Immigration & foreign manpower — Topics

2 Feb 2021

Recruiting Sufficient Number of Foreign Workers Whilst Ensuring COVID-19-safe Work Environment

Murali Pillai asked for the ratio of foreign workers to man-year entitlements, its comparison over the past two years, and steps to recruit sufficient foreign workers while maintaining a COVID-19-safe environment.
Josephine Teo stated that the ratio is not a meaningful indicator due to multi-year MYE allocations and hiring beyond quotas, noting a 15% decline in foreign workers in key sectors despite expected demand growth in 2021.
The Ministry has allowed safe entry of new workers since December 2020, implementing testing regimes, border measures, and workplace safety protocols to minimize COVID-19 risks.
Employers must adhere to Safe Management Measures, including site segregation and regular testing for dormitory residents, while enhancing contact tracing and safe living practices.
The government continues to adjust measures based on the operating environment to balance manpower needs with public health safeguards.

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2 Feb 2021

Number of Foreigners, Permanent Residents and Singaporeans Tested positive for COVID-19

From July 1 to December 31, 2020, 191 Singapore citizens and 214 permanent residents tested positive for COVID-19 among approximately 64,000 and 32,000 arrivals, respectively.
During the same period, 1,179 foreigners tested positive out of about 177,000 arrivals, including 440 foreign domestic workers and 147 work permit holders from around 14,000 and 28,000 arrivals, respectively.
All arrivals from high-risk areas undergo Stay Home Notice and infected individuals are isolated; from January 25, 2021, all inbound travelers, including citizens and permanent residents, must take a PCR test upon arrival.

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2 Feb 2021

Help for Employers Caught Out by Indonesia's New Zero Placement Fee Policy for Domestic Helpers

The Indonesian government’s zero placement fee policy will require employers to bear costs for new Indonesian domestic helpers, leading to potentially higher service fees from Singapore agencies.
Employers can consider hiring helpers from other countries, with agencies required to provide clear fee breakdowns and advise on suitable options based on cost and preference.
Alternatively, employers may explore part-time help through the Household Services Scheme or seek subsidised caregiving support from agencies like AIC and ECDA.

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2 Feb 2021

Prevalence of Cases of Firms Underpaying Foreign Staff

Between 2010 and 2014, an average of 60 employers per year were penalised for underpaying foreign employees, rising to about 190 employers per year from 2015 to 2019 due to improved detection and education efforts.
Underpayment methods include directly paying lower salaries or requiring employees to return a portion of their declared salary through electronic transfers or cash to avoid paper trails.
Employment agencies were rarely involved, with only six licensed agencies facing enforcement action over the entire 10-year period, and the Ministry will continue strong surveillance and enforcement against all violators.

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2 Feb 2021

Number and Types of Stay-Home-Notice and Quarantine Order Breaches

As of 25 January 2021, 308,442 Stay-Home Notices and 268,385 Quarantine Orders were issued, with 367 SHN and 130 QO breaches recorded, leading to prosecutions, fines, imprisonment, and administrative actions like pass revocation or PR status loss.
Since August 2020, all individuals on SHN or QO must wear electronic monitoring devices using GPS and 4G/Bluetooth, with alerts triggered for breaches, and the HOMER App introduced in April 2020 uses facial recognition and location tracking for additional monitoring.
The HOMER App is used alongside electronic devices for monitoring health and location, and its use alongside electronic devices is mandatory for all individuals on SHN or QO, including Long-Term Visit Pass holders and visitors to Singapore.

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2 Feb 2021

Facilitating Singaporeans Entering Malaysia to Take Care of Essential Personal Matters

The government has been working with Malaysian authorities to facilitate essential cross-border travel for Singaporeans, such as for family bereavements, and has successfully assisted over 250 appeal cases since March 2020.
The Minister acknowledged that many requests are declined by Malaysian immigration authorities, who hold the final discretion, and that the process remains challenging due to evolving public health measures.
Despite Malaysia's political changes and state of emergency, diplomatic channels between Singapore and Malaysia remain functional and open, with regular communication at multiple levels to address bilateral issues.

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1 Feb 2021

Measures to Ensure Skills Transfer from Employment Pass Holders to Local Workers to Build Up Local Capabilities

The government prioritizes skills acquisition for locals through initiatives like Skillsfuture, focusing on creating good jobs and promoting employer commitment to fair hiring and progression.
Skills transfer for PMETs is achieved through various pathways including peer learning, structured training programmes, and job changes, rather than linear or prescriptive measures.
Work pass policies are regularly reviewed and adjusted, such as raising qualifying salary criteria for Employment Pass holders and reducing S Pass sub-Dependency Ratio Ceilings in key sectors, to support local employment outcomes.

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1 Feb 2021

Review of Rules and Regulations Governing Placement on Fair Consideration Framework Watchlist

Ms Hazel Poa asked if the rules will be reviewed to cover indicators like high nationality concentration that place companies on the FCF Watchlist even if they have not broken any rules.
Mrs Josephine Teo explained that the FCF Watchlist targets firms with unusually high foreign PMET ratios or single-nationality concentrations to proactively address discriminatory hiring.
She noted that most firms on the Watchlist improve with guidance and have hired over 4,800 Singaporean PMETs since 2016, with many exiting the Watchlist within a year.
Firms that do not cooperate face work pass restrictions, allowing a calibrated approach that expands local employment more effectively than uniform penalties.

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1 Feb 2021

Difference between Tech.Pass and Existing Visa Options such as EntrePass

Chan Chun Sing explained that the Tech.Pass is designed to attract high-achieving global tech talent to Singapore, allowing them to serve in multiple roles such as founder, employee, or consultant, unlike EntrePass which restricts holders to one role at a time.
The Tech.Pass targets highly accomplished entrepreneurs, business leaders, or technical experts, with 500 places available and stringent criteria requiring applicants to meet at least two of three benchmarks related to salary, experience in large tech firms, or product development with mass adoption.
The eligibility criteria, including five years of leading a tech product with 100,000 monthly active users, is considered strict when combined with other requirements, and the government will review the programme’s outcomes and adjust parameters as needed to ensure it attracts the right talent.

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1 Feb 2021

Medical Costs of Foreign Domestic Workers

Lim Biow Chuan questioned the policy requiring employers to bear all medical costs for foreign domestic workers, even when treatment is unrelated to their work.
Mrs Josephine Teo explained that employers must provide medical insurance covering at least $15,000 for hospitalisation, regardless of the cause, to ensure workers receive care and employers can manage expenses.
She noted this insurance has covered 95% of hospitalisation bills in the past three years and employers can seek hospital social work assistance if facing financial difficulties.

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1 Feb 2021

Appeals for Medical Subsidy for Long-Term Visit Pass and Dependant Pass Holders

Gan Thiam Poh inquired about the number of appeals for medical subsidies for Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) and Dependant Pass holders in the past five years, the approval rate, use of MediSave, and whether medical insurance could be a requirement for pass approval.
Gan Kim Yong stated that medical subsidies are generally for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents, with LTVP+ holders eligible for inpatient subsidies since 2012, and that sponsors can use MediSave for immediate family members, though specific figures for LTVP/Dependant Pass holders are not tracked.
The Ministry of Health receives fewer than 20 financing-related appeals annually for LTVP holders and noted that while insurance could help, a mandatory requirement needs careful consideration to balance affordability and coverage benefits.
Public healthcare institutions may provide assistance through charity funds or installment plans based on medical social workers' assessments for those facing financial difficulties.

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1 Feb 2021

COVID-19 Vaccination Roll-out for Migrant Workers

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) confirmed that migrant workers will be included in the national vaccination timeline, with prioritization based on the risk level of their dormitories.
A comprehensive communication campaign will be launched to educate migrant workers about vaccine safety and benefits, using materials in their native languages.
The government will collaborate with NGOs to reinforce vaccination messages and provide reassurances to facilitate vaccine uptake among migrant workers.
Vaccination of migrant workers is intended to reduce infection risks in dormitories, protect the wider community, and ease the burden on healthcare facilities.

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5 Jan 2021

Children Separated from Parents Due to Immigration Status

Leon Perera inquired if the Ministry of Home Affairs tracks the number of children separated from parents due to immigration status and requested figures for the past five years.
K Shanmugam responded that the Government does not collect such statistics, indicating no data is available on the matter.
The exchange highlights a gap in data collection regarding family separations linked to immigration policies in Singapore.

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4 Jan 2021

Waiver of Foreign Domestic Worker Levies Paid by Employers Due to COVID-19-related Travel Restrictions

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked if the government would waive levies for employers who could not receive their foreign domestic workers (FDWs) or whose FDWs requested early repatriation due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Mrs Josephine Teo explained that employers do not pay monthly levies for new FDWs unable to enter Singapore due to travel restrictions and can request levy waivers for FDWs on home leave unable to re-enter.
For FDWs who wish to be repatriated, employers must secure flights before cancelling work permits, after which levy obligations cease; extensions for Special Passes are available if flights are cancelled.
Levies are not payable for FDWs holding Special Passes, and flights to most source countries remain available despite reduced frequency.

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4 Jan 2021

Update on Employment Profile of Companies on Fair Consideration Framework Watchlist

Leong Mun Wai asked for an update on the employment profiles of companies on the Fair Consideration Framework Watchlist, including ratios of Singaporeans to foreigners, breakdown by salary, largest foreign group, HR head nationality, and succession plans.
Josephine Teo explained that firms are placed on the Watchlist for having a higher share of foreign PMETs or a single foreign nationality, and that TAFEP engages them to improve local hiring, with many firms exiting the Watchlist after improvements.
Since 2016, Watchlist firms have hired over 4,800 Singaporean PMETs, and uncooperative firms face work pass suspensions.
Teo noted that about 90% of HR professionals in Singapore are locals, but hiring decisions involve senior management, and all employers must comply with fair hiring laws and adopt good HR practices.

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4 Jan 2021

Studies into Whether Migrant Workers Unable to Go for Meal Breaks Offsite During Working Hours Are Receiving Adequate and Proper Food and Enforcement Actions Taken against Employers for Non-provision

The Ministry of Manpower acknowledges the importance of ensuring migrant workers receive adequate and proper food, noting various practices such as workers cooking their own meals, using on-site canteens, or receiving catered lunches from employers.
MOM has not received many complaints about food adequacy and addresses occasional feedback on dietary or cultural needs by engaging employers, while also using teams, NGOs, and a mobile app to monitor worker welfare.
MOM states that it will continue gathering feedback and will take enforcement action against employers in serious cases where migrant workers face issues with food access or other well-being concerns.

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4 Jan 2021

Total Fertility Rate amongst Long Term Visit Pass Holders Married to Singaporeans Compared to Singaporean Women between 2010 and 2019

Ms Carrie Tan asked for the total fertility rate (TFR) of Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP) holders married to Singaporeans compared to Singaporean women from 2010 to 2019.
The Government does not compute a separate TFR for LTVP holders because many become Permanent Residents or citizens before their childbearing years end, making meaningful calculation difficult.
Resident TFR already includes births to LTVP holders married to Singaporeans, as it accounts for all births with at least one resident parent.
Singapore’s resident TFR was 1.14 in 2019, unchanged from the previous year.
The debate highlights challenges in tracking TFR for transient groups and emphasizes the comprehensive scope of the resident TFR measure.

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4 Jan 2021

Review Medical Insurance Coverage for Work Permit Holders

Murali Pillai questioned if employers of work permit holders are increasingly paying medical bills beyond the current $15,000 annual insurance coverage and whether the Ministry plans to increase this coverage.
Mrs Josephine Teo responded that about 95% of hospitalization bills for work permit and S Pass holders have been below $15,000 over the past three years, indicating the current coverage is generally sufficient.
The Ministry of Manpower is developing an insurance programme to help employers manage large, unexpected medical expenses, which may involve higher premiums but aims to keep cost impacts manageable.
An update on the new insurance programme will be provided in due course, reflecting ongoing efforts to balance employer peace of mind with affordability.

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4 Jan 2021

Help for Stateless Persons who Require Social and Financial Assistance

Stateless persons who are Permanent Residents (PRs) receive the same healthcare and education subsidies as other PRs, while non-PR stateless individuals may access certain subsidies in specific healthcare settings and are charged international student fees for education.
ComCare financial assistance is primarily for Singapore Citizens and PRs, but Social Service Offices can flexibly provide aid on a case-by-case basis to non-PR stateless persons, especially the elderly or long-term residents without family support.
Community partners and non-government resources, such as donations, are used to offer financial assistance to stateless persons for healthcare and educational needs, particularly when they do not qualify for government schemes.

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4 Jan 2021

Regulations Preventing Employment of Stateless Person in Singapore

Christopher de Souza asked if there are regulations preventing the employment of stateless persons in Singapore and whether such rules could be removed.
Josephine Teo stated that no regulations prohibit the employment of stateless persons, as those who are Permanent Residents can work freely like other PRs.
Stateless persons who are not Permanent Residents can obtain a Special Pass from ICA and apply to MOM for a Letter of Consent to work, with the LOC validity tied to the Special Pass.

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