Singapore: Non-Traditional Sources Occupation List to be Expanded

Update – March 11, 2026: Effective September 2026, the government will add eight additional occupations to the Non-Traditional Source (NTS) Occupation List, which will permit employers to hire Work Permit holders from a broader pool of approved source countries. The newly added roles will include butchers, fishmongers and related food preparers; food and drink stall assistants; kitchen assistants; waiters; cabin attendants; babysitters or infant caregivers; educarers; and teacher aides. Employers hiring under the NTS Occupation List must pay a minimum fixed monthly salary of SGD 2,000 and ensure that such hires do not exceed 8% of the company’s total workforce. 

March 10, 2025: From September 1, 2025, more occupations will be added to the Non-Traditional Sources (NTS) Occupation List, which allows employers to hire workers under a work permit, instead of an S Pass. This creates more distinct work permit options for non-professional, managerial, executive, and technical (PMET) roles in the manufacturing and services sectors, ultimately raising the quality bar for S Pass holders. Among the newly-added occupations are heavy vehicle drivers and a range of manufacturing operator roles, and cooks in any restaurant (as opposed to a restriction on the type of restaurant).

Further, on June 1, 2025, the Ministry of Manpower will add Bhutan, Cambodia and Laos to the list of countries from which employers can hire such employees (which already includes Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand). This will broaden the available pool of foreign workers during a time of labor shortages in the country.