Dr. Cheah’s Pages

Language Proficiency Test for foreigners

Singapore sets English test for foreigners in service industry
SINGAPORE, Jan 24 – To provide good customer service, what should you do when speaking with a customer? This question – which requires an oral answer – is a sample from an English proficiency test.

From July, foreign workers in three industries must pass it in order to get a work permit as a skilled worker. The industries are hotel, food and beverage, and retail.

The test will have two components, speaking and listening.

If a worker attains “skilled” status, his employer will save $90 a month on the foreign worker levy.

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How many times have we tried in vain to convey a simple message across and gave up in the end? I think that it is a valid policy for Malaysia to adopt especially in the service industry. A basic competency test in either English or Bahasa Malaysia should be a compulsory item for the issuance of a work permit in Malaysia.