Immigration & foreign manpower — Topics

7 Nov 2016

Singaporean Co-workers Acting as Guarantors for Foreign Nurses

Singaporean colleagues are allowed to be guarantors for foreign nurses under public healthcare sponsorships, alongside family members, with over 3,600 nursing sponsorships awarded in the past five years, including 448 to non-Singaporeans.
Four foreign-sponsored nurses were unable to complete studies, with two paying damages and one serving a bond, while no guarantors have paid liquidated damages, and the remaining case is being followed up.
Public healthcare institutions monitor and support recipients academically and non-academically to prevent defaults, and the government continues to sponsor foreign nurses to meet national healthcare needs while prioritizing local nurse growth.

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7 Nov 2016

Possibility of Dual Citizenship for Singaporeans

Edwin Tong asked the Minister for Home Affairs why dual citizenship is not allowed and whether it is time to review the rule.
K Shanmugam explained that Singapore does not permit dual citizenship because the nation is small and young, and citizens must have a long-term commitment to building a future together.
He added that citizenship rights and responsibilities are expected, and allowing a second citizenship could dilute rather than enhance that commitment.

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7 Nov 2016

Part-time Work for Work Permit Holders

Louis Ng asked whether Work Permit holders could be allowed part-time work to address Singapore's labour shortage, suggesting regulation instead of a blanket ban to prevent exploitation.
The Minister of State for Manpower replied that part-time work is prohibited for Work Permit holders to ensure they focus on full-time jobs, avoid exploitation, reduce foreign manpower demand, and prevent increased competition with locals for freelance or part-time roles.
Louis Ng acknowledged that part-time work might already occur unofficially and proposed starting with a pilot in specific industries to test feasibility before wider implementation.
The Minister of State reiterated the priority of protecting local workers and foreign workers from exploitation, noting some flexibility exists within the same company, such as redeploying Work Permit holders across departments in the services sector.

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10 Oct 2016

Measures to Detect and Reduce Incidence of Tuberculosis

The Ministry of Health advises individuals with prolonged cough symptoms to seek early medical assessment and emphasizes treatment adherence to prevent TB recurrence and drug resistance.
Entry requirements include medical examinations and chest X-rays for work permit applicants to screen for active TB, while doctors are reminded to report cases to the ministry for contact tracing.
The Tuberculosis Control Unit screens high-risk contacts of TB patients and uses DNA fingerprinting to monitor disease spread, aligning with global health guidelines.
TB rates in Singapore have declined over time, with new cases among citizens and permanent residents dropping from 52 per 100,000 in 1995 to 38 per 100,000 last year.
Singapore continues its efforts to reduce TB as a public health threat through detection, treatment, and prevention measures.

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10 Oct 2016

Special Dependant Pass for Foreign Women with Singapore Citizen Spouses or Children

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh proposed a special dependant pass for foreign mothers of Singapore citizen children or pregnant women expecting such children, to exempt them from ICA interviews at checkpoints.
Minister K Shanmugam rejected the proposal, stressing that security screening at borders must apply to all, including foreign spouses, to avoid creating exploitable gaps for security threats.
He noted that ICA already provides facilitation for travellers with special needs, such as pregnant women or the elderly, but without compromising security protocols.

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10 Oct 2016

Raising Awareness amongst Foreign Workers on Hygiene and Work Practices

The Ministry of Manpower provides foreign workers with a Handy Guide in their native language upon arrival, covering hygiene, work practices, rights, and responsibilities, and reinforces these messages through newsletters, roadshows, and Foreign Worker Ambassadors.
MOM conducts regular inspections of dormitories and requires operators to maintain cleanliness, taking enforcement action against errant operators if poor conditions compromise workers' well-being.
The public is urged to report specific dormitories with serious littering issues to MOM for action.

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10 Oct 2016

Foreigners Caught Working Illegally in Singapore

Between 2014 and August 2016, around 3,000 foreigners were caught working illegally in Singapore, with numbers declining from about 1,300 in 2014 to 550 in the first eight months of 2016.
The top three nationalities of illegal workers are China, Bangladesh, and India, while the main sectors are construction, food and beverage, and other services, with common occupations including construction workers, cleaners, and stall assistants.
The Ministry of Manpower employs a multi-pronged strategy involving public education, proactive inspections and response to tip-offs, and enhanced penalties such as minimum fines and imprisonment for employers hiring illegal workers.
Foreigners found working illegally are barred from future employment in Singapore, and the overall strategy has contributed to the steady decline in illegal work cases.
All foreigners working in Singapore must hold a valid work pass, and non-compliance breaches the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.

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10 Oct 2016

Abuse Cases Involving Foreign Domestic Helpers Abuse

Kok Heng Leun requested statistics from the Minister for Manpower on the number of abused and abusive foreign domestic helpers from 2014 to 2015, and how many had insufficient monthly days off.
The Ministry of Manpower reported that police investigated about 30 cases annually where FDWs were victims and about 40 cases where FDWs were suspected of abusing those in their care, with some resulting in prosecution or warnings.
The Ministry does not track rest days given to FDWs who are offenders, but employers are required to provide weekly rest days or compensation under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Regulations.
FDWs facing difficulties can seek help through the MOM helpline and NGOs like the Centre for Domestic Employees.

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10 Oct 2016

Strengthening Singaporean Core in "Triple Weak" Companies

The Ministry of Manpower is scrutinising about 250 firms, including those previously identified as "triple weak," to ensure fair employment practices and strengthen the Singaporean core, with close to 300 Employment Pass applications rejected from these firms.
A two-pronged approach is used: firms showing significant improvements are removed from closer scrutiny, while those making partial progress continue to face enhanced checks on their Employment Pass applications.
The Ministry is launching a Human Capital Partnership Programme to recognise and support firms with exemplary fair and progressive human capital practices, aiming to encourage more companies to follow suit.
The measures include encouraging firms to participate in career fairs, training programmes, and in-house knowledge transfer initiatives to benefit Singaporean staff.

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10 Oct 2016

Subsidy for Maternity and Delivery Services at Restructured Hospitals for non-Singaporean Women

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh asked whether non-Singaporean women whose child will be a Singapore Citizen at birth should receive subsidies for maternity and delivery at public hospitals.
Health Minister Gan Kim Yong stated that subsidies are differentiated by citizenship, with citizens receiving higher benefits, and this principle applies to all healthcare services including maternity.
The minister noted that newborns who are Singaporeans are eligible for subsidies and other benefits, and that MOH has extended inpatient subsidies to non-citizen spouses on Long-Term Visit Pass-Plus since 2012.
Gan Kim Yong emphasized that extending further subsidies to foreigners who are not Permanent Residents or Long-Term Visit Pass-Plus holders would require careful consideration due to policy objectives and costs borne by Singaporeans.

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10 Oct 2016

Bogus Jobs for Work Pass Applications

The Minister for Manpower outlined that employers who bring in foreign workers without genuine employment intentions or hire workers released for self-employment are illegal, and MOM addresses both supply and demand sides with proactive checks, enforcement operations, and employer education.
Enhanced penalties under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act include imprisonment, fines, and caning for severe cases, with examples like a 40-month jail sentence for setting up shell companies to obtain work passes illegally.
MOM continues a holistic approach to deter and prosecute syndicates and unscrupulous employers, including debarment from hiring foreign workers and severe enforcement actions.

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10 Oct 2016

Process for Stateless in Singapore to be Recognised as Permanent Residents or Citizens

Stateless individuals must meet criteria including economic contribution, educational qualifications, family profile, and length of stay in Singapore, with having Singaporean citizen relatives being a positive factor in their applications.
As of August 2016, 82% of stateless persons in Singapore have become permanent residents, and those who meet the necessary requirements can apply for Singapore citizenship.
Children born in Singapore to stateless parents may be eligible for Singapore citizenship at birth if their other parent is a Singapore citizen and the parents are legally married; otherwise, they may become stateless if neither parent holds citizenship of another country.

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10 Oct 2016

Transparency in Criteria for Obtaining Permanent Residency and Citizenship

The Minister explained that PR and citizenship applications are assessed holistically on factors like economic contributions, education, family ties, and length of stay, but detailed criteria are kept confidential to avoid sensitivities in applicants’ countries of origin.
He noted that children under 21 may qualify for citizenship if born to a Singapore citizen parent, even if the foreign parent does not meet the criteria, to avoid denying the child’s entitlement.
For foreign parents who do not qualify, the government may issue Long-Term Visit Passes (LTVP or LTVP+) to allow them to remain in Singapore with their families, especially if they are single caregivers.
The Minister stated there are no current plans to make the criteria more transparent, as the government’s approach prioritizes national interests and the assessment of each applicant’s commitment to Singapore.
The debate highlighted concerns about fairness for foreign-born single parents, with the government emphasizing a case-by-case approach to balance family unity and immigration policies.

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10 Oct 2016

Ownership of HDB Flats of Deceased Singaporeans with Foreign Spouses and Children

Darryl David asked what happens to HDB flats when a Singaporean with a foreign non-PR/citizen spouse passes away, especially if there are Singaporean minor children.
Lawrence Wong stated a non-citizen spouse can keep the flat if they become a Singaporean or PR within one year, or if a Singaporean/PR family member aged 21 or above takes over the flat.
If the foreign spouse has Singaporean minor children, HDB may allow a Singaporean/PR trustee to hold the flat until the children turn 21.

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10 Oct 2016

Dealing with Higher Unemployment Rate

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) reported that local employment growth has slowed sharply due to demographic shifts like ageing and lower birth rates, while unemployment rose slightly to 3% in June 2016, with PMETs constituting 70% of local retrenchments.
To address job mismatches and support displaced workers, MOM has expanded initiatives like Adapt and Grow, Professional Conversion Programmes (PCPs), and the Career Support Programme (CSP), achieving over 13,000 job placements in the first eight months of 2016.
MOM emphasized a balanced approach to foreign manpower, reducing inflows by over two-thirds since 2011 while enhancing fair consideration for locals through the Fair Consideration Framework and targeting “triple weak” employers.
Future plans include transforming the National Jobs Bank into a vibrant online marketplace and leveraging Skills Frameworks to provide career guidance, but mandatory job advertising and reporting requirements are not being implemented.
Ministers and MPs highlighted ongoing challenges for mature PMETs, SME transformation, and the need for productivity gains to sustain growth without over-reliance on foreign labour, urging tripartite collaboration to navigate economic transitions.

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13 Sep 2016

Singaporeans under 21 Years of Age Residing in Singapore with a Non-PR Foreign Parent

Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin asked for the number of Singaporean children under 21 living in Singapore with a non-PR foreign parent and details on such parents over the past five years, including gender, marital status, and cases where they left with the child after pass expiry.
As of 30 June 2016, about 10,000 SC children under 21 had foreign parents residing in Singapore on Long-Term Visit Passes or Work Passes.
From 2012 to 2015, around 14,000 unique non-PR foreign parents with SC children applied for LTVPs, with about 13,000 being female.
Among the female parents, only 148 (1%) were widowed, divorced, or separated, and only three did not qualify for long-term stay, though their children remained in Singapore as of August 2016.

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13 Sep 2016

Foreigners Married to Singapore Citizens and Their Success in PR Applications

From 2009 to 2015, an average of about 4,000 foreigners married to Singapore citizens were granted PR annually, with a similar number rejected each year.
Applications are evaluated on criteria such as the sponsor’s ability to support the family, length of marriage, and whether the couple has citizen children.
About 45% of approved PRs had a household income below $4,000, 81% were female, and 28% had children at the time of application, with 86% of those children being citizens.

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13 Sep 2016

Statistics on Citizen Children Born to PR Mothers and Foreign Mothers without PR

From 2009 to 2015, an average of about 4,600 citizen children were born annually in Singapore to PR mothers.
In the same period, an average of about 2,200 citizen children were born each year to foreign mothers without PR.
The statistics were provided by the Minister for Home Affairs in response to a parliamentary question by Mr Kok Heng Leun.

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13 Sep 2016

Protection for Foreign Spouses and Children when Marriages with Singapore Citizens Break Down

The Minister emphasized that both parents are legally required to maintain and provide for their children until age 21, and a foreign mother can apply for maintenance on the child's behalf even if she is not a Singaporean or Permanent Resident.
Families facing breakdown can access counselling and support from Divorce Support Specialist Agencies and Family Service Centres, while financially needy families, including single parents and dependents of NSmen, can receive financial assistance through Social Service Offices and the Ministry of Education.
Full-time National Servicemen receive a monthly allowance, with additional financial aid available for those in hardship, and foreign widowed or divorced wives with sole custody of Singaporean children can generally receive a renewable Long-Term Visit Pass to remain in Singapore.

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13 Sep 2016

Impact of Indonesia's Plan to Stop Its Foreign Domestic Workers from Living in Singaporean Employers' Homes

Melvin Yong questioned how Indonesia’s plan to supply only live-out foreign domestic workers would affect their availability in Singapore and whether the $5,000 security bond could be waived for such workers.
Lim Swee Say noted that Indonesia has not formally communicated any policy change and local agencies have not reported disruptions to the current supply of live-in Indonesian FDWs.
The Ministry clarified that the security bond ensures compliance with work permit conditions and is not linked to live-in arrangements, so abolishing it for live-out FDWs is not being considered.
The government continues to welcome Indonesian FDWs and monitors the adequacy of the overall FDW supply, which currently comes from 12 approved source countries.

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