Book Title: Law and Migration in a Changing World

Publisher: Springer Cham

Abstract: This chapter examines the legal framework regulating immigration in Singapore. It provides specific focus on economic migration into Singapore, and how that regulatory framework differentiates between unskilled/low-skilled migrant workers, on the one hand, and skilled professionals and technicians, on the other. The former are treated as temporary workers while the latter as potential citizens. As such, unskilled or low-skilled workers only qualify for work visas under the Work Permit scheme, which is designed to be temporary in nature and with no path to permanent residency or citizenship. This contrasts with the visa regime under the Employment Pass or S Pass schemes, which provides a path to citizenship. As such, migrant workers not only experience de jure disadvantages due to their immigration status but also de facto disadvantages due to their socioeconomic condition.