Rule adjustments for new talent work pass not a relaxation of existing policies: Tan See Leng

Other Members of Parliament (MPs) asked about planned adjustments for the FCF job advertising duration, which applies to all EP and S Pass applications.

MP Patrick Tay (PAP-Pioneer) asked if a shorter duration of 14 days would remove the need for employers to exhaust all avenues to hire local PMEs, while MPs Louis Chua (WP-Sengkang) and Ang Wei Neng (PAP-West Coast) asked for more data regarding the efficacy of the FCF job advertising requirement.

On that, Dr Tan said the FCF job advertising requirement was set at 14 days when it was first introduced in 2014. This was because, based on data from MyCareerFutures.sg, the majority of job applications were submitted within the first two weeks of a job posting.

Authorities later extended the job advertisement rule to 28 days during the COVID-19 pandemic due to “unprecedented slack in the labour market”.

Noting that the ratio of job vacancies to unemployed persons reached a low of 0.55 in June 2020, the minister said: “We wanted to give local jobseekers more time to respond to job openings and employers more time to evaluate the increased number of applications.”

The situation has since reversed, Dr Tan continued, pointing out that the ratio of vacancies to unemployed persons has risen to more than 2.4, meaning there are now more jobs than local jobseekers.

“Companies, including local enterprises, have been giving feedback that in the tight labour market, the 28-day requirement is causing them to lose good candidates because they are unable to offer them employment contracts quickly,” he added, noting that it is “timely” for the adjustment back to 14 days.

“But members of the House make no mistake, employers are still expected to fairly consider all applicants who apply within this window. This remains unchanged, and our employers understand this,” he said.

MOM will also be introducing a five-year EP to experienced professionals filling tech jobs requiring highly specialised skills currently in shortage in the local workforce.

These will be specified in the upcoming COMPASS Shortage Occupation List. They also have to earn a salary of at least S$10,500, and are subject to COMPASS criteria.

Dr Tan said authorities have decided to limit this to tech roles for the time being, given the acute shortage of talent globally.

“But that is not to say that other sectors cannot benefit. Almost all sectors require tech talent to drive transformation. This includes the financial services and manufacturing industries, as well as up-and-coming sustainability sectors,” he said in response to a question from MP Rachel Ong (PAP-West Coast) about whether this can be extended to non-tech professionals in the sustainability sector.

“We are watching the sustainability space closely as it develops, and we will refine our policies when needed,” the minister added.