Requiring Association Support for Companies' Applications to Recruit Process, Construction and Maintenance Work Permit Holders

10 Mr Zainal Sapari asked the Minister for Manpower what is the rationale and intent of requiring the Association of Process Industries (ASPRI) to support a company's application to recruit Process, Construction and Maintenance (PCM) work permit holders.

Mrs Josephine Teo: Contractors in the Process Construction and Maintenance (or "PCM") industry require specialised skills and expertise to build and maintain process plants.

In January 2000, MOM enlisted ASPRI's help to verify the business nature and activities of PCM contractors so that only suitably qualified contractors are granted access to foreign workers. The association is well placed to do so given its specialist knowledge of the sector. Upon successful verification, the contractors submit work pass applications directly to MOM without ASPRI's involvement.