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Hire service sector
workers in Singapore
We recruit Work Permit and S Pass workers for Singapore’s service businesses — F&B, cleaning, retail, landscape and more. We check your quota and levy before you commit, source screened candidates through licensed partners, and manage the application from quota check to your worker’s first day. From September 2026, more roles open under the NTS Occupation List.
Services hiring at a glance — 2026
The services sector has the tightest quota of the main sectors and its own levy tiers and
source-country rules. Your headroom is set by your Dependency Ratio Ceiling, your levy
depends on skill tier and quota band, and source-country eligibility has historically been
narrower — though the NTS Occupation List is expanding from September 2026. The figures
below are the current published rates as at our last review.
| Sector | Pass | Source group | Skill tier | Quota band | Monthly levy (SGD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Services | WP | All sources | Higher-skilled (R1) | Up to 10% of total workforce | $300 |
| Services | WP | All sources | Basic-skilled (R2) | Up to 10% of total workforce | $450 |
| Services | WP | All sources | Higher-skilled (R1) | Above 10% to 25% | $400 |
| Services | WP | All sources | Basic-skilled (R2) | Above 10% to 25% | $600 |
| Services | WP | All sources | Higher-skilled (R1) | Above 25% to 35% | $600 |
| Services | WP | All sources | Basic-skilled (R2) | Above 25% to 35% | $800 |
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 service roles do you recruit?
We supply service-sector roles across F&B, cleaning, retail and landscaping. Some roles open
to Non-Traditional Source countries under the NTS Occupation List — expanding in
September 2026 to include more food and beverage and care roles. Tell us the roles and
outlets you’re staffing, and we’ll source candidates matched to your business.
Kitchen assistants
Food & beverage service crew
Cleaners
Retail assistants
Landscape workers
Warehouse & logistics
Stewards
Cooks
Counter staff
Service supervisors
Roles covered by the NTS Occupation List open to more source countries — expanding
September 2026; see below.
The NTS Occupation List and your services hiring
Historically, the services sector could only hire Work Permit workers from a narrow set of
source countries. The NTS Occupation List opens specific service roles to Non-Traditional
Source countries such as India and Bangladesh — and from September 2026 it expands to
include more food and beverage and care roles. If you’re staffing F&B or care roles, this
materially widens your candidate pool. We track the list and confirm which of your roles
qualify.
What the NTS-OL is
A published list of service roles that may be filled from Non-Traditional Source countries.
Roles it covers (expanding Sept 2026)
More food and beverage and care roles open from September 2026.
We confirm which of your roles qualify
We map your roles to the current list before sourcing begins.
What does it cost to hire a service worker?
The cost of hiring a service 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. Services levy tiers tend to be higher than other
sectors. The example below sets out the main components so you can budget realistically —
treat it 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 and what it means for your services 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 service worker work, step by step?
Hiring runs through six stages. We confirm your quota and levy, source and screen
candidates, you select, we file the Work Permit or S Pass application for In-Principle Approval,
the worker completes medical and travel formalities, and then arrives and starts. We keep
you updated at every stage.
1
Quota & levy check
We confirm your headroom and the monthly levy band before anything is signed.
2
Sourcing & screening
Licensed partners shortlist and screen candidates against your roles at origin.
3
Selection
You review profiles and interview by video or in person.
You choose.
4
Application & IPA
We file the Work Permit or S Pass 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 service workers — common questions
Q1 How many service workers can I hire?
Services has the tightest Dependency Ratio Ceiling of the main sectors, set against your qualifying local headcount. Run the quota check above for an indicative figure.
Q2 How much is the services levy?
It depends on your services levy tier, the worker’s skill tier and your quota band. Services tiers tend to be higher than other sectors. See the levy calculator for current published rates.
Q3 Can I hire F&B or kitchen staff from India or Bangladesh?
From September 2026, specific food and beverage and care roles open to Non-Traditional Source countries under the expanded NTS Occupation List. See our F&B & caregivers page for the detail.
Q4 What is the NTS Occupation List?
It’s the list of service-sector roles that may be filled by Work Permit workers from Non-Traditional Source countries such as India and Bangladesh, expanding in September 2026.
Q5 How long does it take?
It varies by role, source country and documents. We give you a realistic timeline before you commit.
Q6 What are my obligations once the worker arrives?
Compliant housing, medical insurance, WICA cover, the security bond, and workplace requirements. We walk you through the full services list.