SUBSCRIBERS

With One Pass, it’s less about giving firms access to talent, but more about attracting them

The new pass for top talent plays a necessarily limited role in Singapore’s broader strategy

Add BT as a preferred source

Janice Heng

Published Tue, Aug 30, 2022 · 05:50 AM

Office workers at a crossing in the Central Business District. High-calibre talent would have been able to enter Singapore under other passes, but the One Pass enables them to contribute as fully as possible. PHOTO: BT FILE

DeeperDive is a beta AI feature. Refer to full articles for the facts.

WHETHER as part of tax breaks or eased rules, pandemic packages or Budget bonanzas, any sufficiently targeted measure will elicit a common reaction: “This does not help me.” That refrain is likely to be heard too, in response to the new Overseas Networks and Expertise (One) Pass for top foreign talent.

For a start, this pass – announced on Monday (Aug 29) – may not help employers who are struggling to bring in the talent they need. After all, not many firms worry about getting approval for workers on monthly salaries of S$30,000 or more. The much-bemoaned talent crunch takes place across salary levels, including much lower ones.

Besides, any individual who qualifies for a One Pass could certainly qualify for other existing passes. As the Manpower Ministry itself noted, the One Pass is for talent comparable to the top 5 per cent of Employment Pass holders – and thus unhelpful to anyone seeking to employ “regular” talent.

Decoding Asia newsletter: your guide to navigating Asia in a new global order. Sign up here to get Decoding Asia newsletter. Delivered to your inbox. Free.

Singapore manpower Tech talent

Reuse this content Feedback

TRENDING NOW

Air India has been one of the foreign carriers most affected by the outbreak of hostilities in the Middle East.

Air India asks Tata, Singapore Airlines for funds after US$2.4 billion loss

In this economy, the smartest bets might no longer be sitting an ocean away, but are waiting right here at home.

‘Boring’ is the new black: The stars are aligning for a Singapore stock market revival

Malaysia Madani, or Civil Malaysia, is Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's slogan encapsulating positive values (such as humanity and strong governance) that would shape policy direction. But the "corporate mafia" claims have now cast the spotlight on governance credibility.

From 1MDB to ‘corporate mafia’: Is Malaysia facing a new governance test?

Malaysia ranks 23rd globally on the Milken Institute’s global opportunity index.

South-east Asian markets account for 8.8% of global capital inflows from 2021 to 2024: report