Trends in Inflow and Outflow of Migrant Construction Workers Since Easing of COVID-19 Border Restrictions
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the trends in migrant construction worker inflows and the impact of worker skill levels on workplace safety, as raised by Mr Saktiandi Supaat. Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng stated that worker numbers have recovered to nearly 100% of pre-COVID-19 levels, with the proportion of skilled workers remaining stable. He clarified that recent workplace fatalities involved experienced workers rather than inexperienced ones, attributing the incidents to preventable safety lapses rather than a lack of skill. Consequently, the Ministry of Manpower is intensifying enforcement actions and introducing new measures to mitigate the risk of workplace injuries and fatalities. Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng emphasized that more must be done by all stakeholders, including company leaders and workers, to ensure workplace safety.
Transcript
71 Mr Saktiandi Supaat asked the Minister for Manpower (a) what are the trends in the inflow and outflow of migrant construction workers as border restrictions ease from late 2021; (b) whether unskilled or workers who are less skilled are replacing the skilled workers in Singapore who are leaving to visit their home in two years, amidst the backlog of construction projects and increasing manpower costs; and (c) if so, how is the Government looking at mitigating an enhanced risk of workplace injuries and fatalities.
Dr Tan See Leng: With the reopening of borders, the number of Work Permit Holders (WPHs) in the construction sector has been growing steadily, with inflows exceeding outflows, and is almost 100% of pre-COVID-19 levels. While the number of workers on home leave has been growing, we expect this trend to taper off and reverse in the coming months. The proportion of basic skilled and higher skilled WPHs in the construction sector has remained largely the same as pre-COVID-19.
It is unlikely that inexperience was a contributory factor for the recent spate of workplace fatalities as all the accidents involved workers with at least two years of working experience.
From preliminary investigations of recent incidents, most were due to preventable safety lapses. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has been stepping up enforcement, taking stronger enforcement actions and introducing new measures to mitigate the risk of workplace injuries and fatalities. But more needs to be done by all stakeholders, including company leaders and workers. In this regard, I would like to refer the Member to the response MOM provided to a similar question raised by Mr Melvin Yong and Ms Joan Pereira in last month's Sitting. [Please refer to "Reasons and Countermeasures for Recent Rise in Workplace Incidents", Official Report, 04 July 2022, Vol 95, Issue 63, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.]