WORK PERMITS

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Acting Minister for Labour whether he will give the number of work permits issued month by month from April 1985 to March 1986 under the following categories:- (i) Manufacturing; (ii) Construction; and (iii) Transport and retail services; and how many of the number issued were issued to foreign contractors bringing workers from their own countries or from other countries.

Mr Lee Yock Suan: It is misleading to consider only work permits issued without realising that simultaneously other work permits are being cancelled as foreign workers return home. Some workers leave Singapore without returning their work permits or informing Work Permit Department. In other cases work permits which expire are being renewed for those who continue in existing jobs. Others may decide to change jobs and require new work permits.

The approximate net position is that there has been a fall in total foreign workforce by an estimated 50,000 workers between April 1985 and March 1986. Despite the recession and rising unemployment, foreign workers still have to be admitted for jobs which are shunned by Singaporeans.