Immigration & foreign manpower

• In 2024, 64% of foreign spouses of Singapore citizens completed the Pre-Marriage LTVP Assessment (PMLA) before applying for the Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP).
• The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has implemented various measures to raise awareness about the PMLA, including providing advisories in multiple languages and enhancing online accessibility.
• Information about the PMLA is available on the "Our Marriage Journey" online portal for couples, and marriage registry officers encourage couples to complete the assessment.

• A woman who surrendered her passport in 1996 managed to overstay in Singapore for over 28 years without detection due to her low-profile lifestyle and lack of engagement with formal systems.
• The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) conducts regular operations to detect overstayers, but some individuals can evade enforcement actions.
• The ICA is investigating the circumstances surrounding the woman's daughter's Permanent Residency application for potential fraud or immigration offenses.
• New measures are being implemented by the ICA to enhance the detection and arrest of overstayers in the future.

• Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim inquired about HDB's tracking of tenure duration and ethnicity of tenants in open-market rentals and the measures in place to maintain ethnic diversity.
• Chee Hong Tat explained that the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) applies to the sale and allocation of HDB flats but not to open-market rentals, which primarily involve non-citizen tenants.
• To prevent foreigner enclaves, HDB implemented a non-Citizen quota in 2014, limiting the number of flats rented to non-Malaysian non-citizens and capping rental periods at two years.
• HDB requires flat owners to meet certain conditions before renting out their flats and will enforce actions against any detected irregularities.

• Ms. Hazel Poa inquired about updates on addressing the needs of bus drivers in light of additional foreign worker quotas.
• The Ministry of Manpower is collaborating with the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Education to support public and school bus operators in maintaining an adequate supply of bus drivers.
• The government emphasizes that bus driving is a viable career for Singaporeans and that additional foreign worker quotas are temporary, aimed at encouraging the hiring and retention of local drivers.
• Efforts are being made to enhance salary packages and working conditions for bus captains through collaboration with public bus operators.

• Patrick Tay Teck Guan proposed the development of a mandatory Settling-in Programme for foreign PMETs to enhance their local integration and understanding of social norms.
• The Ministry of Manpower has initiated a Cultural Orientation Programme (COP) for new S Pass holders, which is currently voluntary and will be reviewed after its pilot phase ends in 2025.
• Businesses are encouraged to support the integration of foreign employees by facilitating interactions and utilizing resources from the OneWorkplace.sg initiative.
• The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth is collaborating with the Alliance for Action on Integration of Foreign Professionals to create recommendations for better workplace and community integration for foreign professionals, with completion expected by the end of 2025.

• The debate focused on the healthcare needs of older work permit holders following the removal of the maximum employment period and increased age limit for these workers.
• The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) emphasized its commitment to providing adequate healthcare for work permit holders, including mandatory primary care plans for certain sectors and optional plans for others.
• Employers are required to purchase medical insurance for work permit holders, with specific coverage limits for inpatient care and day surgery, and compensation for work-related injuries.
• MOM promotes health literacy and preventive health measures among migrant workers, including age-friendly workplace practices and health programs like Project MOCCA.
• The Ministry will continue to review and adapt healthcare initiatives to meet the evolving needs of older work permit holders.

• Ms. See Jinli Jean inquired about the employment status of migrant workers whose contracts were prematurely terminated due to redundancy, specifically asking for data on re-employment rates and support services provided by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
• The Ministry of Manpower does not maintain records on the number of Work Permit Holders who find new employment without a break in stay after being retrenched.
• Employers are encouraged to assist retrenched workers in finding new jobs through job placement services and online portals, which helps retain experienced workers and reduces repatriation costs.
• MOM collaborates with current and prospective employers to facilitate the employment transition for affected migrant workers.

• Ms. Sylvia Lim inquired about the number of Singapore citizens born to foreign mothers with various immigration statuses over the past two years.
• Minister K Shanmugam provided data indicating that in 2023 and 2024, 72% of foreign mothers were Permanent Residents, 15% held a Long-Term Visit Pass Plus, 8% held a Long-Term Visit Pass, and 5% had other immigration statuses.
• The total number of Singapore citizens born to foreign mothers in that period averaged 4,909 annually.

• The debate focused on the importance of immigration for Singapore's economic growth and national security, addressing concerns about integration and national identity.
• A significant majority of Singaporeans recognize the benefits of immigration, with over 75% supporting its positive impact on the economy and 62% acknowledging cultural contributions.
• The government aims to manage immigration carefully, ensuring that new immigrants are well-suited to contribute to society and are supported in their integration efforts.
• Various programs and initiatives are in place to help immigrants adapt to local norms, including mandatory citizenship journeys and community integration efforts led by the National Integration Council.
• Education plays a key role in fostering understanding of immigration, with schools teaching students about the value of diversity and the historical contributions of immigrants to Singapore.

• Mr. Ong Hua Han proposed using a portion of foreign worker levy revenue to create a fund aimed at enhancing the safety and well-being of migrant workers.
• Minister Tan See Leng responded that the government consolidates revenue across ministries and allocates funds based on merit, already directing resources towards migrant worker initiatives.
• The Ministry of Manpower has established programs and partnerships, including recreation centers and support from NGOs, to improve migrant workers' safety and mental well-being.
• The government encourages a collaborative approach, urging employers to take responsibility for providing safe and healthy work environments for migrant workers.

• Mr. Ong Hua Han urged the Government to consider recommendations from a report on the transportation of migrant workers, including removing exceptions in the Road Traffic Act and providing transport subsidies.
• The Minister for Transport, Chee Hong Tat, emphasized the priority of improving road safety but stated that banning lorry transportation is not feasible due to potential negative impacts on small- and medium-sized enterprises.
• The Government is engaging with companies to understand challenges and promote safer alternative transportation methods for migrant workers.

• The Primary Care Plan (PCP) offers cost certainty for employers while providing essential medical services to migrant workers, including consultations, basic medication, and health screenings.
• On average, migrant workers utilize the PCP for medical care about 12% of the time, equating to one to two visits per year, which aligns with initial projections.
• The PCP is currently underutilized for annual health screenings and chronic care management, despite high satisfaction rates among migrant workers and significant cost savings for employers.
• A study indicated that 88% of migrant workers are willing to use the PCP due to its affordability and accessibility, with positive feedback from both workers and employers regarding its effectiveness.
• The Ministry of Manpower plans to continue engaging with stakeholders to promote early care seeking and preventive health measures.

• Mr. Lim Biow Chuan proposed reducing the levy for hiring the first migrant domestic worker to $60 for households with at least one Singapore Citizen to alleviate costs.
• The Minister of State for Manpower, Ms. Gan Siow Huang, explained that the current levy is $300 per month for the first worker and $450 for subsequent workers, with a concessionary rate of $60 available only for households with specific caregiving needs.
• Lim suggested lowering the age criterion for the concessionary rate from 67 to 65 years and emphasized the need for cost reduction amid rising living expenses.
• The Minister reiterated that the levy serves as a mechanism to regulate the number of migrant domestic workers and that policies are reviewed to remain relevant to local needs.
• Ms. Gan encouraged members to report specific cases of financial need for domestic help to the Ministry of Manpower for consideration.

• The Ministry of Manpower is working to increase the supply of dormitory beds for foreign workers by extending leases, enabling higher occupancy in existing dormitories, and facilitating new dormitory applications.
• Six new purpose-built dormitories with approximately 45,000 beds are planned to be added to the market in the coming years, including a new 2,400-bed facility set to open in early 2026.
• The government emphasizes the need for employers to adopt productivity measures to reduce reliance on migrant workers, as unchecked demand for work permit holders could undermine housing strategies.
• A phased approach is being implemented for upgrading dormitory standards to balance worker welfare with compliance costs for businesses, ensuring that supply shortages do not occur during the transition.
• Ongoing collaboration with the Dormitory Association of Singapore is aimed at matching employers with available bed spaces, contributing to a stable supply and demand balance in the dormitory market.

• The debate focused on the issue of subsidies for maternity fees and medical bills for foreign mothers or relatives of Singapore citizens, with questions raised about the extent of support available.
• Concerns were expressed regarding the financial burden on Singaporeans when foreign relatives or spouses incur medical costs, and whether mandatory health insurance for long-term visitors should be considered.
• The Minister of State for Health clarified that most foreign spouses of Singapore citizens are Permanent Residents or holders of Long-Term Visit Pass-Plus, who receive the same subsidies as citizens for maternity care.
• There was acknowledgment of a small percentage of foreign mothers giving birth to Singaporean children who do not hold PR or LTVP+, prompting calls for a review of support for this group.
• The Ministry will continue to assess the situation and explore ways to provide assistance to foreign mothers facing high delivery costs, while emphasizing the importance of existing policies.

• The debate focused on the balance between attracting foreign talent and developing the local workforce in Singapore's financial sector amid a talent shortage.
• The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is committed to enhancing local workforce skills while remaining open to foreign talent, with over 80% of the financial sector workforce being local.
• MAS has allocated $400 million from 2021 to 2025 for training local finance professionals, supporting various programs for different career stages, including internships and leadership development.
• Financial institutions are actively involved in local talent development, with initiatives like OCBC Ignite and UBS-SUPER aimed at training and employing local graduates and mid-career professionals.
• The Ministry of Manpower's COMPASS framework encourages firms to prioritize local employment while also recognizing the value of global talent with in-demand skills.

See Jinli Jean asked the Minister for Manpower about the number of retrenched migrant workers since 2021 and their sectors, retrenchment benefits distributed, and how the Ministry ensures responsible retrenchment practices are followed. Tan See Leng reported that an average of about 2,680 non-resident employees were retrenched annually from 2021 to 2023, primarily in electronics manufacturing, information and communications, and wholesale trade. Approximately 90% of eligible employees received a retrenchment benefit. The Ministry emphasizes responsible retrenchment as a last resort and will engage companies that do not comply with responsible practices outlined in the Tripartite Advisory.

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked if the nutritional value of food is considered when licensing food caterers for dormitory workers and suggested collaboration with the Ministry of Manpower to address this. Grace Fu Hai Yien responded that the licensing of food businesses focuses on food safety and public health, not nutritional value, and there are no plans to change this approach.