EMPLOYMENT PASSES (Use for Deployment of Surplus Personnel)

Maj Fong Sip Chee asked the Minister for Home Affairs and Second Minister for Law (l) if he is satisfied that the issue of employment passes will not jeopardize the prospects of career advancement of local professionals; (2) if he is aware that there have been cases where multinational companies have taken advantage of employment passes to deploy their surplus personnel in Singapore so as to obviate retrenching them in their home countries; and (3) if he will agree that such a practice is retrogressive and works to the detriment of our local professionals.

Prof. S. Jayakumar: Singapore has always kept its door open to foreign professionals who have the necessary qualifications and experience to contribute to our economic growth. As a small country, we have only a limited pool of talented Singaporeans and we must continue to welcome expatriates who are skilled and qualified. There is no evidence that the prospects of career advancement of local professionals have been jeopardized by the issue of employment passes.

The Immigration Department processes applications for employment passes very carefully. Only those with the necessary qualifications and experience and who can contribute economically to Singapore are granted employment passes. Where necessary, relevant Ministries and Statutory Boards which are the vetting authorities are consulted. It is assumed that multinational companies are responsible organisations and will not want to add substantially to their operating costs in bringing out expatriates who are not required.