The National Solidarity Party has welcomed the move to get employers to give Singaporeans fair consideration in jobs, but is calling for the Government to extend the rules to work pass schemes beyond the Employment Pass (EP).
In a statement on Thursday, the NSP noted that the rules - which require companies to advertise on a government-run jobs bank for at least 14 days before they apply to the Ministry of Manpower for an EP - apply only to this top tier of work passes for foreign professionals.
This means that there is still "little incentive" for employers to hire Singaporeans over foreigners who hold S-Passes and work permits in lower-level jobs, said the NSP.
The Government measures may not be entirely effective, the party added, despite the twin levers of foreign worker levies and dependency ratio ceilings acting as disincentives preventing the over-hiring of S-Pass and work permit holders.
In a statement on Thursday, the NSP noted that the rules - which require companies to advertise on a government-run jobs bank for at least 14 days before they apply to the Ministry of Manpower for an EP - apply only to this top tier of work passes for foreign professionals.
This means that there is still "little incentive" for employers to hire Singaporeans over foreigners who hold S-Passes and work permits in lower-level jobs, said the NSP.
The Government measures may not be entirely effective, the party added, despite the twin levers of foreign worker levies and dependency ratio ceilings acting as disincentives preventing the over-hiring of S-Pass and work permit holders.
