There are 38 companies identified for closer scrutiny and about 100 more firms for “further engagement”, said Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say in an update on the Fair Consideration Framework introduced last year.
In a blogpost on Thursday (Aug 13), Mr Lim said the 38 are from the 150 firms the ministry has engaged with over the past year.
“MOM is committed to scrutinise the applications for Employment Pass (EP) by what I call ‘Double Weak’ firms: Weak in Singaporean Core and weak in commitment to fair consideration in hiring and developing Singaporeans,” Mr Lim wrote.
The Fair Consideration Framework was introduced last year to ensure that Singaporeans are considered fairly for job openings before firms apply to employ foreign PMEs.
On top of the 150, another 100 companies were identified for further engagement and these are considered “outliers” in their respective industries such as such as Admin and Support, Construction, Infocomm, Finance and Insurance, Professional Services, Transport and Storage and Wholesale Trade, the minister said.
“Being placed on the watchlist means that MOM will scrutinise their EP applications more closely. They will be asked to provide additional details, such as the number of Singaporeans who applied and were interviewed for the posts, and whether their existing Singaporean employees have been considered,” said Mr Lim.
He added his ministry will engage the firms to up their efforts in the training, development and upgrading of local Professionals, Managers and Executives (PMEs).
“In the event that we have a shortage of qualified Singaporeans in some specific areas, we will encourage them to transfer know-how from the foreign PMEs to their Singaporean staff so that, over time, more Singaporeans will be qualified to take on these opportunities and challenges,” Mr Lim wrote.
“Should there be Double Weak firms that are unresponsive or uncooperative, they will have their EP privileges curtailed,” he added.
That said, the minister believes “a majority” of the Double Weak firms will respond constructively to its call to strengthen their Singapore core. “I also believe that many of our local PMEs are willing to up-skill and re-skill, and are open to try out some of these jobs and careers we are creating for them,” he said.
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
