Temporary quota flexibility
M-SEP supports firms contributing through investment, innovation or internationalisation. Eligible firms may exceed normal DRC and S Pass sub-DRC temporarily for 3 years, with additional Work Permit/S Pass quota up to 5% of base workforce headcount, capped at 50 workers per firm. Both economic-priority participation and a local hiring/training commitment are required.
Condition 1: economic priorities
Qualify through at least one initiative or specified criterion below, with the required supporting documents. MOM may update this list.
| Agency | Initiatives or criteria |
|---|---|
| EDB | DEI including International Headquarters-DEI; Pioneer Certificate; RIS(C); significant Singapore manufacturing such as at least 500 locals; Refundable Investment Credit. |
| EnterpriseSG | GTP; Scale-Up SG; SGEP; Singapore-incorporated high-growth startups with at least US$10 million investment in the preceding 36 months and funding from EDBI, SEEDS Capital or recognised investors, following Tech@SG criteria; Refundable Investment Credit. |
| IMDA | Accreditation@SG Digital; SG:D Spark. |
| MPA | MSI-AIS, MSI-SSS, Maritime Leasing and Maritime Cluster Fund Business Development. |
| STB | Selected BIF or Singapore Tourism Accelerator projects producing substantial transformation or productivity savings. |
Condition 2: local workforce development
Choose one commitment below. Hiring/training routes normally give one extra quota per committed net hire or trainee, within the 5% and 50-worker ceilings. Industry training-leader recognition gives flexibility up to the same ceilings.
| Route | Requirement and programmes |
|---|---|
| 2a: net local hiring | Increase local workforce from application to renewal; this M-SEP page specifies locals earning S$1,600 monthly or more. Hire independently or through Attach-and-Train/Place-and-Train CCP, Career Trial, Mid-Career Pathways, SkillsFuture Career Transition or TeSA company-led training including ITE/polytechnic apprenticeships. |
| 2b: training with enhanced jobs | Structured on-job training or dedicated mentoring must lead to promotion with pay increase, expanded scope or greater responsibility, for new or existing staff. Programmes: EDB APT(M); Work-Study Degree in-employment, Diploma, Post-Diploma and Certificates; SWDA redeployment/job-redesign CCP and Capability Transfer; MPA Maritime Leadership, MaritimeONE scholarship and MCF Management Associate. |
| 2c: training leadership | Significant sector-wide skill/manpower impact and established workplace learning excellence through NACE Workplace Learning Platinum/Gold or SkillsFuture Queen Bees. |
| 2d: global-ready talent | Structured overseas work or leadership development through SWDA Overseas Market Immersion, MPA MCF Overseas Attachment, or EDB Global Business Leaders. |
Maintaining commitments
Maintain local workforce share and demonstrate commitments by the end of support. Failure suspends renewal eligibility for 2 years. MTI and MOM assess genuinely manpower-lean workforce reductions case by case. The S$1,600 threshold quoted by this scheme must not be substituted for the separate current LQS requirement.
Documents and references
- Read article → · required supporting documents ↗ PDF
- Tech@SG ↗ Government source
- SWDA ↗ Government source
- National Centre of Excellence (NACE) ↗ Reference
- SkillsFuture Queen Bees (SFQBs) ↗ Government source