More transparency sought for foreign worker criteria

HR consultancies speculate that the skills the government is looking for are likely to be in emerging, deep tech areas

Published Wed, Feb 20, 2019 · 09:50 PM

Singapore

BUSINESSES are calling for the government to shed more light on the required criteria to bring in foreign workers with "specialised skills that are in demand globally" as they continue to grapple with talent gaps.

Greater clarity would give a more narrowed focus to their hiring processes instead of wasting time and effort making multiple shots in the dark to apply for employment passes, they said.

Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said in his Budget speech on Monday that additional manpower flexibility can be applied for firms to bring in foreign talent, on a case-by-case basis, provided that they still face a shortage after having given fair consideration to Singaporeans.

The government had earlier launched the Capability Transfer Programme - first announced in October 2017 - to provide funding support for overseas experts to transfer skills and knowledge to lo…