Percentage of Employers Opening POSB Payroll Account for Prospective Foreign Workers When Applying for Work Permits in 2018

29 Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked the Minister for Manpower (a) in 2018, what is the percentage of employers who have selected the option to open a POSB Payroll Account for their prospective foreign workers when they apply for their work permits; and (b) whether the sole POSB branch at Kaki Bukit Recreation Centre is adequate to serve the banking needs of foreign workers.

Mrs Josephine Teo: In 2018, 63% of employers selected the option to open a POSB Payroll Account for their prospective foreign workers (non-domestic work permit holders) in their work permit applications.

Currently, foreign workers have to visit the POSB branch at Kaki Bukit Recreation Centre to collect their bank cards. POSB is aware that more foreign workers are visiting the POSB branch at Kaki Bukit Recreation Centre, and is working with the Ministry to explore ways to reduce the need for foreign workers to visit the POSB branch. For example, POSB has plans to pilot an initiative to allow foreign workers to receive their bank cards through the mail.