Work visa and COMPASS

    

COMPASS aims to enable employers to hire high-qualified professionals in a more transparent system, while improving workforce diversity and promoting the employment of local employees. 

    

An employee must receive at least 40 points in the criteria 

 

Besides the foundational criteria, there is the possibility of gaining additional points through bonus criteria. On the one hand, there is a "Skills Bonus" with up to 20 bonus points if the candidate wants to work in Singapore in an occupation that is on the Shortage Occupation List (SOL). 

   

The SOL is a list developed by MOM³ and MT⁴ in consultation with sector agencies and tripartite partners that recognises occupations requiring highly specialised skills that are currently in shortage in the local workforce. Professions currently on the list include among others those in the food industry, such as novel food biotechnologist, in the green economy sector, such as carbon project/program manager and infocomm technology, such as cybersecurity specialist.

   

On the other hand, there is the possibility for 10 bonus points, if the business, that wants to hire the applicant, receives a Strategic Economic Priorities (SEP) Bonus for partnering with the Singaporean government on ambitious investment, innovation, internationalisation, or company and workforce transformation activities.

   

To check whether a candidate is likely to pass COMPASS, employers can check the SAT (Self-Assessment Tool) before the application. If the SAT is positive, there is according to MOM a 90% chance of passing COMPASS.

    

In addition to the changes to Employment Passes under the COMPASS system, the minimum salary required for a successful application will also increase from September 2023, not only for the Employment Pass (S$ 5,000 instead of S$ 4,500), but also for the Personalised Employment Pass (S$ 22,500 regardless of whether the person is already an EP holder or not, instead of S$ 12,000 for existing EP holders and S$ 18,000 for foreign professionals) and the S Pass (S$ 3,150 instead of S$ 3,000).

 

For more detailed information, please refer to our article "Work visa for Singapore - a more elaborate  application procedure is supposed to increase transparency".