Dependent foreigners need a work permit in Singapore |
Singapore`s Manpower Ministry on 3rd March has stated that family members, especially spouses of foreigners working in Singapore, who hold dependent`s passes, will now need to obtain a work pass in order to continue working in the country. Currently, Dependent Pass (DP) holders, who want to seek employment only, have to get a Letter of Consent (LOC) from the Ministry. The change means that spouses and other dependants of work pass holders will be subject to the same requirements as all other foreigners if they want to work in Singapore. Manpower Minister Josephine Teo said that enough time would be given to the applicants to switch to the new arrangement. She said, “We will provide sufficient time for existing DP holders working on a LOC, as well as their employers, to transit to this new arrangement. Most of them meet prevailing work pass criteria. Those who do not will have to cease working in Singapore. Currently, Dependent Pass (DP) holders, who want to seek employment only, have to get a Letter of Consent (LOC) from the ministry.” Dependants represent about 1 percent of all work pass holders. Existing DP holders who are currently employed can still continue working until the expiry of their LOC. When the LOC lapses, employers of DP holders will need to apply for an applicable work pass if they wish to continue hiring them. The Ministry will "facilitate the transition to a work pass", it said in a factsheet released to the media during the Budget parliamentary debate. The Ministry added the relevant qualifying salary, dependency ratio ceiling, as well as levies for the respective work passes will apply for these employers.
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