Employment Pass

An Employment Pass is a document issued by the Singapore Ministry of Manpower that allows a foreigner who is not a permanent resident, to be employed or do business in Singapore. The foreigner has to have a basic salary exceeding S$2,500 per month.

The existing framework for work passes, which was implemented after 1 September 1998, consists of three main categories.They are the P passes, issued to professionals with recognised qualifications and earn above S$3,500; the Q passes, issued to skilled workers with recognised qualifications and earn above S$2,500; and the R passes; issued to unskilled and semi-skilled foreign workers earning less than S$2,500. P and Q passes are generically referred to as employment passes and R passes as work permits.

At present, the Ministry of Manpower regulates foreign workers employment under the Employment of Foreign Workers Act. Prior to 1 September 1998, the employment function was under the regulation of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Since 1 August 1995, foreign workers entering Singapore and their employers are no longer required to make CPF contributions. A foreigner seeking to register and operate a business in Singapore will be required to apply for an "approval-in-principle employment pass" before he can register his business with the Registry of Companies and Business (RCB).



Author
Joycelyn Hwang © National Library Board, 2002



References 
Changes to foreigners' business registration procedure. (1999, June 21). The Straits Times, Money, p. 47. 

CPF rule changed for foreign workers. (1995, July 11). The Straits Times, p. 1.

Eng, C. (1998, July 25). New work pass framework for foreigners. The Business Times, Singapore at Home & Abroad, p. 2.

Stricter criteria for hiring foreign talent. (2001, October 13). The Straits Times, Home, p. 2. 

Singapore Ministry of Manpower. (2003). Employment pass information. Retrieved October 15, 2003, from www.employmenttown.gov.sg/ET/CDA/0,2175,6125------------,00.html



The information in this article is valid as at 2002 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

Subject
Politics and Government>>Law
Manpower policy--Singapore
Law and government>>Regulatory role>>Employment agencies
Business, finance and industry>>Economics>>Labour economics>>Conditions of employment



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