Number of employment passes dipped this year
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Counters at the Employment Pass Service Centre, Ministry of Manpower (MOM). According to manpower statistics for the first half of this year, the number of employment passes (EP) has dipped from 175,400 to 174,700 - the first half-yearly reduction since recession hit in 2009. -- PHOTO: MINISTRY OF MANPOWER (MOM)
Efforts to wean the nation off foreign labour have shown some results, but the pace of it must be managed so as not to cause companies here to pack up and flee, said Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin on Sunday.
According to manpower statistics for the first half of this year, the number of employment passes (EP) has dipped from 175,400 to 174,700 - the first half-yearly reduction since recession hit in 2009.
Excluding foreign domestic workers, the number of work permit holders rose by 20,600, while the overall growth in foreign manpower slowed to 34,100, a seven per cent decrease from the growth registered in the first half of last year.
Besides the numbers, Mr Tan also gave his take on the trends in a Manpower Ministry blog.
