Business women in meeting

Singapore: Government Tightens Requirements for Foreign Workers

October saw the rollout of tighter employment requirements for foreigners working in Singapore. Aimed to help businesses grow and support employment opportunities for locals, the rules make it more costly to hire foreigners across the board and increase the minimum salary in certain industries. In addition, companies must commit to a minimum of four weeks of advertising on government job boards instead of the previous two weeks and adhere strictly to the Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) hiring practices.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) monitors the overall proportion of foreigners hired in a company. If the ratio is higher than an organization’s industry peers or if there is a high concentration of foreigners from a single nationality, the company may be flagged and put on the FCF Watchlist. Companies on the FCF Watchlist will face scrutiny by MOM during their hiring process and face additional intervention or be banned from hiring foreign workers altogether.

Takeaway: Companies with a diverse mix of workers should work closely with a talent solutions partner that operates in line with MOM’s strategy and guidelines. In many cases, the talent solutions partner can also provide expertise to the best approaches for upskilling the local workforce to stay competitive and relevant in today’s market.


COVID-19


Coronavirus Considerations for Businesses

North America


US: Worker Classification Laws Further Defined

US: Federal Regulators Tighten Rules on H1-B Visas

US: Joint Employer Ruling Struck Down for Now

Canada: New Ruling Reinforces Employer Responsibility in Terminations

EMEA


UK: Migration Committee Advises Review of Shortage Occupations List

UK: IR35 Tax Update – Clarifies End-User Liability When Supply Chain Fails to Pay

Spain: Government Issues New Law on Remote Working

APAC


Australia: Underpayment of Workers Prompts Fines

India: New Law Protects the Informal Workforce

This update contains general information only, and AGS is not rendering legal advice. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your business, you should consult qualified legal counsel. AGS shall not be responsible for any loss whatsoever sustained by any person or company who relies on this update.