Firms must provide verification proof of education qualifications for foreigners on Employment Passes from September: MOM

SINGAPORE — To safeguard against fraudulent educational qualifications being submitted in Employment Pass (EP) applications, employers will be required to submit verification proof for these qualifications during the application process, said Manpower Minister Tan See Leng on Wednesday (March 1). 

EPs are given to foreign professionals, managers and executives earning at least S$5,000 a month. 

Speaking in Parliament during the debate on his ministry's budget, Dr Tan said that the new process will be implemented from Sept 1 this year, at the same time the new Complementarity Assessment Framework (Compass) is adopted. 

Starting from September this year, all new applications for EPs will be assessed via a points-based system dubbed the Compass framework, to ensure a more comprehensive evaluation of foreign talent.

Under this framework, applicants can score points on the qualifications criterion, also known as criterion 2, which includes the submission of educational qualifications. 

Dr Tan said that currently, employers looking to hire EP holders are already responsible for ensuring the authenticity of their candidate’s qualifications before hiring.

"To safeguard against gaming by submitting fraudulent educational qualifications, employers who wish to score points under Criterion 2 on 'qualifications' will be required to submit verification proof for qualifications declared on the EP application," he said. 

He added that industry associations and other stakeholders have been consulted, and he gave the assurance that his ministry will "ensure smooth implementation and we will minimise disruptions to employers’ hiring process". 

FOR SECTORS REQUIRING NICHE SKILLS 

To help businesses that require manpower with niche and highly specialised skills which may be in short supply, it had been announced last year that MOM will introduce a Shortage Occupation List (SOL) under the Compass framework that recognises EP holders who possess such skills. 

Dr Tan said that MOM is in consultation with sector agencies to finalise the inaugural SOL. 

He said that one key consideration is ensuring that sector agencies have worked with industry to put in place plans to develop the local pipeline for these good jobs.

This includes working with Institutes of Higher Learning to equip graduates with the necessary skills, as well as developing and upskilling those already in the sector, or who have adjacent roles.

"The SOL will include specialised roles spanning areas such as tech, healthcare and sustainability, where there are global shortages of skilled professionals," Dr Tan said. 

It will also be reviewed regularly, with a major refresh every three years, to ensure that the list is "responsive to industry developments, while preserving enough certainty and runway for businesses".

ONE PASS UPDATES

Separately, Dr Tan shared a few examples of individuals who have been granted the elite Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass, or ONE Pass.

The pass is for talent earning at least S$30,000 in fixed monthly salary, comparable to the top 5 per cent of EP holders, or with outstanding achievements in arts and culture, sports, and research and academia.

Dr Tan said MOM has received "many promising applications so far, from a diverse group of accomplished individuals across sectors", though he did not give an exact number of applications or approved pass holders.

He did, however, talk about two of the people who have received this pass so far.

One is Ms Yuki Yasui, the managing director of the Asia Pacific Network at the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero, a global coalition of financial institutions that aim to accelerate the decarbonisation of the economy.

"Ms Yasui plays a key role in driving decarbonisation in Singapore, including helping financial institutions draw up their net zero transition plans, and mobilising finance to support decarbonisation efforts in key industry areas such as energy, cement and steel," Dr Tan said.

The second example he mentioned was Professor Rachel Watson, who joined the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) this month as the executive director of the A*Star Skin Research Labs and The Skin Research Institute of Singapore.

"Professor Watson is internationally renowned in dermatology," Dr Tan said. "Through her leadership, she will catalyse our local community of research scientists, academics and industry professionals to tackle complex challenges in skin disease and skin health for the benefit of Singapore and Singaporeans."