if improved job opportunities in the FDWs’ home countries make it less attractive for them to seek domestic work overseas.

From 2011 to 2017, the Government has more than doubled centre-based day care and home-care capacity for the elderly, and we are on track to meet our targets of 6,200 centre-based and 10,000 home-care places by 2020. Caregivers can also tap community-based care services. For elderly persons without an available caregiver, services, such as Meals-on-Wheels, ensure that they can have access to regular meals while the Medical Escort and Transport service helps them to attend their medical appointments.

Likewise, we are continuing to expand full-day preschool capacity to support the childcare and infant care needs of families with young children. Over the past five years, the Government has facilitated the creation of 50,000 full-day preschool places. By 2023, another 40,000 places will be developed, 30% more than today.

Families wishing to hire an FDW to meet their general household needs, such as cleaning, may also consider other alternatives. For example, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) started the Household Services Scheme in September 2017, which lets domestic cleaning service companies have additional foreign worker quotas in order to meet the demand for part-time household services.

At the same time, levies for FDWs must be regularly adjusted to reflect income changes and moderate demand. As was announced during the 2018 Budget Statement, from 1 April 2019, the monthly levy for the first and second FDW employed without levy concession will be raised from $265 today to $300 and $450 respectively. In addition, the qualifying age for the levy concession for aged persons will be raised from 65 to 67 years, as more Singaporeans live and remain in good health longer. Households who need help caring for young children, the elderly or family members with disabilities will, however, continue to enjoy a monthly concessionary FDW levy of $60.

Due to our population density, a sharp increase in the FDW population may also result in social friction. Today, we already require all new FDWs to go through a Settling-In Programme. It provides them with tips on adjusting to Singapore's social and cultural norms, besides educating them on their employment rights, protections and avenues of help. There are also non-government organisations, such as the Centre for Domestic Employees, that provide support to FDWs in need.

Assoc Prof Randolph Tan raised concerns about the sustainability of growing demand for foreign domestic workers (FDWs) and potential long-term issues, prompting a response from the Minister for Manpower.
Mrs Josephine Teo noted that FDW numbers have grown by 40% over the past decade, driven largely by elderly caregiving and family needs, and highlighted government efforts to expand alternatives like day care, home care, and preschool services to moderate this growth.
The government is implementing levy increases and adjustments, such as raising FDW levies to $300 and $450 for first and second workers and raising the qualifying age for concessions, while maintaining a $60 levy for households with caregiving needs.
Additional measures include the Household Services Scheme for part-time cleaning, a Settling-In Programme for new FDWs, and support from NGOs to address social friction and ensure FDWs’ rights and integration.

Full Transcript

Managing Growth in Demand for Foreign Domestic Workers

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Assoc Prof Randolph Tan

Mrs Josephine Teo

Summary

Questions Identified

Managing Growth in Demand for Foreign Domestic Workers

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Assoc Prof Randolph Tan

Mrs Josephine Teo

Summary

Questions Identified