EXPATRIATES (Procedures for employment)

Dr Wan Soon Bee asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what are the procedures for the approval of the applications by the expatriates to enter Singapore to take up employment; (b) how does the Immigration authority ascertain that the skills or expertise possessed by the applicants are required in Singapore; and (c) how does the Immigration authority prevent possible abuses by the applicants and/or sponsors.

The Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs (Prof. S. Jayakumar) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Sir, expatriates intending to take up employment in Singapore have to apply to the Immigration Department for Employment Passes if their monthly salaries exceed $1,000 per month. Applications are made in the prescribed forms and submitted through the employing company or a local sponsor. The applicant has to describe in the application form, his qualifications, working experience, duties to be performed and the details of the company which intends to engage his services. These forms are designed to enable the Immigration Department to obtain full information on the applicant's background and experience. The advice of relevant vetting authorities is also obtained before a decision is made. The main consideration in approving Employment Passes for expatriates is whether they are of economic benefit to Singapore.

The applicant's qualifications and experience are the main factors which the Immigration Department considers in assessing each application for Employment Pass. The Department works within policy guidelines which have been drawn up by the Committee on Attracting Talents to Singapore (CATS). The Committee includes representatives from the Ministry of Trade and Industry and EDB. Amongst other things, the Committee is responsible for the identification, attraction and assimilation of non-Singaporean talent.

When there is doubt about the professional standing or technical competence of the applicant, the Department will refer the application to the relevant Ministry or Department for advice. For example, if the applicant is from the banking sector, his application would be referred to the Monetary Authority of Singapore for vetting.

Statistical data on the stock of Employment Pass holders, and on Employment Pass applications received, approved and rejected, are sent regularly to the Ministry of Trade and Industry for monitoring purposes.

Each year Immigration Department receives thousands of applications for Employment Pass. The average number of applications per year for the last three years (1980-1982) was 21,820. The Immigration Department can only assess the applications based on information given by the applicants in the application forms and certified true by the employers or the sponsors. In most cases, the applications are decided within a month. In processing the applications, the officers will scrutinize the details in the application forms, and ask for documentary evidence to substantiate the statements made in the forms.

The Department's practice of referring doubtful cases to the relevant vetting authorities has also helped to minimize possible cases of abuse.

Dr Wan Soon Bee (West Coast): Sir, is the Minister aware of the complaint that Singapore is becoming a training ground for redundant expatriates in their home countries and that such expatriates have deprived some Singaporeans of their jobs and promotions and this has created morale problems among the local managers? The unhappiness is not because the locals do not welcome the expatriates. In fact, all of us welcome all those expatriates who bring skills and expertise to our country. But it is because the locals are put to work -

Mr Speaker: Dr Wan, what is your supplementary question? You are making a speech out of it.

Dr Wan Soon Bee: I am coming to the question, Sir.

Mr Speaker: Do that, please.

Dr Wan Soon Bee: It is because the locals are put to work under those expatriates who are not qualified, less experienced and less capable than them. In view of this, would the Minister assure the House that, where such cases are uncovered, he will take prompt actions against them?

Prof. Jayakumar: Sir, I take it that the Member for West Coast is not disputing the objectives of the policy but raising a question as to its implementation, and I gather from his supplementary question that he has knowledge of complaints about possible abuse of persons coming in who are not qualified or have not the requisite qualifications.

Let me assure him that if he has such information and if he were to send it to my Ministry, we will have it thoroughly investigated. If it is substantiated, I also wish to assure him that we will take prompt action and, if necessary, terminate the employment passes of those cases which are substantiated.