Immigration & foreign manpower — Topics

4 Jul 2022

Statistics on Renunciation and Reinstatement of Singapore Citizenship, Success Rate and Reasons for Rejection in Last 10 Years

Member of Parliament Faisal asked for statistics on Singapore citizens who renounced and then reapplied for citizenship, along with success rates and rejection reasons over the past 10 years.
Minister K Shanmugam stated that from 2012 to 2021, no individuals who had renounced their Singapore citizenship had reapplied for it, based on available knowledge.
This response indicates there were no known cases of reapplication, and therefore no data on success rates or reasons for rejection exists for the specified period.

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4 Jul 2022

Reinstatement Requests Received from Those Renouncing Singapore Citizenship from 2012 to 2021

Seah Kian Peng asked the Minister for Home Affairs for the number of reinstatement requests from 2012 to 2021 from those who had renounced Singapore citizenship.
K Shanmugam stated that the government does not track such requests because reinstatement is not allowed under the Singapore Constitution.
He clarified that individuals who renounce Singapore citizenship must submit a new citizenship application if they wish to become citizens again.

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4 Jul 2022

Proposal for Mandatory Counselling for Singaporean Men who Intend to Marry Foreigners

Ms Ng Ling Ling proposed mandatory counselling for Singaporean men marrying foreigners to ensure they understand the immigration implications before registering their marriage.
The Ministry of Social and Family Development already offers the Marriage Preparation Programme and Marriage Support Programme to address cross-cultural and immigration issues for such couples.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority provides a Pre-Marriage LTVP Assessment to help couples understand long-term stay eligibility, with the Registry of Marriages encouraging its use.
The Ministry stated it will continue exploring ways to better inform couples about immigration processes before marriage registration.
No decision was made on mandating counselling, but existing programmes and assessments aim to equip couples with necessary knowledge.

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4 Jul 2022

Consequence of Raising Minimum Salary Requirements for Work Passes and Preventive Measures in Place

Hazel Poa questioned whether companies could shift working hours and wages to meet new work pass salary rules and asked if this was intended, with a request for preventive measures.
Minister Tan See Leng stated that such practices are not intended and have not been observed, emphasizing the goal is to ensure foreign workers complement locals rather than undercut wages.
He noted local wages have grown despite past salary requirement increases and that reducing locals’ hours and pay is bad business due to talent loss and S Pass quota issues.
If unfair practices occur, workers can raise them with TAFEP, which will review salaries to uphold fair employment guidelines.

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4 Jul 2022

Number of People Who Have Renounced Permanent Resident Status in Singapore over Last Three Years

Seah Kian Peng asked the Minister for Home Affairs for the numbers of PRs who renounced their status in 2019, 2020, and 2021, whether those numbers were higher than in prior years, and the counts and percentages of renunciations within one year and five years of gaining PR status.
K Shanmugam stated that annually, less than 1% of PRs renounced their status, with an average of 2,590 renunciations from 2019 to 2021, which was lower than the average of 4,270 from 2016 to 2018.
He added that among those who renounced from 2019 to 2021, less than 10% did so within five years of becoming a PR and less than 0.5% within the first year.

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4 Jul 2022

Inclusion of More Singapore Institutes of Higher Learning in UK's High Potential Individual Visa Scheme

Desmond Choo asked if the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested the UK to include more Singapore universities in its High Potential Individual visa scheme.
The Ministry has not made such a request and has no plans to do so.
The government does not intervene in other countries' immigration criteria, as nations set their own immigration rules based on specific needs.

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9 May 2022

Statistics on Singapore Firms with Foreign PMETs

About 20% of Singapore firms with at least one employee have foreign PMETs making up 30% or more of their workforce.
Among firms where a single foreign nationality accounts for at least 25% of PMETs, 3% employ 25 or more PMETs while 97% are small firms with fewer than 25 PMETs.
The median PMET count in such small firms is two, meaning the share can be skewed by a small base and may not reflect meaningful trends.
The distribution of small versus large firms in this context mirrors the overall economy but lacks significance due to the skewed data.

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9 May 2022

Percentage of Employment Pass Holders, Permanent Residents and Singaporeans Holding Senior Roles in Finance Sector

Leong Mun Wai asked the Prime Minister for the current percentages of Employment Pass holders, Permanent Residents, and Singaporeans holding senior roles in the finance sector.
As of end-2021, the financial sector workforce comprised 71% Singapore Citizens, 14% Permanent Residents, and 15% work pass holders.
For senior roles based on 2020 data, 46% were Singapore Citizens, 21% Permanent Residents, and 33% work pass holders.
The proportions have remained stable over the years, with a gradual increase in the share of Singapore Citizens in senior finance roles.
In absolute terms, over 3,000 Singapore Citizens hold senior finance positions, an increase of more than 80% since 2016.

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9 May 2022

Number of S Passes and Employment Passes Issued and Screening of Foreign Manpower under New Eligibility Criteria from September 2022

The Ministry reported issuing approximately 23,900 new S Passes and Employment Passes in Q1 2022, comparable to the 25,200 issued in Q1 2019, but the total number of pass holders remains significantly below pre-COVID-19 levels due to border restrictions.
All applicants must meet current eligibility criteria, including qualifying salaries, levies, and quotas, with new higher salary thresholds and levies taking effect in September 2022 to align with local wage growth.
Starting September 2023, Employment Pass candidates must also pass the new Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS) for a more holistic evaluation of their fit with the local workforce.
The Ministry is implementing these changes gradually and will not apply them ahead of schedule to ensure fairness and give businesses time to plan and adjust their hiring practices.

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9 May 2022

Proposal for Minimum Occupation Period for New Citizens who Buy Landed Residential Property

Murali Pillai proposed a five-year minimum occupation period for new citizens who buy landed residential property to curb price inflation in the market.
K Shanmugam stated that under the Residential Property Act, only Singapore Citizens can purchase landed properties, and very few new citizens from the Global Investor Programme have bought such properties.
The Minister noted that this group accounted for only 21 landed property purchases over 18 years, compared to an annual average of 2,400 transactions.
K Shanmugam emphasized that the government regularly reviews the property market and collaborates with relevant agencies to monitor and address concerns.

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9 May 2022

Impact of Reopening of Economy on Demand and Supply of Manpower and Measures Planned

The Minister outlined that sectors like construction, marine, food services, cleaning, and retail are facing severe manpower shortages due to the pandemic and border restrictions, but non-resident employment is rebounding as border controls ease.
The government is supporting local hiring through extended incentives like the Jobs Growth Incentive, targeted schemes for tourism and aviation, and initiatives to transition workers from COVID-19 roles to longer-term jobs in sunrise industries.
Businesses are encouraged to adopt technology, transform operations, and tap flexible work arrangements and local talent pools to build a resilient workforce amidst ongoing labour market tightness.

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5 Apr 2022

Net Increase of Local PME Jobs Not Taken Up by Applicant Who became New Citizen or Permanent Resident from 2005 to 2020

Leong Mun Wai asked for the net increase of local PME jobs from 2005 to 2020 that were not taken by applicants who became new citizens or permanent residents.
Tan See Leng stated that data for 2005 to 2009 is unavailable, as place of birth data collection started only in 2010.
From 2010 to 2020, the majority of local PME growth went to Singaporeans born in Singapore.
Foreign-born individuals who obtained citizenship or PR status accounted for less than half of the increase in local PMEs and PMETs over the last decade.
The response highlights that data constraints limit analysis to the 2010–2020 period.

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5 Apr 2022

Proportion of Scam Victims on Work Passes and Efforts to Educate Low-income Foreign Workers on Avenues of Recourse Available

In 2021, Work Permit holders made up 15.5% of scam victims, Long-Term Visit Pass holders 0.2%, and S Pass holders 1.6%.
Police collaborate with NGOs, dormitory operators, and embassies to share anti-scam advisories in foreign workers’ native languages, including steps for recourse after scams.
Outreach efforts focus on scam prevention tips and awareness, while the Ministry of Manpower provides anti-scam resources during the Settling-in-Programme.

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5 Apr 2022

Safeguards under Complementarity Assessment Framework to Prevent Abuse

Leong Mun Wai asked the Minister for Manpower about safeguards under the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS) to prevent abuse, such as circumventing minimum requirements.
Tan See Leng reiterated that MOM uses a multi-pronged approach, including data analytics, verification checks, and stiff penalties like fines, imprisonment, and pass revocation to deter fraud in salary and qualification declarations.
For COMPASS, MOM will implement similar enforcement measures, review mandatory qualification verification, and restrict occupation-based passes to ensure genuine role alignment, with ongoing reassessments and penalties for misuse.

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5 Apr 2022

Take-up Rate of Capability Transfer Programme and Its Effectiveness in Helping Singaporean Workers Acquire New Capabilities

Since October 2017, over 140 companies and nearly 1,000 Singaporeans across 20 sectors have benefited from the Capability Transfer Programme (CTP), with top sectors including Precision Engineering, Air Transport, and Logistics, and funding up to 90% provided for training plans that ensure genuine upskilling.
The programme uses various methods for capability transfer, such as bringing in foreign specialists, overseas training, and remote learning, and has been extended to September 2024, though take-up was low during COVID-19 due to travel restrictions but is expected to rise as borders reopen.
While the government requires companies to commit to training locals and considers expanding CTP to include transfers from existing foreign employees, it has rejected imposing foreign workforce reduction conditions as too blunt, and instead supports broader skills acquisition through other schemes like the Global Ready Talent Programme and Global Rotation Scheme.
The government monitors CTP’s effectiveness through macro employment data, showing strong resident employment growth and low unemployment, but specific funding details for the highest 90% cap have not been provided yet.
Additional suggestions include higher funding for CTP and union involvement via Company Training Committees, but existing support rates and a S$300,000 funding cap have not faced company feedback as restrictive, with ongoing reviews based on uptake.

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5 Apr 2022

Minimum Household Income Required to Employ Migrant Domestic Worker

The Ministry of Manpower assesses MDW applications based on multiple factors, including household income, accommodation safety, and caregiving needs, and does not use a rigid minimum income criterion.
Over the past five years, about 1% of MDW applications were rejected annually after considering all relevant factors, with income not being the sole determinant.
The Ministry considers alternative financial proofs such as savings and support from sponsors, particularly for retirees without earned income, and is supportive in principle for cases that meet overall eligibility.

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4 Apr 2022

Update on Actions Taken Against Facility Management Firm of Hillview Heights Condominium on Discriminatory Clauses in September 2021 Tender for Security Services

Raj Joshua Thomas asked the Minister for Manpower for an update on actions taken against the facility management firm of Hillview Heights Condominium for discriminatory clauses in its September 2021 tender for security services.
The Ministry of Manpower suspended the work pass privileges of the firm for including discriminatory requirements in the tender document.
MOM also issued an advisory to the condominium’s Management Corporation Strata Title to remind them of the Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices to prevent future incidents.
MOM emphasized its serious stance on workplace discrimination and willingness to take enforcement actions where necessary.

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4 Apr 2022

Number of S Pass Holders Earning More Than $3,000 in 2019, 2020 and 2021

Pritam Singh requested the number of S Pass holders earning over S$3,000 in 2019, 2020, and 2021.
The Minister for Manpower, Tan See Leng, provided data showing a decrease in S Pass holders from 200,000 to 161,800 between December 2019 and December 2021, partly due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The share of S Pass holders earning S$3,000 or more rose from 37% to 67% over the same period.
Manpower Ministry regularly reviews S Pass qualifying salaries to align with local wages and ensure S Pass holders are not cheaper alternatives.
The increase in higher-wage S Pass holders reflects ongoing efforts to maintain quality foreign workforce standards.

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4 Apr 2022

Number of Employment Pass Holders Earning More Than $5,000 in 2019, 2020 and 2021

Pritam Singh requested data on Employment Pass holders earning over S$5,000 for 2019, 2020, and 2021.
The Ministry of Manpower provided figures showing EP holders decreased from 193,700 in 2019 to 161,700 in 2021, largely due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The share of EP holders earning S$5,000 or more rose from 82% to 87% over the same period.
MOM noted regular reviews of EP qualifying salaries to align with local wages and ensure EP holders are not cheaper replacements.

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4 Apr 2022

Penalties for Employers Not Providing Migrant Domestic Workers with Day Off Once a Month at End 2022

By the end of 2022, employers will be required to provide migrant domestic workers with at least one rest day per month that cannot be compensated away, enforced as a Work Permit Condition.
Employers who fail to provide the mandatory rest day may first receive warnings and be advised by MOM to arrange alternative care, with early conversations encouraged between employers and workers.
If employers continue to violate the rule, they may be debarred from hiring migrant domestic workers and face penalties under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, though prosecution is hoped to be unnecessary.

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