Why “no statistics” on the National Jobs Bank?

I refer to the article “Parliament: Tighter rules to support Singaporeans and raise quality of foreign workforce” (Straits Times, Mar 5).

It states that “Under the Fair Consideration Framework, this rule applied to companies with more than 25 workers and for jobs paying a fixed monthly salary of less than $12,000 a month. From July 1, it will be extended to cover companies with at least 10 workers and for jobs paying less than $15,000 a month, said Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say on Monday (March 5).

Why can’t the statistics as to the actual percentage of jobs listed in the National Jobs Bank, which went to Singaporeans be disclosed?

As to “Mr Lim said the Government tightened the criteria for Employment Passes (EPs) in 2014 and 2017, resulting in slower growth in the number of EP holders each year, to an average of 3,000 a year in the past three years, down from a peak of 32,000 in 2011.

This is to calibrate the growth of EP holders, and enhance their overall quality, he said, adding that about 50,000 new EPs were given each year over the past three years. A similar number of passes were not renewed.

From 2015 to 2017, compared with the previous three years, net job growth slowed from over 100,000 a year to less than 10,000 a year on average. Retrenchments and the unemployment rate for residents both went up” – why is there is no breakdown of the local jobs growth into Singaporeans and PRs.

With an average of about 30,000 new permanent residents (PRs) and 20,000 new citizens granted per year – how many of the 33,200 local residents’ employment growth in the last three years went to Singaporeans?

If we account for the foreign workers who were reclassified as resident workers when they became PRs or citizens – how many of the jobs went to Singaporeans?

Leong Sze Hian