Singapore Raises Foreign PMET Salary Requirements, Eases Work Duration Caps
Singapore has announced significant changes to its Professional, Managerial, Executive and Technician policies. Starting in 2025 and continuing into 2026, the government is raising the minimum salary threshold for Employment Pass holders—up to six thousand dollars monthly, increasing progressively with age. This contrasts with removing the 14 to 26 year employment duration caps that previously limited how long foreign workers could stay. The changes also expand access to workers from new countries like Bhutan and Cambodia. Government officials argue these measures attract high-quality talent while supporting local job growth, noting that resident PMET employment grew by 382,000 over the past decade, compared to 38,000 foreign PMET positions. However, recent data shows that approximately four in five jobs created in 2025 went to foreign workers, raising questions about the actual benefit to local professionals. The policy tries to balance Singapore's need for global talent against persistent public concerns about job security and fair competition for citizens.
Key facts
- Employment Pass qualifying salary for Financial Services raised to 6,600 Singapore dollars, effective January 2027 for new applications.
- From July 2026, maximum employment duration cap for work permit holders removed; previously limited to 14 to 26 years.
- Over past decade, resident PMET employment grew by 382,000 while foreign PMET employment (EP and S Pass) grew by 38,000.
- In 2025, approximately 55,500 jobs created in Singapore; roughly 43,900 went to non-resident workers and 11,600 to residents.
- Approximately 1.66 million foreign workers in Singapore as of June 2026, up from 1.20 million at end of 2021.
How different outlets framed it
Left-leaning coverage: Opposition voices like the Workers' Party and some civil society groups highlight gaps in trust and transparency around foreign hiring decisions, expressing concern that salary thresholds alone don't prevent displacement through age discrimination, foreign ethnic networks, and structural pressure on mid-career local workers. They note that while aggregate PMET numbers grew, individual Singaporeans face real anxiety about job stability and whether they are competing on truly equal terms with foreign applicants.
Right-leaning coverage: Business groups and conservative economists argue the policy changes are necessary to maintain Singapore's position as a regional financial and tech hub, warning that over-restricting foreign talent would drive away multinational corporations and startups, ultimately harming local job creation. They stress that Singapore's small population and aging demographics mean foreign workers are demographically necessary and complement the local workforce in sectors where there are genuine skills shortages.
Limits of this briefing
Government does not publish detailed statistics on foreign workers by nationality, making comparative analysis difficult. Most sources reflect Singapore's domestic debate; independent international academic research on actual displacement effects versus complementarity is limited. Data on job quality, sector composition, and wage changes over time would strengthen analysis of policy impact.
Sources
- Ministry of Manpower (Singapore): Factsheet on Foreign Workforce Policy Announcements at COS 2025 Centre
- The Online Citizen: Foreign workers take four in five Singapore jobs in 2025 as internal indicators signal a turning cycle Left
- People Matters Global: Singapore overhauls work permit rules for foreign talent: What employers need to know Centre
- Al Jazeera: Singapore tightens rules for expat workers with an eye on local discontent Left
- Pinsent Masons (Law Firm Analysis): Changes to Singapore's foreign workers laws offer greater flexibility in recruiting and retaining talent Right