Singapore’s work-on-vacation plan to attract young foreigners

SINGAPORE: A “work holiday programme” is being promoted by the Singapore government to attract talented, young foreigners in the hope that they will find the city-state attractive enough to stay, officials said on Saturday.

The scheme will be open to undergraduates and graduates between the ages of 17 and 30 from universities in eight countries — Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, UK and US.

Details of the programme said it will allow young people spending their holidays in Singapore to look for a job, earn a salary and stay for six months. Initially, 2,000 participants will be granted a special work pass.

The project is part of Singapore’s drive to attract foreigners and immigrants to compensate for a sharply declining population. The state is aiming to increase its current numbers from 4.5 million to 6.5 million people.

“These students and graduates are a rich source of talent whom we should try to tap on when they eventually join the work force,” Manpower Minister Ng Eng Hen was quoted as saying. “A positive experience of living and working in Singapore would encourage some of them to work here when they graduate, or at a later stage of their careers,” he added.