Non-Traditional Sources (NTS) Occupation List

What is the NTS Occupation List

Firms in the Services and Manufacturing sectors are generally required to hire Work Permit holders from the following countries or regions:

• Malaysia
• People’s Republic of China (PRC)
• North Asian sources (NAS):
  • Hong Kong (HKSAR passport)
  • Macau
  • South Korea
  • Taiwan

However, firms will be allowed to hire Work Permit holders from NTS countries for a restricted set of occupations in the NTS Occupation List which have few locals.

Requirements

Firms must meet all of the following requirements:

• Subject to a quota for NTS Work Permit holders in the NTS Occupation List. NTS Work Permit holders must be higher-skilled (i.e. meet the R1 criteria).
• Work Permit holders must only perform the occupation stated on their work permit.

When will it be introduced

The NTS Occupation List will take effect from 1 September 2023, together with the first increase of S Pass qualifying salary for renewals.

NTS Occupation List

The NTS Occupation List comprises:

• Cooks in Indian restaurants. This will better support our multi-ethnic food culture.
  
  Restaurants (Services sector) can already hire Work Permit holders from Malaysia, PRC and North Asian Sources.
• Workers in food processing firms, e.g. vegetable pickler, condiments and sauce makers.
  Excludes:
  • Food processing supervisors and general foremen.
  • Other food and beverage jobs like tasters, graders, bakers, pastry-cooks and confectionery makers.
• Workers in manufacturing firms such as general manufacturers, precision engineering, transport engineering, automotive firms, working as:
  • Sheet metal workers
  • Welders and flame cutters
  • Metal moulders and coremakers
  • Riggers and cable splicers
  • Structural metal reparers and erectors

MOM will review the list from time to time. More details will be provided closer to September 2023.