Work permits will only be issued if an employer has acceptable accommodation for their WPHs, Singapore's MOM reminds

Employers must register a valid address for housing their work permit holders (WPH) and this may include dormitories, hostels, and public or private residential housing.

Singapore's Ministry of Manpower has reminded employers that it will only issue a work permit once an employer has registered a valid address of accommodation for their work permit holders (WPHs).

Thus, employers are required to ensure their WPHs have acceptable accommodation in Singapore — and this may include dormitories, hostels, and public or private residential housing. 

The Ministry was responding to a Parliamentary question on the possibility of making more accommodation available ahead of time before approving more work passes for foreign workers.

As shared in the response, MOM has been working with the relevant ministries to expand the supply of dormitory beds, and 17,000 dormitory beds have been added since December 2022.

Further responding to a point on committing to productivity measures ahead of work pass approvals, MOM pointed out: "Businesses know that to thrive in the long run, they need to transform, increase their productivity, and reduce their reliance on WPHs."

To this end, sector agencies have launched 23 Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs) as part of efforts to uplift productivity across the economy, with businesses given access various enterprise grants offered by sector agencies to adopt automation and technology, and transform their businesses.

MOM highlighted: "It is not practical for MOM to require each firm to commit to productivity measures and ascertain if targets have been met, before approving work pass applications."

Instead, it added, MOM, in consultation with sector agencies, calibrates foreign workforce policies, including the Dependency Ratio Ceilings (DRCs) which limit the number of WPHs that employers can hire, to support the push towards higher productivity.

Lead image / Shutterstock