Developing Mandatory Settling-in Programme for Foreign PMETs for Better Local Integration
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns MP Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan’s inquiry on whether a mandatory Settling-in Programme for foreign PMETs should be implemented to aid local integration and social norm understanding. Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng stated that the Ministry of Manpower launched a pilot Cultural Orientation Programme (COP) in December 2023, which remains voluntary and will be reviewed in 2025. He encouraged businesses to utilize the OneWorkplace.sg initiative and noted that the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth is working with the Alliance for Action on Integration of Foreign Professionals (AfA-IFP). The AfA-IFP is currently developing recommendations to provide stronger integration support at workplaces and communities while establishing better human resources practices. These recommendations are scheduled for completion in end-2025 to further assist in the integration of foreign professionals, managers, executives, and technicians.
Transcript
48 Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked the Minister for Manpower besides the recently announced Alliance for Action to better integrate foreign professionals into Singapore's workplaces and communities, whether the Ministry will consider developing and implementing a mandatory Settling-in Programme catered to foreign PMETs to help them better integrate locally and understand local social norms.
Dr Tan See Leng: The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) launched the Cultural Orientation Programme (COP) as a pilot in December 2023 to familiarise new S Pass holders with working and living in Singapore. The COP pilot is currently voluntary and MOM will be reviewing COP after the pilot ends in 2025. We urge businesses to encourage all their new S Pass holders to attend this programme as part of their onboarding.
Businesses also play an important role in creating opportunities for their foreign employees to interact and bond, both at the workplace setting and beyond. Businesses can tap into the OneWorkplace.sg initiative, which provides resources and tips in building a more integrated workplace.
As part of efforts to improve integration of foreign professionals, managers, executives and technicians, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth is working through the Alliance for Action on Integration of Foreign Professionals (AfA-IFP) to develop recommendations to: (a) provide stronger support to help foreign professionals integrate at the workplace and the community; and (b) establish stronger human resources practices to develop the competencies to foster integration.
AfA will only complete its work in end-2025.