New Measures To Support Retention Of Work Permit Holders In The Construction, Marine Shipyard and Process Sectors

1. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will be introducing measures to better support employers and facilitate retention of Work Permit Holders (WPHs) in the Construction, Marine Shipyard and Process (CMP) sectors. The new measures include the extension of the retention scheme in the Construction sector to the Marine Shipyard and Process sectors, and the adjustment of the Change of Employer (COE) without consent period for WPHs in the CMP sectors. 
   
   Extension of the retention scheme to Marine Shipyard and Process sectors  
   
   
2. In partnership with the Singapore Contractors Association Ltd (SCAL), the retention scheme was introduced on 1 September 2021 to facilitate the retention of experienced WPHs and help companies in the Construction sector meet their manpower needs. Workers whose employment has been terminated and wish to continue working in Singapore will be enrolled onto the retention scheme. SCAL will facilitate job-matching between WPHs and employers who require additional manpower, as well as mediate to ensure a transparent and beneficial transfer process for both parties. All employers have a fair opportunity to hire workers through the scheme. To date, 52 companies have benefitted from the scheme. This has helped moderate the outflow of workers in the construction sector, amidst the restricted inflow of new workers due to COVID-19 border controls. The scheme will be in place until 28 February 2022, subject to further review.    
3. To better support employers in the Marine Shipyard and Process sectors who are facing similar manpower challenges, MOM has partnered the Association of Singapore Marine Industries (ASMI) and Association of Process Industry (ASPRI) to extend the retention scheme to the Marine Shipyard and Process sectors. The associations will share more details of their respective schemes when ready. 
   
   Adjustment of COE without consent period for WPHs in the CMP sectors
   
   
4. To better address the needs of employers and workers, the COE without consent period for WPHs in the CMP sectors will be shifted to the end of contract. Currently, prospective employers can hire the WPH without the original employer’s consent in the 21 to 40 days period before expiry of the work permit. Going forward, WPHs will remain in employment of the original employer until the expiry of the work permit. Thereafter, the work permit may be extended for a 30-day period, subject to mutual agreement between the WPH and his employer. The WPH may use this 30-day period to look for another employer without the need for consent from the original employer. The employer also gets to retain the worker in employment for up to 30 days. Should there not be agreement from the worker or employer to extend the work permit by 30 days, the worker will be enrolled in the retention schemes and the industry associations will facilitate job-matching with a new employer within 30 days. 
5. This adjustment to the COE without consent period will be implemented progressively across sectors from 8 November 2021 in the Construction sector, and from a later date in the Marine Shipyard and Process sectors. It will be in place as long as the retention schemes are in force. The associations will share more details when ready. 
6. MOM will continue to seek feedback from stakeholders on how we can better support companies to ease their manpower concerns and retain experienced WPHs in Singapore during this period.