0303 Written Answer to PQ on Issue of Work permit holders not keeping their passport and the ministry's enforcement efforts

NOTICE PAPER NO. 571 OF 2026 FOR THE SITTING ON 3 MARCH 2026
QUESTION NO. 1155 FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

MP: Ms He Ting Ru

To ask the Minister for Manpower given the finding in the Ministry’s Migrant Worker Experience and Employer Survey 2024 that over 31% of Work Permit holders do not keep their own passport, (a) how is the Ministry working to ensure that offences under Passports Act are not committed; and (b) whether an update can be provided on the Ministry's efforts to support enforcement and compliance.

Answer:

1. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) takes a serious view of employers who retain their migrant workers’ passports. Migrant workers (MWs) must have unrestricted access to their own passports at all times.

2. MOM leverages various touchpoints to raise awareness among MWs on their employment rights and encourage them to report issues. For example, new migrant workers who attend the Settling-In Programme are informed that employers are not allowed to retain their passports and to report such violations to MOM. In addition, MOM also issues reminders to MWs, employers and employment agencies via platforms such as FWMOMCare app, social media posts and email circulars that passport retention is disallowed.

3. In most instances, employers had returned the passports to the workers promptly after MOM’s intervention. Enforcement actions will be taken against employers who fail to comply, including possible debarment from hiring new foreign employees.