Singapore expands Work Permit scheme to open eight new job sectors to Sri Lankans

Newswire reports Singapore has widened its Non-Traditional Sources Occupation List, allowing employers to recruit eligible foreign workers for eight additional types of work. Hiru News also reports that eight more job categories are available to Sri Lankan Work Permit holders.

Newswire reports the occupations include preparing meat or fish, helping at food and drink stalls, kitchen assistance, waiting tables and cabin duties. The list also includes babysitting and infant care, early-years education and teacher assistance. Newswire describes the newly covered fields as including food services, social services and aviation.

Newswire reports that eligible workers may be from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines or Thailand. It says Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower introduced the policy to address labor shortages in fields where employers have difficulty recruiting local workers.

Newswire reports that employers using the scheme must offer a monthly salary of at least S$2,000 and ensure workers hired through the list account for no more than 8% of their workforce. Newswire says employers must also meet applicable requirements and secure approval, and that the policy does not guarantee a permit or continued employment.

Newswire reports that the policy was announced in March 2026 and came into effect last September.