Key facts
- Singapore will begin accepting workers from East Timor in 2025.
- Manpower Minister Tan See Leng announced the initiative.
- The program aims to address labor shortages in Singapore.
- Sectors targeted include construction and marine.
- Initial quotas for workers will be determined.
Singapore is set to welcome workers from East Timor beginning in 2025, as announced by Manpower Minister Tan See Leng. This new initiative is designed to alleviate existing labor shortages within crucial sectors of the Singaporean economy, particularly in construction and the marine industry. The initial phase of the program will involve establishing specific quotas for the number of East Timorese workers that can enter the country. These quotas are expected to be determined prior to the program's launch next year. The move signifies an effort by Singapore to diversify its foreign labor pool and meet the demands of its growing industries.