APPLICATION FOR WORK PERMIT (Inclusion of medical insurance coverage)

APPLICATION FOR WORK PERMIT

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(Inclusion of medical insurance coverage): **

17.

Mr Yeo Guat Kwang asked the Minister for Manpower if he will consider compulsory medical insurance coverage be included as a condition when applying for a work permit.

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Dr Ng Eng Hen: Under the Employment Act, employers are required to bear the medical consultation fees incurred by their local and foreign employees with at least six months of service. In addition, under the Workmen's Compensation Act, employers are also required to bear the medical cost and compensate their workers for work-related injuries.

Currently, we only require employers to purchase insurance to cover for their potential liabilities for workmen's compensation. Employers of foreign domestic workers are also required to purchase personal accident insurance for their workers. These were imposed to help employers mitigate the risk of high compensation or medical costs that they could potentially incur.

The medical cost for workers is another potentially high liability and some companies do already buy insurance to cover for this cost. MOM will examine if there is a need to introduce compulsory medical insurance for foreign workers to mitigate this risk.

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