MANDATORY CANING OF OVERSTAYERS

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MANDATORY CANING OF OVERSTAYERS

51.

Mr Gautam Banerjee asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether the introduction of mandatory caning of at least 3 strokes for foreigners who overstay 90 days or more, which was introduced in 1989, has been a sufficient deterrent to curb the immigration offender problem; and (b) how does the annual number of overstayers in recent years compare with the annual number of overstayers before the introduction of mandatory caning.

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Mandatory caning for illegal immigrants and foreigners who overstay more than 90 days was introduced in March 1989. In August that year, then Minister for Home Affairs informed the House that more than 10,000 immigration offenders surrendered themselves and were repatriated even before the law came into operation. Two more amnesties were given and an additional 2,000 immigration offenders surrendered themselves. After the law was introduced, the number of overstayers fell sharply from 4,120 in 1988 (or 0.1% of the 4.3 million total visitor arrivals) to about 2,330 in 1990 (or 0.04% of the 5.3 million total visitor arrivals). Last year, the figure was 4,800, or 0.05% of the record number of 10.3 million visitors to Singapore. This low proportion demonstrates the deterrent effect of the provision.

As stated in my reply to Parliament on 26th May, mandatory caning remains an important and necessary deterrent against immigration offenders. However, it is not the only measure employed to tackle the problem. For example, through publicity efforts, ICA educates employers and landlords on the due diligence checks they must perform before employing or renting out their flats or rooms to foreigners. MOM has stepped up its outreach efforts to educate employers and workers on our employment and immigration regulations, including issuing a guidebook in various languages which highlights the

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penalty of mandatory caning for overstaying. Enforcement efforts against immigration offenders by ICA and Police have also been stepped-up over the years.

Singapore remains an attractive destination for potential immigration offenders. MHA has taken and will continue to take a multi-pronged approach of having tough but effective laws, raising public awareness and maintaining a high level of enforcement.