Immigration & foreign manpower — Topics

7 May 2024

Considerations for PR or Singapore Citizenship for Foreign Wives on Long-Term Visit Passes upon Divorce or Demise of Spouse

Ms Ng Ling Ling asked the Minister for Home Affairs about the criteria for granting permanent residency or Singapore citizenship to foreign wives on Long-Term Visit Passes after divorce or the death of their Singaporean spouse, to ensure stability for their Singaporean children.
The Minister for Home Affairs stated that the policy generally allows divorced or widowed foreign spouses with custody of Singaporean children to remain in Singapore to care for their children.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority typically renews their Long-Term Visit Pass and they are considered more favorably for Permanent Residency compared to those without family ties to Singaporeans.

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7 May 2024

False Declarations of Addresses for Migrant Workers

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Manpower about reports of false address declarations by migrant workers, inspection frequency and timelines, and penalties imposed on employers and employees.
The Foreign Worker Tenant Enquiry Service (FWTES) was introduced in 2018, and complaints about misused addresses have dropped from an average of 730 per year (2019–2021) to 130 per year (2022–2023).
Annually, around 1,140 migrant workers and 480 employers receive warnings, while about 70 employers are fined or prosecuted for false address declarations or failing to update addresses, with some facing work pass revocation, employment bans, or debarment from hiring migrant workers.

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7 May 2024

Publishing Numbers of Citizens and PRs Who Have Registered Foreign Address or Been Overseas for at Least 12 Months

Leong Mun Wai asked for annual figures since 2020 on Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents excluded from population estimates due to having a foreign address or being overseas for 12 months, whether the figures would be published, and reasons if not.
Indranee Rajah explained that Singapore uses the "de jure" population concept based on usual residence, excluding those with a foreign address or overseas for 12 months or more, as detailed in the Population in Brief publication.
She noted this group includes overseas students, professionals, and those abroad for family reasons, typically comprising 2%-3% and 8%-9% of Citizen and PR populations, with variations during COVID-19 due to travel restrictions.
The National Population and Talent Division will continue reviewing the publication, considering international best practices.

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7 May 2024

Harassment of Migrant Domestic Workers' Employers by Moneylenders

Mark Lee inquired about a rise in harassment of employers by moneylenders linked to migrant domestic workers' love scams and debts, and what measures protect employers from such harassment.
K Shanmugam confirmed increased reports of harassment by unlicensed moneylenders involving migrant domestic workers as borrowers, but noted the police do not track whether employers are harassed parties.
The Ministry of Home Affairs enforces strict penalties under the Moneylenders Act, with fines up to $50,000 and imprisonment up to five years for harassers, and conducted 12 major operations in 2023 leading to over 850 arrests.
The Ministry of Manpower educates migrant domestic workers on the risks of borrowing from unlicensed moneylenders, including work pass revocation, through programs like the Settling-in Programme to promote financial management and seeking help from employers or agencies.

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7 May 2024

Companies with More Than 30% of Foreign PMETs and Those with More Than 20% of PMETs of a Single Foreign Nationality

Leong Mun Wai asked for the annual percentage of companies with over 30% foreign PMETs and over 20% of PMETs from a single foreign nationality since 2014.
Tan See Leng explained that statistics distinguish small firms (fewer than 25 PMETs) from larger firms due to fluctuations in small firms, with most EP holders in larger firms.
Over the past decade, about 20% of larger firms had over 30% foreign PMETs, while about 10% had over 20% of PMETs from a single foreign nationality.
For small firms, averages were 20% for high foreign PMET share and 20% for single-nationality dominance, with 2023 figures rising to 28% and 30% respectively.
The Ministry of Manpower introduced a points-based assessment framework to ensure workforce diversity and will continue monitoring and adjusting policies.

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7 May 2024

Rise in Resident Employment Attributable to Non-residents Becoming Residents

Leong Mun Wai inquired about the percentage of the 2023 resident employment increase attributable to non-residents becoming residents and why such data is not collected.
Tan See Leng criticized the question as unproductive and detrimental to social cohesion, noting the topic had been previously debated.
The Ministry of Manpower does not collect data on the prior residency status of workers in employment change calculations, as the source data from CPF administrative records lacks this information.
The ministry directs the public to its published labour market statistics for broader insights into resident employment outcomes, including employment and unemployment rates and wage growth.

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7 May 2024

Programmes to Assist Migrant Workers Manage Their Finances Responsibly

Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim asked the Ministry for Manpower to consider collaborating with non-profit organisations to enhance programmes that help migrant workers manage their finances safely and responsibly.
The Ministry of Manpower has been working with community partners and NGOs to develop and promote financial management programmes for migrant workers, including the Settling-in Programme and outreach roadshows at recreation centres.
These programmes aim to increase awareness of risks like unauthorised remittance services and suspicious bank account activities, while educating workers on setting financial goals and using good budgeting tools.

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3 Apr 2024

Data on Complaints Received of and Investigations on Job Listings and Companies on MyCareersFuture

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for Manpower for data on complaints, investigations, substantiations, and penalties related to alleged discrepancies in job listings on MyCareersFuture.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) does not specifically track complaints based on perceptions of discrepancies between job listings and hiring experiences.
MOM and TAFEP received 446 complaints involving nationality-based discrimination in the past three years.
MOM took enforcement action against 34 companies for selecting foreign candidates without considering applicants via MyCareersFuture, including warnings, corrective courses, and debarment from hiring foreign workers.

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3 Apr 2024

Data on Successful New Employment Pass Applicants since 1 September 2023

About 10% of successful Employment Pass applicants since 1 September 2023 were exempted from the COMPASS eligibility criteria, mainly due to high salary, intra-corporate transferee status, or short-term roles.
Less than 10% of approved applications scored zero points for diversity (over 25% of the candidate’s nationality among PMETs), while about 20% scored zero points for qualifications (no declared degree-equivalent credentials), though the actual proportion without degrees is lower.
Approximately 30% of approved applications received 10 default points for diversity and local employment support because the hiring company had fewer than 25 employees, though these firms still needed to meet the overall 40-point threshold.

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2 Apr 2024

Number of Working Years Required to Recover Cost from Recipients of Government Tuition Grants for Polytechnic and University Studies

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for Education for the estimated number of years a Tuition Grant recipient for polytechnics or universities must work and pay taxes to recover the grant's cost.
Minister Chan Chun Sing explained that the Tuition Grant Scheme supports international students by covering part of their school fees, with recipients paying higher fees than Singaporeans and contributing to the learning environment.
In return for the grant, recipients are bonded to work in Singapore for three years after graduation, contributing to the economy, with some becoming Permanent Residents or naturalized citizens.
Those who leave Singapore still contribute through global networks formed from friendships and economic links.
The minister noted that the contributions of Tuition Grant recipients are both qualitative and quantitative.

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2 Apr 2024

Data on Migrant Workers Who Have Been Scam Victims and Measures to Raise Awareness of Scams Among Migrant Workers

In 2023, 500 migrant domestic workers in Singapore were scam victims, an 18% increase from 423 in 2022.
The Ministry of Manpower and Police run the Settling-In Programme to educate migrant domestic workers on scam prevention upon arrival.
Anti-scam education continues for those already working, covering latest scam trends to help them detect and report scams.
The Ministry uses social media and bus stop ads for anti-scam campaigns, while the Police run the Domestic Guardians Programme for crime and scam prevention training.
These measures aim to equip migrant domestic workers with awareness and advocacy skills to protect themselves and their communities from scams.

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2 Apr 2024

Screening and Data of Singapore Citizens' and Permanent Residents' Participation in Foreign Legislatures and Political Organisations

Leong Mun Wai asked the Minister for Home Affairs about the number of Singapore citizens who had declared membership in foreign legislatures or political organisations under the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act as of 1 March 2024, and whether the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority screens permanent residency and citizenship applicants for such participation.
Minister K Shanmugam stated that as of 1 March 2024, five Singapore citizens had declared their memberships in foreign legislatures or foreign political organisations to the Registry of Foreign and Political Disclosures.
The Minister confirmed that Singapore citizenship and permanent residency applicants are required to declare their memberships in professional societies, clubs, associations, and other organisations, which includes screening for involvement in foreign legislatures or political organisations.

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2 Apr 2024

Foreign Nurses who Received Permanent Residency and Their Employment in Public and Private Healthcare Sectors, and Voluntary Welfare Organisations

From 2018 to 2022, about 85% of foreign nurses granted permanent residency worked in the public healthcare sector, with the remainder in private healthcare, including voluntary welfare organisations.
The Ministry of Health values the contributions of foreign nurses and will continue to grant them PRs if they show commitment to Singapore.
There is no current plan to increase the percentage of nurses granted PR status as a measure to reduce nursing staff turnover.

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2 Apr 2024

Ensuring Bulk of New Jobs Created Will Go to Singapore Citizens and Residents, Including Those Above Age 40

The Minister clarified that non-resident employment growth does not reduce opportunities for Singaporeans, noting low resident unemployment rates and high employment rates compared to other advanced economies.
He explained that the majority of non-resident job growth was in sectors like construction and process industries, which are not typically preferred by Singaporeans, while resident PMET roles have grown steadily.
The Minister emphasized that foreign talent complements the local workforce and is essential for economic growth, which ultimately creates more jobs and improves wages for Singaporeans.
When pressed for specific percentages, the Minister highlighted that resident employment growth in PMET roles remains strong and that foreign PMET numbers are still below pre-pandemic levels.
The debate concluded with the Minister rejecting the notion of a zero-sum game between locals and foreigners, stressing that a thriving economy benefits all residents.

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7 Mar 2024

Using Revenues from Adjustment in Foreign Worker Levy to Subsidise Training of Lower-wage Work Permit Workers

Gan Thiam Poh proposed using revenues from adjustments in foreign worker levy rates to subsidise training for lower-wage Work Permit holders, particularly in workplace safety and health.
The Government does not earmark revenues for specific uses but allocates them based on overall needs, including support for workforce transformation and training.
Existing measures like SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit and lower levy rates for upskilling already assist employers in training both local and foreign workers, including Work Permit holders.

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28 Feb 2024

Investigations Involving Employers Receiving Kickbacks from Migrant Workers

From 2021 to 2023, MOM investigated about 210 cases annually for alleged kickback offences involving employers receiving payments from migrant workers.
After investigations, about 70 employers were taken to task each year, with approximately seven migrant workers affected per employer.
Each affected migrant worker paid between $2,000 and $7,000 in kickbacks to their employers.

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28 Feb 2024

Breakdown of Citizenship Demographic Within Public Service

Leong Mun Wai asked the Prime Minister for the numbers of Singapore Permanent Residents and foreigners in the Public Service, and where non-citizen officers are employed.
Chan Chun Sing, responding for the Prime Minister, stated there are approximately 144,000 citizens, 5,000 Permanent Residents, and 3,000 foreigners in the Public Service.
Non-citizen officers are generally placed in roles requiring skills in short supply locally, such as engineering and IT, and where security concerns can be managed.
The figures provided highlight that the vast majority of Public Service officers are Singapore citizens.
The government’s approach ensures non-citizens fill critical skill gaps while maintaining security standards.

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28 Feb 2024

Committee of Supply – Head U (Prime Minister's Office)

Members raised concerns about Singapore's climate vulnerabilities, including the need for regional energy cooperation, preparing for extreme weather, and the economic risks posed by the Northern Sea Route, while seeking updates on net-zero targets and green finance initiatives.
Debates on demographic challenges highlighted the record-low fertility rate, strategies to support marriage and parenthood, the role of immigration in mitigating workforce decline, and calls for better integration of migrant workers and support for ageing populations.
Discussions on public service reforms focused on equipping officers with skills for complex global challenges, improving citizen-centric service delivery, and enhancing partnerships through initiatives like the Singapore Government Partnerships Office and Public Service for Good movement.

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28 Feb 2024

International Students Receiving Tuition Grants and Their Employment Status after Graduation

From 2017 to 2023, about 2,900 international students with MOE Tuition Grants graduated annually from local institutes, and over 80% found employment within three years, with most others granted deferments for further studies.
About 5% of graduates did not report their employment status within three years, and the Ministry pursues those who default on their bond obligations by imposing measures like barring them from working or residing in Singapore and requiring liquidated damages.
The tuition grant program aims to enhance campus diversity and global orientation among Singaporean students, and the government is open to exploring how alumni may contribute to Singapore's economic and diplomatic ties in the future.

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27 Feb 2024

Update on Improvements at Migrant Worker Dormitories Regarding Food Storage and Food Drop-off Points

Louis Ng asked what other improvements, beyond adequate sheltered storage points, have been required by the Ministry for Manpower regarding food storage and drop-off points for migrant workers.
Tan See Leng responded that under the Foreign Employee Dormitories Act, operators must protect food from contamination until collection, and some have installed secured shelves, used insulated containers, and enhanced collection processes.
The Ministry encourages dormitory operators to continue exploring further improvements to food storage and collection situations.

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