Immigration & foreign manpower

• Sharael Taha asked for data on stateless residents who have lived in Singapore for over 20 years and whether citizenship could be granted to stateless seniors with similar residency.
• Minister Shanmugam stated that 853 stateless persons were recorded as of December 2023, but precise data on their length of residency is unavailable due to varied circumstances leading to statelessness.
• Applications for citizenship, including from stateless individuals, are evaluated case-by-case based on conduct, contributions, family ties, residency duration, and the reasons for their statelessness.
• Singapore, being small and densely populated, maintains a highly discerning approach to citizenship grants, carefully assessing all applications.
• The government does not have complete records on how long stateless persons have been stateless or their residency history, as their status is often identified only when they interact with immigration authorities.

• Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim questioned whether higher salary thresholds for Employment Pass and S Pass holders might cause companies to inflate wages for these foreign workers relative to Singaporeans to meet the criteria.
• Minister Tan See Leng explained that the qualifying salaries are benchmarked to the top third of resident PMET wages and follow, rather than lead, local wage trends, ensuring foreign workers complement rather than compete with locals.
• The Minister highlighted that raising qualifying salaries over the past decade has not hindered local employment, as resident PMET median income and numbers grew significantly while foreign pass holders also increased.
• Employers are more likely to let go or reclassify foreign workers whose value does not justify higher wages, with data showing increased churn rates after qualifying salary adjustments, and changes are implemented with 18 months' notice for planning.

• Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked for the percentage of new and existing dormitories that have informed the Ministry of Manpower of their plans to meet interim and new dormitory standards under the Dormitory Transition Scheme.
• Tan See Leng stated that about 200 dormitories with 70,000 beds already meet the new standards, including all new dormitories licensed after September 2021.
• For existing dormitories transitioning to interim standards by 2030, 14 dormitories with about 100,000 beds have begun works or informed the Ministry of their plans, accounting for half the beds needing interim standards by 2030.

• The National Environment Agency (NEA) reported that the median successful tender price for cooked food stalls in hawker centres was about $2,000 in 2022 and $1,800 in 2023, with about one in five stalls awarded at or below $500 a month in 2023; the government currently rejects a fixed-rate ballot model, stating the existing tender process allows lower initial rents and market adjustment after three years.
• The Ministry acknowledged concerns that high rental bids by new entrants could lead to increased food prices, but noted these are rare outliers; it plans to provide more granular rental information on the NEA website to help bidders make more considered bids and will study further measures to moderate excessive bids.
• The government will relax manpower policies from 1 January 2025 to allow hawkers to hire Long-Term Visit Pass holders with a Letter of Consent as stall assistants, but has no plans to liberalise hiring for Work Permit holders, as it aims to preserve the local identity of hawker centres and promote productivity to address manpower challenges.

He Ting Ru questioned the Minister for Home Affairs about the number of visa-free visitors arrested or identified as persons of interest for criminal offenses from 2021 to June 2024, requesting a breakdown by offense type and country of origin, as well as information on enhanced screening measures and the potential implementation of an electronic travel authorization system. K Shanmugam highlighted that there are over 150 visa-free countries, stating it is impractical to publish crime statistics for these visitors and that it could negatively impact bona fide travelers. He mentioned that the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority employs a risk-based, multi-layered approach for border security and sees no current need for an electronic travel authorization system, as it could complicate travel to Singapore.

Ang Wei Neng questioned whether it is mandatory for applicants to submit all supporting documents online through the ICA website and if elderly residents not comfortable with technology could submit applications physically at the office. K Shanmugam responded that the ICA aims to provide services through its "No Fuss, No Visit, and No Waiting" vision, with nearly 95% of services available digitally. He acknowledged that some elderly individuals may require assistance and can receive help at the ICA Services Centre.

Gerald Giam Yean Song questioned the Minister for Manpower about the criteria for issuing Change of Employer (COE) letters to migrant workers who are victims or innocent of wrongdoing. Tan See Leng clarified that migrant workers must have a permit to work in Singapore, which is a privilege, not a right, and may be denied or canceled under various circumstances, including employer actions. During law enforcement investigations, these workers receive a Special Pass to remain in Singapore, and they can seek a new employer if found innocent, with the Ministry of Manpower facilitating the application, subject to public interest and work pass criteria.

Neil Parekh Nimil Rajnikant asked for updates on integration programs for foreign workers regarding racial and religious harmony before employment, and if more educational measures will be introduced after a recent incident involving illegal preaching in a dormitory. Tan See Leng responded that the Settling-In Programme (SIP) is mandatory for migrant workers, conducted in their native languages to cover laws and social norms related to harmony. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) collaborates with various stakeholders to promote racial and religious harmony via initiatives like social media outreach, dormitory orientations, and celebrations such as Racial Harmony Day. Employers and dormitory operators are also critical in maintaining harmony, and MOM will continue to enhance efforts in this area.

Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Manpower about the number of wrongful termination cases filed by work permit or S Pass holders over the last decade and related statistics. Tan See Leng reported that from 2019 to 2023, approximately 400 wrongful dismissal claims were filed, with 50% withdrawn by workers, 40% resolved through mediation, and 10% adjudicated, with about 30% of those ruled in favor of the worker. The process for redress included monetary compensation, conversion of dismissal to resignation, or an employer-provided service testimonial. The Ministry does not track whether workers secured new jobs after filing claims.

• Ms He Ting Ru queried the Minister for Manpower on the number of salary claims over the last three years, broken down by work pass type and for Work Permit holders by industry.
• Minister Tan See Leng provided the incidence of salary claims by foreign employees with a breakdown by work pass type from 2021 to 2023 in Table 1.
• He also presented the incidence of salary claims for Work Permit holders in the top three industries with such claims from 2021 to 2023 in Table 2.
• The response focuses on data for foreign employees, specifically highlighting trends from 2021 to 2023.
• The tables aim to address both parts of the query regarding work pass types and industry breakdown for Work Permit holders.

• Mr Liang Eng Hwa questioned whether the Ministry of Manpower would review the age limit for foreign domestic workers (FDWs) to work in Singapore, currently set at 60 years old, and whether it would consider employer appeals for yearly extensions beyond this limit.
• The Ministry of Manpower explained that the age limit helps mitigate rising medical costs for employers, as these costs generally increase with age, which is a burden on households.
• The Ministry noted that on appeal, it may approve work permit renewals beyond the age limit, taking into account the MDW’s health, experience, and the employer’s household needs.

• In 2023, Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority issued about 74,000 Student's Passes to foreign students.
• The Ministry of Manpower took enforcement action against 143 Student's Pass holders, representing 0.16% of all holders, for working illegally.
• Measures to mitigate abuse include careful application assessments, financial requirement checks, and penalties such as fines, imprisonment, pass cancellation, deportation, and debarment for offenders and their employers.

• Hazel Poa requested the Ministry to release data on the deaths of Singapore Citizens over the past decade, separate from resident deaths, and asked for the projected year when Citizen deaths would surpass Citizen births based on current trends.
• The Ministry provided data showing that resident deaths rose from 18,200 in 2014 to 25,600 in 2023, while Citizen deaths increased from 17,700 to 24,700 over the same period.
• Based on current trends, Citizen deaths are projected to exceed Citizen births in the first half of the 2030s.

• Foo Mee Har inquired if seniors facing difficulties with automated immigration clearance at Changi Airport will receive assistance and if ICA officers are trained to proactively help them.
• K Shanmugam stated that the automated lanes are designed with visual cues and videos for easy independent use.
• He confirmed that ICA officers are present onsite to approach and guide travellers who may need help during the process.

• Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked whether the Ministry of Manpower tracks the number of Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents working on foreign digital nomad visas, including a breakdown by those employed by companies based in Singapore versus overseas.
• The Ministry of Manpower does not track these figures because digital nomad visa schemes are operated by foreign jurisdictions.
• The Ministry does not have data on Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents holding digital nomad visas from other countries.

• Leong Mun Wai asked whether the number or percentage of Chinese social visit pass holders arrested has increased since the visa exemption in February 2024 and whether automated immigration lanes raise security risks, to which the Minister of State for Home Affairs replied that there has been no increase in arrests and that Singapore’s multi-layered security checks, including pre-arrival screening and biometric systems, effectively manage risks without closing borders due to the economic importance of tourism and open borders.
• The Minister highlighted that the visa exemption with China was a carefully assessed decision balancing security risks with significant economic and bilateral benefits, and that automated clearance has actually improved risk assessment by freeing up officers for profiling and enabling more upstream screening.
• In a supplementary question, Leong Mun Wai clarified that his party does not advocate closed borders but seeks additional measures to protect security as foreign visitor numbers grow, specifically asking if the government is considering tougher penalties for cross-border crimes like scams, money laundering, and burglaries committed by Chinese nationals.
• The Minister responded that the government continuously reviews and updates laws, such as the Criminal Procedure Code and Penal Code, to address evolving transnational crimes, including online scams, and acknowledges the need for stronger deterrents as visitor numbers and technology use increase.

• The debate centered on a case where a foreign preacher, Amir Hamza, entered Singapore using a passport with a different name and delivered an extremist sermon without a permit, prompting questions on border security and dormitory regulations.
• The Minister outlined multi-layered border safeguards, including visa requirements, pre-arrival risk assessments, watchlist screening, and biometric systems, noting that about 2,500 travelers are refused entry monthly and that no system is foolproof.
• Authorities are investigating the dormitory operator and others for offences under the Public Order Act, Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, and Foreign Employee Dormitories Act, with the Minister emphasizing rare occurrences of unauthorized events in dormitories.
• The Minister highlighted the balance between security and facilitation, with technology like AI and biometrics assisting but not replacing human judgment, and noted ongoing efforts to review visa processes and enhance detection of watchlisted individuals.

Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Minister for Manpower about the consideration of police and immigration records in work permit applications for migrant domestic workers (MDWs), and employer liability for repatriation costs. Tan See Leng responded that the Ministry does consider relevant security records to prevent undesirable individuals from working in Singapore. He confirmed that employers must cover the costs of bringing in and repatriating MDWs, ensuring they are not left stranded. If an MDW's employment is terminated within six months, the employment agency must refund at least 50% of the placement fees to the employer.

Yip Hon Weng raised questions regarding the training and qualifications of foreign auxiliary police officers in Singapore, their understanding of local cultural norms, and the impact on the local workforce in security roles. K Shanmugam confirmed that all Auxiliary Police Officers must meet specific physical, educational, and integrity requirements set by the Singapore Police Force, including training courses and physical tests. The Auxiliary Police Forces have initiatives to help foreign officers understand local norms, including briefings and appointing cultural liaison officers. Efforts are being made to attract more Singaporeans to security roles through competitive salaries and bonuses, but challenges remain due to broader workforce opportunities.

Edward Chia Bing Hui questioned the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment about the possibility of allowing Long-Term Visit Pass Plus holders to work as hawker assistants to alleviate manpower shortages. Grace Fu Hai Yien clarified that only Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents can be stallholders and stall assistants at NEA-managed hawker centres, with the exception being the spouses of stallholders who hold Long-Term Visit Pass or Long-Term Visit Pass Plus with the appropriate permissions. The restrictions aim to preserve the local identity of hawker culture.