In this past year, Singapore has been struggling with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. A lot of companies have undergone retrenchment activities thus a lot of people have become unemployed. However, now that things are turning for the better, companies are once again hiring people back. To ensure that the local workforce will be protected, Singapore has made it tougher for foreigners to get a work visa.
The Ministry of Manpower, the one that issues the work visa, had made some changes in the conditions and eligibility criteria of the employment visas. They not only changed the rules for new applicants but for also those who are renewing work permit visas.
Protecting the local workforce is a broad reason and only one of the reasons. That is why in this article, we will give you the 5 reasons why Singapore makes it tougher for foreigners to get a work visa.
The main reason why the Ministry of Manpower has been tightening the requirements not only for the application but also the renewing work permit process is that they want to protect the local workforce. Because of the pandemic, the number of unemployed people has increased in Singapore. However, now that things are slowly re-opening and re-starting, companies will need employees.
To prevent these employers from giving the available jobs to foreigners, they made it more difficult to get a work visa. As a result, they will prefer to hire local talent so that they won’t have to go under the stringent work pass application.
Those who lose their jobs are not the only ones Singapore wants to protect. They too want to give job opportunities to graduating students in Singapore. Although the pandemic had stopped a lot of industries from functioning, it didn’t stop the educational sector from pursuing the classes of the students. Thus, it is expected that there will be students graduating this year and in the coming years and they need jobs.
To ensure that these fresh graduates will get jobs in Singapore, the Ministry of Manpower increased the work visa salary limit. The new salary limit will also come into effect for those who will be renewing work permit visas.
Another reason why the Ministry of Manpower is tightening the work visa qualifications is to ensure that the hiring companies are following the conditions. Singapore is making efforts to ensure that those displaced Singaporean workers can find a job locally.
That is why they only approved work visa applications from companies that have shown great efforts in hiring local talents. This is also the scenario if the company is applying for the renewing work permit process. If they notice the company is showing bias towards foreign applicants, they will not approve their applications for the E Pass, S Pass, and even the work permits.
A good and possible reason why Singapore is increasing the salary limit for work visa applicants is to make it more attractive. This may seem like an opposing reason but it does have that effect. The high salary qualifications will make foreigners interested in getting a job in Singapore no matter how stringent it is.
In addition, Singapore will be able to attract foreigners with exceptional qualifications that will strengthen their workforce. Needless to say, Singapore will still need foreign talent to fill in their jobs. Thus, the high salary and stringent requirements will only enable them to get the best of the best among foreigners even those who are in the renewing work permit process.
The last reason why Singapore tightened their work visa qualifications is so companies that assist foreigners and other businesses in work visa applications and renewing work permit processes will have a market. Because of the stringent requirements, hiring companies and foreigners would want to succeed in their applications. Thus, they will hire work visa professionals to aid them and guarantee approval.
Even though Singapore has made it tough for foreigners to get approved for a work pass, this shouldn’t discourage them from trying. As mentioned, Singapore will still need foreigners to work in the country. As long as you have the skills and can meet the requirements, you can get approved not only for a new work visa but also for the renewing work permit. If you want to ensure approval from the Ministry of Manpower, hire a work visa company like Ren Ai Group. They will aid you with all your work visa needs.