Work Permit
Get a quick overview of the Work Permit to decide if it’s the right work pass for your company, and book a consultation with our team to find out more.
Who is it for?
Unskilled or semi-skilled foreign workers from approved source countries / regions working in the following sectors:
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Marine shipyard
- Process
- Services
Qualifying Salary
No minimum qualifying salary.
Duration
Up to 2 years.
Depends on the validity of the worker's passport, security bond and employment period.
Foreign Worker Quota Required Differs Based On Sector
The number of Work Permit holders you can hire is limited by a quota of how many local employees you employ.
Sector
Dependency Ratio Ceiling
(Max Ratio of Foreign Workers to Total Workforce)
Construction
83.3%
Process
83.3%
Marine Shipyard
77.8%
Manufacturing
60%
Services
35%
Sector
Dependency Ratio Ceiling (Max Ratio of Foreign Workers to Total Workforce)
Construction
83.3%
Process
83.3%
Marine Shipyard
77.8%
Manufacturing
60%
Services
35%
The foreign worker quota is calculated based on the average number of local employees in your company over the last 3 months.
The Local Qualifying Salary (LQS) determines the number of local employees who can be used to calculate your S Pass quota entitlement. A Singaporean or PR employee employed under a contract of service, including the company’s director, is counted as:
- 1 local employee if they earn the LQS of at least $1,600 per month.
- 0.5 local employee if they earn half the LQS of at least $800 to below $1,600 per month.
Foreign Worker Levy Required Differs Based On Sector
As an employer, you must pay the levy for all your Work Permit holders.
The levy liability starts from the day the Work Permit is issued and ends when the Work Permit is cancelled or expires.The levy requirements differ significantly based on sector, but generally depends on:
- Worker’s qualifications
- Number of Work Permit / S Pass holders hired
Book a consultation session for a personalised consultation and assessment of your company’s foreign worker quota and levy requirements.
Medical Insurance
Compulsory
Renewable
Yes
Availability of Passes for Eligible Family Members
No
Frequently Asked Questions
- Malaysia
- People’s Republic of China (PRC)
- Hong Kong (HKSAR passport)
- Macau
- South Korea
- Taiwan
- Bangladesh
- India
- Myanmar
- Philippines
- Sri Lanka
- Thailand
- Keep within a sub-Dependency Ratio Ceiling (DRC) of 8% for NTS Work Permit holders in the NTS Occupation List.
- Pay their Work Permit holder performing occupations in the NTS Occupation List a fixed monthly salary of at least $2,000.
- Work Permit holders must only perform the occupation stated on their Work Permit.
Other popular Work Passes
you may be interested in
Other popular Work Passes you may be interested in
S Pass
For foreign APTs
Foreign Associate Professionals and Technicians (APTs) earning a minimum salary of $3,150 comparable to the top one-third of local APT salaries.
Employment Pass
For foreign PMEs
Foreign professionals, managers and executives earning a minimum salary of $5,000 comparable to the top one-third of local PMET salaries.
Find out how our MOM-approved agency can help with your Work Permit application, renewal or appeal
Get help with navigating the complex details and tedious process around the Work Permit.