From 1 June 2026, Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower expanded its Non-Traditional Sources (NTS) country list by adding three new source markets: Bhutan, Cambodia, and Laos. For construction, marine shipyard, process, and certain service sector employers, this expansion widens the pool from which Work Permit holders can be legally hired — an operationally significant development given continuing labour shortages in these sectors. This article explains what the Singapore NTS work permit 2026 expansion means, which employers can act on it, and how the NTS framework compares with traditional source hiring.
What Is the Non-Traditional Sources (NTS) Framework?
Singapore’s Work Permit system divides source countries into two broad groups:
- Traditional Sources (TS): Malaysia (subject to its own specific rules as a separate category) and the original NTS countries — Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Employers in construction, marine shipyard, and process sectors may hire from these countries for Work Permits.
- Non-Traditional Sources (NTS): An expanding list of countries from which workers can be hired for specific occupations within the NTS Occupation List. From 1 June 2026, this list includes Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand — plus the three new additions: Bhutan, Cambodia, and Laos.
The NTS framework was designed to broaden labour supply for sectors facing persistent shortages without fully opening Work Permit hiring to all source countries. Admission from NTS countries is conditional: workers must be employed in an occupation on the MOM Non-Traditional Sources Occupation List (NTS-OL), and employers must meet the standard eligibility and quota requirements for their sector.
Why MOM Added Bhutan, Cambodia, and Laos
The expansion reflects two intersecting policy pressures. First, Singapore’s construction and marine sectors continue to face headcount shortfalls that traditional source countries alone have not been able to fill. Second, the broader NTS-OL expansion that took effect in September 2025 — which added occupations including heavy vehicle drivers, manufacturing operator roles, and cooks at any restaurant — created additional demand that existing NTS country supply could not fully meet.
Adding Bhutan, Cambodia, and Laos diversifies the supply base at the country level while the September 2025 and forthcoming September 2026 NTS-OL expansions diversify it at the occupation level. Together, these changes represent a deliberate effort to give Singapore employers in affected sectors greater hiring optionality within a structured regulatory framework.
The NTS Occupation List: What Roles Qualify
Not all Work Permit roles qualify for NTS hiring — only those specifically listed on the NTS-OL. As at June 2026, the list covers occupations across several sectors:
Construction and Related Trades
Construction labourers, formworkers, concreters, scaffolders, steel bar benders, plasterers, tilers, painters, and various specialist trade roles. These have formed the core of the NTS-OL since the framework was introduced and continue to account for the largest volume of NTS Work Permit holders.
Marine Shipyard
Ship repairers, structural steel fabricators, welders and flame-cutters, marine painters, and related marine sector roles. The marine shipyard sector operates under its own sub-dependency ratio framework and quota system.
Process Industry
Operators and support roles in the petrochemical, chemical, and pharmaceutical manufacturing sectors.
Occupations Added from September 2025
The September 2025 expansion of the NTS-OL added heavy vehicle drivers, a range of manufacturing operator roles (including machine operators, assembly-line workers, and quality inspection roles), and cooks at any restaurant (not just those qualifying under the previous Food Services pass criteria).
Occupations Added from September 2026 (Announced March 2026)
At the Committee of Supply on 3 March 2026, MOM announced that eight additional occupations in social services, food services, and air transport will be added to the NTS-OL from September 2026. These include babysitters and infant caregivers, educarers, teacher aides, butchers, fishmongers, food or drink stall assistants, kitchen assistants, waiters, and cabin crew. Employers in these subsectors who have not yet explored NTS hiring should begin assessing their workforce plans now, ahead of the September 2026 commencement.
The full and current NTS-OL, with sector and occupation codes, is maintained on the MOM NTS Occupation List page.
NTS vs. Traditional Sources vs. Malaysia: How They Differ
Employers new to the NTS framework sometimes confuse the different source country rules. A clear comparison:
- Malaysia (MYS): Workers from Malaysia can be hired for Work Permits across most sectors without reference to the NTS or TS country rules. Malaysia-sourced Work Permit holders attract a separate levy rate and are not subject to NTS-OL occupation restrictions for most sectors.
- Traditional Source countries (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand): Eligible for hire under standard Work Permit rules in construction, marine, and process sectors. No NTS-OL occupation restriction applies for these sectors — TS workers can be hired for any approved Work Permit occupation within the sector’s quota.
- NTS countries (including now Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, plus the six TS countries which also qualify as NTS): Workers must be in an NTS-OL occupation to be hired on a Work Permit. The NTS-OL occupation restriction applies regardless of which NTS country the worker originates from. Employers must verify that the specific role is on the NTS-OL before applying.
Levy Rates and Quota Implications for NTS Hiring
NTS Work Permit holders attract the standard Work Permit levy applicable to their sector and tier. As at June 2026:
- Construction sector (NTS, basic tier): SGD 700/month for Man-Year Entitlement (MYE)-exempt workers; SGD 950/month for MYE workers.
- Marine shipyard: SGD 550/month (basic tier); SGD 750/month (higher tier).
- Process: SGD 550/month (basic tier).
- Services sector (NTS-OL occupations): SGD 550/month (basic tier); SGD 650/month (higher tier).
For the full levy rate tables by sector and tier, the Singapore foreign worker levy guide for 2026 sets out current rates, quota mathematics, and planning considerations for employers across all sectors. A full explanation of work permit types and sector rules is available in the complete Work Permit guide for 2026.
NTS Work Permit holders count against the employer’s foreign worker dependency ratio ceiling (DRC) in the same way as TS workers. Adding workers from Bhutan, Cambodia, or Laos does not create a separate quota allocation — it simply provides additional sourcing options within the existing quota envelope.
How to Apply for an NTS Work Permit
The application process for a Work Permit for an NTS worker follows the same steps as for any Work Permit application, with one additional check at the outset: confirm that the worker’s proposed role appears on the NTS-OL with the correct sector and occupation code.
Step 1: Verify the Occupation Is on the NTS-OL
Check the MOM NTS-OL for the specific occupation code. The occupation must be listed for the relevant sector. If the role is not on the list, NTS hiring is not possible for that position — the employer must source from Traditional Source countries or from Malaysia.
Step 2: Check Quota and Levy Headroom
Before applying, verify that the employer has sufficient quota headroom under the applicable DRC and sub-dependency ceiling. An application submitted when the employer is at or above the DRC ceiling will be rejected. For guidance on calculating quota position and managing dependency ratios, the Work Permit renewal guide for 2026 covers quota checks as part of the renewal and new-hire process.
Step 3: Apply Through Work Permit Online (WPOL)
Applications are submitted via MOM’s Work Permit Online portal. The employer or a licensed employment agency submits the application with the worker’s personal details, occupation code, and supporting documentation. MOM typically processes Work Permit applications within one to five working days for straightforward cases.
Step 4: Arrange the In-Principle Approval (IPA) and Worker Arrival
On approval, MOM issues an In-Principle Approval letter. The IPA is used by the worker to obtain a work pass entry visa and to travel to Singapore. The employer must arrange accommodation, medical insurance, and an onboarding safety induction before the worker commences employment.
What the Expansion Means for Employers in Affected Sectors
For construction, marine, process, food services, and social services employers who have been constrained by limited supply from existing NTS source countries, the addition of Bhutan, Cambodia, and Laos is a meaningful operational expansion. Cambodia in particular has an established tradition of construction and manufacturing labour for regional markets; the formalisation of the NTS pathway may help Singapore employers access a labour supply that was previously available only through less structured channels.
Employers who have not previously engaged workers from these three new source countries should approach initial hiring arrangements carefully — considering language and safety training requirements, country-specific documentation norms, and the practical logistics of recruitment in markets where Singapore employers may lack existing relationships. A licensed employment agency with NTS country expertise can simplify the sourcing and onboarding process considerably.
For businesses relocating or expanding operations in Singapore and needing to plan their workforce from the ground up — including the foreign worker mix, quota planning, and compliance setup — Raffles Corporate Services provides incorporation and HR setup support alongside ongoing payroll and compliance services.
Planning Ahead: September 2026 NTS-OL Expansion
With the next NTS-OL expansion set for September 2026, employers in the social services, food services, and air transport sectors should begin workforce planning now. The September 2026 additions — educarers, infant caregivers, food stall assistants, cabin crew, and related roles — will open NTS hiring to sectors that have not previously had access to it. Establishing sourcing pipelines, understanding levy obligations, and ensuring quota headroom before September will place employers ahead of what is likely to be a surge in NTS applications as the expansion takes effect.
Singapore Employment Agency (Little Big Employment Agency) is a MOM-licensed employment agency (Licence No. 19C9790) that assists employers across all sectors with Work Permit applications, NTS sourcing arrangements, and ongoing pass management. Whether you are a construction firm looking to source from Bhutan, a food services operator planning for the September 2026 NTS-OL changes, or a marine shipyard employer managing quota position, our team can help you navigate the MOM framework efficiently and compliantly.
— The Editorial Team, Little Big Employment Agency