The Ministry of Manpower has announced upcoming changes to salary benchmarks for Employment Pass (EP) applications. With the changes impacting both new applications and renewals, employers should consider carrying out an audit of the salaries currently being offered to existing EP holders to determine whether any steps need to be taken to ensure there will be no impact on renewal applications such as salary increments.
As per standard practice, candidates are required to pass a 2-stage eligibility framework to determine if they qualify for an EP application.
Stage 1 – Minimum EP Qualifying Salary
This stage applies to all new applications and renewals. It is benchmarked against the top 1/3 of the local PMET salaries by age.
|
Type of Transaction
|
New Applications
|
Renewals
|
|
Effective Dates
|
01 Sep 2023 to
31 Dec 2024
|
w.e.f.
01 Jan 2025
|
For EPs expiring from
01 Sep 2024 to
31 Dec 2024
|
For EPs expiring
from
01 Jan 2026
|
|
All Other Sectors
|
5,000 – 10,500
|
5,600 – 10,700
|
5,000 – 10,500
|
5,600 – 10,700
|
|
Financial Services Sector
|
5,500 – 11,500
|
6,200 – 11,800
|
5,500 – 11,500
|
6,200 – 11,800
|
Stage 2 – COMPASS Framework
COMPASS is a transparent, points-based system that provides businesses with greater clarity and certainty for manpower planning. Unless exempt, an EP application must earn at least 40 points to qualify.
The first component of the COMPASS Framework is C1 – Salary. Changes to the salary benchmarks in C1 were released by MOM in early August 2024 (referred to here as "Upcoming benchmarks"). While some benchmarks have increased, it is worth noting that certain sectors have seen reduced salary benchmarks for specific age groups; however, this varies across sectors.
|
Type of Transaction
|
New Applications
|
Renewals
|
|
Current benchmarks
|
01 Sep 2023
to
31 Dec 2024
|
For EPs expiring
01 Sep 2024 to 30 Jun 2025
|
|
Upcoming benchmarks
|
w.e.f.
01 Jan 2025
|
For EPs expiring
from 01 Jul 2025
|
Upcoming Benchmarks for Ages ≤23 to ≥45
|
Sector
|
Salary Range
(in SGD)
(to earn 10 points)
|
Salary Range
(in SGD)
(to earn 20 points)
|
|
Accommodation
|
4,273 – 6,193
|
5,656 – 11,609
|
|
Administrative & Support
|
5,510 – 8,634
|
8,819 – 17,641
|
|
Air & Sea Transport
|
5,350 – 10,898
|
8,458 – 18,238
|
|
Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
|
4,300 – 8,285
|
6,243 – 14,838
|
|
Banking & Other Financial Services Activities n.e.c.
|
6,730 – 18,469
|
10,012 – 31,939
|
|
Construction
|
5,009 – 7,581
|
7,088 – 13,616
|
|
Education
|
4,966 – 10,296
|
6,721 – 13,911
|
|
F&B Services
|
4,280 – 5,693
|
5,673 – 9,668
|
|
Fund Management Activities & Activities auxiliary to Financial Services
|
8,285 – 19,703
|
12,573 – 44,471
|
|
Health & Social Services
|
5,221 – 8,898
|
6,961 – 19,279
|
|
Info-communication Technology
|
6,549 – 12,490
|
9,442 – 22,444
|
|
Insurance, Reinsurance, Provident & Pension Funding
|
5,868 – 11,515
|
8,894 – 22,258
|
|
Land Transport & Logistics
|
4,479 – 7,857
|
6,049 – 15,573
|
|
Manufacturing
|
5,262 – 9,883
|
7,561 – 16,324
|
|
Media
|
5,078 – 10,092
|
8,402 – 16,441
|
|
Other Community, Social & Personal Services
|
4,371 – 6,565
|
6,139 – 11,841
|
|
Professional Services
|
5,935 – 11,823
|
9,435 – 21,762
|
|
Public Administration & Defence
|
6,193 – 12,472
|
8,229 – 18,540
|
|
Real Estate Service
|
5,499 – 8,387
|
8,200 – 16,720
|
|
Retail Trade
|
4,851 – 6,786
|
7,127 – 12,049
|
|
Utilities & Other Goods Producing Industries
|
5,619 – 11,008
|
8,433 – 19,097
|
|
Wholesale Trade
|
5,506 – 10,279
|
8,121 – 20,301
|
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