The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in Singapore has released the latest salary reference table for the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS), a points-based assessment system that will be used for all Employment Pass (EP) applications. This initiative, which aims to attract highly skilled individuals and level the playing field for local workers, will be phased in from September 2024.
The Employment Pass (EP) is a work permit issued by the Singapore government to foreign professionals. The main requirements for obtaining an EP generally include meeting a minimum salary threshold and possessing qualifications relevant to the position applied for.
Changes to the EP Salary Table: New Rules and Implementation
The new salary table will apply to new EP applications starting from January 1, 2025, and to EP renewals for passes expiring from July 1, 2025. Meanwhile, the salary table released in May 2023 remains valid for EP applications submitted until December 31, 2024, as well as for EP renewals expiring between September 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025.
The qualifying salary requirements for the Employment Pass (EP) vary depending on the sector and age. For new applications and renewals, the minimum salary required is $5,000 for all sectors except financial services, where the amount increases progressively with age, reaching $10,500 for those aged 45 and above. In the financial services sector, the minimum salary starts at $5,500 and rises to $11,500 for those aged 45 and above.
Starting from September 1, 2024, in addition to meeting these qualifying salary requirements, EP holders with expiring passes must also pass COMPASS to renew their pass. Furthermore, beginning January 1, 2025, the qualifying salary for new EP applications will be raised to a minimum of $5,600, and $6,200 for the financial services sector. This increase will also apply to EP renewals for passes expiring from January 1, 2026.
Pass Criteria for COMPASS
In order to qualify, a candidate must score a minimum of 40 points on the COMPASS assessment. Exemptions apply to candidates with a fixed monthly salary of $22,500 or more, similar to the Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) job posting exemption policy effective September 1, 2023.
To meet the C1 salary criteria, a candidate's fixed monthly salary must be at or above the 65th percentile of the median salary for local PMETs (Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians) in the relevant sector. The salary evaluation process involves comparing the candidate's salary to the prevailing market salary standards for local PMETs in the relevant sector.
It is important to note that these salary standards are different from the minimum salary requirement for obtaining an EP. The EP minimum salary requirement remains the primary determinant. Candidates who do not meet the minimum threshold will be rejected, even if their salary is competitive within the market.
