Singapore expands non-traditional source occupation list to include two new occupations

With the two new inclusions, licensed hotels will be able to hire NTS housekeepers and porters at the Work Permit level from 1 September 2023.

Singapore's non-traditional source occupation list (NTS OL) has been expanded to include two new occupations – housekeepers and porters.

THE (NTS OL) was initially announced by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) at the Committee of Supply 2022 to help firms adjust to the S Pass qualifying salary and levy increases. Effective 1 September 2023, these firms will be allowed access to NTS Work Permit holders for occupations with pressing manpower needs, but that see low take-up rates by locals and are harder to automate.

Under the expanded list, there are now a total of nine occupations on the NTS OL. The tight list of occupations, together with the quota and salary criterion, supports the longer-term shift to be more manpower-lean, and addresses the industries’ manpower needs while balancing local employment outcomes, MOM shared.

The full list of occupations on the NTS OL and NTS countries includes:

• Cooks in Indian restaurants.
• Workers in food processing firms, e.g.,. vegetable pickler, condiments and sauce makers.
  
  • Excludes:
    • Food processing supervisors and general foremen.
    • Other food and beverage jobs such as tasters, graders, bakers, pastry-cooks and confectionery makers.
• Workers in manufacturing firms such as general manufacturers, precision engineering, transport engineering, automotive firms, working as:
  • Sheet metal workers
  • Welders and flame cutters
  • Metal moulders and coremakers
  • Riggers and cable splicers
  • Structural metal preparers and erectors 

With the two new inclusions, licensed hotels will also be able to hire NTS housekeepers and porters at the Work Permit level from 1 September 2023. This was decided in consultation with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), MOM said.

Margaret Heng, Executive Director of the Singapore Hotel Association commented: “The Singapore Hotel Association, together with our 160 members, welcome the inclusion of housekeepers and porters onto the NTS OL scheme for licensed hotels. These roles are essential to delivering service excellence and memorable guest journeys, but recruitment of suitable talents has become increasingly difficult. With this critical move, hotels can now tap on non-traditional sources to alleviate operational challenges and safeguard Singapore’s reputation as a preferred travel destination.”

Application details for cooks in Indian restaurants

In similar news, Indian restaurants will be able to hire cooks from India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka at the Work Permit level under the NTS Occupation List. Currently, restaurants are already able to hire Work Permit holders from Malaysia, People’s Republic of China and North Asian Sources.

S. Mahenthiran, Chief Executive Officer, Catering Solutions and Honorary Secretary of the Indian Restaurants Association of Singapore said: “We appreciate the Government's effort in coming up with the NTS OL scheme to allow Indian restaurants to hire cooks at the Work Permit level. This will help us greatly in our mission to serve authentic Indian cuisine and preserve the Indian heritage in Singapore.”

Indian restaurants that wish to hire NTS Work Permit Holders can submit their applications via MOM’s website from 1 September 2023, and eligibility will then be assessed by a panel comprising industry and government stakeholders in Indian cuisine. Eligible Indian restaurants may thereafter submit their Work Permit applications via MOM’s Work Permit Online (WPOL).

Employers who wish to hire NTS Work Permit Holders on the NTS OL will be subject to a sub-quota of 8% and a fixed monthly salary criterion of at least S$2,000. The Work Permit holders are also strictly limited to the occupation stated on their Work Permit.

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