Far fewer PRs admitted from 2010

Tighter rules lead to average of 28,500 approvals a year, half of figure in 2004-08

By Phua Mei Pin & Toh Yong Chuan, The Straits Times, 11 Sep 2012

FIGURES released by the Government yesterday showed how its stricter policy on foreigners has led to more work pass applications being rejected, and fewer new citizens and permanent residents being taken in each year.

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean disclosed that since immigration policies were tightened in late 2009, the number of new permanent residents (PRs) has dropped from an average of 58,000 per year from 2004 to 2008, to 28,500 per year from 2010.

From Jan 1 to July 31 this year, 30 per cent of foreigners applying for an Employment Pass (EP) and S Pass to work here were rejected.

This was an increase from the 26 per cent rejection rate for the whole of last year, said Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin in Parliament, although he did not give the absolute number of applications in both years.

The number of new Singapore citizens has remained relatively stable at an average of 18,500 per year in the last five years.

But fewer citizenships were granted last year because of the introduction of the Singapore Citizenship Journey.

Under this programme, aspiring citizens must visit national institutions and meet grassroots leaders. This has lengthened the time taken for applicants to be granted citizenship by about two months, he said.

The data was disclosed in a written reply to Nominated MP Tan Su Shan, who asked if the tightening in immigration since 2008 could be expected to continue into the future.

Mr Teo said the number of permanent residencies and citizenships granted in any given year depends on a combination of factors, such as the number of applicants and their calibre.

"These are factors which are considered under the Government's immigration framework, to holistically assess applicants' ability to contribute, integrate well into society and their commitment to sinking roots," he said.

In another written answer, the Manpower Ministry's Mr Tan noted that 29 per cent of the total number of rejected applications for the EP and S Pass so far this year were for renewals.

This was an increase compared to 21 per cent for the whole of last year, he told Nee Soon GRC MP Lee Bee Wah.

The higher rejection rate was due to stricter salary and educational criteria imposed on foreigners who want to work here.

In July last year, for example, the fixed monthly salaries for three categories of Employment Pass were raised from $2,500, $3,500 and $7,000 to $2,800, $4,000 and $8,000 respectively. The salary for S Pass was raised from $1,800 to $2,000.

Mr Tan said the stricter controls were not targeted at small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as the tightened manpower tap affected all companies with foreign manpower

Mr Kurt Wee, vice-president of the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, however, disagreed. He said last night that SMEs are the "hardest hit" by the tightening of foreign labour, adding: "This will hurt the growth of SMEs."

Nee Soon GRC's Ms Lee said last night that the Government's tighter policy on foreigners was a response to feedback from the public that there were too many foreigners here, leading to a squeeze on infrastructure.

"But now, if you want to suddenly tighten, it will cause another set of problems, which is for the businesses who need the foreign manpower," she said.

"The Government will have to strike a balance."