23 July 2008,
Holiday Inn Park View, Singapore

Introduction

As our economy grows, the labour market gets tighter and the demand for workers to sustain the economy exceeds local supply. This in turn compels employers to depend on foreign manpower to meet labour shortage or the specific manpower needs in the various sectors of the industries.

In today's context, with the access to foreign manpower and the existence of regulatory controls, the task of sourcing, employment, control and management of foreign manpower can be complex and challenging throughout the "Stock & flow of foreign manpower management cycle". This includes engaging the right source for the industry, the right skill-set, housing, and management of workers in work performance, conduct, discipline, compensation, grievances and repatriation. More importantly, under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA), with the recent inclusion of new offences and penalties, employers have to be more vigilant in the deployment and management of foreigners. These are not only important, but are highly sensitive to the existences of the company. Thus, it requires the right knowledge and skill to manage the issues appropriately and in an expedient manner. It can potentially damage the image of the company and the country as a whole when foreign workers are poorly treated and managed.