Employers have to buy medical insurance for foreign workers from 2008
All employers will have to buy and maintain medical insurance for their foreign employees.
Those affected include all new and existing foreign workers on Work Permit or S Pass from Jan 1, and all new and existing foreign domestic workers when employers renew their work permits from Jan 1.
The coverage must be at least $5,000 a year for each worker's inpatient care and day surgery during his or her stay in Singapore.
A Ministry of Manpower (MOM) statement on Thursday said that this extent of coverage will be sufficient to cover nine out of every ten hospital bills for foreign workers, based on statistics from the Ministry of Health.
The compulsory insurance coverage will replace existing healthcare subsidies for foreigners.
The latest requirement will be included as a condition for the issue of a Work Permit or S-Pass.
"This is in line with the employers' existing responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of their foreign workers, including the provision of medical treatment," said MOM.
Three insurers, NTUC Income Insurance Co-Operative Ltd, Great Eastern Life Assurance Co Ltd and Overseas Assurance Corporation Ltd, are offering various plans based on MOM's requirements.
However, employers can buy from any insurer as long as the coverage meets the criteria.
The ministry will send more details on the medical insurance requirement to employers of foreign workers
and foreign domestic workers.
More information is also available at its website. Alternatively, those with queries can call (65) 6438-5122.
