Singapore puts curbs on corporate transfers for some foreign employees
- Intra-corporate transferees are a feature of free-trade agreements that allow professionals to move for short periods
- The changes send a stronger signal that multinational corporations need to consider hiring locals before transferring in a foreign worker, local media reported
Singapore is tightening restrictions on intra-corporate transferees, one category of workers brought from overseas offices of multinational corporations, the Straits Times reported.
Intra-corporate transferees are a common feature of free-trade agreements worldwide that, for example, allow professionals to move for short periods to set up offices or for temporary projects, the newspaper said.
The changes could reduce the number of dependents’ pass holders entering Singapore and send a stronger signal that multinational corporations need to consider hiring locals before transferring in a foreign employee, the Straits Times said, citing observers of the situation.
The developments could also discourage employers from applying for employment passes via intra-corporate transfers, the paper said.
Employment pass holders in Singapore declined 2 per cent from December 2019 to June 2020, the paper reported, citing the Ministry of Manpower. EP holders need to earn a monthly salary of at least S$4,500 (US$3,390).
Among the changes to the foreign workforce that have been made recently: