Fairness in hiring, skills transfer help ensure locals benefit: Chan Chun Sing

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Companies with discriminatory hiring practices will be put on the Fair Consideration Framework watch list, and their applications for foreign work passes curtailed. The framework was introduced in 2014 after Singaporeans voiced unhappiness about foreigners taking away good-paying professional, managerial, executive and technician (PMET) jobs from them.

Of Singapore's 25 FTAs, the Singapore-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (Ceca) has often been fodder for critics of the Government who say it opened the floodgates for Indian nationals to enter Singapore. A lot of the misgivings about Ceca centre on the belief that it grants Indian nationals and their dependants unfettered entry into Singapore. Mr Chan countered that Ceca does not grant Indian nationals unconditional access into Singapore and immigration privileges.

The latest effort to level the playing field was the announcement on Thursday that the minimum qualifying salary for EPs and S Passes, which allow foreign professionals and mid-skilled workers to work here, will be increased. From Tuesday, firms applying for new EPs for foreign professionals need to pay them at least $4,500 a month, up from $3,900.

Relate to qns on collaboration and the need to embrace foreign talent/migrants....