WORK PERMITS FOR PERSONS WITH SINGAPORE CITIZEN FAMILIES

Mr Lee Yiok Seng asked the Minister for Labour whether his Ministry will give favourable consideration to applications for work permits in respect of persons whose spouse and children are Singapore citizens or are holders of the Singapore blue identity card.

Mr Sia Kah Hui (for the Minister for Labour): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Work Permit Scheme for foreign workers is designed to meet our manpower requirements in our effort to sustain continued economic development. Under the policy, applications for work permits from technicians and skilled workers are invariably approved. For those who have acceptable training qualifications or have been certified as skilled by the Industrial Training Board, they will be issued with a 3-year work permit. These 3-year work permit holders will be eligible for permanent residence if they have completed at least two years of employment in Singapore. They may eventually be granted citizenship after satisfying the 10-year residential qualification.

Applications for work permits from unskilled or semi-skilled workers will also be given if they are for jobs which will further the economic development of the Republic. Thus, applications for jobs in manufacturing factories, shipbuilding and repairing and construction industries will be favourably considered. Our work permit policy must be based more on our industrial and manpower needs than on considerations of family ties of the applicant.

Mr Teong Eng Siong (Sembawang): ( In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, would the Minister of State consider withdrawing certain impractical conditions in connection with applications for work permit? One of the conditions is that any applicant, irrespective of whether or not approval is given, cannot apply for any permission to marry a Singapore citizen. I think it is not fair to impose such a condition.

Mr Sia Kah Hui: Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not think the Member's question is relevant. He is asking a question about marriage policy which has got nothing to do with work permits directly.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: ( In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, it is quite relevant, in fact, a direct question because any applicant who wants to apply for permission to marry a citizen must first obtain a permit from the Ministry of Labour. There will then be an investigation as to whether the applicant has worked here for at least five years. If he has not worked for five years -

Mr Speaker: Order. If the Member wishes to pursue his question, he could ask his question at the next sitting.