The Government is clamping down on some S Pass holders, a category of mid-tier foreign workers earning less than Employment Pass holders but more than Work Permit holders.
Quotas for these workers will be cut for the services sector and S Pass criteria will be tightened, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said on Monday.
Eligibility requirements for Employment Pass holders will also be tightened.
Mr Tharman, who is also Finance Minister, said the services sector's S Pass Dependency Ratio Ceiling (DRC) will be cut from 20 per cent to 15 per cent.
The reduction applies to new applicants from July 1 this year.
For existing permit holders and renewals, the new S Pass DRC takes effect on July 1, 2015.
The minimum S Pass qualifying monthly salary will also be raised from $2,000 to $2,200 on July 1 this year, Mr Tharman said.
He added that the Government would introduce a tiered salary system based on an S Pass applicant's age and qualifications.
Older applicants will need to qualify at higher salaries.
"This will help to level the playing field for our local workers in the same jobs and also nudge employers to bring in better-calibre workers."
As for Employment Passes, the Manpower Ministry will continue to tighten eligibility requirements, particularly for Q1 pass holders, Mr Tharman said.
Noting that the total number of Employment Pass holders fell last year, he said the Employment Pass policy "must ensure that firms in Singapore remain able to recruit the best teams, including both locals and foreigners".
"At the same time, we must maintain a level playing field for Singaporeans with respect to jobs and progression opportunities."
The minimum salary for Q1 pass holders, the lowest rung of Employment Pass holders, was increased by $200 to $3,000 on Jan 1 last year. Older applicants have to earn even more to qualify.
Mr Tharman said that this tightening has already led to more foreign employees falling to within the S Pass category which makes them subject to a DRC and levies.
For the longer term, the ministry will also put in place a framework to ensure that firms give fair consideration to Singaporeans in their hiring practices, he added.
Software translation firm Verztec chief executive Nicholas Goh said the measures would pose a challenge for his firm.
The firm employs 45 people, of whom 16 are foreign workers. Five of those are S Pass holders from countries such as Myanmar, Malaysia and Indonesia, while the rest hold Q1 Employment Passes.
"We may have to move some parts of our business overseas... we need specialised knowledge and the reduction makes it harder for us to bring on board people of such talent."
Verztec needs foreign workers for technical work since Singaporeans prefer managerial positions, Mr Goh said.
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Employment Change (Q1 2013) : 20,800 (Prelim)
Last Updated: 30 April 2013 | Source: Administrative Records
Latest figures published in: Employment Situation
Last Updated: 15 March 2013 | Source: Labour Market Survey, MOM
Latest figures published in: Labour Market Report
Last updated: 31 January 2013 | Source: Comprehensive Labour Force Survey, MOM
Latest figures published in: Labour Force in Singapore
Employment Change (Q1 2013) : 20,800 (Prelim)
Employment
Year
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Employment Level as at
Year-end ('000) |
2,148.1
|
2,135.2
|
2,206.6
|
2,319.9
|
2,495.9
|
2,730.8
|
2,952.4
|
2,990.0
|
3,105.9
|
3,228.5
|
3,357.6
|
n.a.
|
Employment Distribution by
Sector as at Year-end (%) |
100.0
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
Manufacturing
|
19.8
|
19.7
|
20.2
|
20.5
|
20.7
|
20.8
|
19.9
|
17.4
|
16.7
|
16.2
|
15.9
|
n.a.
|
Construction
|
11.8
|
11.0
|
10.3
|
10.1
|
10.2
|
10.8
|
12.2
|
12.6
|
12.3
|
12.5
|
13.2
|
n.a.
|
Services
|
67.7
|
68.6
|
68.9
|
68.7
|
68.4
|
67.7
|
67.3
|
69.2
|
70.3
|
70.6
|
70.2
|
n.a.
|
Others
|
0.7
|
0.7
|
0.6
|
0.7
|
0.7
|
0.7
|
0.7
|
0.7
|
0.7
|
0.7
|
0.7
|
n.a.
|
Employment Change ('000)
| ||||||||||||
Annual
|
-22.9
|
-12.9
|
71.4
|
113.3
|
176.0
|
234.9
|
221.6
|
37.6
|
115.9
|
122.6
|
129.1
|
n.a.
|
1st Qtr
|
-10.3
|
-4.1
|
13.7
|
17.8
|
45.0
|
49.4
|
73.2
|
-6.2
|
36.5
|
28.3
|
27.2
|
20.8p
|
2nd Qtr
|
-3.8
|
-26.0
|
10.9
|
31.7
|
36.4
|
64.4
|
71.4
|
-7.7
|
24.9
|
24.8
|
31.7
|
n.a.
|
3rd Qtr
|
-8.5
|
0.9
|
14.1
|
28.5
|
43.0
|
58.6
|
55.7
|
13.9
|
20.5
|
31.9
|
26.2
|
n.a.
|
4th Qtr
|
-0.3
|
16.2
|
32.7
|
35.3
|
51.5
|
62.5
|
21.3
|
37.5
|
33.9
|
37.6
|
44.0
|
n.a.
|
Latest figures published in: Employment Situation
Local employment rose faster in 2012, as foreign employment growth slowed amid tighter foreign manpower controls. With high employment creation, unemployment remained low, despite a rise in layoffs. Vacancies eased in December 2012, although there were still more job openings than job seekers available.
Job Vacancy
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Job Vacancy ('000)
| |||||||||||
Annual Average
|
15.0
|
12.6
|
16.5
|
19.2
|
31.2
|
38.6
|
37.8
|
30.4
|
44.2
|
52.7
|
48.6
|
As at Mar
|
13.9
|
12.1
|
15.4
|
17.5
|
26.1
|
35.7
|
40.9
|
22.9
|
37.3
|
49.3
|
46.8
|
As at Jun
|
16.1
|
12.0
|
15.4
|
19.2
|
33.0
|
39.2
|
42.3
|
26.1
|
45.1
|
55.9
|
47.3
|
As at Sep
|
17.2
|
13.1
|
18.9
|
20.1
|
32.2
|
38.8
|
40.4
|
36.9
|
50.2
|
54.0
|
56.4
|
As at Dec
|
12.9
|
13.1
|
16.2
|
19.8
|
33.3
|
40.8
|
27.4
|
35.8
|
44.1
|
51.7
|
43.9
|
Job Vacancy Rate (%)
| |||||||||||
Annual Average
|
1.5
|
1.2
|
1.6
|
1.7
|
2.3
|
2.6
|
2.4
|
1.8
|
2.5
|
2.8
|
2.5
|
As at Mar
|
1.4
|
1.2
|
1.5
|
1.6
|
2.0
|
2.5
|
2.6
|
1.4
|
2.2
|
2.8
|
2.4
|
As at Jun
|
1.6
|
1.2
|
1.5
|
1.8
|
2.5
|
2.7
|
2.7
|
1.6
|
2.7
|
3.1
|
2.5
|
As at Sep
|
1.6
|
1.3
|
1.7
|
1.7
|
2.3
|
2.6
|
2.4
|
2.2
|
2.8
|
2.9
|
2.8
|
As at Dec
|
1.2
|
1.3
|
1.5
|
1.7
|
2.4
|
2.7
|
1.7
|
2.1
|
2.5
|
2.7
|
2.2
|
Job Vacancy to Unemployed
Person Ratio (Seasonally Adjusted) | |||||||||||
Annual Average
|
0.36
|
0.27
|
0.40
|
0.47
|
0.66
|
1.11
|
0.91
|
0.53
|
0.99
|
1.22
|
1.08
|
As at Mar
|
0.35
|
0.29
|
0.35
|
0.44
|
0.58
|
0.81
|
1.28
|
0.36
|
0.86
|
1.32
|
1.05
|
As at Jun
|
0.40
|
0.27
|
0.34
|
0.45
|
0.65
|
0.96
|
0.99
|
0.40
|
0.96
|
1.17
|
0.91
|
As at Sep
|
0.37
|
0.21
|
0.47
|
0.43
|
0.65
|
1.25
|
0.85
|
0.54
|
1.07
|
1.18
|
1.25
|
As at Dec
|
0.31
|
0.30
|
0.42
|
0.56
|
0.75
|
1.42
|
0.54
|
0.80
|
1.06
|
1.20
|
1.10
|
Latest figures published in: Labour Market Report
Income
Gross Monthly Income From Work
Mid-Year
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Median Gross Monthly Income From
Work of Full-Time Employed Residents ($) | |||||||||||
Including Employer CPF
|
2,380
|
2,410
|
2,326
|
n.a.
|
2,449
|
2,543
|
2,897
|
2,927
|
3,000
|
3,249
|
3,480
|
Excluding Employer CPF
|
2,083
|
2,100
|
2,100
|
n.a.
|
2,167
|
2,333
|
2,588
|
2,600
|
2,708
|
2,925
|
3,000
|
Change (%)
| |||||||||||
Including Employer CPF
| |||||||||||
Nominal
|
-0.3
|
1.3
|
-3.5
|
n.a.
|
n.a.
|
3.8
|
13.9
|
1.0
|
2.5
|
8.3
|
7.1
|
Real^
|
0.0
|
0.8
|
-5.1
|
n.a.
|
n.a.
|
1.7
|
6.8
|
0.4
|
-0.3
|
2.9
|
2.5
|
(0.0)
|
(0.6)
|
(-5.4)
|
(1.7)
|
(8.0)
|
(1.4)
|
(-0.7)
|
(3.9)
|
(3.4)
| |||
Excluding Employer CPF
| |||||||||||
Nominal
|
-0.8
|
0.8
|
0.0
|
n.a.
|
n.a.
|
7.7
|
10.9
|
0.5
|
4.2
|
8.0
|
2.6
|
Real^
|
-0.5
|
0.4
|
-1.7
|
n.a.
|
n.a.
|
5.5
|
4.0
|
-0.1
|
1.3
|
2.6
|
-1.9
|
(-0.5)
|
(0.1)
|
(-2.0)
|
(5.4)
|
(5.2)
|
(0.9)
|
(0.9)
|
(3.6)
|
(-1.0)
|
Latest figures published in: Labour Force in Singapore
Key Manpower Statistics
The labour market statistics produced by the Manpower Research and Statistics Department conforms to the international guidelines recommended by the International Labour Organisation.
The release of key data like employment and unemployment follows the Special Data Dissemination Standards established by the International Monetary Fund.
The release of key data like employment and unemployment follows the Special Data Dissemination Standards established by the International Monetary Fund.
| Labour Force | Last updated: 31 January 2013 |
| Employment | Last updated: 30 April 2013 |
| Unemployment | Last updated: 30 April 2013 |
| Job Vacancy | Last updated: 15 March 2013 |
| Labour Turnover | Last updated: 15 March 2013 |
| Hours Worked | Last updated: 15 March 2013 |
| Redundancy | Last updated: 30 April 2013 |
| Re-entry into Employment | Last updated: 15 March 2013 |
| Income | Last updated: 31 May 2013 |
Mrsd Report on Wage Practices 2012
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