NTS (Non-Traditional Sources)
Working in Singapore for Bhutanese under NTS Scheme
The NTS (Non-Traditional Sources) Scheme in Singapore allows employers to hire foreign workers under a Work Permit for specific occupations, instead of an S Pass, from a broader range of countries. This scheme helps address labor shortages, particularly in manufacturing and services sectors, and allows employers to hire workers from countries beyond the traditional sources like Malaysia, PRC, and North Asian countries
Non-traditional sources Highlights
According to MOM, the non-traditional sources occupations list was introduced in 2023 to assist firms with pressing manpower needs for occupations that see low take-up by locals, and are harder to automate.
Manufacturing and services firms can only hire work permit holders from this given list of non-traditional sources in a restricted set of occupations.
Firms must pay their work permit holder performing occupations in this list a fixed monthly salary of at least S$2,000.
Firms must also keep the sub-dependency ratio of work permit holders from non-traditional sources under 8 per cent.
Key aspects of the NTS Scheme:
NTS Occupation List
Certain roles that are eligible for NTS Work Permit holders are;
- Housekeepers and porters in licensed hotels
- Food processing workers (excluding supervisors and general foremen)
- Manufacturing roles such as sheet metal workers, welders, flame cutters, metal moulders, coremakers, riggers, and structural metal preparers.
*The NTS Occupation List is regularly updated to include new occupations. Recent additions, From 1 September,2025 includes heavy vehicle drivers, manufacturing operators, and cooks in any restaurant.
Approved NTS Countries.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has added Bhutan, Cambodia, and Laos to the list of countries from which employers can hire NTS work permit holders, in addition to existing sources.
As of June 1, 2025, the list of NTS Countries includes;
- Bangladesh
- India
- Myanmar
- Philippines
- Sri Lanka
- Thailand
- Bhutan
- Cambodia
- Laos
Quota and Levy
Application Process:
Employers must apply for a Work Permit for NTS workers through the MOM’s online platform.
Employers interested in hiring NTS Work Permit holders must;
- Ensure their company meets the eligibility criteria, including the sub-Dependency Ratio Ceiling (DRC) of 8% for NTS workers.
- Offer a fixed monthly salary of at least S$2,000 to the prospective employee.
- Apply for the Work Permit through MOM’s Work Permit Online (WP Online)system.