MARRIAGE PERMISSION FOR EX-WORK PERMIT HOLDERS

Dr Kanwaljit Soin asked the Minister for Labour (a) whether ex-Work Permit holders who have stopped working in Singapore need to seek permission from his Ministry if they wish to marry Singaporeans and (b) what will be the consequences if permission is not obtained.

Dr Lee Boon Yang: Both existing and ex-Work Permit holders are required to seek the approval of the Controller of Work Permits before they go through any form of marriage with Singapore citizens or permanent residents. This is a condition for the grant of their Work Permits. This condition applies even after the foreign workers cease to work in Singapore to ensure that voluntary termination of Work Permits does not become an easy way to get around the Work Permit condition.

Any existing or ex-Work Permit holders who marry Singapore citizens or permanent residents without the approval of the Controller of Work Permits will have their Work Permits revoked and will be prohibited from re-entering Singapore. This is necessary to prevent unskilled or lowly-educated foreign workers from sinking roots in Singapore.