JOBS FOR RESIDENT WORKFORCE

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan asked the Acting Minister for Manpower (a) if he will explain (i) how the 9 in 10 jobs going to resident workforce is derived, (ii) whether there is any difference in this ratio across the various major sectors of the economy, and (iii) how has this ratio changed since 1996; and (b) will the Government consider introducing measures such as those in the US, where an employer can hire a foreigner only after he has failed in his attempt to employ a local.

Mr Steve Chia Kiah Hong asked the Acting Minister for Manpower in view of his comments in the press, if he will (i) clarify his comments that foreign workers are being used to moderate the wages of Singaporean workers; (ii) state what are the 'other national objectives' that he is referring to; (iii) explain how will the release of specific employment data compromise our national interest and these objectives; and (iv) release the statistics to substantiate the claims of his Ministry that 9 out of 10 jobs created in the last 5 years went to Singaporeans.

The Acting Minister for Manpower (Dr Ng Eng Hen): Mr Speaker, Sir, with your permission, I propose to take Question Nos 1 and 2 after Question Time in the form of a Ministerial Statement. This is to allow other questions to be answered as well as to allow ample time for Members to ask questions after my reply.

Mr Speaker: All right. We will proceed to the other Questions then.