Data from existing One Pass holders being collected; MOM to evaluate their contributions to Singapore
Government agencies are working to increase global awareness of the pass, says Manpower Minister Tan See Leng
THE government has started to collect data from existing holders of the Overseas Networks & Expertise Passes (One Pass) and will review this information as well as evaluate their contributions to Singapore.
Manpower Minister Tan See Leng said this in Parliament on Wednesday (Feb 5), stressing also that the impact of One Pass holders goes beyond their individual contributions.
For Singapore to continue to remain attractive to leading firms and investors, the country needs to ensure that top talent are anchored here, he said.
“When it comes to top global talent, the proverbial rainmakers, the ones that can bring deals... reinforcing our competitiveness as a hub for global talent, we can never have enough,” he added.
About 3,000 One Passes were issued in 2024, with financial and insurance, information and communications and professional services being the top three sectors that these passholders were employed in.
This figure includes the conversion of existing work pass holders who meet the One Pass criteria. One in six were new entrants.
The One Pass scheme was launched in 2023 and nearly 4,200 applications were approved in that first year of implementation.
The One Pass is open to top talent across all sectors, and allows them to start, operate and work for multiple companies at any one time. To qualify, applicants must earn a monthly salary of at least S$30,000, either within the past year or with a future employer in Singapore.
Pass holders are able to sponsor their dependants, and have their spouses work in Singapore on a Letter of Consent. They are exempted from the Fair Consideration Framework job advertising requirements, as well as the Complementarity Assessment Framework for Employment Pass holders.
Dr Tan said that his ministry is working with other sector agencies to increase the outreach to global talent and raise greater awareness of the One Pass.
“We encourage One Pass holders to participate in local programmes, to mentor, to network and to exchange insights with current and future generations of local leaders, such as the Singapore Leaders Network,” he said.
Replying to a separate question about the economic impact of the One Pass scheme, Dr Tan said his ministry is working with other economic agencies to monitor how Singapore performs at a macro level.
This would include the competitiveness of Singapore’s economy as well as how it translates into good employment outcomes for Singaporeans.
There would be a balanced scorecard update at the Ministry of Manpower’s upcoming Committee of Supply debate.
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