To employ foreign workers for the construction sector, you will have to meet specific requirements for worker’s source country or region, quota and levy. These requirements are additional and specific to the construction sector. You should refer to the more general conditions and requirements for Work Permit as well.
You can only hire foreign workers who satisfy the conditions for source countries or regions, age when applying and maximum period of employment.
You can employ foreign workers from these countries or regions:
The minimum age for all non-domestic foreign workers is 18 years old. When applying for a Work Permit:
For the construction sector, the maximum number of years a foreign worker can work in Singapore on a Work Permit is as follows:
|
Source country/region
|
Type of worker
|
Maximum period of employment
|
|---|---|---|
|
NTS, PRC
|
Basic-Skilled (R2) i.e. those holding SEC, SEC(K).
|
14 years
|
|
NTS, PRC
|
Higher-Skilled (R1) i.e. those who have been upgraded through various means.
|
26 years
|
|
NAS, Malaysia
|
All sectors
|
No maximum period of employment.
|
Note: All workers can only work up to 60 years of age.
The number of Work Permit holders that you can hire is limited by quota (or dependency ratio ceiling) and subject to a levy. Under the construction sector quota, you can employ 7 Work Permit holders for every full-time local employee. In addition to quota, NTS and PRC workers are subject to man-year entitlement (MYE) requirements. They may qualify for a waiver if they have at least 3 years of construction experience in Singapore. MYE does not apply to Malaysian and NAS workers. The levy rate is as follows:
|
Tier
|
Monthly
|
Daily
|
|---|---|---|
|
Malaysians and NAS – Higher-Skilled
|
$300
|
$9.87
|
|
Malaysians and NAS – Basic-Skilled
|
$700
|
$23.02
|
|
NTS and PRC – Higher-Skilled, on MYE
|
$300
|
$9.87
|
|
NTS and PRC – Basic-Skilled, on MYE
|
$700
|
$23.02
|
|
NTS and PRC – Higher-Skilled, MYE waiver
|
$600
|
$19.73
|
|
NTS and PRC – Basic-Skilled, MYE waiver
|
$950
|
$31.24
|
Note:
Example: If the worker only manages to get the skills certification 7 months after the Work Permit is issued, the revised levy rate of $700 will apply only during the first 3 months of the Work Permit and upon getting skills certification. The differences in the levy rates paid for the 4 months in between these two periods will not be refunded. You can:
Note:
From 1 January 2018, at least 10% of your construction Work Permit holders must be Higher-Skilled (R1) before you can hire any new Basic-Skilled (R2) construction workers or renew the Work Permits of existing R2 contruction workers. From 1 January 2019, firms that do not meet the 10% R1 minimum will not be able to hire or renew R2 construction workers and will also have the Work Permits of any excess R2 construction workers revoked.
You will have to pay a levy bond for each Work Permit holder if:
The amount of levy bond you need to pay depends on the worker’s skill level.
|
If your worker is
|
You need to pay
|
|---|---|
|
Higher-Skilled or Basic-Skilled
|
$600
|
|
Unskilled
|
$2,000
|
Processing time: 3 working days Pay electronically using PayNow Corporate. Your company first needs to set up a corporate internet banking account. If you do not have one, please contact your bank. Thereafter:
Log in to your corporate internet banking account.
Choose PayNow (UEN) as the transfer option.
Enter the Unique Entity Number (UEN) T08GA0019C9W2 as a payee.
Enter your bill reference number in the following format <LBC + CPFSubmission No.>, e.g. LBC123456789A-PTE-01. Note: You need to indicate this bill reference number in the field provided in PayNow, or we will not know what the payment is for. If the field is not available, enter the number in the free text box.
Enter the levy bond amount to pay:
$600 for higher-skilled or basic-skilled workers.
$2000 for unskilled workers.
Make sure you see “WORK PASS DIVISION/ AG” as the registered payee name before you make the fund transfer. You will receive the bank’s notification confirming that the transfer is successful.
Proceed with your work pass transaction after 3 working days. Your levy bond will be processed, we will also send you an acknowledgement receipt by post.
If you received a levy bond payment letter from us because your workers’ Work Permits have been revoked, we will need more time to process your levy bond. Follow the instructions on the letter, and we will contact you to advise on the next steps to reinstate your workers
Before their Work Permits can be issued, first time non-Malaysian Work Permit holders in the construction sector must attend the Settling-In Programme (SIP).
Learn more about Settling-in Programme (SIP) Documents required Your foreign worker must bring the following documents to the SIP training centre:
Foreign workers in the construction industry must take one of the following safety courses before their Work Permits can be issued.
As soon as you get in-principle approval, register the workers for the course. They should take the course within 2 weeks of arriving in Singapore. The Work Permit cannot be issued until they take the course. As an employer, you are responsible for your workers passing the test. If they fail the course, they should retake it as soon as possible. They need to pass the course within 3 months of arrival or their Work Permit could be revoked.
Foreign workers in the construction sector need to retake and pass the safety course based on these timelines:
|
If they have worked in the construction sector for
|
They must pass the safety course
|
|---|---|
|
They must pass the safety course
|
Once every 2 years
|
|
More than 6 years
|
Once every 4 years
|
Note:
Some companies may be asked to go for an interview and submit documents about their business operations. This is to help MOM better understand their business activities. If your company is selected, you will receive an email on the interview details. It is compulsory for your ACRA-registered director to attend the interview.
eBACS is an online service for all CRS and BLS application types.
CRS Registration is required if you wish to tender or carry out public sector construction and construction-related projects in Singapore.
Yes, as of June 1, 2025, a BCA registration through the Contractors Registration System (CRS) will be mandatory for all companies applying for S Passes and/or Work Permit for construction workers, meaning you will need to register with BCA before submitting application for S Pass and/or Work Permit construction workers.
Key points about BCA registration for S Pass & Work Permit applications:
Effective date: This requirement comes into effect on June 1, 2025.
Who needs to register: Any company hiring foreign construction workers (S Pass and/or Work Permit holders) must register with BCA under the CRS.
Purpose of CRS: The CRS acts as a nationwide registry for construction firms, ensuring they meet certain standards before hiring foreign construction workers.
A builders licence is required if you wish to carry out building works in Singapore where plans are required to be approved by the Commissioner of Building Control.
The data of BCA contractors’ registry is updated (synced) by MOM every Tuesday. Once you have successfully registered with BCA contractors’ registry the data will be synced with MOM’s portal automatically. In case of any missing of such data, you need to contact MOM for further assistance. Visit this Page for more details: https://www.bca.gov.sg/eBACS
1 FUNCTIONS & SCOPE OF THE SLOTS REGISTRY 1.1 Functions of the Registry The SLOTS Registry is administered by the Singapore Contractors Association Ltd to serve the procurement needs of government departments, statutory bodies, public and private sector organisations. 1.2 Scope of Registration There are four registration work-heads, namely Architectural & Finishing Works, Civil & Structural Works, Mechanical & Electrical Works and Equipment & Special Services. There are 14 for Architectural and Finishing Works, 12 registration trades for Civil & Structural Works, 7 for the Mechanical & Electrical Works and 6 for the Equipment & Special Services. 2 SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTS With effect from 1 September 2022, all new SLOTS applications will be done via ONLINE at: https://www.scal.com.sg/membership/apply/slots SCAL will not accept any application via EMAIL and/or hardcopy submission. It is the applicants’ responsibility to ensure completeness of the submissions. Incomplete submissions will be rejected by SCAL. Please visit their online Page for more details.
Yes, as of June 1, 2025, being a SLOT member alone is not enough to apply for or renew S Passes or Work Permits for construction workers; all companies in the construction sector, including SLOT members, must be registered with the BCA’s Contractors Registration System (CRS) to apply for work passes for foreign construction workers.
Even if you are a registered SLOT member, you still need to register with the BCA CRS to apply for S Pass and work permits for your construction workers.
Visit this Page for more details: https://www.scal.com.sg/membership/slots-application-tncVisit this Page for online application: https://www.scal.com.sg/membership/apply/slots Click here to download the SCAL’s T & C Page.
Singapore is changing how construction companies hire foreign workers, and the shift is significant. The Alternative Entry Pathway (AEP) introduced by BCA gives employers more control over recruitment, while still maintaining strict quality standards. Instead of relying heavily on overseas testing, companies can now take a more active role in selecting and assessing workers.
The AEP programme allows construction firms to directly manage how they recruit foreign workers. This means you are no longer limited to standard processes. You can identify candidates, assess their suitability, and ensure they are properly matched to the job before they even start work. The focus is on bringing in workers who are genuinely skilled and relevant to your project needs.
From January 2027, mandatory overseas skills testing (SEC(K)) will be removed for workers from China and Thailand. This change will extend to all source countries by 2028. Instead of waiting for overseas test slots, workers can be brought into Singapore first.
However, this does not mean standards are relaxed. Workers will still need to be assessed locally. Employers must reserve a test slot in Singapore and ensure that workers obtain the required Skills Evaluation Certificate (SEC).
There are also stricter consequences if workers are not certified on time. A higher levy will apply if workers are not certified within the first 6 months of receiving their Work Permit. If they fail to obtain certification within one year, they will not be allowed to renew their Work Permit.
There are two main ways companies can recruit under the AEP programme.
The Vocational Certification Pathway allows you to hire workers who already hold recognised certifications from approved institutions. This is a faster route, especially for experienced workers who meet industry standards.
The Employer-led Process gives you more flexibility. You can design your own recruitment system, including interviews, practical skill assessments, and training programmes. This approach must be submitted to BCA for approval, but it allows you to build a workforce that fits your exact operational needs.
The process starts with submitting an AEP proposal to BCA. Once approved, you can begin recruiting workers under your customised pathway. Workers may enter Singapore without prior certification during the pilot stage, but they will need to be assessed locally.
Over time, if your recruitment process proves effective, it may be recognised and streamlined further, reducing the need for repeated testing.
This new framework gives you more flexibility, but it also comes with greater responsibility. You now have more control over who you hire, which means you need proper systems in place to assess skills and manage compliance timelines.
The upside is clear. You can reduce mismatches, improve productivity, and build a stronger, more reliable workforce. Instead of hiring based on generic testing, you are selecting workers who are actually suited to your projects.
The AEP programme is part of Singapore’s broader move to raise construction standards and improve workforce quality. It is not just about faster hiring. It is about hiring better.
Companies that adapt early will have a clear advantage. They will be able to recruit more efficiently, reduce project delays, and maintain higher work quality.
Source of Information for all Work Passes & their related matters is from the Ministry Of Manpower & BCA Singapore. Please refer to MOM website at www.mom.gov.sg & BCA website for more detailed information and up-to-date guidelines with regulations.
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