WORK PERMIT HOLDERS MARRYING SINGAPORE CITIZENS (Policy)

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Mr Teong Eng Siong asked the Minister for Labour how many applications from work permit holders to marry Singapore citizens have been approved, and how many applications have been rejected and for what reasons.

The Minister for Labour (Mr Ong Pang Boon): Mr Speaker, Sir, hon. Members may permit me to recall the rationale for the implementation of the policy in July this year requiring work permit holders to obtain the approval of the Commissioner for Employment before contracting marriage with Singapore citizens.

Singapore's high rate of economic growth and the resultant tight labour situation in recent years have led to the adoption of a liberal policy in the issue of work permits. There is at present a large number of such work permit holders, many of whom are in the younger age group, working in Singapore. For these young workers, it is natural for them to mix freely in our society, making friends, marrying, settling down and raising families in Singapore. A healthy infusion of a vigorous and hardworking people can result from this, provided they are industrious and have acquired the necessary skills. These qualities are essential if the young work permit holders are to be integrated successfully into the society of Singapore. The policy requiring work permit holders to obtain the approval of the Commissioner for Employment was implemented to discourage young workers on work permit from contracting early marriages until they have shown that they are able to settle down successfully in Singapore and to support a small family. Unless a work permit holder has adjusted to the different and faster pace of life in Singapore's highly disciplined and urbanised society, marriage between a work permit holder and a Singapore citizen can lead to difficulties for themselves and for Singapore. In processing applications for marriages, consideration must therefore be given to these factors.

As at 30th November, 1973, the Commissioner for Employment has approved a total of 702 such applications. 792 others were rejected because the work permit holders were unskilled and working in Singapore for too short a period prior to application.

In this connection, hon. Members may wish to note that no approval is required in marriages between work permit holders where Singapore citizenship or permanent residence in Singapore is not acquired nor desired. Furthermore, applications from work permit holders who are skilled or who have more than five years' continuous employment in Singapore will be favourably considered.

Mr Teong Eng Siong (Sembawang): (In Mandarin): Sir, can the Minister say whether applications will be approved for those work permit holders who want to give up their work permits and who want to marry local citizens?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Sir, the answer is "No".

Mr P. Govindaswamy (Anson): Mr Speaker, Sir, a Malaysian girl applied for a work permit, but it was not approved. A Singapore citizen wants to marry this girl, but the application was rejected. Can the Minister give reasons why the application for marriage was not approved?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Sir, if the Member can submit that case to me, I will certainly look into it. I would also like to ask him whether the girl's intention of coming to Singapore is to work or to get married.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Sir, she wants to get married in Singapore.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: In that case, she should not have applied for a work permit.

Mr Ho See Beng (Bras Basah): Mr Speaker, Sir, I fully agree with the Minister for introducing this regulation. But I would like to ask him why has the regulation been made retroactive. When the regulation came into force on 1st July, 1973, those people who had already contracted to marry before that date, applied to the Commissioner for Employment for approval, but their applications were rejected. I want to know what is the justification for making the regulation retroactive.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, as far as I am aware, I have not rejected any of those cases where the applicants have made arrangements to get married, i.e, if they have made bookings of restaurants, and if they have spent money on furniture and all sorts of things connected with the proposed marriages.

Mr Ho See Beng: Sir, I have even come across a case where the girl is already pregnant.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Sir, that shows a lack of discipline on the part of the couple. If the couple can show to the Commissioner for Employment that they have already made the necessary arrangements, I think favourable consideration may be given.

Mr Ho See Beng: Sir, never mind the discipline. Everybody makes mistakes. The fact is that this couple had contracted to marry before 1st July, 1973. And when this regulation came into force, all those who wanted to marry foreigners had to get the approval of the Commissioner for Employment. So the couple went to the Registry of Marriages and the Registrar referred them to the Commissioner for Employment, who turned it down without finding out whether the contract was made before or after the 1st of July, 1973. This is the point I am making: How can, the Minister make his regulations retroactive?

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Sir, if the Member can submit his case to me, I will look into it. If the whole intention is to beat the deadline by submitting an application for marriage even though there was no intention originally, then I think we have to think twice before giving approval.

Mr Ho See Beng: Sir, this is not the fault of the people who want to beat the deadline because the announcement was made earlier than the effective date of the regulation. Naturally, those who had already contracted to marry wanted to apply before 1st July, 1973. Therefore, since they applied before 1st July, I just want to know why the Minister turned them down.

Mr Ong Pang Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Bras Basah kept on repeating that the couple has contracted to marry before the date. As I have said, if the couple has already contracted to marry before 1st July, then approval will be given. I have not rejected any such case.