Legal advices for Vietnamese guest workers in Singapore

According to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA)’ Overseas Labour Management Department (OLMD), Singapore is the most demanding labour market in Southeast Asia. Guest workers to the country have to meet higher requirements than those in other regional countries.

Three types of work passes would be granted to foreign workers in Singapore: a Work Permit for skilled/semi-skilled/unskilled workers in the fields of construction, manufacturing, maritime, process and services, an S Pass for mid-level skilled workers and an Employment Pass, a Personalised Employment Pass (PEP), or an EntrePass for professionals, depending on the nature of their work.

Currently, Vietnamese workers can work in Singapore with an S Pass or an E Pass. The Singapore government does not grant a Work Permit for Vietnamese workers.

To get an S Pass or an E Pass, the Vietnamese worker should be guaranteed by a Singaporean employer to fulfill all necessary procedures.

It is noted that only businesses which are licenced to send workers abroad by MoLISA are allowed to recruit workers to work in foreign countries.