COMPASS - What to Expect

COMPASS (Complementarity Assessment Framework), a new points-based evaluation system specific to Employment Pass (EP) applications was introduced by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in September 2023 to help local employers with their manpower planning. It enables employers to select highly qualified foreign professionals to complement the local workforce as well as improving workforce diversity. COMPASS will also apply to EP renewals starting 1 September 2024.

COMPASS is a 2-stage eligibility framework which aims to evaluate key attributes against 4 Foundational criteria and 2 Bonus criteria based on both employee and employer-related attributes for EP applications. In addition to the standard requirements of the FCF (Fair Consideration Framework) and prevailing salary thresholds (Stage 1), employers are required to assess their potential candidates’ eligibility against COMPASS (Stage 2).

To pass COMPASS, applications must score at least 40 points, unless exempted.

	Individual Attributes	Firm-Related Attributes
Foundational Criteria Earn up to 20 points per criterion	C1. Salary Relative to local PMET salary norms for sector	C3. Diversity Whether candidate improves nationality diversity in firm
C2. Qualifications Based on candidate’s qualifications	C4. Support for Local Employment Based on local PMET share relative to industry peers
Bonus Criteria	C5. Skills Bonus For candidate in job where skills shortages exist Earn up to 20 points	C6. Strategic Economic Priorities (SEP) Bonus For partnership with Government on ambitious investment, innovation, internationalisation or company and workforce transformation activities Earn up to 10 points

Applicants who meet any of the following conditions are exempted from COMPASS:

•  Earn a fixed monthly salary of at least SGD 22,500 (similar to the prevailing Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) job advertising exemption)

•  Apply as an overseas Intra-Corporate Transferee (ICT) under the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) General Agreement Trade in Services (GATS) or an applicable Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that Singapore is party to

• Fill a short-term role requiring a 1-month EP or less

Employers are encouraged to utilise the MOM’s enhanced Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) and Workforce Insights Tool on MyMOM portal to review the ability of their potential candidate to pass COMPASS before applying for or renewing an EP application. 

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