Nine in ten foreign workers in Singapore are satisfied with working conditions

According to the data released by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), nearly nine in ten foreign workers in Singapore are generally satisfied with their working conditions.

The data is revealed from a study based on MOM’s 2018 Foreign Worker Experience Survey, where respondents ranked Singapore as a destination of choice for work and said they would recommend their family and friends to work in the country.

The survey saw participation from 2,500 work permit holders (WPHs) and 500 S Pass holders.

 Zaqy Mohamad, Minister of State for Manpower, shared in media, “I am heartened that a majority of the respondents felt that MOM had done well in protecting foreign workers. Most of them also found it easy to approach MOM for help if they faced employment issues or experienced any unethical behavior at work.”

According to the survey, 86.3 percent of WPHs surveyed and 87.5 percent of S Pass holders surveyed were satisfied with working in Singapore, and in fact, a majority would recommend the country as a place for work (84 percent and 91 percent respectively).

The study also found that the pay, living conditions, and high levels of safety and security in Singapore were common reasons for these feelings of satisfaction. In specific, 87.1 percent of WPHs and 88.3 percent of S Pass holders indicated that their workplace working conditions were safe.

A majority of the non-Malaysian WPHs who were surveyed indicated that they had received their In-Principle Approval (IPA) letters before entering Singapore, which is a requirement by the ministry.

The MOM added that it would “investigate and enforce against any employer and employment agency who does not send the IPA letter to the worker before his departure to Singapore. Failure to send the IPA letter is an infringement under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Regulations, and carries a maximum financial penalty of S$10,000.”

Going forward, Minister Zaqy added, “We will continue to work closely with our stakeholders, including employers and non-governmental organizations, to ensure that foreign workers’ well-being and interests are safeguarded.”