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

Janice Heng

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

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 –…