Change in Employers for Existing Work Permit Holders
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns an inquiry by Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang regarding kickbacks collected from transferring Work Permit holders and the initiatives facilitating their employment changes. Minister for Manpower Lim Swee Say reported that 21 employers were caught for kickbacks between 2015 and 2017, facing potential fines of $30,000 or two-year prison terms. He detailed policies allowing construction and process sector workers to change employers near permit expiry or by mutual consent, supported by various recruitment resources. These initiatives include the Singapore Contractors Association Limited’s directory system and support from the Migrant Workers' Centre for workers with valid salary claims. As of December 2017, approximately 131,000 workers have utilized these pathways to change employers, highlighting the scale of the ministry's efforts and policy flexibilities.
Transcript
2 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Manpower (a) whether any employers have been found collecting kickbacks to hire existing Work Permit holders who have changed employers; (b) what initiatives the Ministry has undertaken to match employers with existing Work Permit holders who are changing employers; and (c) what has been the rate of uptake of such initiatives.
Mr Lim Swee Say: From 2015 to 2017, 21 employers11 were found collecting kickbacks to hire Work Permit Holders (WPHs) who had changed employers. The Ministry of Manpower takes a serious view of employers who collect kickbacks from WPHs. Employers found to do so are liable for a fine up to $30,000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to both.
Since 2005, WPHs from the construction sector have been allowed to change employers if their current employers agree. In 2015, construction WPHs were also allowed to change employers near their work pass expiry if they are unable to come to a mutual agreement on the renewal of their Work Permits. These flexibilities were extended to the Process sector in 2017.
WPHs who wish to change employers are able to seek new employment on their own or engage the services of employment agencies. The Singapore Contractors Association Limited has also put in place a Foreign Construction Workers Directory System to facilitate the matching of employers and existing construction workers. In addition, the Migrant Workers' Centre will assist WPHs with valid salary claims who seek employment.
As of December 2017, approximately 131,000 WPHs have changed employers near their work pass expiry or upon employers' consent.