Recently, the Singapore Ministry of Manpower has sent out explosive news
The work permit has been reformed again!
Just on March 4, the Singapore Parliament proposed that from September next year, the SINGAPORE WORK PERMIT EP application will adopt a scoring system, making the application process more transparent and predictable.
Complementary Expertise Assessment Framework COMPASS
Under the new policy, singapore's Ministry of Manpower will comprehensively assess the eligibility of applicants and enterprises through a points system. This integral framework is known as the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS).
At that time, EP applications will be scored according to four basic criteria. These four criteria are the monthly salary of the applicant, the applicant's academic qualifications, the diversity of nationalities of the employees of the enterprise, and the proportion of local employees in the enterprise.
Specific evaluation criteria
This "scoring system" is actually good news for international students!
At present, COMPASS is divided into four basic items for scoring, which are divided into three grades: 0 points, 10 points, and 20 points:
- Monthly salary - the applicant's monthly salary reaches or exceeds the level of 65% of peers of the same age;
- Academic qualifications – whether the applicant graduated from a top school;
- Whether the employees of the enterprise are from diverse countries and regions;
- Whether to hire enough local staff.
In addition to this, the framework includes two reward criteria:
- Skills, 20 points added if you are working on the list of occupations in Singapore;
- For an economic priority strategy, 10 points are added when the applicant's company meets the evaluation criteria for innovation or internationalization.
After the introduction of the new work visa policy, the diversification of academic qualifications, salaries and company backgrounds will become an important factor in whether international students can apply for a work permit.
In terms of academic qualifications, as long as you graduate from a university, you can directly get 10 points; if you graduate from a university within QS100, you can directly get 20 points!
In fact, in addition to the scoring policy, the salary standard of the work permit was only adjusted two months ago:
- Ep salary threshold raised from S$4500 to S$5000 (S$5500 for financials)
- SP's salary threshold has been raised from 2500 to S$3000
Under the COMPASS framework, projects that meet the criteria can receive 10 points each, 20 points for those that exceed expectations, and no points for those that do not meet the standards. Subject to a monthly salary of S$5,000 (S$5,500 for the financial sector), the Employment Pass is required to score 40 points in a total of four programs before it can apply for or renew an EP.
*However, applicants with a monthly salary of more than S$20,000 will not be subject to the COMPASS framework.
COMPASS enablement time
New applications are available from 1 September 2023
Applications for renewal of the Pass are effective from 1 September 2024
COMPASS Exemption
Compass can be waived if your candidate meets the following criteria:
- Not less than S$20,000 per month (similar to what is mentioned in the current FairNess Consideration Framework);
- Apply to be an assignee of the amount of an overseas company under the World Trade Organization's General Agreement on Trade in Services or the applicable Free Trade Agreement to which Singapore is a party;
- or a short-term position of 1 month or less.
Singapore's Ministry of Finance believes that EP holders should be professionals and senior executives who can contribute to singapore's economy, improve the skills of the staff they work with, and strengthen the local workforce.
Minister of Manpower Chen Shilong stressed that the complementary professional assessment framework is not to tighten the employment pass system, nor is it to make it more difficult for enterprises to hire people, and many applicants can currently meet the standards.
frequently asked questions
1►
What is a "top university"?
- Top 100 universities based on international rankings, as well as other well-known universities in different regions;
- Autonomous University of Singapore;
- A vocational college that is highly recognized in a specific field.
*Please note! Academic qualifications are not mandatory requirements for COMPASS, and candidates who do not have a degree equivalent can still pass COMPASS if they score enough points on other criteria!
2►
What is the Career Shortage List?
The Shortage Occupation List (SOL). According to Singapore's Ministry of Manpower, the work at SOL is based on two main considerations: one is that the position must be in line with Singapore's economic development priorities, and the second is that the occupation is currently in short supply, such as the Inforcom related positions that support Singapore's digitalization process. A specific SOL is not yet available, and a full SOL is expected to be available by March 2023.
3►
What is a corporate economic priority strategy bonus?
This is a bonus project for enterprises, mainly in two aspects: First, the company can promote the development of local economic innovation and strengthen Singapore's ties with the world; Second, the business needs to have the scale and potential to provide good jobs for locals. If the company meets the above two requirements, it can get an additional bonus of 10 points.