Immigration & foreign manpower — Topics

1 Nov 2021

Training Programmes to Educate Migrant Domestic Workers from Falling Prey to Cyber Scams

Christopher de Souza asked if more training could be provided to migrant domestic workers (MDWs) to prevent them from falling victim to cyber scams.
Tan See Leng outlined existing measures, including the Settling-In-Programme (SIP) where MDWs learn about scam prevention, and regular dissemination of scam alerts and infographics in their native languages.
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) collaborates with NGOs and embassies to share anti-scam advisories and conduct talks tailored to the MDW community.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will continue working with SPF, NGOs, and other partners to educate MDWs on scam prevention.
Efforts include advising MDWs not to share personal or bank details and to seek help from authorities or employers when needed.

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1 Nov 2021

Measures Taken to Restore Manpower Supply to Pre-COVID-19 Levels for Construction Companies

The government has extended work permit renewals for existing construction workers and launched a retention scheme to match employers with experienced workers whose permits have expired or been cancelled.
Measures to bring in new workers include allowing skills certification in Singapore for workers from approved sources like China and, from November 2021, vaccinated workers from countries such as India and Bangladesh, with a strict COVID-19 testing protocol.
The industry is encouraged to reduce reliance on migrant workers and adopt productivity-enhancing methods, supported by incentives like the Construction Productivity and Capability Fund and Productivity Solutions Grant.

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1 Nov 2021

Impact of 11% Reduction in Non-resident Population on Singapore’s Economy and Business

The 11% reduction in Singapore’s non-resident population was largely driven by the pandemic’s economic uncertainty and border restrictions, leading to a significant drop in non-resident workers, especially in construction, marine shipyard, and process sectors.
The fall in workers, combined with economic recovery, created record job vacancies and a labor shortage, pushing up business costs, consumer prices, and slowing the recovery of sectors reliant on non-resident labor.
The government responded with measures like foreign worker levy rebates and support for hiring and retaining work permit holders, while also facilitating the safe inflow of new workers to ease manpower shortages.

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1 Nov 2021

Impact of COVID-19-related Movement Restrictions on Mental Health of Migrant Workers

The Ministry of Manpower has not conducted a specific study on the impact of movement restrictions on migrant workers' mental health, though an earlier Yale-NUS study indicated no notable difference in stress, anxiety, and depression levels between locals and migrant workers, with some signs of higher stress among restricted workers.
Project DAWN has been established to strengthen mental health support through training over 500 frontline officers in psychological first aid, expanding 24-hour counselling services like HealthServe's, and training peer support leaders, with a goal of 600 by end-2022.
Mental healthcare access has been enhanced via helplines, regional medical centres, and an escalation pathway to the Institute of Mental Health, while movement restrictions have been cautiously eased with increased Recreation Centre visits and pilot community visits for vaccinated workers.

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1 Nov 2021

Considerations for Allotting Foreign Manpower Quotas to Companies that Employ Part-timers who May Work for Different Companies

The Ministry explained that a firm’s foreign worker quota is calculated based on locals hired at the Local Qualifying Salary of $1,400, with part-time locals earning between $700 and $1,400 counting as half an employee, and locals working for up to two firms allowed to contribute to each firm’s quota under similar rules.
Employers are prohibited from splitting an employee’s salary across different business entities to artificially increase foreign worker quotas, with such actions considered abuse and subject to investigation.
Data shows very few locals work in three or more jobs, remaining at about 0.2% of resident employees from 2016 to 2021, indicating it is uncommon for part-timers to have multiple employers.

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1 Nov 2021

Recalibrating Existing Population Strategies Given COVID-19's Negative Impact on Singapore's Population Numbers

The COVID-19 pandemic caused temporary dips in Singapore's population numbers in 2020-2021, with declines in citizens, permanent residents, and non-residents due to travel restrictions and reduced foreign employment, though long-term effects remain uncertain.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to core population strategies, such as supporting marriage and parenthood with measures like the Baby Support Grant and promoting flexible work arrangements, while accelerating efforts to strengthen the local workforce amid economic disruptions.
While no immediate recalibration of population strategies was announced, the government will continue monitoring the pandemic's impact and review initiatives to ensure they remain relevant to evolving needs.

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1 Nov 2021

Indicative Dates of Arrival for Employers of Migrant Domestic Workers

Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Ministry for Manpower (MOM) to provide indicative arrival dates for migrant domestic workers (MDWs) to help employers plan better.
MOM acknowledged families are waiting for entry approvals and will give more as the COVID-19 situation improves, with new applications open from 15 October 2021 for entry from 1 November.
Unsuccessful employers can check the portal in subsequent weeks for periodically released entry slots.
Households needing MDWs urgently may consider the commercial programme by the Association of Employment Agencies (Singapore).
The response aims to reduce uncertainty for employers while managing entry approvals based on pandemic conditions.

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1 Nov 2021

Migrant Domestic Workers Allowed to Enter Singapore under Pilot Programme Since July 2021

Ms Yeo Wan Ling asked the Ministry of Manpower about the number of migrant domestic workers (MDWs) awaiting entry permits, those who entered via the pilot programme since July 2021, and potential expansion of the programme.
Manpower Minister Tan See Leng acknowledged families' wait for MDW approvals and noted that entry approvals have increased as the regional COVID-19 situation improves, with new applications for fully vaccinated MDWs opened from 15 October 2021 for entry from November onwards.
The Minister highlighted the commercial programme by the Association of Employment Agencies (Singapore) that has facilitated the entry of over 1,000 MDWs from the Philippines, Indonesia, and Myanmar as of end-October 2021, which complements the existing pilot programme.

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1 Nov 2021

Review of Entry Requirements for Migrant Workers in Critical Sectors with Posture of COVID-19 as Endemic

Edward Chia and Poh Li San asked the Ministry of Manpower to review entry quotas and consider allowing fully vaccinated construction workers to enter from November 2021, given Singapore's endemic status and higher immunity in some countries.
The Ministry of Manpower resumed approvals for construction and migrant domestic workers from November 1, 2021, requiring all work pass holders to be fully vaccinated unless exempted, with possible waiting times of three to six months due to high demand.
Firms and families can use safe management initiatives to bring in workers, who may enter without vaccination proof but must complete vaccination within two months after arrival, with a strong recommendation for vaccinated or recovered workers.

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1 Nov 2021

Review of Conditions in Migrant Worker Dormitories following Incident at Westlite Jalan Tukang Dormitory

Multiple MPs questioned the Ministry of Manpower about the causes of unrest and poor conditions at the Westlite Jalan Tukang Dormitory, including slow response times, food quality issues, and inadequate medical support.
The Senior Minister of State explained that the incident was due to a surge in COVID-19 cases overwhelming the dormitory operator and ACE teams, leading to delays in conveying infected workers, and acknowledged shortcomings by all parties including the employer and operator.
The Ministry outlined new recovery protocols, such as Dormitory and Centralised Recovery Facilities, and stated that investigations are ongoing, with actions to be taken against any parties found negligent, while also enhancing feedback channels and community support for workers.

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5 Oct 2021

Update on Pilot Scheme Allowing Eligible Migrant Workers Living in Dormitories to Visit Little India

Leon Perera asked about the KPIs, timeline, and other locations for expanding the pilot scheme to allow migrant workers in dormitories to visit Little India, and whether it could be accelerated given existing safeguards.
The Minister for Manpower explained the pilot allows 500 workers weekly to visit the community to balance well-being and infection risks, with lessons being drawn for safe expansion.
The Ministry is considering ways to broaden the appeal of the visits to more migrant workers and is committed to easing movement restrictions gradually.

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5 Oct 2021

Efforts to Encourage Buyers of Outsourced Services to Abide by Fair Employment Guidelines

Mr Yip Hon Weng raised concerns about discriminatory clauses in tender documents for outsourced services and asked what more can be done to encourage buyers to follow fair employment guidelines.
Manpower Minister Tan See Leng reiterated that all employers must adhere to fair employment principles, regardless of client demands, and that discriminatory practices will face enforcement actions.
The government plans to enshrine fair employment guidelines in law, allowing broader actions against breaches and holding employers accountable.
Authorities will continue to investigate complaints about discriminatory tender documents and may suspend work pass privileges for non-compliant service buyers or their agents.

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5 Oct 2021

Data on Workers Who Found Employment Successfully through Foreign Construction Worker Directory System and Singapore Construction Manpower Exchange

Louis Ng asked for the number and percentage of workers who found employment through the Foreign Construction Worker Directory System and the Singapore Construction Manpower Exchange, and whether such job-matching schemes could be extended to work permit holders in all sectors.
The Singapore Construction Manpower Exchange, launched in May 2020, replaced the earlier directory system and as of end-August 2021 had helped around 420 workers (20% of those enrolled) find employment, with similar schemes in other sectors assisting about 340 workers (50% of enrollees).
From September 2021, a new six-month retention scheme was introduced for construction workers to stay and work in Singapore without needing their former employer’s consent, with safeguards against abuse.
The Ministry is discussing similar retention schemes with marine-shipyard and process sector associations.
The Ministry indicated that such job-matching and retention schemes could be considered for other sectors, reflecting a broader effort to retain foreign workers in Singapore.

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5 Oct 2021

Trend of Migrant Domestic Workers Seeking Transfer of Employer before Contracts End

Minister Tan See Leng stated that the number of migrant domestic workers transferred to new employers each month has remained stable over the past year, and employer consent is required for such transfers due to various reasons including changing caregiving needs or household compatibility.
To aid employers, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is enhancing transparency by providing the employment history of MDWs and will soon require employment agencies to offer a 50% refund if an MDW's employment ends within the first six months.
MOM also facilitates employer feedback sharing and introduced a policy allowing employers to share COVID-19 related costs for MDWs who transfer employers prematurely, while continuing efforts to increase the entry of MDWs within public health parameters.

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5 Oct 2021

Work Permit Holders Obtaining Skills Certification in Singapore Instead of Overseas Testing Centres

About 3,500 work permit holders (WPHs), primarily from China, have been permitted to obtain skills certification in Singapore instead of overseas testing centres since May 2021, with this flexibility extended to other approved sources on a case-by-case basis.
Approximately 1,700 WPHs have arrived in Singapore under this arrangement, with slightly over 100 having obtained their skills certification so far and about 90% yet to attempt the test.
The Ministry will review whether to make this a permanent programme, while employers face higher levy rates if workers are not certified within three months of their work pass issuance.

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5 Oct 2021

Impact on Businesses from Delays in Reopening of Economy in COVID-19 Endemic Stage

The Minister for Trade and Industry explained that delaying border reopening would hamper Singapore's role as a global business hub, hinder recovery of travel-dependent sectors like aviation and tourism, and exacerbate labour shortages, particularly in construction, impacting BTO projects and domestic worker availability.
To mitigate these impacts, the government is progressively easing border restrictions through Vaccinated Travel Lanes with more countries while maintaining careful reviews of global COVID-19 situations.
Comprehensive measures to support businesses, especially SMEs, include grants like the Jobs Support Scheme and Rental Support Scheme, financing schemes such as the Temporary Bridging Loan, and development grants like the Enterprise Development Grant.
The government has also relaxed regulatory conditions to retain work permit holders and facilitate the safe inflow of new workers to address labour shortages, with readiness to consider additional support as needed.
Emphasizing Singapore's resilience, the minister expressed confidence that collective effort will help the economy emerge stronger from the pandemic.

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5 Oct 2021

Shorter Wait Times for Households who Need Migrant Domestic Workers for Care Needs

Mr Dennis Tan asked the Ministry of Manpower to expedite the entry of more migrant domestic workers (MDWs) to reduce wait times for households needing care for seniors and children.
Minister Tan See Leng explained that the government is prioritizing MDWs for urgent caregiving needs and will accept new applications from vaccinated MDWs from 15 October, with entry from 1 November, though wait times may be three to six months due to public health limits.
A pilot programme by the Association of Employment Agencies (Singapore) is helping to safely accelerate MDW entry for urgent cases, with efforts to scale it up and expand to other countries as feasible.

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4 Oct 2021

Data on Number of Suicides and Unnatural Deaths by Work Permit Holders in Last Five Years and Rate of Such Incidences in Last Six Months Compared to Pre-COVID-19 Times

From 2016 to 2020, the rates of suicides and unnatural deaths among work permit holders were consistently lower than those of the general population, with an average of 14.5 unnatural deaths and 4.2 suicides per 100,000 persons compared to 17.2 and 8.3 respectively for the general population.
In the first half of this year, the annualised rates of unnatural deaths and suicides among migrant workers decreased from the 2020 highs and fell within the pre-COVID-19 range observed between 2016 and 2019.
The government has implemented a seven-point strategy under Project DAWN since November 2020 to support migrant workers' mental health, including awareness programs, early identification of at-risk individuals, and access to counselling and peer support services.

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4 Oct 2021

Workers and Companies Assisted by Waiver of Foreign Work Levies Due to Workers on Stay-Home Notice

From January to August 2021, a monthly average of 6,900 workers from 2,700 companies were assisted by the waiver of foreign worker levies during their Stay-Home Notice after entering Singapore.
The Ministry of Manpower announced on 20 September 2021 that the levy waiver would be extended up to December 2021 to help employers adjust to costs as borders gradually reopen.
A review on whether to further extend the waiver will be conducted at end-2021, depending on the COVID-19 situation and border measures then.

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4 Oct 2021

Proposal to Extend Household Services Scheme to Cleaning Businesses Providing Non-residential Cleaning Services

Mohd Fahmi Aliman proposed extending the Household Services Scheme’s female worker sourcing from India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Cambodia to cleaning businesses providing non-residential services.
The Ministry of Manpower stated that extending this scheme would be carefully studied due to concerns about increased job competition and downward wage pressure on locals.
The ministry emphasized the need to avoid over-reliance on lower-wage migrant workers, encouraging cleaning firms to invest in automation and job redesign to retain local workers.
Licensed cleaning firms are already covered by the Cleaning Progressive Wage Model, which provides clear progression pathways and scheduled wage increases to attract local workers.

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