Immigration & foreign manpower — Topics

30 Nov 2022

Oversight of NEST Singapore Limited

Leong Mun Wai asked about oversight measures for NEST Singapore Limited and whether it would operate on a for-profit or cost recovery basis.
Tan See Leng explained that NEST will be established as a Company Limited by Guarantee with its own board and management to ensure proper governance.
The two NEST dormitories will follow the same licensing and regulatory requirements under the Foreign Employees Dormitories Act as other dormitory operators.
NEST aims to drive innovation, transform migrant worker housing practices, and build capabilities in dormitory management.
The Ministry for Manpower will oversee NEST, but the entity itself will manage its governance and operations.

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30 Nov 2022

HDB Flats Owned by Singapore Citizens, Singapore Citizens and Non-resident Persons, and Permanent Residents

From 2011 to 2021, between 93% and 95% of HDB flats were owned exclusively by Singapore Citizen households, with the number ranging from 780,000 to 970,000 units each year.
The number of HDB flats owned by Singapore Permanent Resident households decreased from about 47,000 (6%) in 2010 to about 44,000 (4%) in 2021, partly due to a 2013 policy requiring SPRs to wait three years before owning an HDB flat.
Non-resident persons are not allowed to own HDB flats, and only households with at least one Singapore Citizen are eligible for subsidised Build-To-Order flats.

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30 Nov 2022

Length of Service of Nurses Successful in Applications for Permanent Resident Status

MP Louis Ng asked for the average and median length of service of nurses who successfully obtained Permanent Resident status over the past five years.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung stated that the exact data is not readily available because employment records do not track PR nurses who switch employers within the public healthcare sector.
He added, based on anecdotal feedback, that nurses who gain PR status are likely to stay in service longer.

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30 Nov 2022

Employment Pass to Attract and Retain Foreign Nurses at Restructured Hospitals

Mr. Louis Ng asked the Ministry of Health to work with the Ministry of Manpower to create an improved Employment Pass specifically to attract and retain foreign nurses at restructured hospitals.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary responded that foreign nurses are currently hired via Employment Pass or S Pass, with the government already exercising flexibility to meet manpower needs and working to ensure competitive salaries.
Mr. Ng raised concerns about high attrition rates among foreign nurses and asked if work pass conditions could be reviewed and dependants allowed to join them to improve retention.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary acknowledged the concerns, stated that these issues are being actively considered, and assured that appropriate flexibility is being explored to manage recruitment targets.

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29 Nov 2022

Requirement and Regulation of Food Caterers for Migrant Workers in Small Dormitories with Less Than 1,000 Beds

Miss Rachel Ong asked whether pre-packed food for migrant workers in small dormitories must be time-stamped, how such rules are monitored, and if food caterers will be regulated under the Foreign Employee Dormitories Act from 1 April 2023.
Minister Tan See Leng confirmed that all catered food from licensed establishments, including pre-packed meals, must be time-stamped with the date and time for safe consumption.
Dormitory operators, regardless of size, are required to only buy food from licensed catering establishments, and from 1 April 2023, the Act will require operators of dormitories with seven or more beds to protect catered food from contamination until collection.
MOM's FAST teams conduct regular inspections and engage workers to address issues, and residents can report food concerns to employers, FAST, or via the FWMOMCare app, with MOM following up on reports.

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29 Nov 2022

Breakdown of Employment and S Pass Holders by Occupation Classification

From 2010 to 2020, the average number of Employment Pass (EP) holders classified as Professionals, Managers, and Executives (PMEs) was 137,600, while the average for S Pass holders in the same category was 56,300.
Over the same period, the average number of EP holders classified as Associate Professionals and Technicians (APTs) was 28,100, compared to 62,900 for S Pass holders in APT roles.
The average number of non-PMET EP holders from 2010 to 2020 was 10,000, while the average for non-PMET S Pass holders was 40,000.
EP holder counts for PMEs ranged from 93,300 to 153,600, and S Pass holder counts for PMEs ranged from 26,800 to 72,400 during the period.
For APT roles, EP holder numbers ranged from 21,200 to 30,400, and S Pass holder numbers ranged from 38,900 to 70,800 from 2010 to 2020.

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29 Nov 2022

Data on Former Employment Pass Holders Who Were Subsequently Granted S Pass since 2010

Leong Mun Wai asked for the number of former Employment Pass holders who were subsequently granted an S Pass each year from 2010 onwards.
Tan See Leng provided a table showing the numbers from 2010 to 2021, noting that employers decide the pass type based on business needs.
Employers converting EP holders to S Pass must adhere to S Pass qualifying salaries, quotas, and levies.
The response highlights that pass conversions are employer-driven and subject to prevailing regulations.
The data covers a period from 2010 to 2021, as requested by the question.

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29 Nov 2022

Workers with letter of Consent Employed in Jobs with Job Scope or Salary Equivalent to Pass Holders

Leong Mun Wai asked for the number of workers with a Letter of Consent employed in jobs with scope or salary equivalent to Employment Pass, S Pass, or Work Permit holders.
Tan See Leng explained that since May 2021, Dependant's Pass holders need a work pass instead of a Letter of Consent, with most LOC holders being dependants of Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents.
The Manpower Ministry provided a table as of June 2022 categorizing LOC holders by whether their salaries meet the prevailing Employment Pass (≥$5,000) and S Pass (≥$3,000) criteria, noting no salary requirements for Work Permit holders.

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29 Nov 2022

S Pass Holders' Highest Educational Qualifications

Leong Mun Wai requested data from 2010 to 2022 on S Pass holders with specific highest qualifications: bachelor’s degrees from local or foreign universities, master’s degrees, and PhD degrees.
Tan See Leng provided the June 2022 figures: 400 PhD holders, 6,000 master’s degree holders, 2,100 bachelor’s degree holders from local universities, and 72,200 from foreign universities.
The minister noted that the proportion of S Pass holders in each qualification category has remained broadly constant since 2010.

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28 Nov 2022

Foreign Worker Dormitory Operators' Restrictions on Their Residents' Movement

Leon Perera asked whether the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) restricts dormitory operators from imposing rules on foreign workers’ freedom of movement and whether it would consider curtailing operators’ powers to protect residents’ leisure options.
MOM stated that dormitory operators cannot prevent residents from leaving for leisure unless expressly instructed by the Commissioner for Manpower in limited circumstances such as safety or health concerns.
MOM’s Forward Assurance and Support Teams (FAST) regularly engage migrant workers to identify issues and ensure dormitory operators comply with regulations.
Dormitory residents can report movement restriction issues to their employer, MOM, or via the FWMOMCare app, and MOM will assist and follow up with operators.
The Ministry emphasized that any restrictions are narrowly tailored to specific safety or health instructions from the Commissioner, not broad operator discretion.

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28 Nov 2022

Teachers for Character and Citizenship Education Classes

Leong Mun Wai asked whether non-citizen or non-permanent resident teachers are allowed to teach Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) classes, in which year this began, and what measures ensure they understand and impart Singaporean values.
Chan Chun Sing responded that all teachers are responsible for imparting values and may be deployed to teach CCE, noting that less than 1% of teachers are neither Singapore Citizens nor Permanent Residents.
He added that schools identify teachers with the necessary skills and dispositions for CCE and provide them with professional development and guidance on topics like cyber wellness and mental health.

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28 Nov 2022

Eligibility for Public Service Commission, A*Star and National Research Foundation Scholarships and Fellowships

The Public Service Commission Scholarships are exclusively available to Singapore Citizens who are committed to a career in the Public Service.
A*STAR Scholarships are open to Singaporeans and Permanent Residents, with foreign recipients contractually required to either obtain Singapore Citizenship or work in Singapore-based entities for three years after their studies.
The National Research Foundation Fellowships are open to researchers of all nationalities with no citizenship requirement, aiming to attract global research talent to Singapore.
A*STAR reported that about 18% of its scholars were foreign nationals or Permanent Residents at the time of award, of which 90% have since obtained Singapore Citizenship.

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28 Nov 2022

Effect of Improved Standards on Capacity of New Migrant Worker Dormitories

Minister Tan See Leng stated that no reduction in total migrant worker dormitory capacity has occurred since the improved standards took effect in September 2021.
The number of Work Permit holders in key sectors has increased by 25% since January 2022 and is 11% above pre-COVID-19 levels, driving strong demand for dormitory beds.
Employers are advised to secure housing for workers before arrival and consider their housing capacity before taking on new projects, as migrant worker numbers are already significantly higher than pre-pandemic.

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9 Nov 2022

Migrant Domestic Workers Hired at Concessionary Levy Rate in Last Five Years

The debate focused on the number of migrant domestic workers hired at a concessionary levy rate over the last five years.
Ms He Ting Ru requested a breakdown of these workers by whether they were hired to care for children, elderly persons, or persons with disabilities.
Minister Tan See Leng provided figures showing an average of about 98,000 workers annually for children, 68,000 for elderly persons, and 3,000 for persons with disabilities from 2017 to 2021.
The data highlights the scale of concessionary levy usage across different care needs.
The exchange underscores government transparency in responding to parliamentary queries about domestic worker employment.

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9 Nov 2022

Extension of One-year Period for Reimbursement of HDB Upgrading Subsidy for Singapore Permanent Residents

Murali Pillai inquired about extending the one-year reimbursement period for HDB upgrading subsidies for Singapore Permanent Residents (SPRs) who later become Singapore Citizens.
Desmond Lee clarified that subsidies are only for Singapore Citizen households, with SPRs required to pay full costs initially but can claim within one year if a co-owner gains citizenship.
He stated that appeals for reimbursement beyond the one-year period are assessed individually on a case-by-case basis.

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9 Nov 2022

Cases of and Penalties for Employers Found to Have Illegally Recovered Employment Costs from Foreign Workers

From 2015 to 2021, the Ministry of Manpower received about 390 annual reports of employers illegally recovering employment costs from foreign workers, with the number declining since 2017.
Administrative financial penalties were issued to about nine employers per year, with a median penalty of $12,000 and a range from $7,500 to $95,000, alongside other actions like cautions and debarment.
The Ministry investigates all complaints, uses data analytics to detect suspicious hiring patterns, and has stepped up engagement to educate workers and encourage them to report such demands.

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9 Nov 2022

Reports on and Penalties for Employers who Make CPF Contributions to "Phantom Workers"

From 2015 to 2021, the Ministry of Manpower received about 660 reports annually of employers inflating their foreign worker quota by making CPF contributions to "phantom workers," with about 11 employers penalized per year.
Administrative financial penalties ranged from $1,250 to $200,000 (median $15,000), alongside other actions like cautions, rectification orders, and debarment from hiring migrant workers.
The Ministry uses data analytics and no-notice checks to investigate reports, but the low penalty rate is due to the need for thorough evidence gathering, as many reports lack sufficient facts upon initial investigation.

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9 Nov 2022

Educating Foreign Workers on Available Channels to Settle Wage Disputes and Laws against Illegal Assembly

The Ministry of Manpower educates migrant workers on their employment rights and legal channels through mandatory Settling-in Programmes, guides, newsletters, and digital tools like the FWMOMCare app, with salary claims dropping significantly since 2019.
When wage disputes arise, MOM mediates to secure payments, as seen in the case of Zhengda Corporation where salaries were settled and the main contractor was addressed, while public order issues are handled by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Electronic salary payments are now standard for dormitory-residing migrant workers, with adoption rising from 75% pre-COVID to nearly 100%, reducing cash-related disputes despite minor administrative or preference-based delays.

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9 Nov 2022

Length of Service of Foreign Nurses Employed at Restructured Hospitals

The length of service for foreign nurses in restructured hospitals has increased, with the median rising from five to eight years and the average from seven to ten years between 2014 and 2021, though actual figures may be higher as the data does not include those who switched hospitals within the public healthcare sector.
The Ministry of Health aims to increase the total number of nurses, allied health, and support care staff from 58,000 to 82,000 by 2030 through a multi-pronged approach that includes boosting local intake, improving nurse well-being and career pathways, and recruiting overseas.
The Ministry has not provided a specific target number for hiring foreign nurses, emphasizing instead a focus on meeting overall healthcare demands and addressing current sector challenges through various efforts, with the timeline of 2030 set to achieve the broader workforce goal.

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8 Nov 2022

Requests to Waive Non-citizen Quota for Renting Out HDB Flats

Ms He Ting Ru requested statistics over the last five years on the number of requests to waive the non-citizen quota for renting out HDB flats, how many were granted, and which town had the highest number of requests.
Minister Desmond Lee explained that the non-citizen quota for renting out flats aims to prevent foreigner enclaves and maintain the Singaporean character of HDB heartlands.
Over the last five years, HDB received an average of about 500 appeals annually from across all towns, with around one in five being granted.

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