Immigration & foreign manpower — Topics

8 May 2017

Proposal for Compulsory Law, Social Norms and Security Awareness Courses for Foreigners Working or Residing in Singapore

Patrick Tay proposed that foreigners on longer-term passes undergo compulsory courses covering Singapore laws, social norms, and security awareness to aid integration.
The Prime Minister's Office responded that various existing compulsory and voluntary programmes already cover these topics for specific groups like Work Permit holders, foreign domestic workers, and students.
The government highlighted that integration is an ongoing process requiring collective effort from both Singaporeans and foreigners, rather than being achievable through one-off compulsory courses alone.

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4 Apr 2017

Breakdown of Current and Projected Population Size

Gan Thiam Poh requested current and projected population figures for Singaporeans, permanent residents, foreign workers, tourists, and short-term visit pass holders.
Teo Chee Hean provided June 2016 data showing 3.41 million Singapore Citizens, 0.52 million Permanent Residents, and 1.67 million Non-Residents, including breakdowns of work pass holders.
Tourists and short-term visit pass holders are excluded from the total population as they are in Singapore only briefly.
Based on the 2013 White Paper, the 2020 population could range from 5.8 to 6 million, with residents at about 4 million and non-residents at about 1.8 million.
The 2020 projection assumes changes in birth rates, life expectancy, and social and economic needs.

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4 Apr 2017

Accidents Involving Heavy Vehicles Driven by S Pass and Work Permit Holders

In the past five years, heavy vehicle accidents averaged 791 injuries and 39 fatalities annually, with about 45% of at-fault drivers being foreigners including S Pass and Work Permit holders.
The Traffic Police use technology like speed and red-light cameras, plan to deploy average speed cameras, and are trialing tachographs to monitor driving behavior, alongside public education campaigns.
Foreign drivers must obtain a Singapore driving license within six months of getting a Work Pass and renew it every five years, while tampering with speed limiters can lead to jail or fines.
Driver fatigue is a concern, and a taskforce is working with agencies to engage heavy vehicle drivers and companies, addressing causes like failure to keep a proper look-out and maintain control.

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4 Apr 2017

Increasing Numbers of Foreign Domestic, Healthcare and Childcare Workers

Gan Thiam Poh asked whether the government would allow more foreign domestic, healthcare, and childcare workers to meet the needs of an ageing population and rising fertility rates.
The Minister of State replied that the priority is to develop a local pipeline through expanded training programmes and conversion schemes, while foreign workers fill current gaps in these sectors.
The government has lowered the FDW levy and provided grants to support families needing domestic help, while encouraging training for foreign workers to improve care quality.
Gan Thiam Poh requested a review of manpower needs considering future demographic trends, particularly by 2030 when one in four Singaporeans will be aged 65 and above.
The Minister of State confirmed that the Ministry of Manpower will continuously review and adjust manpower policies in coordination with other ministries to meet projected needs.

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3 Apr 2017

Estimated Incremental Cost to Extend Health Subsidies to Long-Term Visit Pass Holders for FY2017/2018

Leon Perera queried the estimated incremental cost of extending health subsidies to all Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) holders for FY2017/2018.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong stated that subsidies are differentiated by citizenship status, with only Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents, and LTVP+ holders eligible for subsidies.
The Minister explained that LTVP holders do not currently receive healthcare subsidies and that computing the incremental cost is not meaningful as there is no plan to extend subsidies to them.
The response emphasized that any cost estimate would require assumptions about the number of LTVP holders, their healthcare needs, and subsidy levels, which are not available.
The debate highlights the government's policy to maintain subsidy differentiation based on residency status without plans to expand eligibility to all LTVP holders.

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3 Apr 2017

Inspections Conducted on Accommodation for Foreign Workers

From 2014 to 2016, the Ministry of Manpower conducted nearly 4,000 foreign worker housing inspections, with the annual number increasing from 700 to 1,800 to cover both large dormitories and suspected poor-condition housing.
Most infringements involved private residential units housing multiple workers, while larger purpose-built and factory-converted dormitories were generally in better condition; the number of public complaints about housing fell from about 600 in 2014 to 500 in 2016.
For about 4,000 employers and dormitory operators found in violation, MOM issued warnings, composition fines, or prosecuted them, and required immediate rectification such as housing improvements or relocation of workers to approved accommodation.

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3 Apr 2017

Crimes Committed by Foreigners

Darryl David asked for statistics on foreigners imprisoned for crimes in the past year, a comparison with previous years, and the criteria for revoking immigration status and deportation for serious offenses.
K Shanmugam reported a decline in foreigners imprisoned over the last five years, with 2,750 in 2016, of which over a third were for immigration offenses; foreigners made up 26.9% of all imprisoned persons, below their 30% share of the population.
The Minister stated that the Immigration Act allows cancellation of passes and deportation for serious offenses, with re-entry bans for those convicted of crimes like drug trafficking, violent crime, or syndicated crime, especially without family roots in Singapore.

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3 Apr 2017

Breakdown of Foreign Domestic Worker Numbers by Nationality

Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Ministry of Manpower why it is reluctant to provide a breakdown of foreign domestic workers by nationality, questioning the rationale for withholding such data.
The Minister of State for Manpower explained that disclosing this information is not in Singapore's interest due to potential sensitivities among local groups and the countries of origin of the workers.
Dennis Tan clarified that countries like Australia publish similar data quarterly without issue and asked the Ministry to reconsider its position.
The Minister of State reiterated that Singapore's context differs from Australia's, emphasizing that the sensitivity of the data outweighs the benefits of disclosure for national and household interests.

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20 Feb 2017

Breakdown on Number of Foreign Domestic Workers in Singapore from 13 Source Countries

Dennis Tan Lip Fong requested a breakdown of the number of foreign domestic workers in Singapore from each of the 13 source countries.
As of June 2016, there were 237,100 foreign domestic workers in Singapore.
The Ministry of Manpower does not provide a breakdown of the data by nationality.

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20 Feb 2017

Monitoring Large Crowds at Paya Lebar and Tanjong Katong Complex

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef queried the Home Affairs Ministry on guidelines and monitoring for large crowds of foreign workers gathering around Paya Lebar and Tanjong Katong Complex, especially on weekends and holidays.
The Senior Minister of State detailed police patrols, CCTV cameras, and auxiliary officers managing crowds and enforcing laws, noting workers are generally orderly and measures target crime and social disamenities.
Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef raised concerns about potential infiltration by criminal groups and ethnic-based perceptions, asking if more proactive measures are needed beyond monitoring.
Desmond Lee affirmed current efforts, including police engagement, MOM outreach to dormitories, and use of CCTV, and offered to discuss further measures if deemed necessary.

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7 Feb 2017

Healthcare Subsidies for Long-Term Visit Pass Holders Married to Singapore Citizens

Kok Heng Leun asked if Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) holders married to Singapore Citizens could receive healthcare subsidies similar to those for LTVP-Plus holders.
The Minister of State for Health stated that subsidies are based on the individual's citizenship status, not their spouse's, and only LTVP-Plus holders receive subsidies for inpatient services at the same level as Permanent Residents.
The Minister explained that extending subsidies to more LTVP holders would be funded by Singaporeans and requires careful consideration, as the LTVP and LTVP-Plus categories are intentionally differentiated by the government.
Members of Parliament sought clarification on the criteria for the differentiation and the potential cost impact, but the Minister noted that detailed cost studies would require separate parliamentary questions.
The debate highlighted the government's policy of differentiating benefits by citizenship and resident status, with limited subsidies extended to certain foreign spouses to support Singaporeans.

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6 Feb 2017

Update on Case of Eight Deported Indonesian ISIS Suspects

Mr Ang Wei Neng asked the Minister for Home Affairs for an update on the case of eight Indonesians deported from Singapore due to suspected ISIS links and why they were later released by Indonesian police.
The eight Indonesians were denied entry into Singapore on 9 January 2017 after one was found with images of security concern, including a shoe-bomb and ISIS fighters, and were turned back to Malaysia.
The Malaysian authorities repatriated the individuals to Indonesia after their investigations, and the Indonesian authorities decided on their release based on their own prerogative.
Singapore shared its investigation findings with Malaysian and Indonesian counterparts and will continue to monitor borders and work with regional partners to counter terrorism threats.

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6 Feb 2017

Criteria for Application of Vocational Driving Licence

Zaqy Mohamad asked whether plans exist to restrict vocational driving licences to Singaporeans by excluding PRs and foreign private car drivers, similar to taxi driving policies.
Khaw Boon Wan stated that from July, all private hire car drivers must obtain a PDVL, with non-citizens eligible only if employed by companies subject to foreign worker quotas.
Singaporeans can obtain the PDVL even if self-employed, aligning the policy with the existing approach for taxi drivers.

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6 Feb 2017

Enforcement of Labour Court Orders on Errant Employers

The Ministry of Manpower reported that over 95% of salary-related claims and 99.9% of work injury cases are successfully resolved, with errant employers prosecuted and debarred from hiring foreign workers.
For unresolved cases, employers are often in financial difficulty, and workers are advised to approach MOM early; assistance is provided through legal aid, the Migrant Workers' Centre, and tripartite alliances.
The Ministry emphasises enforcement measures, including prosecuting non-compliant employers and applying debarment to culpable directors, while noting existing security bonds for foreign workers already provide some financial recourse.

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10 Jan 2017

Employment Eligibility in Police, Auxiliary Police and Private Security Industry

The Minister confirmed that the Government continues to restrict employment in the police force to Singaporeans and Permanent Residents, while the auxiliary police and private security sectors require a majority of Singaporeans and adhere to dependency ratio ceilings set by the Ministry of Manpower.
Due to growing demand and insufficient Singaporean recruits for auxiliary police officers, the Ministry of Home Affairs has approved Taiwan as an additional foreign source country, alongside the existing approval for Malaysia.
Taiwanese auxiliary police officers must meet the same training, education, and fitness standards as Singaporean and Malaysian officers, pass an English proficiency test, and be deployed based on risk assessment and operational needs.
The Ministry will review the performance of Taiwanese auxiliary police officers after deployment and has not specified a new quota or dependency ratio ceiling beyond the existing requirements.

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10 Jan 2017

Number of Foreign Domestic Workers who have Undergone Basic Eldercare Course

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked for the number of foreign domestic workers (FDWs) who have undergone the Agency for Integrated Care's Basic Eldercare Course, the percentage of FDWs subsidized by the FDW grant who have taken the course, and the number trained under the eldercarer training scheme and deployed.
Minister Gan Kim Yong stated that the Caregiver's Training Grant (CTG) has supported about 20,000 FDWs, with 6,800 households receiving the FDW grant, of which 4,400 used the CTG for training; 167 FDWs have taken the Basic Eldercare Course since 2015, with 52 from FDW grant households.
The Eldercarer FDW Scheme, launched in November 2016, has trained about 30 FDWs in eldercare, with 25 placed with families, and efforts are ongoing to raise awareness of this scheme.

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9 Jan 2017

Radicalisation of Foreign Domestic Workers

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef requested an update on the radicalisation of foreign domestic workers in Singapore and the Ministry’s approach and future interventions.
Minister K Shanmugam reported that seven foreign domestic workers were radicalised via the Internet in the past two years, had no violent plans in Singapore, and were repatriated after posing a security concern.
Security agencies will continue monitoring and investigating both foreign and local individuals suspected of radicalisation, and share intelligence internationally to counter transnational threats.
The public is urged to alert authorities promptly if they notice signs of radicalisation to help protect Singapore against terrorism.

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10 Nov 2016

National Registration (Amendment) Bill

The National Registration (Amendment) Bill aims to strengthen the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority's (ICA) operational effectiveness by introducing iris scan collection for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents, enhancing identity verification and border security.
The Bill grants ICA powers to refuse registration of inappropriate or misleading names, such as those exceeding 66 characters or containing offensive or unauthorised titles, while allowing discretionary refusal for obscene or contrary-to-public-interest names.
The amendments enable the appointment of non-ICA employees as registration officers for specific, limited functions like iris enrolment, with safeguards to ensure data security and restrict access to personal records.
ICA officers are empowered with new investigation and enforcement powers, including seizing suspicious documents and demanding surrender of identity cards, to improve administration of national registration matters.
Measures for data protection and public education on iris scan collection are emphasised, with assurances that biometric data will be securely stored and encrypted, and that iris scans will complement existing identifiers without replacing them.

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8 Nov 2016

Statistics on Renunciation of Singapore Citizenship

Leon Perera asked the Prime Minister for annual statistics on Singaporeans renouncing citizenship from 2005 to 2015, including breakdowns of top reasons for emigration and renunciation, as well as details on studies to understand these reasons and measures to prevent increases.
Teo Chee Hean, representing the Prime Minister, stated that an average of 1,200 Singaporeans renounced their citizenship each year during that period, with an annual renunciation rate below 0.1%, and noted that reasons provided in a non-mandatory questionnaire commonly include family, lifestyle, or career factors.
The government emphasized its focus on maintaining Singapore as an attractive home through economic and social initiatives, including engagement with overseas Singaporeans via the Overseas Singaporeans Unit and events like Singapore Day to strengthen national identity and commitment.

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7 Nov 2016

Recourse for Employers of Errant Foreign Domestic Workers

Sylvia Lim asked about recourse for employers when a foreign domestic worker abandons the work agreement and owes money to the employer.
Lim Swee Say explained that personal loans are often given by employers to help workers pay placement fees, and employment agencies must state refund policies in contracts.
If a worker terminates employment early, employers should check their contract with the agency to see if they can get a full or partial refund.
Some agencies do not require loans for placement fees, so employers can choose these agencies to avoid refund issues.
The response highlights the importance of understanding agency contracts and selecting arrangements that suit employer preferences.

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