TRAINING OF UNSKILLED FOREIGN WORKERS

Mr Shriniwas Rai asked the Minister for Manpower whether his Ministry has a long term policy to train unskilled foreign workers in Singapore.

Dr Lee Boon Yang: Employers should train all their workers, both local and foreign, to perform their jobs adequately. Where practicable, employers should recruit skilled foreign workers at source instead of bringing unskilled workers here for training. The Government encourages the recruitment of skilled foreign workers by charging a low levy of only $30 per skilled work permit holder.

On financial support for training, the policy of the Skills Development Fund (SDF) is to focus on training support for citizens and permanent residents who form the permanent workforce. However, SDF support for training has also included the training of skilled foreign workers, i.e. those on 3-year `Q' passes.

Nevertheless, the Government will continue to give priority to the use of public funds for the training of the permanent workforce.