New hiring rules favoring Singaporeans took effect yesterday as part of measures aimed at addressing citizens’ complaints about foreigners “stealing jobs” from them.
Singapore-based companies needing professional workers now have to advertise on an online “Jobs Bank” for at least 14 days before they can seek an employment pass for a foreigner.
The government-run Web site aims to match employment opportunities with profiles of locals seeking employment or a change of jobs. Singapore citizens and permanent residents looking for employment must create an account on the jobs bank to apply for vacancies.
The portal offers vacancies in such sectors as accounting, banking, engineering, the sciences and sales. More than 16,000 positions are currently available, with about half for professionals, managers and executives.
In a blog post on Thursday, Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower said that it would scrutinize firms that have “a disproportionately low concentration of Singaporeans” at the professional level, as well as those that are accused of “nationality-based or other discriminatory” hiring practices.
Firms with 25 or fewer staff, or those recruiting for jobs paying S$12,000 (US$9,600) and above a month, are to be exempt from the advertising rule.
The ministry said it would provide support to companies with low numbers of Singaporean employees on “how to go about their training needs and grow a Singaporean core in their workforce.”
The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Singapore welcomed the new rules.
“AmCham members anticipate that the new policy will help them reach a larger pool of qualified local applicants,” group chairman James Andrade said in a statement.
Authorities have been phasing in measures to tighten worker inflows after facing criticism from Singaporeans, who accuse foreigners of competing with them for jobs, housing, schools, medical care and space in public transport.
Discontent spilled into general elections in 2011, when the ruling People’s Action Party party garnered its lowest-ever vote count after more than 50 years in power.
About 38 percent of Singapore’s total workforce of 3.44 million people are non-nationals. There were 175,100 foreigners holding employment passes as of December last year.
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