FOREIGN MANPOWER AND TALENT

FOREIGN MANPOWER AND TALENT: 11.

Mdm Ho Geok Choo asked the Minister for Manpower (a) what is the progress to date of Singapore's effort in attracting foreign manpower and talent to meet the current shortage of manpower in Singapore; and (b) what is the breakdown of the number of foreign manpower and talent in terms of (i) foreign workers/professionals by sector and (ii) employment permits and passes issued by categories, for the last two years.

Mr Gan Kim Yong (for the Minister for Manpower): Mr Speaker, our flexible labour policies have enabled the economy and jobs to grow beyond the confines of our local manpower resources. Riding on sustained strong economic growth, employment creation is at an all-time high. 113,800 jobs were created in the first half of this year, compared to 81,500 in the same period last year.

This year, we made a number of changes to our foreign manpower policies to enable businesses to leverage on these

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growth opportunities. These changes help companies to better attract and retain global manpower and to meet increasing manpower needs in a tight labour market. They include the introduction of the Personalised Employment Pass for top-tier talent and raising the S Pass quota to facilitate mid-skilled talent.

The foreign employment level as at December 2006 was 756,000. There were about 110,000 Employment Pass and S Pass holders, and 646,000 Work Permit holders.

Mdm Ho Geok Choo: Sir, I would like to check with MOS what plan is in place in tracking some of these foreign talents taking up PR in Singapore and subsequently becoming Singapore citizens. And, to date, do we have any record of the progress made?

Mr Gan Kim Yong: Mr Speaker, the issue of taking up permanent residence is probably a more appropriate question for the Ministry of Home Affairs.