New Scheme Allows Firms to Increase Worker Quota for Foreigners

The Manpower for Strategic Economic Priorities (M-SEP) scheme was recently launched by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI).

The M-SEP scheme, announced by Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry Dr. Tan See Leng back in March, allows firms to hire foreigners above the worker quota, as per a joint press release by the MOM and MTI on Tuesday.

Aimed to support companies that are "needle-movers" in Singapore's economy, the M-SEP gives qualified firms leeway to "temporarily hire S Pass and Work Permit holders above the prevailing Dependency Ratio Ceiling (DRC) and S Pass sub-DRC."

According to the MOM, the scheme allows companies to set S Pass and Work Permit quotas of up to 5% more than their base workforce number, with a limit of 50 workers each. To be eligible for M-SEP, firms must engage in programmes in line with Singapore's economic priorities, such as investments supporting the city-state's hub strategy, innovation or research and development, or internationalisation.

For the second condition, these firms must commit to hiring and training locals. They must also meet these conditions by the end of the scheme's support period to be qualified for renewal.