Immigration & foreign manpower — Topics

12 Sep 2022

Action Against Migrant Domestic Workers Borrowing Money from Illegal Loan Sharks

Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked about the actions taken against migrant domestic workers (MDWs) who borrow from illegal loan sharks and whether they will be banned from returning to Singapore.
The Minister for Manpower, Tan See Leng, stated that MDWs found borrowing from unlicensed moneylenders face work permit revocation and a ban from future employment in Singapore.
To prevent such issues, the Ministry of Manpower educates MDWs on money management through the mandatory Settling-In-Programme and newsletters from the Singapore Police Force and MOM.

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12 Sep 2022

Singaporeans Employed by Multiple Companies at Less than $1,500 at Each Company for Headcount

Leong Mun Wai asked about the number of Singaporean workers employed by two or more companies with monthly pay under $1,500 at each company, where such headcount is used for foreign worker quotas.
Tan See Leng replied that about 53,200 locals work in two or more jobs, with roughly half earning under $1,500 on average per job, including part-time workers.
The system allows locals to count toward foreign worker quotas for up to two companies, with full credit if paid at least the Local Qualifying Salary of $1,400 and half credit if paid at least $700.
This approach prevents firms from hiring locals on token salaries solely to boost quotas, and the Progressive Wage Model from September 2022 further requires all full-time local workers to earn at least the LQS for firms to hire foreign workers.

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12 Sep 2022

Employers Prosecuted for Inflating Foreign Worker Quota by Employing Singaporean Phantom Workers

From 2010 to 2012, about six employers per year were prosecuted for inflating foreign worker quotas using phantom Singaporean workers, with penalties including imprisonment up to one year 10 months and fines up to $35,000.
In November 2012, the law was amended to treat this as an administrative infringement, allowing the Ministry of Manpower to impose financial penalties instead of criminal prosecution.
From 2013 to 2021, about nine employers per year faced administrative financial penalties up to $200,000 for the same offence.

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12 Sep 2022

Sectors Facing Severe Lack of Workers and Measures to Support Manpower Needs

Mr Chong Kee Hiong asked about the sectors with the most severe worker shortages, support measures for essential services, potential adjustments to the dependency ratio ceiling, and allowing more migrant workers from non-traditional sources.
Minister Tan See Leng noted that some firms face manpower tightness due to catch-up work and training, but total employment has nearly rebounded to pre-COVID levels, with non-resident employment expected to recover further.
Focused support, including additional foreign worker quotas and access to workers from non-traditional sources, has been provided to sectors like aviation, tourism, healthcare, and public housing cleaning, rather than broad dependency ratio adjustments.
A scheme to allow hiring of Work Permit Holders from non-traditional sources in select Services and Manufacturing occupations will start in September 2023.

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12 Sep 2022

Plans to Raise Local Qualifying Salary to Benefit Lower-wage Earners

Christopher de Souza asked whether there are plans to raise the Local Qualifying Salary (LQS) to the 10th percentile income of Singaporeans to benefit lower-wage workers.
Tan See Leng explained that the LQS ensures employers pay locals fairly to qualify for foreign worker quotas, and a new requirement now mandates all full-time local workers to be paid at least the LQS for firms to hire foreign workers.
The Ministry of Manpower has raised the LQS four times since 2017, with the latest being $1,400 in 2020, and will continue to review and adjust it based on wage and economic conditions to uplift lower-wage workers.

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12 Sep 2022

Tech.Pass Applications Received and Approved and Their Median and Mean Monthly Salaries

As of 31 July 2022, over 450 Tech.Pass applications were received and around 250 were approved.
The median monthly salary of successful Tech.Pass holders is approximately S$30,000, though the mean was not provided.
The Tech.Pass is a two-year visa for highly accomplished tech professionals, requiring meeting at least two of three strict criteria.
Renewal depends on economic contributions, such as meeting income thresholds or creating jobs, and participation in Singapore’s tech ecosystem.
Metrics tracked include founders establishing companies, lecturing roles, investments, and board memberships to assess holder contributions.

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12 Sep 2022

Number of EntrePasses and Tech.Passes Issued to Foreign PMEs Since Introduction

Patrick Tay asked for the number of foreign PMEs holding EntrePass and Tech.Pass each year from their introduction until 31 August 2022.
Gan Kim Yong explained that EntrePass was introduced in 2003, saw 1,000–2,000 holders initially, dropped to 200–400 after 2013 repositioning, and was enhanced in 2017, with about 700 holders as of 31 July 2022.
Tech.Pass was launched in January 2021, and as of 31 July 2022, around 250 unique applications had been approved by EDB.

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12 Sep 2022

Foreign Students' Applications to Study at Local Private School in Past Five Years

From 2017 to 2021, ICA received an average of 52,700 Student's Pass applications annually for private schools, with about 80% approved and 20% rejected.
A school offer does not guarantee a Student's Pass, as ICA assesses each application individually and holistically.
Rejections can occur due to adverse personal records or insufficient ability to financially support oneself for the course duration.

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12 Sep 2022

Repatriation Costs for Foreign Domestic Workers and Work Permit Holders Who Leave after First Month of Employment

Over the past five years, an average of about 9,600 work permit holders, including migrant domestic workers, had their employment terminated within the first month each year, representing roughly 2.5% of new work permit holders.
The Ministry of Manpower does not track comprehensive data on whether these workers left voluntarily, but notes that early departures may stem from personal or adjustment challenges, and employers can engage agencies to address issues amicably.
Employers are currently responsible for repatriation costs to prevent workers from being stranded, and the Ministry has no plans to shift this cost to the workers.

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12 Sep 2022

Applications for Permanent Residency and Citizenship for Spouses and Relatives of Singapore Citizens

Gan Thiam Poh asked for data on the numbers and success rates of permanent residence and citizenship applications from spouses and relatives of Singapore citizens over the past three years.
K Shanmugam responded that under the Family Ties Scheme, an average of 9,500 permanent residence applications were processed annually from 2019 to 2021, with 62% approval for spouses, 24% for unmarried minor children, and 2% for parents.
For citizenship applications under the same scheme, an average of 7,000 were processed annually, with 90% approval for spouses, 93% for unmarried minor children, and 28% for parents.

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12 Sep 2022

Strengthening Singapore’s Position as a Global Hub for Talent

The Minister for Manpower introduced new work pass enhancements, including a five-year Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass for top earners and professionals in high-demand sectors, to attract global talent and strengthen Singapore's position as a global hub.
Safeguards were outlined to prevent abuse, such as rigorous vetting of applications and engagement with pass holders to monitor their contributions, while no quotas were set for the new pass due to the targeted nature of the talent sought.
The government emphasized its dual approach of attracting global talent while investing heavily in local workforce development, including leadership exposure and skills upgrading, to ensure Singaporeans benefit from the economic spillovers and opportunities created.

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12 Sep 2022

Benefits of New Overseas Networks and Expertise Pass to Singapore and Singaporeans

The Overseas Networks and Expertise Pass was introduced to attract top global talent to strengthen Singapore's networks and leadership pipeline, with the government emphasizing that it complements rather than replaces the Singaporean core workforce.
Concerns were raised about the pass potentially affecting job opportunities for Singaporeans, particularly senior roles, and questions were asked about safeguards against abuse, eligibility criteria, and the impact on the Fair Consideration Framework.
The pass allows holders to work for multiple companies and provides dependants with work rights via Letter of Consent, prompting queries about salary aggregation, verification of achievements, and measures to prevent fraudulent applications.
Ministers addressed how the pass aligns with building Singaporean leadership, with data requested on job placements and the number of existing Employment Pass holders eligible for the new pass, while highlighting promotional efforts and application checks.

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2 Aug 2022

Inflow of Foreign Manpower to Address Shortage of Infant Care Teachers

The Ministry is addressing the infant care teacher shortage by expanding local training initiatives, such as career fairs and conversion programmes, to attract mid-careerists and others into the field.
Foreign manpower is already permitted within existing quotas to supplement the workforce, with less than a quarter of certified early childhood educators being foreigners and a small portion in infant care.
ECDA allows up to 50% of infant care staff to be allied educators or helpers to widen the manpower pool, while also working to improve retention through better career paths and working conditions.

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2 Aug 2022

Target Levels of Employment for Hospitality Industry with Expected Recovery From COVID-19 Pandemic

In December 2019, the hospitality industry employed 35,000 people, but due to COVID-19 restrictions, this dropped to 23,000 by March 2022, with hiring expected to increase as borders reopen and events resume.
To support local hiring, initiatives like the Tourism Careers Hub and Career Conversion Programmes have been launched to match job seekers, upskill workers, and help mid-careerists transition into the industry.
To address immediate labour needs, the government is providing temporary additional foreign worker quotas, while also encouraging business transformation and technology adoption to create quality jobs for locals.

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2 Aug 2022

Extension of Concessionary Migrant Domestic Worker Levy to Singaporeans Living with Permanent Resident Parents

The concessionary levy for migrant domestic workers is currently $60 for households with a Singaporean child under 16, elderly person aged 67 or above, or a person with disabilities who needs daily assistance.
The concession is also extended to Singaporeans living with PR parents who are elderly or have disabilities, recognizing their long-term commitment to Singapore.
The levy concession does not apply if the person needing care is a foreigner, including Long-Term Visit Pass holders, to align with broader government policy that provides fewer benefits to non-residents.
Households facing financial difficulties can seek support from Social Service Offices.

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2 Aug 2022

Liability and Contributions of New Citizens to National Service

The Minister for Defence clarified that the long-standing policy exempts mature adult new citizens from NS while young male new citizens are required to serve, stating that on average 3,400 new citizens annually are enlisted and that new citizens and PRs now comprise about 20% of full-time NS enlistees.
The Minister emphasized that NS liability is universal and equitable for all young male Singaporeans regardless of citizenship mode, and criticized the NMP for making misleading statements that could undermine the equity and morale of NS.
The NMP objected to the Minister’s characterization and sought specific data on new citizens who did not perform NS, asserting the debate was incomplete, but was instructed by the Deputy Speaker to file a separate parliamentary question for further information.

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1 Aug 2022

Trends in Inflow and Outflow of Migrant Construction Workers Since Easing of COVID-19 Border Restrictions

The Minister reported that the inflow of migrant construction workers has exceeded outflows since borders reopened, with numbers nearly back to pre-COVID levels, while the proportion of skilled versus unskilled workers remains stable.
He noted that recent workplace fatalities were not due to inexperienced workers but preventable safety lapses, with enforcement and new measures being intensified by the Ministry of Manpower.
The Government is focusing on collaborative efforts with stakeholders to mitigate injury and fatality risks, referencing prior responses to similar concerns raised in Parliament.

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1 Aug 2022

Income Criteria For Assessing HDB Housing Loan Applications Under Non-Citizen Spouse Scheme

HDB assesses the total household income, including non-resident spouses, when determining eligibility for the Non-Citizen Spouse Scheme to ensure mortgage subsidies go to households needing them most.
The income ceiling check considers all household members listed in the application, regardless of their citizenship status.
For computing the HDB loan quantum, only the incomes of the flat buyers (borrowers) are considered, not those of other occupiers.
HDB may consider case-by-case appeals to include an occupier's income when determining the loan quantum.
The system aims to prioritize households that truly require financial assistance while maintaining clear eligibility criteria.

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1 Aug 2022

Profiles of Licensed Plumbers

Pritam Singh inquired about the number of licensed plumbers by residency status, their nationalities and work passes, and their age distribution.
Grace Fu responded that among over 950 licensed plumbers, nearly 90% are Singaporeans, 5% are permanent residents, and the remainder are foreigners, with about 70% aged above 50.
She noted that the government does not track the nationalities of non-Singaporean plumbers and that most foreign plumbers hold S Passes.

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1 Aug 2022

Profiles of Licensed Gas Service Workers

Mr Pritam Singh asked for the breakdown of licensed gas service workers by nationality, age, and work pass type as of June 2022.
Minister Gan Kim Yong responded that there were nearly 600 licensed workers, with less than 15% being foreigners on Work Permits, S Passes, or Employment Passes.
The majority of these workers were aged between 31 and 70 years old.
The Minister did not provide specific data on the top 10 nationalities or the exact numbers of Singaporeans, permanent residents, and foreigners.

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