WORK PERMITS (Policy and Number issued as at 28.2.77)

Mr Ang Nam Piau asked the Minister for Labour what was the total number of Work Permits issued as at 28th February, 1977, and whether he is satisfied with the policy of issuing Work Permits to foreigners when there is still a large number of Singapore Citizens who are unemployed.

The Minister of State for Labour (Mr Sia Kah Hui) (for the Minister for Labour): Mr Speaker, Sir, work permit holders constitute less than 10% of the approximately 870,400 employed persons in Singapore as 28th February, 1977.

The hon. Member will recall that in his Budget Speech, the Finance Minister has said that the unemployment rate in 1976 continued to remain at a low level of 4.5%. As at the end of last year. 30,750 were on the unemployed register at the Employment Service of the Ministry. My Ministry found that the majority of those registered preferred white collar or soft jobs. For example, 13,069 or 58% of the 22,413 new registrants last year wanted white collar or soft jobs. We also discovered that many were choosy turning down blue collar work offered to them for reasons such as long distance from house, shift work and uncongenial work environment. Many of those registered, therefore, preferred to be jobless until something to their liking comes along.

Since the late 60s the Republic underwent successful economic development. As a result, we experienced a tight labour situation. Given the shortage of skilled workers and the preference of Singaporeans for white collar and soft jobs, the Ministry had to issue liberally work permits to non-residents for work in the manufacturing and construction industries. In the case of white collar and soft jobs which Singaporeans are fond of, the Ministry was strict on the issue of work permits. The hon. Member will no doubt agree that the work permit policy adopted was necessary for our economic development.

The following Question stood on the Order Paper: