Spousal Employment as Barrier to Retaining Foreign Academic Talent at Autonomous Universities

Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Minister for Education (a) whether the Ministry has assessed the extent to which difficulties in securing spousal employment contribute to attrition of foreign academics and researchers at autonomous universities; (b) whether the Ministry considers this a barrier to achieving its stated ambition of a globally competitive research ecosystem; and (c) what policy measures are being considered to address spousal employment as a factor in talent retention.

Mr Desmond Lee: Singapore's autonomous universities (AUs) aim to attract and retain the best academic talents, both Singaporean and from overseas, to deliver world-class education and conduct high-quality research for Singapore's benefit.

Spouses of foreign academics and researchers are welcome to work in Singapore and have access to a wide range of work passes. These include Employment Pass, S Pass and Work Permit. Spouses who are Dependant's Pass holders can also work in Singapore with a Letter of Consent if they are business owners or spouses of Overseas Networks and Expertise (ONE) Pass holders.

The AUs also provide various forms of support for spouses seeking employment in Singapore. This support includes sharing information about job openings within respective AUs, guidance on job search platforms and offering advice on work pass requirements.