WORK PERMITS FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (Review)

Dr S. Vasoo asked the Minister for Labour what steps are being undertaken to review work permit approvals for small and medium enterprises.

The Minister for Labour (Mr Lee Yock Suan): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Government allows foreign workers to be recruited for the manufacturing, construction and hotel sectors and as domestic servants. Work permits are granted based on economic considerations, such as the contribution of the company to our exports, upgrading of our industries and economic growth. In the case of construction and domestic maids, these are jobs which attract very few Singaporean workers. Various authorities, namely the EDB, STPB, CIDB and HDB, assist the Work Permit Department to assess and decide on the applications for work permits.

From our records, a large proportion of employers of foreign workers are small and medium-sized companies. I informed Members in March this year that about 3,100 out of 5,800 manufacturing employers were small employers with less than 10 workers. Also, out of 4,800 contractors given permission to recruit foreign workers, 3,300 had less than 10 workers.

My Ministry will continue to assess work permit applications on the basis of current criteria.