On this page, you will learn about the Singapore foreign worker quota for companies. We will help you understand the Dependency Ratio Ceiling (DRC), the system that calibrates the intake of foreign workers by employers. DRC refers to the maximum permitted ratio of foreign workers to the total workforce that a company is allowed to hire.
An employer/a company must declare the business activity to MOM by submitting an online or hard copy application. MOM will review the business activity and assign the employer/company to the most relevant industry after evaluating the business activity declared in the application. The employer/company, at the point of declaring business activity, must have opened a CPF account and must have made CPF contribution for at least one month for its local employees. Processing of business declaration online is faster – it is usually processed in two working days while hard copy declarations take up to seven working days.
Declaration of Business Activity
Note: Each business activity is required to have a separate CPF account to facilitate the computation of foreign worker quota for the company relative to the local workforce employed in that activity and in accordance with the dependency ratio set for that industry to which the activity belongs.Calculation of Manpower Quota
MOM determines the foreign worker quota for a company based on the CPF account of the company. The contribution made by the employer indicates the local workforce employed in the business activity.
Each local worker (Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident) working on a full-time basis for a calendar month or two part-time local workers constitute one headcount (one local Full Time Employee FTE) for local workforce. For the purpose of fair computing and accounting for minor deviations, contributions over a period of three months is taken into account after excluding the current and preceding month.
The maximum no of foreign workers, based on the DRC quota, is derived after determining the total local work force using the formula:
| Sector | Academic Qualification | Skills Evaluation Test | Trade Test | Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | Malaysia – Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) or equivalentNorth Asian Sources (NAS) – High School CertificatesPeople’s Republic of China (PRC)– Diploma |
SET Level 1 or National ITE Certificate (Nitec) |
WSQ Composite Assessment for Generic Manufacturing (CGM) |
|
| Services |
WSQ Composite Assessment for Landscape, Hotel, F&B (Service), Retail |
|||
| Process |
3G and above in welding based on internationally recognized standards |
WSQ Composite Assessment for Generic Manufacturing (Process) |
||
| Marine | Malaysia – Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) or equivalentNorth Asian Sources (NAS) – High School Certificates | |||
| Construction | Malaysia – Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) or equivalent (Basic skilled) | Basic Skilled:Skills Evaluation Certificate (SEC) or SEC (Knowledge)Higher Skilled:Construction Registration of Tradesmen (CoreTrade),recognised trade certifications or Multi-skilling; and4 years of construction experience in Singapore |
People also ask
What is the minimum salary for a work permit in Singapore?
- The minimum salary for a work permit in Singapore depends on the kind of work permit/visa you are applying for:
- The Singapore Work Permit for Foreign Workers is a 2 year, renewable visa for semi-skilled or unskilled employees, like labourers, dock workers etc. There is no minimum salary required for the Singapore Work Permit.
- The Singapore S Pass is a 2 year visa for foreign, mid-skilled workers such as technicians. There is a minimum salary of $2,500 per month (from 1 Oct 2020) for the Singapore S Pass visa.
- The Singapore Employment Pass is a 2 year (renewable up to 3 years) visa for foreign professionals (managers, executives) wishing to work in Singapore. There is a minimum salary of $4,500 per month for the Singapore Employment Pass visa.
- The Singapore Entrepreneur Pass is a 1 year (renewable up to 2 years) visa for foreign business owners who wish to relocate their business to Singapore. There is no minimum salary for the Singapore Entrepreneur Pass visa, however you will need to have capital of at least $50,000.
- The Singapore Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) is a 3 year visa for foreign, top-tier executives, e.g. COO, CEO. There is a minimum salary of $18,000 per month for the Singapore Personalised Employment Pass visa.
Can Singaporean marry a work permit holder?
- Yes, As a Singaporean can marry a work permit holder, but you must seek approval from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). You will need to fill out an official Marriage Application Form, and it should take around 4 weeks to process the application. You will be notified if your application is successful by post.
How long can work permit work in Singapore?
- There are several kinds of work permits in Singapore, all with different lengths:
- The Singapore Work Permit for Foreign Workers is a 2 year, renewable visa for semi-skilled or unskilled employees, like labourers, dock workers etc.
- The Singapore S Pass is a 2 year visa for foreign, mid-skilled workers such as technicians.
- The Singapore Employment Pass is a 2 year (renewable up to 3 years) visa for foreign professionals (managers, executives) wishing to work in Singapore.
- The Singapore Entrepreneur Pass is a 1 year (renewable up to 2 years) visa for foreign business owners who wish to relocate their business to Singapore.
- The Singapore Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) is a 3 year visa for foreign, top-tier executives, e.g. CEO, COO.
Is it easy to get a work permit in Singapore?
- Compared to most countries, yes, it is relatively easy to get a work permit in Singapore. There are several different kinds of Singapore working visas, that fall under simple categories. We have listed these categories with the most in-demand workers down to the least in-demand workers:
- Singapore Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) – for foreign, top-tier executives, e.g. COO, CEO.
- Singapore Entrepreneur Pass – for foreign business owners who wish to relocate their business to Singapore.
- Singapore Employment Pass – for foreign professionals (managers, executives) wishing to work in Singapore.
- Singapore S Pass – for foreign, mid-skilled workers such as technicians.
- The Singapore Work Permit for Foreign Workers is for semi-skilled or unskilled employees, like labourers, dock workers etc.
Don't leave your S Pass or Work Permit application to chance.
About the Author
