Benefits of New Overseas Networks and Expertise Pass to Singapore and Singaporeans

1 Mr Desmond Choo asked the Minister for Manpower with the launch of the Overseas Networks and Expertise Pass (a) how does the Ministry ensure that Singaporeans continue to get access to senior level jobs; and (b) how will the Ministry prevent abuse of such work passes by applicants.

2 Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked the Minister for Manpower how will the new Overseas Networks and Expertise Pass benefit Singapore and Singaporeans.

3 Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked the Minister for Manpower what is the rationale for the relaxation of the eligible criteria for the Employment Pass and Fair Consideration Framework.

4 Mr Leong Mun Wai asked the Minister for Manpower (a) what will make the Overseas Networks and Expertise (ONE) Pass more attractive to foreign talent than the Tech.Pass; and (b) why are the dependants of ONE Pass holders able to work in Singapore on a Letter of Consent instead of being assessed based on their own merits.

5 Mr Leong Mun Wai asked the Minister for Manpower in view that an Overseas Networks and Expertise (ONE) Pass holder is allowed to work at multiple companies (a) whether such Pass holder can work as a freelancer or must be employed by a company; (b) whether the multiple companies are required to be Singapore-based; and (c) whether the fixed monthly salary of at least $30,000 for the ONE Pass holder is shared among the multiple companies.

6 Mr Ang Wei Neng asked the Minister for Manpower (a) how will the enhancements to the work pass framework benefit Singapore workers, especially the Overseas Networks and Expertise Pass; and (b) in the past 12 months, what is the number of jobs with salaries exceeding $10,000 per month that are advertised on MyCareersFuture under the Fair Consideration Framework that are eventually filled, broken down by Singaporeans and non-Singaporeans.

7 Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Manpower regarding the new Overseas Networks and Expertise (ONE) Pass (a) what is the maximum number of companies that a ONE Pass holder may work for; (b) whether the minimum monthly salary of $30,000 is an aggregate of the salaries from the multiple companies that the pass holder is employed in; and (c) if so, what is the minimum salary that the pass holder must receive from each company.

8 Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Manpower in relation to the newly announced Overseas Networks and Expertise (ONE) Pass (a) whether there is any target or projections on how many applicants will be granted the ONE Pass annually; (b) if so, what are these target or projected numbers; and (c) whether there will be enhanced or stepped up checks on applicants for ONE Pass to ensure the veracity of information provided during the application process.

9 Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked the Minister for Manpower how will the Overseas Networks and Expertise Pass scheme enhance the Singaporean leadership bench strength and align with the policy to build the Singaporean Core and complementarity of foreign manpower.

10 Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Manpower (a) what are the planned promotional, awareness-raising activities or channels to promote the Overseas Networks and Expertise Pass; (b) which agencies will be in charge of these activities; (c) what is the timeline for such activities; and (d) what is the annual budget proposed to be allocated to these activities.

11 Mr Pritam Singh asked the Minister for Manpower (a) whether any studies have been carried out on the number of Overseas Networks and Expertise (ONE) Passes the Ministry intends to issue particularly with regard to the impact on job opportunities for Singaporeans; and (b) what are the objective criteria set for the issuance of the ONE Pass to individuals who do not meet the $30,000 per month salary threshold.

12 Mr Pritam Singh asked the Minister for Manpower what is the Ministry’s consideration for exempting the top 10% of Employment Pass holders from the Fair Consideration Framework job advertising requirement and the Complementarity Assessment Framework.

13 Mr Mohd Fahmi Aliman asked the Minister for Manpower (a) how does the Ministry define the criterion of “outstanding achievements” for the Overseas Networks and Expertise (ONE) Pass; (b) how will the Ministry assess whether an applicant meets this criterion in the eligible areas; and (c) whether the Ministry intends to limit the number of ONE Passes issued annually.

14 Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Minister for Manpower in light of the Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) job advertising duration requirement reverting to 14 days from 28 days from 1 September 2022 (a) what is the percentage of successful hires from job listings for the period 1 October 2020 to 31 August 2022 compared to the period before the extension; (b) what is the number of job applications received during the 28-day job advertising period, broken down by the number of days since the job listing; and (c) what is the average number of applicants shortlisted for an interview for work pass applications that are deemed to have fulfilled the FCF requirements.

15 Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for Manpower whether there are measures to help Singapore companies develop more Singaporeans, instead of relying on foreign talent, to helm leadership positions and, if so, what are they.

16 Ms Hazel Poa asked the Minister for Manpower what are some of the considerations for (i) not imposing a time limit requiring eligible Overseas Networks and Expertise Pass applicants to remain employed and (ii) allowing their spouses to work in Singapore on a Letter of Consent without having to meet other work pass requirements.

17 Ms Hazel Poa asked the Minister for Manpower (a) how many of the existing Employment Pass holders will meet the eligibility criteria for the Overseas Networks and Expertise (ONE) Pass; and (b) how many (i) Singapore Citizens and (ii) Permanent Residents are in direct competition with eligible ONE Pass holders for jobs respectively.

18 Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Manpower with regard to the newly launched Overseas Networks and Expertise (ONE) Pass (a) whether there are measures in place to ensure that Singaporeans are not disadvantaged as the ONE Pass allows eligible persons to work for multiple companies in Singapore at any one time and, if so, what are they; and (b) whether measures have been taken to enhance our systems and processes to prevent fraudulent ONE pass applications from taking place and, if so, what are they.

The Minister for Manpower (Dr Tan See Leng): Mr Speaker, may I have your permission to take oral Question Nos 1 to 18 in today's Order Paper in my Ministerial Statement to be delivered later.

Mr Speaker: Please do. Miss Rachel Ong.