FIRST SCHEDULE
Regulation 3(1) and (2)
Conditions and regulatory conditions of in-principle
approval for a work permit
Part I
CONDITIONS TO BE COMPLIED WITH BY EMPLOYER OF
FOREIGN EMPLOYEE WHO IS DOMESTIC WORKER ISSUED WITH
IN-PRINCIPLE APPROVAL FOR WORK PERMIT
1.  Except as the Controller specifies otherwise in writing, the employer is responsible for —
(a)the upkeep and maintenance of the foreign employee in Singapore, including the provision of adequate food and medical treatment; and
(b)bearing the costs of such upkeep and maintenance.
[S 143/2017 wef 01/04/2017]
1A.  In paragraph 1, “medical treatment”, in relation to a foreign employee, includes any service, investigation, medicine, curative material, medical consumable, surgical implant or other item necessary for the medical treatment.
[S 275/2022 wef 01/04/2022]
2.  The employer shall ensure that the foreign employee has acceptable accommodation. Such accommodation must be consistent with any written law, directive, guideline, circular or other similar instrument issued by any competent authority.
[S 563/2013 wef 03/09/2013]
2A.  [Deleted by S 154/2024 wef 01/03/2024]
2B.  [Deleted by S 154/2024 wef 01/03/2024]
2C.  [Deleted by S 154/2024 wef 01/03/2024]
3.  The employer shall bear any medical expenses incurred by the foreign employee for any medical examination required by the Controller.
4.  The employer shall not cause or knowingly permit the foreign employee to be engaged in any illegal, immoral or undesirable conduct or activity.
5.  Except as the Controller specifies otherwise in writing, an employer shall not demand or receive any sum or other benefit from any employment agency or person in connection with the employment or change in employment of the foreign employee.
[S 669/2021 wef 03/09/2021]
6.  If the foreign employee dies while in Singapore, the employer shall —
(a)bear the cost of either —
(i)burial of the body in Singapore;
(ii)cremation of the body in Singapore and return of the ashes to the country of origin; or
(iii)return of the body to the country of origin,
with the foreign employee’s family deciding on burial, cremation or return of the body;
(b)bear the cost of returning the foreign employee’s belongings to the foreign employee’s family; and
(c)pay to the administrators of the foreign employee’s estate any outstanding salaries or moneys due from the employer to the foreign employee.
7.  Subject to paragraph 8, the employer shall repatriate the foreign employee to the international port of entry within the foreign employee’s home country that affords reasonable access to the foreign employee’s hometown if the in-principle approval for the foreign employee expires or is cancelled or revoked and if the employee is not earlier employed by another employer. In the event of any dispute about the international port of entry to which the foreign employee shall be repatriated, the dispute shall be referred to the Controller, whose decision shall be final.
[S 902/2018 wef 01/01/2019]
8.  The employer may repatriate the foreign employee to a destination other than that specified in paragraph 7 —
(a)if the foreign employee so requests, and the Controller is informed by the employer of the employer’s intention to do so, before the repatriation occurs; or
(b)if the Controller so determines.
9.  The employer shall bear the costs associated with repatriating the foreign employee at any time except where the Controller permits otherwise. The employer shall ensure that all outstanding salaries or moneys due from the employer to the foreign employee have been paid before the foreign employee’s repatriation.
Part II
REGULATORY CONDITIONS TO BE COMPLIED with BY EMPLOYER
OF FOREIGN EMPLOYEE WHO IS DOMESTIC WORKER ISSUED WITH
IN-PRINCIPLE APPROVAL FOR WORK PERMIT
1.  The employer must take all necessary steps to ensure that the foreign employee’s copy of the in-principle approval letter, in its entirety as provided by the Ministry of Manpower, is received by the foreign employee at least 3 days before the foreign employee’s departure for Singapore.
1A.  For the purposes of paragraph 1, the employer will be regarded as having taken all necessary steps —
(a)where the employer does not engage the service of an employment agency — if the employer can provide sufficient evidence that the foreign employee has received, at least 3 days before the foreign employee’s departure for Singapore, the foreign employee’s copy of the in‑principle approval letter, in its entirety as furnished by the Ministry of Manpower; or
(b)where the employer engages the services of an employment agency — if the employer can provide sufficient evidence that the employment agency informed the employer that the foreign employee has received, at least 3 days before the foreign employee’s departure for Singapore, the foreign employee’s copy of the in‑principle approval letter, in its entirety as furnished by the Ministry of Manpower.
[S 865/2019 wef 01/01/2020]
1B.  Where an in-principle approval is issued by the Controller in respect of a foreign employee who is in Singapore, the employer upon whose application the in‑principle approval is issued must ensure that the foreign employee’s copy of the in‑principle approval letter, in its entirety as provided by the Ministry of Manpower, is received by the foreign employee within 7 days after the issue of the in‑principle approval.
[S 865/2019 wef 01/01/2020]
2.  The employer shall purchase and maintain medical insurance with coverage as prescribed in the Eighth Schedule for each 12-month period of the foreign employee’s employment (or for such shorter period where the foreign employee’s period of employment is less than 12 months) for the foreign employee’s in-patient care and day surgery except as the Controller may otherwise provide by notification in writing.
[S 428/2023 wef 01/07/2023]
2A.  Except as the Controller specifies otherwise in writing, where an application for a work permit is made on or after 1 October 2017 in respect of a foreign employee, the employer must —
(a)purchase and maintain personal accident insurance —
(i)to cover permanent disability, or death, by accident to the foreign employee (called in this paragraph and paragraph 2B the insured foreign employee);
(ii)with coverage of at least $60,000; and
(iii)to cover the period of the insured foreign employee’s employment with the employer, until the insured foreign employee is repatriated or is employed by another employer; and
(b)make a claim on behalf of the insured foreign employee in the event of such an accident within 30 days after the date of the accident.
[S 547/2017 wef 01/10/2017]
2B.  In paragraph 2A, “accident” means a sudden, unforeseen and unexpected event, whether or not arising out of or in the course of employment, and whether or not in Singapore, but does not include —
(a)any pre‑existing medical condition suffered by the insured foreign employee;
(b)any psychiatric or nervous or mental disorder suffered by the insured foreign employee;
(c)any sexually‑transmitted disease, AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) or ARC (AIDS Related Complex) or other communicable disease, suffered by the insured foreign employee;
(d)any pregnancy, childbirth, miscarriage, abortion, sterilisation, menopause, or any complication arising from any of these conditions, suffered by the insured foreign employee;
(e)the effect or influence of any alcohol or drug on the insured foreign employee (other than when administered according to a prescription of a registered medical practitioner);
(f)any ionising radiation or contamination by radioactivity from the combustion of nuclear fuel or nuclear waste or similar activity, suffered by the insured foreign employee;
(g)any hazardous sport engaged in by the insured foreign employee, including any winter sport (such as skiing or snowboarding), underwater activity (such as snorkelling or scuba diving), aerial activity (such as taking a helicopter tour or para‑gliding) or motor sport (such as motorcycle racing or motor car racing);
(h)any unlawful act of, or wilful exposure to danger (other than in an attempt to save human life) by, the insured foreign employee;
(i)any suicide, attempted suicide or any self‑inflicted injury by the insured foreign employee, or any attempt by the insured foreign employee to cause self‑inflicted injury;
(j)any war, war‑like situation, civil war, mutiny, rebellion, revolution or act of terrorism; or
(k)any foreseeable strike, riot or civil commotion.
[S 547/2017 wef 01/10/2017]
3.  The employer shall send the foreign employee for a medical examination by a medical practitioner registered under the Medical Registration Act 1997 as and when directed by the Controller.
[S 63/2022 wef 31/12/2021]
4.  If the foreign employee goes missing, the employer shall inform the Controller within 7 days after the employer becomes aware of the foreign employee going missing.
5.  If the foreign employee dies while in Singapore, the employer shall inform the Controller within 12 hours after the employer becomes aware of the foreign employee’s death.
Part III
CONDITIONS TO BE COMPLIED WITH BY EMPLOYER OF FOREIGN
EMPLOYEE WHO IS NOT DOMESTIC WORKER, WHO IS ISSUED WITH
IN-PRINCIPLE APPROVAL FOR WORK PERMIT
1.  Except as the Controller specifies otherwise in writing, the employer is responsible for —
(a)the upkeep and maintenance of the foreign employee in Singapore, including the provision of adequate food and medical treatment; and
(b)bearing the costs of such upkeep and maintenance.
[S 143/2017 wef 01/04/2017]
1AA.  In paragraph 1, “medical treatment”, in relation to a foreign employee, includes any service, investigation, medicine, curative material, medical consumable, surgical implant or other item necessary for the medical treatment.
[S 275/2022 wef 01/04/2022]
1A.  [Deleted by S 154/2024 wef 01/03/2024]
1B.  [Deleted by S 154/2024 wef 01/03/2024]
1C.  [Deleted by S 154/2024 wef 01/03/2024]
2.  The employer shall also bear any medical expenses incurred by the foreign employee for any medical examination required by the Controller.
3.  The employer shall register or update the foreign employee’s accommodation address in such form or manner as the Controller may determine prior to issuance of the work permit.
4.  The employer shall ensure that the foreign employee has acceptable accommodation. Such accommodation must be consistent with any written law, directive, guideline, circular or other similar instrument issued by any competent authority.
[S 563/2013 wef 03/09/2013]
5.  Except as the Controller specifies otherwise in writing, an employer shall not demand or receive any sum or other benefit from an employment agency or any other person in connection with the employment or change in employment of a foreign employee.
[S 864/2021 wef 11/11/2021]
6.  If the foreign employee dies while in Singapore, the employer shall —
(a)bear the cost of either —
(i)burial of the body in Singapore;
(ii)cremation of the body in Singapore and return of the ashes to the country of origin; or
(iii)return of the body to the country of origin,
with the foreign employee’s family deciding on burial, cremation or return of the body;
(b)bear the cost of returning the foreign employee’s belongings to the foreign employee’s family; and
(c)pay to the administrators of the foreign employee’s estate any outstanding salaries or moneys due from the employer to the foreign employee.
7.  Subject to paragraph 8, the employer shall repatriate the foreign employee to the international port of entry within the foreign employee’s home country that affords reasonable access to the foreign employee’s hometown if the in‑principle approval for the foreign employee expires or is cancelled or revoked and if the employee is not earlier employed by another employer. In the event of any dispute about the international port of entry to which the foreign employee shall be repatriated, the dispute shall be referred to the Controller, whose decision shall be final.
[S 902/2018 wef 01/01/2019]
8.  The employer may repatriate the foreign employee to a destination other than that specified in paragraph 7 —
(a)if the foreign employee so requests, and the Controller is informed by the employer of the employer’s intention to do so, before the repatriation occurs; or
(b)if the Controller so determines.
9.  The employer shall bear the costs associated with repatriating the foreign employee at any time except where the Controller permits otherwise. The employer shall ensure that all outstanding salaries or moneys due from the employer to the foreign employee have been paid before the foreign employee’s repatriation.
Part IV
REGULATORY CONDITIONS TO BE COMPLIED WITH BY EMPLOYER
OF FOREIGN EMPLOYEE WHO IS NOT DOMESTIC WORKER, WHO IS
ISSUED WITH IN-PRINCIPLE APPROVAL FOR WORK PERMIT
1.  The employer must take all necessary steps to ensure that the foreign employee’s copy of the in-principle approval letter, in its entirety as provided by the Ministry of Manpower, is received by the foreign employee at least 3 days before the foreign employee’s departure for Singapore.
1A.  For the purposes of paragraph 1, the employer will be regarded as having taken all necessary steps —
(a)where the employer does not engage the service of an employment agency — if the employer can provide sufficient evidence that the foreign employee has received, at least 3 days before the foreign employee’s departure for Singapore, the foreign employee’s copy of the in‑principle approval letter, in its entirety as furnished by the Ministry of Manpower; or
(b)where the employer engages the services of an employment agency — if the employer can provide sufficient evidence that the employment agency informed the employer that the foreign employee has received, at least 3 days before the foreign employee’s departure for Singapore, the foreign employee’s copy of the in‑principle approval letter, in its entirety as furnished by the Ministry of Manpower.
[S 865/2019 wef 01/01/2020]
1B.  Where an in-principle approval is issued by the Controller in respect of a foreign employee who is in Singapore, the employer upon whose application the in‑principle approval is issued must ensure that the foreign employee’s copy of the in‑principle approval letter, in its entirety as provided by the Ministry of Manpower, is received by the foreign employee within 7 days after the issue of the in‑principle approval.
[S 865/2019 wef 01/01/2020]
2.  The employer shall purchase and maintain medical insurance with coverage as prescribed in the Eighth Schedule for each 12-month period of the foreign employee’s employment (or for such shorter period where the foreign employee’s period of employment is less than 12 months) for the foreign employee’s in-patient care and day surgery except as the Controller may otherwise provide by notification in writing. Where the employer purchases group medical insurance policy for his foreign employees, the employer shall not be considered to have satisfied the obligation under this condition unless the terms of the employer’s group medical insurance policy are such that each and every individual foreign employee is concurrently covered to the extent required under the conditions in this Part.
[S 428/2023 wef 01/07/2023]
3.  The employer shall send the foreign employee for a medical examination by a medical practitioner registered under the Medical Registration Act 1997 as and when directed by the Controller.
[S 63/2022 wef 31/12/2021]
4.  If the foreign employee goes missing, the employer shall inform the Controller within 7 days after the employer becomes aware of the foreign employee going missing.
5.  If the foreign employee dies while in Singapore, the employer shall inform the Controller within 12 hours after the employer becomes aware of the foreign employee’s death.