Immigration & foreign manpower — Topics

8 Oct 2014

Retention of Foreign Allied Health Professionals

The Ministry of Health (MOH) and Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) have implemented strategies like additional funding for competitive wages and subsidized training to retain foreign and local allied health professionals (AHPs) in social service and intermediate and long-term care sectors.
Initiatives such as therapy hubs and the central employment scheme (CREATE) have been introduced to support service providers, improve career development opportunities, and deploy AHPs to meet manpower needs.
Local training pipelines have been expanded, with intakes for physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy increasing by 75% from 2007 to 2013, and efforts continue to review demand and supply to build up the local talent pool.
MOH and MSF will continue collaborating with service providers to explore further ways to enhance the attraction and retention of AHPs for sustainable healthcare and community care growth.

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8 Oct 2014

Update on Special Access for Indian Businesses under Bilateral Free Trade Agreement

Minister Lim Hng Kiang confirmed that the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) with India has facilitated increased bilateral trade and investment since 2005, with specific provisions for temporary business entry and banking licenses.
The debate clarified that CECA grants India specific privileges, such as longer periods for intra-corporate transferees (eight years versus the WTO standard of five), but Singapore retains the right to regulate overall immigration and employment measures.
Gerald Giam sought assurance that the government would not yield to Indian pressure for more work passes, with the minister affirming that all CECA terms are strictly followed and any disputes can be addressed through the agreement’s dispute settlement process.

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7 Oct 2014

Slowing Down Curbs on Foreign Manpower for Services Sector

Yeo Guat Kwang asked whether the government would slow curbs on foreign manpower in the services sector and if targets for managing foreign workforce growth across sectors (except construction) had been met.
Tan Chuan-Jin noted that foreign workforce growth in services has moderated significantly since 2011, with no new tightening measures in 2014, and highlighted early positive outcomes like rising Singaporean wages and business adjustments toward automation and flexible job packages.
The Ministry of Manpower stated that overall foreign workforce growth is approaching sustainable levels, with the slowest growth since 2009 in the first half of 2014, but cautioned that demand remains firm due to new infrastructure projects and low productivity in domestic-oriented services.
The government plans to maintain its current foreign workforce policy stance—neither liberalizing nor further tightening—to encourage manpower-lean models and better job outcomes for Singaporeans while monitoring the situation closely.

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7 Oct 2014

Number of Companies Ceased Operations Due to Curbs on Foreign Manpower

About 17,000 companies ceased operations in 2013, but there is no specific data on how many were due to foreign manpower curbs, as closures can stem from various factors like market forces or mergers, though the net number of companies still increased.
Over 17,000 companies have benefited from productivity initiatives, with businesses receiving over $1.5 billion in tax savings and cash payouts under the Productivity and Innovation Credit scheme for activities like training and automation.
From 2010 to 2013, exportable sectors such as Precision Engineering, Transport Engineering, and Finance and Insurance showed positive productivity growth, while domestically-oriented sectors like Retail and Food and Beverage experienced declines, indicating varying challenges across industries.

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7 Oct 2014

Implementation of Foreign Worker Dependency Ratio Ceiling for Certain Industries

Christopher de Souza asked if the government would adopt a flexible approach to the foreign worker dependency ratio ceiling for hard-to-fill industries like construction and landscaping.
Kuik Shiao-Yin inquired about studies on manpower constraints' impact on SMEs of different sizes, the proportion benefiting from productivity grants, and the number of smaller SMEs that closed due to manpower issues.
The Minister responded that current policies aim to reduce foreign labour reliance while supporting productivity growth, with sector-specific ratios and flexibility for essential needs, but warned against entrenching labour-intensive models.
The Minister noted that SMEs can use grants like SPRING's to cope with labour constraints, with most beneficiaries being smaller firms, and emphasized a balanced policy approach for inclusive growth.

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9 Sep 2014

Conditions of Foreign Worker Quarters Set Up at Construction Sites

Ms Irene Ng asked about the number of construction firms allowed to set up on-site foreign worker quarters, how the Ministry ensures these quarters meet living standards, what incentives exist for employers to use purpose-built dormitories, and whether penalties for sub-standard housing could be increased.
Minister Tan Chuan-Jin stated that employers must comply with regulatory requirements for accommodation, including standards for living space, safety, and sanitation, and that over 70,000 foreign workers live in construction quarters.
The Ministry conducts regular inspections with other agencies to enforce standards, with penalties including fines up to $10,000, imprisonment up to 12 months, and bans on work pass applications for errant employers.

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8 Sep 2014

Number of Singaporeans Applied for Jobs Posted on Jobs Bank Portal

Ms Foo Mee Har asked for the number of Singaporean applicants to jobs on the Jobs Bank, the percentage of jobs filled by Singaporeans, and the salary distribution of those placed.
Minister Tan Chuan-Jin reported that over 31,000 Singaporeans and more than 10,000 employers have used the Jobs Bank, which hosts over 65,000 job vacancies and has received positive feedback.
He clarified that the Jobs Bank and Fair Consideration Framework do not guarantee local employment, as hiring is based on merit and may be influenced by skill mismatches or candidate preferences.
The Minister noted that tracking exact placements via the Jobs Bank is not representative, as many Singaporeans find jobs through other channels, and overall citizen employment indicators remain healthy with low unemployment and real wage growth.
He added that the Ministry of Manpower monitors firms with low Singaporean PME representation and may enforce work pass curtailment if hiring practices are deemed unfair.

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8 Sep 2014

Contributions to Mosque Building and Mendaki Fund

From 2009 to 2013, an average of 481 Muslim employees per year (about 0.2% of the Muslim workforce) opted out of contributing to the Mosque Building and Mendaki Fund (MBMF), primarily due to migrant workers' unfamiliarity with the fund or a preference for direct donations to mosques.
The MBMF is funded through a mandatory opt-out deduction from salaries of Muslim employees, including citizens, permanent residents, and foreigners, with voluntary contributions also encouraged.
MUIS does not track the annual number of reinstated donors, and the debate clarified the opt-out process under the Administration of Muslim Law Act.

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8 Sep 2014

Foreign Workers Hired under Letters of Consent and other Foreign Internship Programmes

Mrs Lina Chiam asked for figures on foreign workers hired under Letters of Consent and foreign internship programmes from 2003 to 2013.
As of December 2013, there were 9,700 foreign workers on Letters of Consent, representing less than 1% of the total foreign workforce excluding domestic workers.
Foreign interns are mainly brought in under the Training Employment Pass, with numbers dropping from a peak of 4,100 in 2010 to 1,200 in 2013 due to tightening of the scheme.

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8 Sep 2014

Vacancies in National Jobs Bank Taken Up by Singaporeans

Gerald Giam asked if the Ministry tracks and would publish the share of Jobs Bank posts secured by Singaporeans, and whether this data could be cross-referenced with Employment Pass and S-Pass applications to analyze PMET job outcomes.
Tan Chuan-Jin responded that while over 31,000 Singaporeans and 10,000 employers are using the Jobs Bank with 65,000 job listings, the system does not guarantee local hires as jobs are awarded based on merit, and tracking exact placements is difficult due to alternative hiring channels.
The Ministry focuses on overall labour market health, citing a 3.0% citizen unemployment rate and real wage growth, and monitors firms with low Singaporean PME ratios, intervening if hiring practices are unfair.

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5 Aug 2014

Foreigners Working in Singapore

Mary Liew inquired about the number of foreigners working in Singapore, their nationalities, and the top sectors employing them.
Tan Chuan-Jin responded that as of December 2013, there were 1.32 million foreigners working, with 1.11 million excluding domestic workers, but nationality data is not publicly available.
The top 10 sectors employing the most foreigners were provided, with details on pages 94 and 95 of the debate records.

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5 Aug 2014

Foreign Worker Dependency Ratio Ceilings for Harbourcraft Industry and Land Reclamation Project

Mary Liew asked about the dependency ratio ceilings for Singaporeans versus foreigners in the harbourcraft sector and the Tuas South Sand Reclamation Project.
Tan Chuan-Jin explained that harbourcraft operators' access to foreign workers is guided by manning requirements based on craft type and operations, not local employment levels, due to difficulty in attracting locals to the physically demanding job.
For reclamation work, access to foreign workers is determined by the scale of the project rather than local hiring, as the sector also struggles to recruit Singaporeans for long hours in open waters.
Both sectors are deemed essential to Singapore's operations and development, with efforts ongoing to attract more locals despite the challenging working conditions.

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5 Aug 2014

Former Permanent Residents who Did Not Serve National Service

Assoc Prof Tan Kheng Boon Eugene questioned the number of former PRs who did not serve National Service but are currently in Singapore, the justification for allowing them to stay or gain citizenship, and how many family members' Re-entry Permit renewals have been negatively affected.
Minister Ng Eng Hen stated that PRs who fail to register or enlist for NS are NS defaulters under the Enlistment Act, facing fines or imprisonment, and no such persons have been granted PR reinstatement or citizenship.
The policy has been tightened so that no NS-liable PRs who renounced status in the last decade have been approved for work or study in Singapore.
Applications for Re-entry Permit renewals by immediate family members of ex-PRs who did not serve NS may be adversely affected, including possible curtailment of the permit.

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5 Aug 2014

Salary Components for New S Pass Pay Thresholds

The Minister for Manpower explained that S Pass and Employment Pass salary thresholds are raised to match local wages and prevent foreign workers from undercutting Singaporeans, while also balancing company competitiveness.
Employers can meet the new qualifying salary through a combination of basic salary and fixed monthly allowances, but variable components like bonuses or commissions cannot be counted for eligibility.
Zainal Sapari questioned whether allowing increases through allowances instead of basic pay could create a loophole for employers to lower overtime and bonus costs, making foreign hires cheaper than local ones.
The Minister acknowledged this concern and stated the Ministry would investigate if employers are exploiting this by reducing basic pay and using allowances to meet thresholds, potentially undermining the intent of a level playing field.

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5 Aug 2014

Over-charging of Placement Fees for Foreign Domestic Workers

Over the last three years, the Ministry of Manpower received six complaints from Foreign Domestic Workers about placement fees exceeding the legal cap, plus 15 additional cases found during audits, with eight cases resulting in action taken against agencies.
Singapore law caps placement fees at one month’s salary per year of service, up to two months’ total, and the ministry does not believe excessive charging by local agencies is prevalent but will act when violations occur.
For overseas fee issues beyond Singapore’s legal reach, the ministry informs relevant embassies or high commissions to enable action at the source.

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4 Aug 2014

Permanent Residents Selling Their HDB Flats and Proceeds from Such Sale

Mr Baey Yam Keng asked about the number of Permanent Residents selling HDB flats over the last decade and suggested differentiated profits for citizens and non-citizens, such as a capital gains tax.
Khaw Boon Wan stated that between 2,300 and 3,500 HDB flats were sold by Permanent Resident households each year in the last 10 years.
Existing measures already differentiate treatment for Permanent Residents, including ineligibility for subsidised new flats, no housing grants, additional buyer's stamp duty, a three-year wait to buy resale flats, and restrictions on subletting and selling after buying private property.
The government is not planning additional measures at this time due to the significant differentiation already in place.
The debate focused on whether further differentiation, like a capital gains tax for non-citizens, is necessary given current policies.

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4 Aug 2014

Grant of Permanent Residency or Singapore Citizenship to Those Who Previously Renounced Singapore Citizenship

Sylvia Lim asked the Prime Minister for data on how many individuals who previously renounced Singapore Citizenship (SC) were granted Permanent Residency (PR) or SC in the past 10 years, and the general considerations in such cases.
An average of 14 ex-SCs were granted PR each year from 2004 to 2013, with about one ex-SC granted SC annually, and over half of these were female.
Applications from ex-SCs undergo careful scrutiny, with considerations including commitment to re-establish roots in Singapore, family ties to Singaporeans, length of stay, and whether the family is rooted in Singapore.
Ex-SCs who withdrew CPF savings must refund the full amount before being eligible for PR or SC, and must also fulfil all responsibilities and obligations as a PR or SC.

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4 Aug 2014

Cases of Workplace Discrimination Lodged with Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices

Over the past three years, TAFEP received a rising number of discrimination complaints, peaking at 475 in 2013, primarily due to nationality-related concerns, though this trend has since moderated.
The majority of complaints involve nationality, age, and language or race, with TAFEP engaging employers to advise on fair employment practices and referring cases with prima facie evidence to MOM for investigation.
In the first half of the year, MOM curtailed work pass privileges for 41 employers and issued warnings to 34 others, while employers generally heeded TAFEP’s advice to adjust practices.
Fair employment benefits employers by expanding the talent pool and boosting employee morale and productivity, with support available from TAFEP for both employers and jobseekers.

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4 Aug 2014

MOE's Payment of Housing Allowances to Officers

Mr Png Eng Huat asked the Ministry of Education about the $2.16 million in housing allowances paid to officers from April 2012 to December 2013, seeking details on the beneficiaries, their nationalities, and the qualifying criteria.
Minister Heng Swee Keat clarified that the allowances are only given to foreign teachers on Foreign Specialist Contracts, who are hired to fill shortages in specialized subjects like Humanities, Art, Music, and foreign languages.
These teachers come from countries such as the UK, Australia, Germany, and Japan, with an average of 46 employed during the queried period, though the number has since decreased to 31.

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9 Jul 2014

Permanent Residents Pensioners Who Take up Singapore Citizenship

There are 230 Permanent Resident pensioners, making up less than 1% of all Government pensioners.
These pensioners joined the Civil Service many years ago as the pension scheme was largely discontinued after 1986.
The Government regularly encourages PR public officers to take up citizenship, explaining the benefits and obligations.
Citizens receive more support in areas like housing, healthcare, education, and marriage and parenthood schemes.
The decision to become a citizen remains a personal choice despite the Government's outreach efforts.

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