Tighter rules lead to far fewer PRs admitted from 2010
Tighter rules lead to average of 28,500 approvals a year, half of figure in 2004-08
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Figures released by the Government on Monday 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.
