朱倍庆（淡滨尼集选区议员） 先生问内政部长：

(a) 2023 年，向外国学生签发了多少学生准证？

(b) 持证人被发现滥用学生准证（如非法就业）的比例是多少？

(c) 有何措施防止滥用学生准证？

尚穆根先生（内政部长）：移民与关卡局 (ICA)在2023年签发了约74,000 张学生准证，签发的准证有效期中位数约为一年。2023 年，人力部（MOM）对143名学生准证持有者（占学生准证持有者总数的 0.16%）采取了执法行动，罪名是非法工作。

移民与关卡局 (ICA)会仔细评估每一份申请。例如，如果申请人无法证明他们有足够的经济能力在新加坡学习期间养活自己，就会被拒绝。此外，还会对非法打工的学生准证持有者实施处罚。违者将被处以最高2万新元的罚款或最长两年的监禁，或两者并罚。移民与关卡局和人力部还将吊销其学生准证，将其驱逐出境，并禁止他们未来在新加坡就业。

非法雇用学生准证持有者或教唆学生准证持有者非法就业的雇主可能面临至少5,000新元至3万新元的罚款或最长12个月的监禁，或两者并罚。他们的工作准证特权也可能被暂停。

STUDENT PASSES ISSUED AND MEASURES IN PLACE TO MITIGATE AGAINST ABUSE

13 Mr Desmond Choo asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) in 2023, how many Student's Passes have been issued to foreign students; (b) what is the proportion of holders who are found to have abused their Student's Passes, such as for illegal employment; and (c) what are the measures in place to mitigate against such abuses.

Mr K Shanmugam: The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) issued about 74,000 Student's Passes in 2023, with the median duration of the pass issued being about a year. In 2023, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) took enforcement action against 143 Student's Pass holders, or 0.16% of all Student's Pass holders, for working illegally.

ICA assesses every application carefully. For example, applicants who cannot demonstrate that they have the financial means to support themselves during their studies in Singapore will be rejected. There are also penalties to deter and punish Student's Pass holders who work illegally. Offenders can face a fine of up to $20,000 or imprisonment of up to two years, or both. ICA and MOM will also cancel their Student's Pass, deport them and debar them from future employment in Singapore. 

Employers who illegally employ Student's Pass holders or abet Student's Pass holders in illegal employment may face a fine of at least $5,000 and up to $30,000 or imprisonment of up to 12 months, or both. Their work pass privileges may also be suspended.