CONTRACT MARRIAGES (Regulations for approval)

Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon asked the Minister for Manpower, in view of the Government's many measures to encourage Singaporeans to marry and set up families to arrest the declining population, whether his Ministry will consider relaxing the regulations requiring approval for contract marriages.

The Minister for Manpower (Dr Lee Boon Yang): Mr Speaker, Sir, currently, there are more than 500,000 foreign workers on work permits in Singapore. Work permit holders are allowed to stay in Singapore for up to four years. Those who wish to stay longer have to upgrade their skills. Work permits are issued on the condition that the foreigner seeks approval prior to marrying a Singaporean. In considering such applications, we will look at the education and skill of the work permit holder and the Singaporean. My Ministry has approved more than 80% of applications by work permit holders to marry Singaporeans. Hence, we do not consider the present criteria too stringent.