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Written Answer by Mrs Josephine Teo Minister for Manpower to PQ on Waiver of FDW Levies Paid By Employers Due to COVID-19-Related Travel Restrictions

Foreign manpower Work passes and permits

NOTICE PAPER NO. 187 OF 2020 FOR THE SITTING ON 4 JANUARY 2021

QUESTION NO. 292 FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

MP: Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim

To ask the Minister for Manpower whether the Ministry will consider a waiver of levies paid by employers that are either unable to receive their identified foreign domestic workers (FDWs) or FDWs that have requested that they be repatriated prior to the completion of contract due to COVID-19-related restrictions that prohibit travel between Singapore and the FDW's home country.

Answer:

  1. An employer will not incur the monthly levy for a new FDW who is unable to enter Singapore due to travel restrictions. An employer of an FDW who is on home leave and unable to re-enter Singapore because of travel restrictions may request for a levy waiver from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). For an FDW who wishes to be repatriated, employers should secure the repatriation flight prior to the cancellation of the work permit. Flights to the common FDW source countries are currently available although flights to some destinations are less frequent. Once the work permit is cancelled, the employer's levy obligation ceases. If there are last minute flight cancellations or changes by the airline, the employers may approach MOM for an extension of the FDW's Special Pass. Levies are not payable for FDWs on Special Passes.