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Foreign Workers · Process
Hire process and
plant workers in
Singapore
We recruit Work Permit workers for Singapore’s process sector — plant construction and maintenance crews for petrochemical, refinery and pharmaceutical projects. We check your quota and levy before you commit, source trade-certified candidates through licensed partners, and manage the application from quota check to your worker’s first day on site. Start with a free quota check below.
Process sector hiring at a glance — 2026
The process sector has its own quota, levy and source-country rules, often used for project-
based plant work. Your headroom is set by your Dependency Ratio Ceiling, your levy depends
on skill tier and quota band, and the sector can recruit from a wide range of source countries.
Many trades require certification. The figures below are the current published rates as at our
last review.
| Sector | Pass | Source group | Skill tier | Quota band | Monthly levy (SGD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Process | WP | Non-Traditional Sources (India, Bangladesh, etc.) | Higher-skilled (R1) | — | $300 |
| Process | WP | Non-Traditional Sources (India, Bangladesh, etc.) | Basic-skilled (R2) | — | $650 |
| Process | WP | Malaysia / North Asian Sources / PRC | Higher-skilled (R1) | — | $200 |
| Process | WP | Malaysia / North Asian Sources / PRC | Basic-skilled (R2) | — | $450 |
Compiled from officially published Ministry of Manpower information · Last reviewed against officially published rates: 2026-06-13. Figures may change — confirm with official sources before acting.
Which process trades do you recruit?
We supply plant construction and maintenance trades for shutdowns, turnarounds and
ongoing operations. Many process trades require certification before deployment, which we
arrange. Tell us the trades, certifications and project timeline, and we’ll source candidates
matched to your plant and scope of work.
Pipe fitters
Process welders
Riggers
Scaffolders
Insulators
Blasters & painters
Mechanical fitters
Instrument technicians
Electricians
Boilermakers
QC inspectors
Plant supervisors
Trades needing certification are tested before deployment — see below.
How do process workers get certified?
Process and plant trades typically require recognised trade certification before deployment,
given the safety-critical environments they work in. For workers from source countries, this
is assessed through trade testing before they travel; passing certifies the worker and can affect
their skill tier and your levy. For project work, we align testing and deployment to your
shutdown or turnaround schedule.
1
Trade test booked
Candidate booked for welder/fitter testing in the source country.
2
Trade evaluation
Assessed against the required standard for the role.
3
Certified for deployment
On passing, certified and cleared to travel.
What does it cost to hire a process worker?
The cost of hiring a process worker is more than the levy alone. Employers also carry the
security bond, insurance, the medical examination, the primary-care plan, housing, and the
agency fee — some monthly, some one-time. The example below sets out the main
components so you can budget realistically. Your actual figures depend on the worker’s skill
tier, your quota band and your insurer, so treat this as an indicative breakdown, not a quote.
| Cost component | Type | Indicative amount |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly levy | Monthly | Varies by tier and quota band — see the levy calculator |
| Security bond (non-Malaysian WP) | One-time guarantee | S$5,000 guarantee |
| Medical insurance + WICA | Annual | Varies by insurer |
| Primary-care plan | Annual | Varies by plan |
| Medical examination | One-time | Varies by clinic |
| Airfare | One-time | At cost |
| Agency fee | One-time | Quoted upfront |
Indicative example only — your figures will differ. Levy and bond figures compiled from published MOM information · last reviewed 2026-06-13. Not a quote.
Free quota check — 30 seconds
Tell us three things. We reply on WhatsApp with your indicative quota
headroom for your plant project and what it means for your hiring plan.
headroom for your plant project and what it means for your hiring plan.
FREE QUOTA CHECK · 30 SECONDS · NO OBLIGATION
Tell us three things. We reply on WhatsApp with your indicative quota headroom and what it means for your hiring plan.
Free, no obligation. Indicative guidance based on published quota rules — we confirm the details with you on WhatsApp. Replies within the hour, business hours.
How does hiring a process worker work, step by step?
Hiring runs through six stages, with trade testing built in where required and timed to your
project. We confirm your quota and levy, source and test candidates at origin, you select, we
file the Work Permit application for In-Principle Approval, the worker completes medical and
travel formalities, and then arrives and deploys — aligned to your shutdown or turnaround
where relevant.
1
Quota & levy check
We confirm your headroom and the monthly levy band before anything is signed.
2
Sourcing & trade testing
Licensed partners source
candidates and arrange trade
testing at origin
3
Selection
You review profiles and interview by video or in person.
You choose.
4
Work Permit application & IΡΑ
We file the Work Permit application and track it to in-Principle Approval.
5
Pre-deployment
Medical, bond, insurance and travel arranged before departure.
6
Arrival & deployment
Entry, settling-in formalities and first day on your site.
Durations vary; any timeframe reflects typically published processing information at our last review — not a guarantee.
Hiring process workers — common questions
Q1 How many process workers can I hire?
Set by your Dependency Ratio Ceiling and your qualifying local headcount. Run the quota check above for an indicative figure.
Q2 How much is the levy?
Depends on skill tier and quota band; higher-skilled workers attract a lower levy. See the levy calculator for current published rates.
Q3 Can I hire for a short project or shutdown?
Yes — process hiring is often project-based. We align sourcing, testing and deployment to your shutdown or turnaround schedule, within the pass and quota rules.
Q4 Which countries can I hire process workers from?
A wide range including NTS countries such as India and Bangladesh, alongside Malaysia, China and the North Asian Sources. We run licensed partnerships in India and Bangladesh.
Q5 How long does deployment take?
It varies with trade, certification, source country and documents. We give you a realistic timeline for your specific roles before you commit.
Q6 What are my obligations once the worker arrives?
Compliant housing, medical insurance, WICA cover, the primary-care plan, the security bond, and plant safety requirements. We walk you through the full process-sector list.