Minister Highlights Efforts to Attract Foreign Talent While Benefiting Local Workers
In a statement to Parliament on October 3, Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng provided insight into Singapore’s approach to attracting foreign talent while ensuring it complements and benefits local workers. Tan responded to questions raised by Members of Parliament (MPs) regarding discriminatory hiring practices and the government’s efforts to address them.
Between 2017 and 2021, a total of 300 companies were found to have breached the Fair Consideration Framework (FCF), which mandates that all employers in Singapore consider job candidates fairly, without discrimination based on irrelevant factors such as age, gender, nationality, or race. These companies were placed under scrutiny by the Tripartite Alliance for Fair & Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP), with some facing regulatory actions, including warnings and bans from hiring or renewing foreign workers.
Additionally, Tan explained that firms with a disproportionate share of foreign Professionals, Managers, Executives, and Technicians (PMETs) compared to industry norms, or those with a high concentration of workers from a single foreign nationality, would be placed on the FCF’s watchlist. Since the framework’s implementation in 2016, over 1,700 companies have been monitored.
COMPASS: A Step in the Right Direction
In response to a question from the Leader of the Opposition, Pritam Singh, regarding the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS) introduced in 2023, Tan expressed that the new framework is a “move in the right direction.” COMPASS, a points-based system, evaluates the eligibility of candidates applying for an Employment Pass (EP) in Singapore. The system considers both individual attributes such as salary and qualifications, as well as firm-related attributes, including diversity and local employment support.
Tan noted that COMPASS would likely reduce the number of companies on the FCF watchlist over time, as firms are incentivised to ensure a more balanced and diverse workforce.
Foreign Talent Creates Opportunities for Locals
Tan further highlighted the significance of attracting top foreign talent, emphasising that it creates opportunities across all levels of the workforce. He pointed to the growth of the Information & Communications Technology (ICT) industry in Singapore, which now accounts for one-fifth of the EPs issued, up from one-sixth in 2016. The expansion of the sector has not only increased the number of local PMETs but has also driven wage growth, with 34,400 additional local workers joining the ICT workforce.
By hiring foreign talent to complement local expertise, Singapore can enhance its competitiveness, attract more investments, and ultimately create more high-quality job opportunities for its citizens, Tan concluded.
