Singapore Raises Foreign PMET Salary Thresholds, Balancing Tech Needs With Local Job Protection
Singapore has announced major updates to its foreign worker policy for skilled professionals, or PMETs. Starting from January 2027, the minimum qualifying salary for foreign professionals will rise from 5,600 to 6,000 Singapore dollars per month. The government is also raising the local qualifying salary from 1,600 to 1,800 dollars monthly, which affects how many foreign workers companies can hire. These changes are part of Singapore's broader COMPASS framework, a points-based assessment system introduced in 2023 that evaluates whether foreign workers complement the local workforce. Singapore says over the past decade, it hired 38,000 foreign professionals while creating 382,000 new PMET positions for local residents. The policy adjustments aim to strike a balance: retaining Singapore's attractiveness as a global business hub while addressing growing public concerns about job competition and foreign worker concentration in specific industries.
Key facts
- EP minimum qualifying salary rises from SGD 5,600 to SGD 6,000 per month from January 1, 2027 for new applications and January 1, 2028 for renewals
- Local Qualifying Salary rises from SGD 1,600 to SGD 1,800 per month from July 1, 2026
- Over past decade, Singapore created 382,000 new PMET positions for residents while hiring 38,000 foreign professionals
- COMPASS framework uses points-based scoring to assess whether foreign workers complement local workforce
- As of December 2023, there were approximately 205,400 EP holders in Singapore, up from 161,700 in December 2021
- Foreign-owned companies account for 20% of firms but employ one-third of total Singapore resident workforce
How different outlets framed it
Left-leaning coverage: Left-leaning critics, particularly from the Progress Singapore Party and online communities, argue that the government's PMET data is opaque and masks underemployment and age discrimination among local workers. They contend that foreign workers, especially younger professionals, displace Singaporeans, particularly those aged 40-50 facing retrenchment. Critics question whether safeguards are genuinely effective and highlight that many Singaporeans struggle to secure stable, high-paying jobs despite official growth claims.
Limits of this briefing
Most available sources reflect government and employer perspectives or official statements. Critical perspectives mainly come from opposition politicians, online forums, and civil society organizations rather than mainstream media. Limited commentary from right-leaning outlets specifically on this policy.
Sources
- Ministry of Manpower (Official): Employment Pass Centre
- Progress Singapore Party (PSP): Local PMETs Face Systemic Challenges Left
- The Online Citizen: Tan See Leng's Defense of Foreign Worker Reliance Faces Backlash Left
- People Matters Global: Singapore Overhauls Work Permit Rules for Foreign Talent Centre
- Al Jazeera: Singapore Tightens Rules for Expat Workers With Eye on Locals' Gripes Centre