The number of work pass holders of all nationalities under the Singapore Standard Occupational Classification (SSOC) of professionals make up less than 25 per cent of all employed persons within the group, said Manpower Minister Dr Tan See Leng on Monday (2 August).
Dr Tan was answering a question filed by Progress Singapore Party (PSP) Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Hazel Poa who asked about the total number of work passes issued to foreign nationals of any nationality under the 127 professionals listed in the India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).
Nothing the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) does not track or report employment data based on the occupational grouping of the 127 professions listed in CECA, Dr Tan explained: “In processing work pass applications, the Ministry does not ask if an applicant is seeking to enter under Annex 9A of the CECA as there is no such route.”
Dr Tan asserted that the professionals listed in CECA “does not have any bearing” on the MOM’s assessment of work pass applications.
He went on to dismiss Ms Poa’s specific request, saying: “Moreover, it is not meaningful to look at the number of non-Indian professionals belonging to any of the 127 professions, as requested by the Member.”
“A foreign professional from any other country would be unlikely to have any link to India or the CECA.”
“Nevertheless, if the Member is interested to know broadly the share of work pass holders (all nationalities) amongst all workers under the much broader Singapore Standard Occupational Classification (SSOC) Group 2 (Professionals)1, the answer is that they make up less than one-quarter of all employed persons in SSOC Group 2,” he added.
