The Foreign Worker Levy, commonly known as 'levy' is a pricing mechanism to regulate the number of Foreign Workers (including Foreign Domestic Workers) in Singapore. While they are not required to pay Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions for Foreign Workers, employers are liable to pay monthly levies to hire employees who hold Work Permits or S Passes.
If a Foreign Worker on the Foreign Worker Levy Scheme is subsequently granted Singapore Permanent Resident status, he will be placed on the CPF scheme. This will take effect from the day he is granted Permanent Resident status.
The following factors will determine the amount of levy to be paid:
Worker's qualification
Dependency Ceiling (for selected sectors only)
MOM will first look at the worker’s qualifications to decide if the worker is skilled. Workers who possess relevant academic or skills-based test qualifications and certificates, will be classified as skilled workers.
For construction, process & marine sectors:
Employers pay the foreign worker levy according to the qualification of these workers.
For manufacturing & service sectors:
Workers will be further assigned to different tiers within the company Dependency Ceiling limits. Read up on how this works.
The following illustrates the levy you pay for each foreign worker.
Levy rate ($)
Sector Dependency Ceiling Segmentation Worker category Monthly *Daily
Manufacturing Basic Tier / Tier 1: Up to 25% of the total workforce Skilled 210 6.91
Unskilled 310 10.20
Tier 2: Above 25% to 50% of the total workforce Skilled 300 9.87
Unskilled 400 13.16
Tier 3: Above 50% to 60% of the total workforce Skilled 470 15.46
Unskilled
Note to employers in manufacturing sector:
Employers in this sector are entitled to skilled levy rates for their foreign workers, up to 50% of the total workforce.
Levy rate ($)
Sector Dependency Ceiling Segmentation Worker category Monthly *Daily
Services Basic Tier / Tier 1: Up to 15% of the total workforce Skilled 240 7.90
Unskilled 340 11.18
Tier 2: Above 15% to 25% of the total workforce Skilled
360 11.84
Unskilled 460 15.13
Tier 3: Above 25% to 45% of the total workforce Skilled 500 16.44
Unskilled
Note to employers in service sector:
Employers in this sector are entitled to skilled levy rates for their foreign workers, up to 25% of the total workforce.
Levy rate ($)
Sector Dependency Ceiling (DC) Worker category Monthly *Daily
Construction
1 local full-time worker to 7 Foreign Workers Higher Skilled (1) and on MYE 250 8.22
Basic Skilled (2)and on MYE 350 11.51
Experienced and exempted from MYE (3) 500 16.44
Process 1 local full-time worker to 7 Foreign Workers Skilled and on MYE 210 6.91
Unskilled 310 10.20
Experienced & exempted from MYE (3) 470 15.46
Levy rate ($)
Sector Dependency Ceiling (DC) Worker category Monthly *Daily
Marine 1 local full-time worker to 5 Foreign Workers Skilled 210 6.91
Unskilled 310 10.20
If a Foreign Worker on the Foreign Worker Levy Scheme is subsequently granted Singapore Permanent Resident status, he will be placed on the CPF scheme. This will take effect from the day he is granted Permanent Resident status.
The following factors will determine the amount of levy to be paid:
Worker's qualification
Dependency Ceiling (for selected sectors only)
MOM will first look at the worker’s qualifications to decide if the worker is skilled. Workers who possess relevant academic or skills-based test qualifications and certificates, will be classified as skilled workers.
For construction, process & marine sectors:
Employers pay the foreign worker levy according to the qualification of these workers.
For manufacturing & service sectors:
Workers will be further assigned to different tiers within the company Dependency Ceiling limits. Read up on how this works.
The following illustrates the levy you pay for each foreign worker.
Levy rate ($)
Sector Dependency Ceiling Segmentation Worker category Monthly *Daily
Manufacturing Basic Tier / Tier 1: Up to 25% of the total workforce Skilled 210 6.91
Unskilled 310 10.20
Tier 2: Above 25% to 50% of the total workforce Skilled 300 9.87
Unskilled 400 13.16
Tier 3: Above 50% to 60% of the total workforce Skilled 470 15.46
Unskilled
Note to employers in manufacturing sector:
Employers in this sector are entitled to skilled levy rates for their foreign workers, up to 50% of the total workforce.
Levy rate ($)
Sector Dependency Ceiling Segmentation Worker category Monthly *Daily
Services Basic Tier / Tier 1: Up to 15% of the total workforce Skilled 240 7.90
Unskilled 340 11.18
Tier 2: Above 15% to 25% of the total workforce Skilled
360 11.84
Unskilled 460 15.13
Tier 3: Above 25% to 45% of the total workforce Skilled 500 16.44
Unskilled
Note to employers in service sector:
Employers in this sector are entitled to skilled levy rates for their foreign workers, up to 25% of the total workforce.
Levy rate ($)
Sector Dependency Ceiling (DC) Worker category Monthly *Daily
Construction
1 local full-time worker to 7 Foreign Workers Higher Skilled (1) and on MYE 250 8.22
Basic Skilled (2)and on MYE 350 11.51
Experienced and exempted from MYE (3) 500 16.44
Process 1 local full-time worker to 7 Foreign Workers Skilled and on MYE 210 6.91
Unskilled 310 10.20
Experienced & exempted from MYE (3) 470 15.46
Levy rate ($)
Sector Dependency Ceiling (DC) Worker category Monthly *Daily
Marine 1 local full-time worker to 5 Foreign Workers Skilled 210 6.91
Unskilled 310 10.20