Singapore's Strict Migrant Worker System Balances Manpower Opening and Social Order
Singapore strictly manages foreign workers through different visa categories. As AI and infrastructure expand, migrant labor plays a vital role in supporting economic growth while maintaining social order.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 17, 2026 at 20:11
- 🔍 Collected: April 17, 2026 at 20:31 (20 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 18, 2026 at 22:08 (25h 36m after Collected)
(Central News Agency reporter Wu Sheng-hung, Singapore, 17th) Singapore has a strict management system for foreign migrant workers. Singaporean industry players working on technology platforms point out that with the expansion of AI-related manufacturing and other industries, the deployment of hardware facilities has led to an increase in demand for grassroots manpower, making migrant workers from places like India one of the supporting forces. Under institutionalized management, Singapore seeks to find a balance between economic development and social inclusion.
Foreigners in Singapore hold documents including Employment Pass (EP), S Pass, and Work Permit (WP). Status differences are not only reflected in legal provisions but also permeate every detail of a person's work.
EP and S Pass are mostly held by professionals or those with specialized skills, and their monthly salary thresholds continue to be raised. Those holding WP are mostly in grassroots and technical positions, concentrated in construction, manufacturing, marine, processing, or service industries.
It is understood that the majority of WP holders in Singapore come from South Asian and Southeast Asian countries, including India, Bangladesh, and the Philippines.
On the other hand, Singapore's Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng mentioned in a speech to Parliament in 2021 that the proportion of EP holders from India rose from about 1/7 in 2005 to 1/4 in 2020. He pointed out at the time that based on foreign policy considerations, the Singapore government generally does not publish detailed statistical data on the foreign workforce, especially statistical data broken down by nationality.
According to data from the Ministry of Manpower's website, as of December 2025, the total number of foreign workers was 1,635,700; of which 203,300 were EP holders, 178,900 were S Pass holders, and 1,222,700 were WP holders.
Singapore adopts a relatively strict and cautious pass management system. Through multiple mechanisms such as industry restrictions, quota regulations, and accommodation management, migrant workers can only be employed in specific industries such as construction, manufacturing, marine, and some service sectors, and must comply with relevant government regulations for employers to ensure labor market order and basic protections for workers.
The Singapore government requires employers to arrange for workers to undergo medical examinations by Singapore-registered doctors. If judged unfit for work, their work permit will be revoked. For the workers, those holding a work permit can only work for the employer and industry specified in the permit, and cannot participate in other commercial activities.
In addition, work permit holders can only live at the address designated at the start of employment, and cannot marry a Singapore citizen or permanent resident without the approval of the Ministry of Manpower.
Singapore takes all illegal acts seriously. According to the law, anyone harboring or employing a person who violates immigration laws can be sentenced to up to 24 months in prison, or a fine of up to 6,000 SGD (about 149,000 NTD), or both, if convicted.
Singapore's Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong said at an event in August 2024 that on a per capita basis, the foreign population in Singapore is more law-abiding than Singaporeans. "Looking at the per capita crime rate, the numbers are very low."
To understand employment relations, Singaporean authorities previously surveyed thousands of employers. The results published last year showed that 70.8% of employers were satisfied with the performance of migrant workers, only 1.4% were dissatisfied, and the remaining 27.8% held a neutral attitude.
Singaporean Xie Weikeng provides policy advocacy and research on Southeast Asian data center affairs on a technology platform, understanding the dynamics of data center setups in various places. He is well aware that what is important in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not only the computing power of Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), but also the "manpower foundation" that supports all of this.
Xie Weikeng currently serves as the Head of Media and Publishing at the Asia AI Association. He told the Central News Agency that in Singapore, whenever a data center breaks ground or a chip-related factory rises from the ground, the figures of migrant workers from places like India can always be seen, supporting the most basic yet indispensable manpower needs.
Xie Weikeng pointed out that the application of AI in data centers relies on a large number of servers to process and store data; servers require massive amounts of power. What truly makes AI run is not only advanced manufacturing processes, but also an entire set of infrastructure. From land acquisition, power transmission to cooling systems, construction engineering, and network deployment, layers are stacked up to allow this technology to continue to develop forward.
Shen Zongyou, a cultural researcher who follows Singapore's historical and social development, said that in Singapore, many fields require the support of grassroots manpower, and the input of local labor in some jobs is limited due to working conditions and industry types. "Regardless of where the workers come from, the key lies in the management system. Every country has the same concerns about social order, but these issues are not directly related to who the ethnic groups are. Establishing a sound and strict management mechanism is the core of ensuring social stability and mutual trust."
He pointed out that during Deepavali, the ethnic festival of the Indian community, the Little India area is full of colorful lights and decorations; these city features that showcase ethnic inclusion help Singapore maintain its relationship with the Indian community, thereby enhancing its international image.
Foreigners in Singapore hold documents including Employment Pass (EP), S Pass, and Work Permit (WP). Status differences are not only reflected in legal provisions but also permeate every detail of a person's work.
EP and S Pass are mostly held by professionals or those with specialized skills, and their monthly salary thresholds continue to be raised. Those holding WP are mostly in grassroots and technical positions, concentrated in construction, manufacturing, marine, processing, or service industries.
It is understood that the majority of WP holders in Singapore come from South Asian and Southeast Asian countries, including India, Bangladesh, and the Philippines.
On the other hand, Singapore's Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng mentioned in a speech to Parliament in 2021 that the proportion of EP holders from India rose from about 1/7 in 2005 to 1/4 in 2020. He pointed out at the time that based on foreign policy considerations, the Singapore government generally does not publish detailed statistical data on the foreign workforce, especially statistical data broken down by nationality.
According to data from the Ministry of Manpower's website, as of December 2025, the total number of foreign workers was 1,635,700; of which 203,300 were EP holders, 178,900 were S Pass holders, and 1,222,700 were WP holders.
Singapore adopts a relatively strict and cautious pass management system. Through multiple mechanisms such as industry restrictions, quota regulations, and accommodation management, migrant workers can only be employed in specific industries such as construction, manufacturing, marine, and some service sectors, and must comply with relevant government regulations for employers to ensure labor market order and basic protections for workers.
The Singapore government requires employers to arrange for workers to undergo medical examinations by Singapore-registered doctors. If judged unfit for work, their work permit will be revoked. For the workers, those holding a work permit can only work for the employer and industry specified in the permit, and cannot participate in other commercial activities.
In addition, work permit holders can only live at the address designated at the start of employment, and cannot marry a Singapore citizen or permanent resident without the approval of the Ministry of Manpower.
Singapore takes all illegal acts seriously. According to the law, anyone harboring or employing a person who violates immigration laws can be sentenced to up to 24 months in prison, or a fine of up to 6,000 SGD (about 149,000 NTD), or both, if convicted.
Singapore's Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong said at an event in August 2024 that on a per capita basis, the foreign population in Singapore is more law-abiding than Singaporeans. "Looking at the per capita crime rate, the numbers are very low."
To understand employment relations, Singaporean authorities previously surveyed thousands of employers. The results published last year showed that 70.8% of employers were satisfied with the performance of migrant workers, only 1.4% were dissatisfied, and the remaining 27.8% held a neutral attitude.
Singaporean Xie Weikeng provides policy advocacy and research on Southeast Asian data center affairs on a technology platform, understanding the dynamics of data center setups in various places. He is well aware that what is important in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not only the computing power of Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), but also the "manpower foundation" that supports all of this.
Xie Weikeng currently serves as the Head of Media and Publishing at the Asia AI Association. He told the Central News Agency that in Singapore, whenever a data center breaks ground or a chip-related factory rises from the ground, the figures of migrant workers from places like India can always be seen, supporting the most basic yet indispensable manpower needs.
Xie Weikeng pointed out that the application of AI in data centers relies on a large number of servers to process and store data; servers require massive amounts of power. What truly makes AI run is not only advanced manufacturing processes, but also an entire set of infrastructure. From land acquisition, power transmission to cooling systems, construction engineering, and network deployment, layers are stacked up to allow this technology to continue to develop forward.
Shen Zongyou, a cultural researcher who follows Singapore's historical and social development, said that in Singapore, many fields require the support of grassroots manpower, and the input of local labor in some jobs is limited due to working conditions and industry types. "Regardless of where the workers come from, the key lies in the management system. Every country has the same concerns about social order, but these issues are not directly related to who the ethnic groups are. Establishing a sound and strict management mechanism is the core of ensuring social stability and mutual trust."
He pointed out that during Deepavali, the ethnic festival of the Indian community, the Little India area is full of colorful lights and decorations; these city features that showcase ethnic inclusion help Singapore maintain its relationship with the Indian community, thereby enhancing its international image.