COMPASS requirements: 12 background screening firms selected to provide EP credential checks for employers

In addition, a guidebook on the Framework is in development to support employers in the new Employment Pass application process.

A panel comprising representatives from Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM), tripartite partners, and business and HR associations, has selected 12 background screening companies to provide services for employers to verify educational qualifications, in support of new Employment Pass (EP) applications effective 1 September 2023. 

This was shared in a press release by MOM on 30 June 2023 (Friday).

For context, following the updated guidelines announced in March 2023, employers submitting EP applications are responsible for ensuring that a potential candidate’s qualifications are authentic and were awarded by accredited institutions. Employers submitting new EP applications from 1 September this year should declare verified diploma-level and above qualifications to earn points under the Complementarity Assessment (COMPASS) Framework. Such verification proof can be obtained through selected background screening companies, online verification portals of countries’ governments or educational institutions, or digital certificates issued by educational institutions and verified via the OpenCerts portal.

The renewal of existing EP holders who were not previously assessed under COMPASS will be part of the verification requirement from 1 September 2024, and the subsequent renewals of EPs assessed under COMPASS will not require verification of qualifications.

Information on the background screening companies selected

In April 2023, MOM gathered a panel to evaluate proposals from background screening companies. Criteria used to evaluate the proposals include the scale of operations and geographical coverage, cost and time taken to verify qualifications, processes in place to ensure the quality of verifications and confidentiality of client information, and strong customer support capabilities.

Following the evaluation process, the 12 companies selected currently have operations worldwide, covering remits including Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, the UK, and the US. These companies, MOM shared, are credible in providing authenticity checks on educational qualifications and accreditation checks on educational institutions. They have also demonstrated that they have robust systems and processes to ensure that quality verification checks and service standards are met, the Ministry added. Such characteristics include dedicated quality assurance teams, regular internal audits, and robust vendor management policies for partner verification companies.

The 12 companies are: 

Companies that are able to verify qualifications from most countries/regions:

• Avvanz International Background Checks
• Cisive
• Dataflow
• eeCheck
• First Advantage
• HireRight
• Risk Management Intelligence (RMI)
• Sterling RISQ
• Veremark
• Vero Screening

Companies that are able to verify qualifications from selected countries/regions:

• GPC Gateway (Japan)
• Verity Intelligence (Australia, Malaysia, UK, US)

More details on the companies here.

As for fees and processing times, these will depend on the country that the qualification is obtained from. Across the board, fees range from S$30 to S$60 per verification check, and the process would typically take one to two weeks.

MOM affirmed that it will regularly review the list of companies to ensure that these companies keep high standards in terms of quality and service.

What employers should note about implementation details and support provided

Employers should note that they only need to verify each candidate’s qualifications once, when submitting the EP application. For subsequent EP renewals, employers do not need to submit further verification proof. Additionally, MOM will accept verification proof that has been obtained from the selected background screening companies before 1 September 2023.

It is recommended that employers consider the time required for the verification process when planning their hiring timeline. In order to support employers with their workforce planning and hiring, the development of a COMPASS guide by MOM is underway. This guidebook aims to provide tips on things to look out for and how to plan for the submission of an EP application.

Presently, employers can utilise the enhanced Workforce Insights tool available on the myMOM portal to determine their firm’s scores on COMPASS Criterion 3 (Diversity) and Criterion 4 (Support for local employment). Employers are encouraged to use the tool early to prepare for a smooth transition once COMPASS is implemented.

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