SINGAPORE – Employment Pass Required Before Start of Work
Effective March 16, 2015, foreign workers will no longer be permitted to start work immediately upon arrival with a valid In-Principal Approval letter. Rather, the Ministry of Manpower will require that they obtain an Employment Pass prior to beginning work. Foreign workers must receive a notification letter that confirms the issuance of their Employment Pass prior to beginning work. However, it should be noted they may begin working prior to completing their biometric appointment and receiving their identification card. Employers and foreign workers should expect a short delay (typically one or two days), provided that both parties have the proper documentation available. Please note that this change does not affect S Pass holders, as these individuals are already required to have their S Pass issued on the first day of work.