SINGAPORE - MIGRATION IN 2000

Singapore’s economic performance – GDP of 10.1 percent – exceeded expectations. All other indicators were also positive, including growth in the manufacturing and service sectors, and a strong current account surplus. Meanwhile, unemployment decreased at 2.5 percent. The slowing down of the US economy, particularly in the electronic sector (an important one for Singapore) would have some impact on Singapore for the incoming year. However, the country remains a leading economy in Asia, and therefore also a magnet for migrants.

The number of foreign workers remained at 530,000, making Singapore one of the countries with the highest percentage of migrants in the labor force (20 percent). To express appreciation to the foreign workers, Make a Difference Day was organized on 28 May, with about 800 volunteers seeking out foreign workers and distributing appreciation bags. At the same time, a poll taken by Channel News Asia revealed that 70 percent of Singaporeans favor a reduction of the number of migrants.  Nevertheless, the government reaffirmed its policy to seek out foreign talent, on the basis that they do not take away jobs from Singaporeans and actually create jobs. In this regard, Singapore sees itself in competition with other cities such as New York and London. The inter-ministerial Singapore Talent Recruitment (STAR) committee oversees the integration of foreign talent. Professionals or skilled workers who earn at least S$2,000 a month have grown from 50,000 in 1996 to 80,000.

Domestic workers continue to remain the most precarious among migrants. Singaporeans have become dependent on their services, since 38 out of 50 surveyed families declared they could not survive a month without a domestic worker. As domestic workers are affordable and no other alternatives are available, it is expected that their number (100,000) will be unchanged or will grow. To increase their protection, the government amended the law increasing penalties for employers who abuse domestic workers and mandating that they provide for their medical and welfare needs. A new information guidebook for all foreign domestic workers was launched in November to educate employers and workers on their roles and responsibilities. The book, available in various languages, was distributed for free.

Irregular immigration to Singapore continued, judging from arrests and detentions. Irregular migrants were arrested in brick factories, karaoke lounges, unfinished buildings, and were found hidden in vans or trucks. Several smuggling rings were busted, often involving Chinese immigrants; shops producing forged work permits and identity cards were closed down. In all, 14,275 irregular migrants and overstayers were arrested throughout the year. Most came from India, Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand and China. Irregular migrants try to enter Singapore through the Woodlands checkpoint or by crossing the Straits of Johor. Some of the arrests reached notoriety, like the ones of tenants who rented space to migrants without checking the legality of their documents. They were given six mandatory months in jail, justified as an attempt to curb irregular migration.

To fight the spread of infection, the Health Ministry imposed in March a mandatory HIV test for all foreigners applying for permanent residency or intending to work for more than six months in Singapore. As of December 1999, there were 1,080 registered AIDS cases in Singapore. Foreigners are not included because they were asked to leave. Nine women married to Singapore men were asked to leave because they tested positive. However, on appeal of the NGO Action for AIDS, the case was reconsidered.

Accidents at construction sites grew from 856 in 1994 to 1,532 in 1998, while deaths rose from 32 to 73 for the same period. The Manpower Ministry announced that building contractors with poor safety records would be barred from employing or renewing the work permits of foreign workers. Migrant workers in the construction sector are approximately 200,000.