Registered Companies in Singapore Not Hiring Work Pass Holders for Past Five Years

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Manpower with regard to registered companies in Singapore that did not hire work pass holders for the past five years (a) what is the number of such registered companies annually; and (b) what is the percentage of such registered companies annually.

Dr Tan See Leng: Over the past five years, there were approximately 160,000 business entities 1 that hired at least one worker. Among these business entities, between 45% and 48% did not hire work pass holders. This includes business entities that do not hire lower-wage workers at all. As previously explained in the Report of the Tripartite Workgroup on Lower-Wage Workers, only 18% of lower-wage workers work in firms that do not hire work pass holders and almost all of such firms are small scale family businesses with fewer than 10 workers.

Note(s) to Question No(s) 47:

1 Business entities refer to companies, partnerships and sole proprietorships.