Work Permit

A Work Permit is a work pass issued by Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM), allowing lower-skilled and semi-skilled foreign workers to take up employment in one of five approved sectors: construction, manufacturing, marine shipyard, process, and services. It’s the largest single work pass category in Singapore.

Unlike the Employment Pass or S Pass, there’s no minimum salary requirement for a Work Permit. Eligibility depends instead on the worker’s nationality, the employer’s sector, and the employer’s available quota.

Quota (Dependency Ratio Ceiling)

Every sector has a Dependency Ratio Ceiling (DRC), or quota — the maximum proportion of foreign workers a company can employ relative to its total workforce. The DRC and how it’s calculated (as a percentage, or as a ratio to local employees) differs by sector.

Foreign Worker Levy

Employers pay a monthly levy to MOM for every Work Permit holder, tiered by the worker’s skill level and how much of the company’s quota is used. Levy rates and structures differ significantly by sector.

Security bond

For non-Malaysian Work Permit holders, employers must also purchase a security bond before the worker arrives in Singapore.

Age and source country

Workers must generally be aged 18 to 62 at application (working up to age 64), from an approved source country for their sector.

For the full quota, levy rates, safety course requirements and unique rules for each of the five sectors, see Work Permit Quota and Levy Rates by Sector in Singapore.

HeySara’s work pass service can help manage your Work Permit application and ongoing compliance.