Singapore Marine Shipyard Sector: Work Permit Requirements
To employ foreign workers for the marine shipyard sector, you will have to meet specific requirements for business activity, worker’s source country or region, quota and safety courses.
These requirements are additional and specific to theΒ marine shipyard sector. You should refer to the more generalΒ conditions and requirements for Work PermitΒ as well.
Requirements to be classified under the marine shipyard sector
The marine shipyard sector refers to shipyards and their contractors engaged in shipbuilding or ship repair activities in Singapore. To be classified under the marine shipyard sector, your company must meet both of these requirements:
- Principal business activity is shipbuilding or ship repair.
- Qualify as a shipyard or shipyard-sponsored contractor.
Being engaged in marine-related activities alone without meeting the requirements above will not qualify you under the marine shipyard sector. You may be classified under the services or manufacturing sector, as appropriate.
Principal business activity
Your companyβs principal business activity registered withΒ ACRAΒ must be any of the following:
Activity | Singapore Standard Industrial Classification (SSIC) 2010 |
Building of ships, tankers and other ocean-going vessels (including conversion of ships into off-shore structures) |
30111 |
Repair of ships, tankers and other ocean-going vessels | 30112 |
Manufacture and repair of marine engine and ship parts | 30113 |
Building and repair of pleasure crafts, lighters and boats | 30120 |
To qualify as a shipyard or shipyard-sponsored contractor
You need to meet the requirements below:
If your company is a | These requirements and benefits apply to you |
Sponsoring shipyard |
|
Non-sponsoring shipyard |
|
Resident contractor |
|
Common contractor |
|
Find out aboutΒ prior approvalΒ and how to apply.
Foreign worker eligibility
You can only hire foreign workers who satisfy the conditions for source countries or regions, age when applying and maximum period of employment.
Source countries or regions
You can employ foreign workers from these countries or regions:
- Malaysia
- Peopleβs Republic of China (PRC)
- Non-Traditional sources (NTS):
- India
- Sri Lanka
- Thailand
- Bangladesh
- Myanmar
- Philippines
- North Asian sources (NAS):
- Hong Kong (HKSAR passport)
- Macau
- South Korea
- Taiwan
Age when applying
TheΒ minimum ageΒ for all non-domestic foreign workers isΒ 18 years old.
When applying for a Work Permit:
- Malaysians must be below 58 years old.
- Non-Malaysians must be below 50 years old.
Maximum period of employment
For the marine shipyard 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) | 14 years |
NTS, PRC | Higher-skilled (R1) | 26 years |
NAS, Malaysia | All | No maximum period of employment. |
Note:Β All workers can only work up to 60 years of age.
Place of work and approved occupations
Work Permit holders must work within the shipyardβs premises.
NTS and PRC Work Permit holders can only be employed inΒ approved occupations.
What are the Approved Occupations for Non-Traditional Source (NTS) / People’s Republic of China (PRC) Workers in the Marine Shipyard Sector?
Refer to this approved occupations list for details.
Quota and levy
The number of Work Permit holders that you can hire is limited by a quota (or dependency ratio ceiling) and subject to a levy.
Under the marine shipyard sector quota, you can employΒ 3.5 Work Permit holders for every full-time local employee.
The levy rate is as follows:
Category | Monthly levy rate | Daily levy rate |
Higher-skilled | $300 | $9.87 |
Basic-skilled | $400 | $13.16 |
You can:
- Refer to the MOM guidelines on how to calculate your quota and levy bill.
- Learn more aboutΒ S Pass quota and levy rates at www.mom.gov.sg
Note:Β The daily levy rate only applies to Work Permit holders who did not work for a full calendar month. The daily levy rate is calculated as follows: (Monthly levy rate x 12) / 365 = rounding up to the nearest cent.
Qualifying for higher-skilled worker levy
You pay less levy for higher skilled foreign workers. You canΒ apply for the higher-skilled worker levy rateΒ for workers with any of these certificates:
Type of qualification | Certificates needed |
Academic qualifications | MalaysiaΒ β Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM). For diploma or higher qualifications, provide a transcript or letter from the institution stating the course duration.
North Asian sources (NAS)Β β High school certificates. |
Skills Evaluation Test (SET)conducted by ITE | SET Level 1Β orΒ National ITE Certificate (Nitec) |
Trade test endorsed byΒ these institutions | 3G and above in welding |
Market-Based Skills Recognition Framework (MBF) |
|
Settling-in Programme
Before their Work Permits can be issued, first time non-Malaysian Work Permit holders in the Marine shipyard sector must attend the Settling-In Programme (SIP).
What is Settling-in Programme (SIP) for Work Permit holder?
The SIP is a 1-day orientation programme to educate foreign workers on Singaporeβs social norms, their employment rights and responsibilities, Singapore laws and where and how to seek assistance.
Learn more about Settling-in Programme (SIP)
Required safety courses
Foreign workers in the marine shipyard sector must take one of the following safety courses before they can get their Work Permits:
- Shipyard Safety Instruction Course (SSIC)
- Apply Workplace Safety and Health in Marine Work
As soon as you get the in-principle approval letter, register the workers for the course. They must take the courseΒ within 2 weeks of arrivingΒ in Singapore. The Work Permit cannot be issued until they have taken 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 their arrival, or their Work Permits may be revoked.
Course requirements during employment
Foreign workers in the marine shipyard sector need to retake and pass the safety course based on these timelines:
If they have worked in the marine shipyard sector for | They must pass the safety course |
6 years or less | Once every 2 years |
More than 6 years | Once every 4 years |
WhenΒ renewing a Work Permit, the workerβs safety course certificate must beΒ valid for more than 1 monthΒ on the day of renewal. Otherwise the Work Permit will not be renewed.
Β Source of Information for all Work Passes & their related matters is from the Ministry Of Manpower, Singapore.
Please refer to MOM website at www.mom.gov.sg for more detailed information and up-to-date guidelines with regulations.