WORK PERMITS (Exemption for Singapore blue identity card holders)

Mr Cheong Yuen Chee asked the Minister for Labour whether he will consider exempting holders of Singapore blue identity cards who have resided in the Republic for more than 10 years from having to apply for work permits.

The Minister for Labour (Mr Ong Pang Boon): Mr Speaker, Sir, work permits have been freely issued to applicants holding Singapore blue identity cards. Holders of Singapore blue identity cards are as a rule given work permits valid for two years as against one year for other categories of applicants. It is not proposed to exempt holders of Singapore blue identity cards, who have resided in Singapore for ten years, from having to apply for work permits. However, because many of the Singapore blue identity card holders who are on work permits have family roots in Singapore, consideration is being given to granting this category of applicants with a five-year work permit instead of the present two years.

The hon. Member will recall that recently my Ministry announced that permanent residents, who pass the appropriate skill test or who possess acceptable training qualifications, will be eligible for citizenship if they satisfy the ten-year residential qualification. Holders of Singapore blue identity cards who are unskilled should, therefore, strive to upgrade their skill so that they can qualify for citizenship under this scheme.

Mr Cheong Yuen Chee (Toa Payoh): Mr Speaker, Sir, is the Minister aware that the privilege mentioned by him only applies to workers in the industrial sector? Is he also aware that many of the work permit holders in the white-collar group, in other words, the commercial sector, will not enjoy this privilege at all because there is no way of assessing their skill as mentioned?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Sir, the privileges will be extended to the white-collar workers, provided they have attained a certain level of skill. There are a number of recognised examinations which the white-collar workers can take. But, I think, we can go into the details when a decision is made.

Mr Ho See Beng (Bras Basah): Mr Speaker, Sir, may I ask the Minister what are the criteria for accepting applications for work permits for foreign workers, particularly Malaysian workers?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Can the Member please repeat the question?

Mr Ho See Beng: Sir, my question is: what are the criteria for approving work permit applications by Malaysian workers?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, their skill will be the main consideration.

Mr Ho See Beng: Sir, I have discovered that in the factories there are a lot of work permit holders from Malaysia, who have no skill.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, apart from skill, we also grant work permits to applicants who are prepared to work in the construction industry. It is quite correct that there are unskilled workers in the factories, particularly in the pioneer industries. But ultimately each case will be considered on its own merit.

Mr N. Govindasamy (Telok Blangah): Mr Speaker, Sir, while welcoming the Minister's remark that citizenship would be considered for those who are skilled, would the Minister care to enlighten what "skill" is in his terms? "Skilled work" is relative. What are the categories that the Ministry would term as "skilled workers", for whom citizenship can be considered?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Ministry has arranged with the Industrial Training Board to conduct skill tests for applicants who are work permit holders. If they can pass the skill test, they will be eligible for consideration for citizenship.

Mr Ho See Beng: Mr Speaker, Sir, may I know whether by and large there is any relaxation on the issue of work permits?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Sir, I think the present work permit policy is already liberal enough, and there is no need to relax it any further.