FOREIGN WORKER AND FOREIGN MAID LEVIES

Mr Chuang Shaw Peng asked the Minister for Manpower if he will furnish statistics on the rates of increases/decreases in respect of foreign worker levy and foreign maid levy from 1988 to 1997.

Dr Lee Boon Yang: The foreign worker levy was introduced in 1982 as a pricing mechanism to moderate demand for foreign workers. To ensure that this objective is met, the levy rates are varied for different sectors and are revised periodically to ensure effectiveness. The rates from 1988 are as follows: Effective Domestic Construction Marine Manufacturing Service Date 1 Apr 88 $120 $200 $170 $170 $170 1 Jan 89 $160 $220 $220 $220 $220 1 Jul 89 $200 $250 $250 $250 $250 1 Feb 90 $230 $280 $280 $280 $280 1 Aug 90 $250 $300 $300 $300 $300 1 Jan 91 $250 Skilled: $300 $300 $300 $250 Unskilled: $350 1 Apr 91 $250 Skilled: $350 $300 $300 $250 Unskilled: $350 1 Jul 91 $250 Skilled: Skilled: $300 $300 $250 $250 Unskilled: Unskilled: $350 $350 1 Jan 92 $250 Skilled: Skilled: #DL <=35%: $300 $250 $250 $300 Unskilled: Unskilled: DL from >35% $350 $350 to 45%: $450 1 Apr 92 $300 Skilled: Skilled: DL <= 35%: $300 $250 $250 $300 Unskilled: Unskilled: DL from >35% $350 $350 to 45%: $450 1 Jul 92 $300 Skilled: Skilled: DL <= 35%: $300 $250 $250 $300 Unskilled: Unskilled: DL from >35% $400 $350 to 45%: $450 1 Apr 95 $330 Skilled: Skilled: DL <= 35%: $330 $200 $200 $330 Unskilled: Unskilled: DL from >35% $440 $385 to 50%: $450 1 May 96 $330 Skilled: Skilled: Skilled: Skilled: $200 $200 $200 $200 Unskilled: Unskilled: Unskilled: Unskilled: $440 $385 DL <= 35%: $330 $330 DL from >35% to 50%: $450 1 Jun 97 $330 Skilled: Skilled: Skilled: Skilled: $200 $200 $200 $200 Unskilled: Unskilled: Unskilled: Unskilled: $440 $385 DL <= 40%: $330 $330 DL from >40% to 50%: $400 1 Apr 98 $345 Skilled: Skilled: Skilled: Skilled: $100 $100 $100 $100 Unskilled: Unskilled: Unskilled: Unskilled: $470 $385 DL <= 40%: $330 $330 DL from >40% to 50%: $400 # DL stands for foreign worker Dependency Level, ie, no. of foreign workers as a percentage of total number of workers in the company.