Immigration & foreign manpower — Topics

4 Sep 2020

Local-Foreign Employment in Local Food Production Sector

The Minister reported that slightly more than half of workers in the local agri-food sector are locals as of June 2020, with most foreign workers in semi-skilled roles due to labour-intensive conventional farming methods.
The Ministry aims to achieve the "30 by 30" goal of producing 30% of nutritional needs locally by 2030 through technological transformation, which will create higher-value jobs requiring skilled workers.
Initiatives like the $63 million Agriculture Productivity Fund and the "30 by 30 Express" Grant Call support farms in adopting new technologies to boost productivity and innovation.
The Ministry collaborates with Institutes of Higher Learning to offer training programmes and internships, such as diplomas in aquaculture technology and the SGUnited Skills programme, to build a pipeline of local talent for the sector.
The overall strategy is to upskill the workforce and attract more Singaporeans into modern farming roles to ensure food security and reduce reliance on foreign labour.

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4 Sep 2020

Addressing Mental Health Challenges Faced by Foreign Workers Affected by Isolation at Dormitories

The Inter-Agency Task Force, later the Assurance, Care & Engagement Group (ACE), has been addressing both physical and mental health of dormitory residents since isolation began in early April.
Migrant workers can access mental health support through 24-hour helplines like the Migrant Workers’ Centre and HealthServe, which have received hundreds of calls and thousands of enquiries, with counsellors and specialists available for severe cases.
Efforts to reduce isolation stress include returning workers to work after systematic testing and segregation, trialling recreation centre visits, and organizing wellness activities with NGOs.
Forward Assurance & Support Teams and Foreign Worker Ambassadors are trained to identify and manage mental health issues, while daily communications and videos address workers’ concerns.
Indicators like reduced helpline calls suggest measures are effective, and support will continue to be monitored and improved.

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4 Sep 2020

Declaring Foreign Worker Dormitories to be Clear of COVID-19

Mr Lim Biow Chuan queried if there was an error in declaring a dormitory COVID-19 cleared when a new cluster later emerged from it.
Mrs Josephine Teo explained that clearing a dormitory means all residents have recovered, tested negative, or been moved to isolation facilities, but they remain susceptible to future infections.
She emphasized that vigilance and compliance with safe distancing measures by workers, employers, and dormitory operators are key to preventing new outbreaks.
A multi-layered strategy is in place, including safe living and working measures, routine testing, health monitoring, and containment protocols for new cases.
The government continues to adjust measures with health experts to manage ongoing COVID-19 threats despite cleared dormitories.

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4 Sep 2020

Essential Services Disrupted by Isolation Measures at Foreign Worker Dormitories

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked which estates were still disproportionately affected by dormitory shutdowns and if there would be a plan to redeploy workers to clear backlogs.
Desmond Lee stated that all foreign worker dormitories were cleared of COVID-19 by 19 August 2020, with most workers resuming work and essential services largely restored.
The Ministry of National Development noted that while a few contractors have not fully resumed services, no Town Council’s essential services have been significantly compromised.
Since Town Councils can use other contractors to cover gaps, there are no current plans for the government to redeploy workers across estates.

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4 Sep 2020

Debate on President's Address

The pandemic has ignited a spirit of mutual help in the community, with many Singaporeans stepping up to volunteer, donate, and support the vulnerable, including frontline workers and migrant workers.
The debate highlighted the need to strengthen the Singaporean core and ensure fair opportunities for locals, while also acknowledging the importance of staying open to foreign talent and investment to keep the economy competitive.
Members of Parliament emphasized the importance of building a fairer and more inclusive society post-COVID-19, with specific calls to improve support for people with disabilities, streamline means-testing, and enhance the welfare of lower-wage workers and migrant workers.

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4 Sep 2020

Singaporeans Employed in Financial Services Sector

Member Chua Kheng Wee Louis queried the proportion of Singaporeans in senior roles, trends over the last decade, and salary percentiles across nationalities in the financial sector, to which Minister Ong Ye Kung responded with data showing a stable 44% share of Singaporeans in senior positions but a 50% increase in absolute numbers over five years.
The Minister noted that median monthly wages for Singaporeans in the sector are between $6,000–$8,000, lower than the $8,000–$10,000 band for permanent residents and foreigners, due to foreign hires often occupying specialised or global roles.
Chua raised concerns about the relatively stable proportion of Singaporeans in senior roles despite sector growth and asked about government targets and support for middle management, to which Ong emphasized the importance of growing the sector and developing local talent to create more opportunities.
Ong explained that while percentages may remain steady, the expanding sector leads to more Singaporeans advancing to senior positions, both domestically and overseas, and that continued openness and investment in local capabilities are key to this progress.

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4 Sep 2020

Developments on Fair Consideration Framework and Measures on Discriminatory Hiring Practices

The Ministry of Manpower explained that companies on the Fair Consideration Framework watchlist are not publicly named because they have not broken rules and are proactively engaged to improve hiring practices, with most exiting the watchlist within a year.
The Ministry has suspended work pass privileges for 90 employers this year for discriminatory hiring and continues to use surveillance and tripartite partnerships to address unfair practices without mandating retrenchment reporting for small firms.
While legislation for discriminatory hiring is considered, the Ministry prefers balanced measures like the Fair Consideration Framework and Tripartite Guidelines, noting existing laws address age discrimination and proposing further discussions on expanding legal redress.

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2 Sep 2020

Debate on President's Address

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong outlined Singapore's COVID-19 response, emphasizing decisive actions like circuit breakers and migrant worker support, while acknowledging shortcomings and the need for continuous adaptation.
The debate highlighted the importance of strengthening social safety nets and reviewing foreign worker policies, with the government committing to pragmatic, targeted support and ensuring fairness for Singaporeans.
Political leaders discussed the need for constructive parliamentary discourse, the risks of polarization, and the importance of maintaining Singapore's unique governance model for long-term stability and progress.

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1 Sep 2020

Debate on President's Address

Ministers outlined government support for local PMETs, including the Jobs Support Scheme, Professional Conversion Programmes, and skills training, to help them secure good jobs and counter hiring biases.
MPs raised concerns about foreign workforce numbers and local job displacement, debating the pace of EP and S Pass issuance and questioning if current measures are sufficient to protect Singaporean workers.
A clash emerged on how to assess the impact of new citizens and PRs on the workforce, with MPs questioning data and ministers defending their integration and contributions.
Discussions emphasized the need for fair hiring practices, with calls for stronger enforcement against discriminatory employers and more social support for displaced workers, caregivers, and those in essential services.
The debate highlighted broader economic and social challenges post-COVID, including the need for job redesign, support for older workers, and fostering a more resilient and inclusive society.

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1 Sep 2020

Debate on President's Address

Sylvia Lim called for a national review of policies like the CMIO ethnic classification, the Ethnic Integration Policy, and ethnic requirements in elections to move Singapore towards a more race-blind society.
Multiple members addressed concerns over job security for young graduates and self-employed persons, proposing measures like extending traineeships, strengthening support for freelancers, and improving re-employment frameworks.
Leong Mun Wai highlighted anxieties over immigration and jobs, proposing a review of foreign workforce policies, including caps on foreigner-to-citizen ratios and stricter localisation requirements for companies.
Several members, including Liang Eng Hwa and Josephine Teo, debated the reliance on foreign labour and adjustments to work pass policies, with Teo defending the current approach of using salary requirements over quotas to ensure quality and protect local PMETs.
Koh Poh Koon advocated for expanding the Progressive Wage Model to more sectors and strengthening Workfare to uplift low-wage workers, while Josephine Teo explained the government's phased approach to wage uplifts.

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24 Aug 2020

Prime Minister's Office (Strategy Group)

The COVID-19 pandemic is Singapore's gravest challenge since independence, requiring a coordinated whole-of-government and society response led by the Strategy Group to navigate the crisis and build a better post-pandemic future.
The government will conduct a comprehensive review of its medium-term policy agenda to address new challenges and opportunities, focusing on economic and social policies, climate action, and infrastructure for a sustainable city.
Singapore will maintain its population strategies, supporting parenthood aspirations while taking a calibrated approach to immigration and foreign worker flows to ensure a cohesive society and vibrant economy.
The government remains committed to climate action, supporting global efforts and exploring technologies like carbon capture and hydrogen, while advancing a green recovery to create new jobs and build resilience.
The government emphasizes the need for partnerships with individuals, communities, and businesses through initiatives like SG Together to develop and implement ideas for a better post-COVID Singapore.

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24 Aug 2020

Ministry of Manpower

The Ministry of Manpower will intensify efforts through the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package to create 100,000 opportunities and support displaced workers with training, subsidies, and enhanced job-matching services, with a focus on fairness for all workers regardless of age, race, or gender.
Further adjustments to foreign workforce policies, including raising salary criteria for Employment Passes and S Passes, will be made to reflect current economic conditions while ensuring employers uphold fair hiring and strengthen the Singaporean core.
The ministry will expand support for self-employed persons, enhance the Progressive Wage Model to uplift lower-wage workers, and increase assistance through Workfare and Silver Support to mitigate inequalities and promote inclusive growth.

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5 Jun 2020

Consequences for and Enforcement Against Employers Who Have Not Made Declaration for Salary Payment Electronically

A very small percentage of employers had not declared electronic salary payment by the deadline due to technical or administrative issues, such as pending bank account approvals for workers.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) allowed temporary cash payments in such cases, given the short notice for introducing this legal requirement, but the vast majority of employers complied.
MOM will remind and follow up with non-compliant employers, especially after circuit breaker measures are lifted, and will take enforcement action against those who do not comply, similar to other violations under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.

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5 Jun 2020

Monitoring Payment Modes of Salaries to Foreign Workers Living in Dormitories

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked about the number and percentage of employers declaring and paying foreign workers' salaries electronically versus in cash, as well as monitoring methods and exceptional cash payment circumstances.
The Ministry of Manpower requires employers to declare salary payment modes, prioritizes electronic payments, and follows up on cases where salaries are owed or reported by workers.
Employers with technical issues were allowed to pay in cash at low-risk dormitories, and workers can report issues to FAST officers for MOM intervention.

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5 Jun 2020

Measures and Penalties to Ensure Dormitory Operators and Landlords Comply with Requirements for Communal Living

The Inter-Agency Taskforce is clearing dormitories of COVID-19 and requires all parties to implement safe management and living measures, with MOM providing advisories, checklists, briefings, and communications materials to support compliance.
Dormitory operators must track residents and visitors, stagger common facility use, strengthen health surveillance, and reduce density, while employers must cooperate with testing and updates to the Online Foreign Worker Address Service (OFWAS).
Penalties for non-compliance include fines up to $10,000 or jail for employers, fines up to $50,000 or imprisonment for dormitory operators, and licence revocation, while private landlords who fail to comply will be barred from renting to foreign workers.
Workers are required to monitor their health, follow dormitory rules, and report illnesses, with repeated breaches potentially leading to work pass revocation.

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5 Jun 2020

Mental Healthcare Provisions for Work Permit Holders

The Ministry of Manpower partners with NGOs like the Migrant Workers' Centre and Healthserve to provide mental health support, including 24-hour hotlines, tele-counselling in native languages, and financial assistance for work permit holders in various accommodations.
Communication of these measures is done through regular MOM bulletins, videos, posters in dormitories, and a mandatory Settling-in Programme for new non-Malaysian work permit holders, which includes hotline numbers and avenues for help.
Proactive identification and referral of at-risk workers are handled by FAST teams and Foreign Worker Ambassadors, with Healthserve’s volunteer psychiatrists and counsellors providing remote or one-on-one tele-counselling sessions.

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4 Jun 2020

Number of Deaths and Breakdown by Causes of Work Permit and Special Pass Holders in Each of Past 10 Years

Leon Perera asked for the number of deaths among work permit and special pass holders over the past 10 years and a breakdown by cause.
From 2009 to 2019, an average of 230 work permit holders died annually, with a death rate of about 0.02%.
The primary causes of death were natural causes, suicides, traffic accidents, and workplace accidents.
The Ministry of Manpower does not have data on deaths among special pass holders.

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4 Jun 2020

Measures to Strengthen Singaporean Core in Workforce in Light of Deteriorating Economic Conditions

The government has introduced budget measures such as the Jobs Support Scheme to help businesses retain and retrain local workers, cushioning the labour market despite rising retrenchments in early 2020.
To address weakening labour market conditions, the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package aims to create 100,000 opportunities, including over 40,000 jobs for locals in sectors like healthcare and early childhood education.
Initiatives like SGUnited Traineeships and enhanced hiring incentives under the SkillsFuture Mid-Career Support Package are designed to boost employability for graduates and mid-career jobseekers.
Foreign workforce policies remain tight, with maintained increases to minimum qualifying salaries, quota cuts for S Pass holders, and strengthened Fair Consideration Framework to ensure local workforce complementarity.
The overall objective is to strengthen the Singaporean core in the workforce, with ongoing efforts to support locals while adapting to current economic challenges.

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4 Jun 2020

Data on Work Permit Holders not Employed as Foreign Domestic Workers and not Eligible for Work Injury Compensation for Death and Permanent Disability in Past Five Years

Mr. Louis Ng asked for data on work permit holders (excluding foreign domestic workers) who died or suffered permanent disability from injuries or diseases ineligible for Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA) compensation over the past five years, and whether the Ministry would start collecting this data if not already doing so.
Mrs. Josephine Teo stated that around 0.3% of foreign work pass holders file WICA claims annually, with approximately 70 fatal injury and 2,800 permanent disability claims successfully resolved, constituting the vast majority of claims.
She noted that inadmissible claims were mostly due to non-work-related injuries, with about 1% of fatal claims and 5% of permanent disability claims deemed inadmissible on average.
Employers are required to maintain medical insurance for all foreign workers and cover all medical expenses in Singapore, and the Migrant Workers' Centre provides additional emergency assistance as needed.

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4 Jun 2020

Complaints by Foreign Domestic Workers during COVID-19 Pandemic

The Ministry of Manpower received an average of about eight complaints per 10,000 foreign domestic workers each month during the past three months, a figure comparable to the same period last year, with issues including food and workload.
MOM investigates all complaints seriously and will take appropriate action according to laws while providing assistance to affected parties.
FDWs can access 24-hour helplines and support from NGOs like the Centre for Domestic Employees and the Foreign Domestic Worker Association for Social Support and Training.
These organizations offer mental health services, including counselling and online activities like resilience talks and exercise programs to support FDW well-being.
The government encourages employers and FDWs to communicate openly and exercise understanding, emphasizing FDWs' importance in households.

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