Immigration & foreign manpower — Topics

13 Sep 2021

Efforts to Ease Movement of Foreign Domestic Workers into Singapore

The Ministry of Manpower is progressively scheduling the entry of migrant domestic workers who had previously postponed arrival dates, with quotas adjusted based on local and overseas COVID-19 situations.
The Association of Employment Agencies (Singapore) launched a pilot programme in July 2021 to facilitate safer entry of migrant domestic workers through additional overseas safe management measures, prioritising households with caregiving needs.
The pilot programme is ongoing at a small scale to assess risks and refine processes, and more time is needed before deciding whether to scale it up for broader entry facilitation.

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13 Sep 2021

Number of Short-term Visit Pass Holders Who Recently Entered and Are Staying in Singapore and Availability of COVID-19 Vaccination for Them

From April to June 2021, over 30,000 short-term visit pass holders entered Singapore, with nearly 17,000 still in the country as of August 30, 2021.
The vaccination status of these individuals is not available, as no breakdown was provided.
COVID-19 vaccination has been extended to short-term visit pass holders who have been in Singapore for at least 60 continuous days, effective August 18, 2021.

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13 Sep 2021

Current Upfront and Monthly Cost to Households for Hiring of Foreign Domestic Workers

The Minister for Manpower stated that the median upfront cost to hire a new migrant domestic worker is about $7,000, which includes SHN and COVID-19 test fees, agency service fees, and other administrative costs, and this cost has increased mainly due to mandatory SHN requirements.
Average monthly salaries for migrant domestic workers have risen, with overseas hires averaging $590 and transfer hires averaging $630 as of end-2020, compared to pre-pandemic figures of $570 and $610 respectively.
To mitigate costs, employers can use economy hotels or shared rooms for SHN at reduced rates, appeal for SHN cost waivers based on financial circumstances, and share SHN costs when transferring a worker between employers.
Due to ongoing border controls, priority is given to households with urgent caregiving needs, and alternatives such as part-time domestic services under the Household Services Scheme or subsidised childcare and eldercare facilities are encouraged.

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13 Sep 2021

Addressing Demand by Households for Migrant Domestic Workers After Delays Caused by COVID-19 Travel Restrictions

MPs Joan Pereira and Chua Kheng Wee Louis raised concerns about urgent caregiving needs and requested statistics on migrant domestic worker (MDW) entry approvals, pending applications, processing durations, and the impact of COVID-19 endemic transition.
From September 2020 to April 2021, about 3,300 MDWs entered monthly, but entries dropped to around 800 per month from May to August 2021 due to tightened measures against COVID-19 importation risks.
The Ministry of Manpower is prioritizing MDW entries for families with challenging caregiving needs and has initiated a small-scale pilot program with the Association of Employment Agencies (Singapore) to test additional safe management measures.
The pilot program, started in July 2021, is being monitored for effectiveness; if successful, it could be scaled up to allow more MDWs to enter safely amid ongoing COVID-19 variants and vaccination considerations.
Singapore's transition to an endemic status requires careful border reopening, with adjustments based on pandemic control in source countries and vaccine effectiveness, to facilitate MDW entry while protecting public health.

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13 Sep 2021

Fake COVID-19 Vaccination Certificates Detected at Borders

Dr Wan Rizal asked the Minister for Home Affairs about the number of fake vaccination certificates detected at Singapore's borders and abroad, whether perpetrators were apprehended, and what penalties apply.
Minister K Shanmugam stated that since August 2021, selected travellers must show proof of vaccination, and ICA conducts manual checks where digital verification is not yet in place.
He confirmed that no fake vaccination certificates have been detected at Singapore's borders and no reports of fake Singapore-issued certificates abroad have been received.
Presenting a fake certificate could lead to fines up to $10,000, imprisonment up to six months, or both under the Infectious Diseases Act.
Offenders presenting fake certificates abroad may face foreign laws and could be investigated by Singapore Police if evidence suggests a domestic offence.

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13 Sep 2021

Simultaneous Debate on Motions

The Leader of the House proposed a motion to hold a simultaneous debate on two separate motions: one by the Minister for Finance on securing Singaporeans' jobs and livelihoods, and another by Non-Constituency MP Leong Mun Wai on the foreign talent policy and its impact on Singaporeans.
The proposed simultaneous debate would allow MPs to address both motions in a single speech and consider the issues holistically, while the two motions would remain separate for voting purposes after the debate.
The motion to conduct the debate simultaneously was agreed to by Parliament, enabling efficient parliamentary business while allowing the movers of each original motion to speak at the start and close of the debate.

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3 Aug 2021

Employers Receiving Kickbacks from Migrant Workers

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Manpower for statistics on the number and percentage of investigated kickback cases involving migrant workers, broken down by whether the kickbacks occurred prior to or at the start of employment, during employment, or at work pass renewal, over the last five years.
The Minister for Manpower, Tan See Leng, stated that the timing of kickbacks does not affect enforcement actions, so the Ministry does not track such specific data, estimating that cases are roughly split between those at the start of employment and those at work pass renewal.
He emphasized that collecting kickbacks as a condition for employment is an offence under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, and migrant workers should approach the Ministry for assistance if asked to pay kickbacks.

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2 Aug 2021

Breakdown of Work Permit Holders Earning Basic Wages between $3,000 and more than $4,500

Leong Mun Wai asked for the number of Work Permit holders earning basic wages between $3,000 to less than $4,500 and more than $4,500.
Tan See Leng stated that as of December 2020, the median fixed monthly salary for Work Permit holders was around $1,100, with about 98% earning less than $3,000 per month.
He highlighted that Work Permit holders are subject to quotas, levies, sector-specific conditions, source restrictions, security bonds, medical examinations, and marriage and pregnancy restrictions.

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2 Aug 2021

Statistics on Work Passes Issued to Foreign Nationals Belonging to any of 127 Professions Listed under Annex 9A of India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement

Hazel Poa asked the Minister for Manpower for the total number of work passes issued to foreign nationals (any nationality) belonging to any of the 127 professions listed under Annex 9A of the India-Singapore CECA.
The Minister responded that the 127 professions under CECA Annex 9A have no bearing on work pass assessments, as all applicants must meet prevailing criteria regardless of CECA, and the Ministry does not track or report data based on that occupational grouping.
The Minister noted it is not meaningful to look at the number of non-Indian professionals in those 127 professions, as such professionals would likely have no link to India or CECA.
Broadly, work pass holders of all nationalities make up less than one-quarter of all employed persons in the Singapore Standard Occupational Classification Group 2 (Professionals).

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2 Aug 2021

Application of Dependency Ratio Ceiling to Companies Supplying Labour to Construction, Marine and Process Sector and Services Sector

Leong Mun Wai asked whether the dependency ratio ceiling applies to companies supplying labour to the construction, marine, process and services sectors, what violations have been found, and if the Employment Agency Enforcement Digest will resume publication.
Tan See Leng stated that labour supply is only allowed within construction and process sectors, not marine, with the original employer still subject to the dependency ratio ceiling and no EA licence needed unless performing EA work.
He noted that the EA Enforcement Digest was discontinued after 2019, with enforcement now communicated through industry sessions and alerts, and that common infringements include unlicensed EA activities and accommodation violations.

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2 Aug 2021

Intra-corporate Transferees, Foreign Professionals and Dependants Entering Singapore via Movement of Natural Persons Provisions in FTAs and Their Subsequent Citizenship Status from 2005 to 2020

Leong Mun Wai asked for statistics from 2005 to 2020 on intra-corporate transferees, foreign professionals, and dependants who entered Singapore via Movement of Natural Persons in FTAs and later became citizens, permanent residents, or re-entered the workforce under another visa.
Tan See Leng explained that pre-2014 data does not distinguish between different FTA or WTO GATS entry routes, but from 2014 to 2020, about 30 overseas transferees per year gained permanent residency or citizenship, and around 140 per year obtained another work pass.
He noted that all entrants, including dependants and foreign professionals, are subject to prevailing work pass criteria and that the government retains full discretion on entry, residency, and citizenship decisions, making some of the requested statistics irrelevant.

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2 Aug 2021

Raising Awareness amongst Foreign Domestic Workers and Migrant Workers on Their Rights and Protection under Singapore Law

The Ministry of Manpower conducts Settling-In-Programmes in workers' native languages to educate them on their employment rights, Singapore’s laws, and channels to seek help for issues like abuse or stress.
Mental health support is integrated through regular reminders via the FWMOMCare app and e-newsletters, with counselling hotlines and shelters offering services in multiple languages, free of charge, and available at any time.
The ACE Group strengthens mental health support by training peer leaders and officers to provide psychological first aid, while also ensuring access to primary healthcare and specialist psychiatric services when needed.

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2 Aug 2021

Statistics of Foreign Domestic Workers Diagnosed with Tuberculosis Following Commencement of Employment

From 2018 to 2020, about 300 foreign domestic workers were diagnosed with active tuberculosis per year after commencing employment, representing 0.1% of the MDW population.
All MDWs are screened for active TB upon arrival and again after two years, and those diagnosed are treated immediately to reduce transmission, with most cases managed as outpatients.
Employers are required to provide mandatory medical insurance of at least $15,000, which covers about 95% of inpatient bills, and those facing financial difficulties can seek assistance from medical social workers at public health institutions.

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2 Aug 2021

Number of Short-term Visit Pass Holders Present in Singapore on Average for Each Month since January 2020

Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Home Affairs for the monthly average number of short-term visit pass holders in Singapore since January 2020.
Minister K Shanmugam provided the number of short-term visit pass holders from January 2020 to June 2021 in a table.
The information covers a period of about 18 months, from the start of 2020 to mid-2021.
The response includes data for each month within the specified timeframe.

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2 Aug 2021

Availability of Familial Ties Lane for Foreign Visitors to Register Marriage in Singapore to Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident

Dennis Tan asked if the Familial Ties Lane is still available for foreign visitors to enter Singapore to marry a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident and what the requirements are.
The Minister confirmed that fiancés/fiancées of Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents can apply to enter under the Familial Ties Lane for marriage purposes.
Applicants must provide supporting documents like appointment letters from the Registry of Marriages or Registry of Muslim Marriages and undergo security and immigration risk assessments.
Approved entrants must comply with prevailing COVID-19 measures, including Stay-Home Notice and swab test requirements.
The response outlines the current availability and procedural conditions for using the Familial Ties Lane for marriage registration.

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2 Aug 2021

Response for Unsuccessful Applications for Permanent Residency by Repeat Applicants Living Long Term in Singapore

MP Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked if ICA would provide reasons for unsuccessful PR applications, especially for long-term residents, to help them understand their path forward.
Minister K Shanmugam stated that PR applications are assessed on multiple factors including family ties, economic contributions, education, age, integration, and commitment to Singapore, not just length of residence.
The Ministry does not disclose specific rejection reasons to prevent abuse of the system and to avoid creating bilateral sensitivities or negative sentiments in other countries.

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2 Aug 2021

Enforcement against Illegal Vice Activities and Making Sure Such Activities Are not A Source of COVID-19 Spread

Mr Gerald Giam asked about the continuation of vice activities, enforcement actions, and COVID-19 risks since April 2020.
Minister K Shanmugam stated that vice activities violate Safe Management Measures and enforcement has been taken.
Police conducted over 1,200 enforcement operations against vice activities from April 2020 to June 2021.
More than 500 individuals were arrested under the Women’s Charter, Immigration Act, and Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.
Enforcement measures ensure such activities do not become a source of COVID-19 spread.

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2 Aug 2021

Foreigners on Student Pass Undertaking Part-time Work

Foreign students on a Student's Pass must obtain a work pass to work in Singapore, except under specific conditions allowing part-time work up to 16 hours per week or industrial attachments tied to course requirements, provided they are enrolled in one of 20 approved institutions.
From 2016 to 2020, 73 Student’s Pass holders were found working illegally without a work pass, leading to enforcement actions, fines, imprisonment, deportation, and bans on future employment.
Employers who illegally hire Student’s Pass holders face fines of $5,000 to $30,000, up to 12 months’ imprisonment, or both, and may have their work pass privileges suspended.

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2 Aug 2021

Clarification by Senior Minister of State for Manpower

Senior Minister of State for Manpower Dr Koh Poh Koon clarified that he misspoke during a previous answer about fines for work pass holders engaged in illegal employment.
The correct penalty is a fine of $20,000, imprisonment of up to two years, or both—not $2,000 as previously stated.
The correction references the official report from 2 August 2021 on enforcement restrictions for work pass holders.

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2 Aug 2021

Enforcement of Restrictions on Work Pass Holders Working for More Than One Employer

The Ministry of Manpower enforces restrictions by investigating public complaints and conducting proactive inspections, with an average of 160 work pass holders warned annually between 2016 and 2020 for illegal employment, leading to their debarment from working in Singapore.
Penalties for work pass holders include fines up to $2,000, imprisonment up to two years, or both, while employers face fines up to $30,000, imprisonment up to 12 months, or both, with work pass privileges suspended.
MOM has evolved its approach by using data analytics to detect suspicious behaviour and enhancing education through mobile apps, mandatory settling-in programmes, and social media campaigns to raise awareness of illegal employment rules.

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