EMPLOYMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT (Assistance in seeking jobs overseas)

Mr Chew Heng Ching asked the Acting Minister for Labour whether the Ministry's Employment Service Department helps Singaporeans seek jobs overseas; and, if not, whether there are plans to do so.

Mr Lee Yock Suan: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Ministry's Employment Services Department does not help Singaporeans to seek jobs overseas. We have no plans to do so.

Mr Chew Heng Ching (Kaki Bukit): Two supplementary questions. Would the Minister not consider the scheme as part of our overall policy to encourage more Singaporeans to take up jobs and appointments overseas? Second question: would the Minister consider liaising with multi-national corporations which are present in Singapore for job openings in their other branches overseas?

Mr Lee Yock Suan: Mr Speaker, Sir, the situation at the moment is that there are still jobs available for Singaporeans if they are prepared to adjust their requirements. Of course, the employers also have to make adjustments. As of now, we do not see a need for the Government to make any special effort to help Singaporeans find jobs overseas. We are not yet at a stage where we need to export labour. However, it does not mean that we are stopping people from looking for jobs overseas. As a matter of fact, some of the multi-nationals are already posting their people overseas. And other Singaporeans who want to seek jobs overseas can either go to employment agencies or do so themselves. It would be difficult for the Government to, for example, tell the multi-nationals that they should recruit people for their overseas jobs. And in fact for certain skilled jobs, Singapore may still be short of those people.