Employers must give proof of EP applicants’ educational qualifications under Compass framework
FROM September, employers must submit proof of Employment Pass (EP) applicants’ educational qualifications to score the relevant points under a new assessment framework, Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng said on Wednesday (Mar 1).
From Sep 1, new EP applicants must score at least 40 points under the previously-announced Complementarity Assessment Framework (Compass). There are four foundational criteria, with a possible 0, 10 or 20 points each.
For the “qualifications” criterion, 10 points are awarded for a degree-equivalent qualification, and 20 points for those from top-tier institutions.
The new verification requirement will “safeguard against gaming by submitting fraudulent educational qualifications”, said Dr Tan, noting that employers are already responsible for ensuring the authenticity of their hires’ qualifications.
As previously announced, selected applicants can boost their Compass scores under two bonus criteria. Full details of the bonuses will be shared by the end of March, said Dr Tan.
The Skills Bonus of 10 or 20 points is for individuals in “shortage occupations”, while the Strategic Economic Priorities Bonus of 10 points is for employers that meet specific criteria on innovation or internationalisation.
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Replying to Workers’ Party Member of Parliament Gerald Giam’s request for an update on the Skills Bonus, Dr Tan said that the relevant occupations require “niche and highly specialised skills in short supply within our workforce” and “are critical to sustaining investments in both key growth or strategic priority areas”.
These include specialised roles in areas such as tech, healthcare, and sustainability, where there are global shortages of skilled professionals.
The list will be reviewed regularly with “a major refresh” every three years, he added: “This ensures that (it) is responsive to industry developments, while preserving enough certainty and runway for businesses.”
Companies can assess their performance on the firm-level criteria of Compass, as well as compare themselves against industry peers, via a Workforce Insights Tool on the Manpower Ministry’s myMOM portal.
Foreign talent must complement the local workforce and be of the right calibre, said Dr Tan, reiterating that an open, vibrant economy is key to creating good opportunities for locals.
He gave an update on the top-tier Overseas Networks and Expertise Pass (One) Pass, for foreign talent earning at least S$30,000 monthly or with outstanding achievements in selected fields. Applications opened this Jan 1, with “many promising applications so far, from a very diverse group of accomplished individuals across sectors”.
One successful applicant is the managing director of the Asia Pacific Network at the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero, a group of financial institutions committed to decarbonisation. Another is a dermatology expert who has joined the Agency for Science, Technology and Research as an executive director of its Skin Research Labs and The Skin Research Institute of Singapore.
“We look forward to the valuable contributions that our One Pass holders will bring and the opportunities that they will create for Singaporeans,” said Dr Tan.
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