S'pore hikes levy on foreign workers

S'pore hikes levy on foreign workers

SINGAPORE (AFP): Singapore moved yesterday to regulate demand for unskilled foreign workers and domestic helpers by announcing an increase next year in levies paid by employers.

Beginning April 1, 1998, the levy for each unskilled foreign worker in the construction sector would be raised to S$470 (US$313) from S$440 each month, the Ministry of Labor said in a statement.

The levy for each foreign domestic helper would rise to S$345 from S$330, it said. "The objective of the levy is to regulate demand for foreign workers," it said.

"The number of foreign workers in Singapore has increased significantly from more than 350,000 at the beginning of last year to more than 450,000 today." The "sharp rise" was in the number of foreign construction workers and domestic helpers, it said.

Singapore said it was worried that "the presence of a large number of (foreign) construction workers will exacerbate the social problems caused by foreign workers".