Immigration & foreign manpower — Topics

14 Jan 2013

Growth of the F&B Sector in Singapore

The F&B sector's GDP contribution has remained stable at around 1.3%, while the number of outlets grew by 54% and total employment nearly doubled over a decade, with foreign workers increasing to one in three of the workforce.
The government recognizes the sector's role in making Singapore attractive but views the reliance on foreign workers as unsustainable, hence investing $75 million in productivity initiatives like part-time pool programs.
Businesses unable to adapt may close, but entrepreneurs can access government schemes such as SEEDS and TECS to redirect their efforts into new ventures.

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14 Jan 2013

Number of Long-Term Visit Pass Applications from Foreign Spouses Approved

Between 2007 and 2011, an average of 13,500 Long-Term Visit Pass applications were received annually from foreign spouses of Singaporeans, with about 11,500 approved each year.
Over the same period, an average of 4,300 applications were received annually from foreign spouses of Singapore PRs, with about 4,000 approved each year.
The data was provided by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs in response to a parliamentary question.

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14 Jan 2013

Total Fertility Rate of Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents

Asst Prof Tan Kheng Boon Eugene asked the Prime Minister for the total fertility rates of Singapore citizens and permanent residents over the past decade and whether the PR fertility rate would converge with that of citizens.
Teo Chee Hean responded that Singapore's total fertility rate for residents declined from 1.41 in 2001 to 1.20 in 2011, but the Department of Statistics does not compute separate fertility rates for permanent residents.
Instead, data on the average number of children born to ever-married women by residency status shows a similar decline for both citizens and permanent residents over the last ten years.
Birth trends are influenced by multiple factors such as economic conditions, age and education profiles, labor force participation, and personal decisions, making it difficult to predict future convergence of fertility rates.

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14 Jan 2013

Demographic and Financial Profiles of Families with Foreign Spouses

From 2003-2012, there were 114,000 married couples with one Singapore citizen and one non-citizen spouse, of which 86% had the foreign spouse as a Permanent Resident and about 66% had at least one child below 21.
About 68% of foreign spouses were from Southeast Asia, 25% from other parts of Asia, and 59% of these households had a monthly income above the median of $5,600.
From 2007-2011, an average of about 4,300 Permanent Residence and 480 Singapore Citizenship applications from foreign spouses were rejected each year, with decisions based on factors like marriage duration, length of stay, children, and financial support.

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14 Jan 2013

Illegal Hawking by Foreigners

Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources for the number of foreigners caught for illegal hawking in neighbourhood centres over the last five years and the actions taken to control it.
The National Environment Agency and Ministry of Manpower enforce against illegal hawking by foreigners, with reported numbers of those caught ranging from 549 in 2010 to 1,057 in 2008.
Under revised laws effective November 2012, foreigners convicted of working without a valid work pass face fines up to $20,000, imprisonment up to two years, or both.
The Ministry continues to work with the Ministry of Manpower through regular checks and inspections to address illegal hawking by foreigners.

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14 Jan 2013

Helping SMEs Cope with Lower Foreign Worker Dependency Ratio

SMEs can seek help from Enterprise Development Centres and SPRING's Innovation & Capability Voucher to access workshops and consultancy for productivity improvements.
Productivity centres have been set up for the Construction, Manufacturing, and upcoming Services sectors to provide industry-specific diagnosis, projects, and consultant training.
The government is building a pool of industry-specific productivity consultants and training courses for sectors like retail, food services, and construction.
Various schemes offer grants with increased subsidy rates to help SMEs build capabilities in areas like branding, technology, and innovation to reduce manpower dependence.
The Ministry will consider new initiatives in the Budget to support SMEs adjusting to lower foreign worker dependency.

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16 Nov 2012

Regulation of Despatch Riders with Foreign-registered Vehicles

Foreign despatch riders using foreign-registered vehicles must hold valid work passes under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act and comply with LTA insurance rules; violators face fines up to $20,000 and two years' imprisonment.
The Ministry of Manpower has not recorded any recent cases of employers being prosecuted for hiring foreign despatch riders without work permits, and all workers are covered under the Work Injury Compensation Act.
Employers are responsible for ensuring their foreign despatch riders have proper work passes and insurance, with LTA requiring compulsory insurance for foreign-registered vehicles used commercially.

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15 Nov 2012

Residents' Profile when Singapore's Population Reaches Six Million

Pritam Singh and Png Eng Huat asked the Prime Minister to specify how the additional 690,000 people to reach a six million population would be divided among new citizens, permanent residents, and non-residents, and what social and housing price impacts are projected.
Both MPs also questioned whether existing infrastructure like transport, healthcare, and housing is adequate for the current 5.31 million population, what future population density targets are, and whether quality-of-life surveys have been conducted.
Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean responded that the government is ramping up infrastructure development to match population growth and is preparing a White Paper on Population to holistically address societal, environmental, and economic sustainability, incorporating extensive public feedback.
Teo Hean noted that the government has engaged stakeholders and received over 2,000 pieces of feedback, which will inform the White Paper, but declined to release piecemeal studies, preferring to address the issue comprehensively in the upcoming document.

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15 Nov 2012

Renewal of Permanent Residency Status

PR status does not have a validity period, but the Re-Entry Permit (REP) is issued for up to five years and can be renewed based on criteria such as employment and family ties.
Approximately 10% of PRs have been PRs for 20 years or more; there are no plans to limit PR renewals after a specific number of years.
The government encourages PRs to become citizens by offering citizens more support in areas like housing, healthcare, and family benefits, while also fostering an inclusive society.

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14 Nov 2012

Applications for Singapore Citizenship

The Prime Minister stated that from 1991 to 2010, an average of 1,600 people were granted citizenship annually without first being permanent residents, mostly minors born overseas to Singaporean parents or children of successful applicants.
For the same period, most permanent residents converted to citizenship within six years of obtaining PR status, reflecting a typical residency period before applying for citizenship.
The government encourages earlier citizenship applications by enhancing benefits for citizens in areas like marriage, housing, healthcare, and education, while also fostering an open and welcoming society to help permanent residents decide to settle permanently.

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14 Nov 2012

Foreign Worker Enclaves in HDB Estates

Foo Mee Har asked whether the government would consider a quota policy like the Ethnic Integration Policy to manage the concentration of foreign workers in HDB estates or, if not, what measures HDB would take to prevent such enclaves.
Khaw Boon Wan stated that no equivalent policy exists because renting HDB flats or rooms is a temporary housing arrangement, but he acknowledged concerns about over-concentration and said the ministry is considering how to address them.

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14 Nov 2012

Setting Income Criteria for S Passes and Employment Passes

The Acting Minister for Manpower explained that income criteria for S Pass and Employment Passes are regularly adjusted to keep pace with local wage progression and ensure foreign workers do not unfairly compete with Singaporeans, particularly fresh graduates.
The government has tightened qualifying salaries and criteria for Employment Pass holders to maintain a level playing field while supporting business growth and global competitiveness through foreign talent.
Efforts are focused on enhancing the skills of local graduates through a robust education and lifelong training system, along with career support services, to improve their employment and wage outcomes amid competition.

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14 Nov 2012

Permanent Residents Leaving Singapore Prior to NS Enlistment

Mrs Lina Chiam inquired about the number of male Permanent Residents who left Singapore in the two years before National Service enlistment and later returned on student, employment, or PR status over the past five years.
The Minister for Defence stated that such individuals are NS defaulters under the Enlistment Act, punishable by fines, imprisonment, or both, and cannot return on any pass without resolving their NS obligations.
Mrs Lina Chiam asked if the Ministry would consider requiring male foreigners under 40 who are not liable for NS to perform 24 months of community service instead.
The Minister reiterated that defaulters must fulfil their NS duties as per the existing law, with no indication of policy changes for foreigners not covered by NS.

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14 Nov 2012

House Break-ins and Thefts Committed by Foreigners

Ms Sylvia Lim asked about housebreakings and thefts by foreigners in 2012, including their entry permits and whether authorities had strategies to address this, with the Senior Minister of State responding that 18% of those arrested in the first nine months were non-citizens, mostly on Social Visit Passes or Work Permits, and that a holistic approach to crime prevention is taken.
The Senior Minister of State stated that police data up to September 2012 showed a 15% decrease in housebreaking cases compared to the same period in 2011, with a 91.6% case resolution rate, and emphasized sensitive operational measures but declined to specify details on Latin American groups without a formal parliamentary question.
Ms Lim highlighted media reports on foreign burglary syndicates, including Latin American and Hong Kong groups, and questioned if Singapore was a target destination, while the Senior Minister of State noted no surge in foreign syndicates, attributed success to strong deterrence, and urged residents to take proactive security measures.

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12 Nov 2012

Number of Singaporeans Employed by the Casinos in Singapore

Png Eng Huat asked how many Singaporeans are directly employed by the two casinos and whether the government or casinos set a target percentage for local hires in their bids.
Tan Chuan-Jin stated the Integrated Resorts directly employ over 22,000 staff, about 70% locals, with Marina Bay Sands having 60% Singaporeans and Resorts World Sentosa 75%.
RWS also employs Singaporeans in 80% of professional, managerial, and executive positions, with both casinos subject to national foreign manpower policies.
The government does not set separate company-level local employment targets but agencies continue to monitor and support the recruitment and training of Singaporeans for these jobs.

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12 Nov 2012

Workers in Singapore Earning Less Than $1,000 Per Month

Gerald Giam asked the Ministry for Manpower how many workers earn less than $1,000 per month for full-time work or less than $5.25 per hour for part-time or daily-rated work, with a breakdown by Singaporeans, permanent residents, and work pass holders.
Tan Chuan-Jin responded that in June 20118, about 110,000 full-time employed residents (6% of the workforce) earned under $1,000 monthly, with nearly 10,000 being permanent residents and the rest citizens.
The Ministry cannot provide data for work pass holders or hourly wages for part-time workers, as this information is not collected in annual Labour Force Surveys.

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12 Nov 2012

Non-Resident Population in Singapore

Mrs Lina Chiam queried the breakdown of Singapore's non-resident population as of 31 December 2011 by category (dependents, students, foreign manpower) and their housing types.
Acting Minister for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin stated the non-resident population was 1.46 million, with foreign students at 6% and dependents at 15%.
He noted work pass holders (excluding domestic workers) comprised 66% of non-residents, with 21% in HDB flats, 15% in private housing, and the rest in dormitories or other housing.

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12 Nov 2012

Update on Relocation of Foreign Workers Living in Vicinity of Jalan Bunga Rampai, Pereira Road and Little Road

The Acting Minister for Manpower explained that employers are fined or jailed under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act for housing foreign workers in unacceptable conditions.
A multi-agency operation in July 2012 checked over 250 foreign workers in MacPherson, relocating 152 from unacceptable housing to approved dormitories.
The Government will continue strict enforcement to ensure employers provide acceptable accommodation for foreign workers.

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12 Nov 2012

Foreign Worker Levies Collected and Workfare Income Supplement Disbursed

Gan Thiam Poh asked about the amounts of foreign worker levies collected and Workfare Income Supplement disbursed over the past two years, and whether the levies funded the WIS for Singaporean workers.
Tan Chuan-Jin stated that foreign worker levies collected were S$2.5 billion in FY2011 and S$1.9 billion in FY2010, and these are not ring-fenced but go into the Consolidated Fund.
The Workfare Income Supplement disbursed about S$400 million each for work years 2010 and 2011 to support older low-wage workers.
All government revenue, including foreign worker levies, funds general expenditures such as the WIS scheme, but the levies are not specifically allocated to WIS.

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12 Nov 2012

Renunciation of Singapore Citizenship

Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap asked the Prime Minister for the number of Singaporeans who renounced their citizenship between 2001 and 2011, broken down by ethnic groups.
Teo Chee Hean, responding for the Prime Minister, stated that a total of 10,900 Singapore citizens renounced their citizenship during that period, averaging about 1,000 per year.
He noted that about half of the renunciations were by ethnic Chinese citizens, with the other half comprising Malay, Indian, and other ethnic groups.

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