Singapore: No ban on Sabah, Sarawak workers

KUALA LUMPUR: Singapore's Ministry of Manpower said Sunday that there was no ban on workers from Sabah and Sarawak coming to work in the republic.

"We continue to approve the work permits of workers from Sabah and Sarawak who are found to be eligible and suitable to work in Singapore," it said in a statement issued through the Singapore High Commission here.

It said that, like all other countries, including Malaysia, foreigners were required to meet various criteria to be eligible to work in Singapore.

The ministry noted that it had tightened the criteria on the hiring and retention of foreign manpower over the last few years to moderate the growth of the foreign workforce and promote productivity-led growth.

"As a result, there are workers from various sources, not just from the East Malaysian states, who may not meet the more stringent criteria and requirements to work in Singapore," it said.

The statement comes in the wake of media reports of a new policy barring under-35 Sabahans and Sarawakians from working in the city-state. - Bernama

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