Debated in Parliament on 10 Jan 2023.
Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Health what are the measures taken with MOM to exercise appropriate flexibility under the work pass framework on the hiring of foreign nurses to meet the healthcare sector's manpower needs.
Mr Speaker, MOH and MOM recognise that the healthcare sector needs foreign nurses and support care staff to augment the nursing workforce, to meet our growing healthcare needs. Hence, additional work pass quotas and greater flexibility to recruit foreign nurses and support care staff from non-traditional sources, have been allocated to the healthcare sector.
These measures have been used very judiciously by the sector.
Mr Louis Ng.
Thank you, Sir. I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the reply. Could I just check, specifically, whether we are looking into the Dependant's Pass application by nurses? I think we agree that many have gone back home because they want to be closer to their loved ones and they cannot bring their loved ones to Singapore. And so, two clarifications: one, whether MOH is monitoring how successful their Dependant's Pass application is; and two, whether MOH can work specifically with MOM to see whether we can look into these applications more favourably.
And happy birthday to you as well, Sir.
To answer the question, yes, we are aware that this is an important concern of the foreign nurses, and yes, this is something that we are looking into specifically as well.
PAPERCUTS