SINGAPORE COMPANIES VENTURING OVERSEAS (Recruitment of overseas staff for local training and attachment)

Mr Chia Shi Teck asked the Minister for Labour (a) how Singapore companies venturing overseas can recruit staff from overseas for training and attachment in Singapore before eventual posting to their overseas subsidiaries; (b) what will be the restrictions; and (c) what kind of workers will be allowed.

Mr Chia Shi Teck (Nominated Member): Mr Speaker, Sir, may I declare my interest as an employer. Question No. 6, Sir.

Dr Lee Boon Yang: Mr Speaker, Sir, my Ministry does allow companies venturing overseas to bring in foreign workers for training before posting them back to the overseas subsidiaries.

Employers have to apply for work permits for their trainees. The number of foreign trainees will be included in working out the employers' foreign workers' dependency ratio. There is no restriction on the type of training that employers can provide to their overseas employees. Employers are, however, required to pay fore6gin workers levy for their work permit trainees.

Sir, in view of the need for Singapore entrepreneurs to step up their regionalisation efforts, my Ministry, together with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, is reviewing the work permit training scheme to make it easier for compaines with overseas operations to train their essential foreign staff in Singapore. The improvements will be announced when the review is completed.