Hiring in Singapore: Complete Guide 2026
Everything you need to know about hiring and managing employees in Singapore
Overview
Singapore is Asia-Pacific's premier business hub, offering world-class infrastructure, a highly stable legal and political environment, and a multilingual, internationally-connected workforce. It is the default staging point for companies building regional APAC teams. Employment is governed by the Employment Act 2019 (which now covers most employees), and the CPF (Central Provident Fund) system applies to Singapore citizens and permanent residents. An EOR is the standard route for foreign companies hiring before establishing a Singapore Pte Ltd.
Currency
Primary Language
Payroll Tax
Pay Frequency
Overview
Employer Costs
Employer Social Contributions
Mandatory Benefits
EOR Service Fee
Total Additional Cost
Employee Deductions
Income Tax
Employee Social Contributions
Mandatory Employee Benefits
PAYROLL & SETUP
Setting Up Payroll in Singapore
Singapore payroll runs monthly with CPF contributions required for all Singapore citizens and permanent residents. Employer CPF contribution is 17% (for employees under 55), while employees contribute 20% — both subject to the monthly ordinary wage ceiling (SGD 6,800 from 2023). An EOR handles CPF Board registration, monthly CPF submissions via CPF EZPay, payslip issuance under the Employment Act (mandatory within 3 working days of payment), and IR8A annual income return filing. For Employment Pass holders (foreign nationals), no CPF applies but minimum qualifying salary thresholds — which increase annually under the Fair Consideration Framework — must be met.
Key Labor Laws &
Requirements
Employment Contracts
- Written contract is best practice
- Key Employment Terms required within 14 days
- Probation typically 3–6 months
Leave & Time Off
- 7–14 days annual leave based on tenure
- Paid sick leave 14 days (60 days if hospitalised)
- Maternity leave 16 weeks for citizens, 12 weeks others
Termination Rules
- 1 day to 1 month notice based on tenure
- No statutory severance for resignation
- Retrenchment benefit negotiated or per contract
COMPLIANCE
Work Pass and Compliance in Singapore
Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) operates a tiered work pass system. The Employment Pass (EP) is required for foreign professionals and has a minimum salary threshold of SGD 5,000/month (higher for financial services). The S Pass covers mid-level skilled workers at SGD 3,150/month minimum. Employers are subject to the Fair Consideration Framework (FCF), which requires jobs to be advertised on MyCareersFuture for at least 28 days before an EP application can be submitted. MOM actively monitors hiring patterns for discriminatory practices. An EOR manages all pass applications, renewal timelines, and FCF compliance, ensuring your hiring process meets MOM requirements at every stage.
Key Challenges
- One of the highest EOR costs in Asia
- Strict Employment Pass eligibility criteria
- Mandatory CPF contributions for residents
- Emiratisation-equivalent local hiring quotas (Fair Consideration Framework)
- High cost of living impacts salary expectations
Country Highlights
Advantages
- Premier hub for Asia-Pacific operations
- Best-in-class legal and IP framework
- Highly stable political and business environment
- Trilingual and multicultural workforce
- Gateway to Southeast Asian markets
Popular Industries & Roles
Technology
Avg. Salary: SGD 70k-SGD 140k
Singapore is APAC's premier tech hub with world-class software engineering, AI, and product talent
Financial Services
Avg. Salary: SGD 80k-SGD 180k
Singapore is Asia's leading financial centre with deep banking, asset management, and FinTech expertise
Regional HQ & Operations
Avg. Salary: SGD 65k-SGD 130k
Regional HQ and operations management roles are a major driver of Singapore hiring for multinationals entering APAC
Top 3 Providers in Singapore
Based on our analysis of pricing, compliance record, service quality, and customer reviews
Deel
- 150+ countries with owned entities
- Contractor and EOR in one platform
- Rich HRIS integrations including Slack
- AI-powered compliance automation
BIPO
- 170+ countries via partner network
- Workday Gold Certified integration
- Deep APAC and SEA expertise
- 460,000+ employees managed
Global Expansion
- 214 countries and territories covered
- 20+ Workday integrations
- Native immigration and mobility support
- No markup on immigration pass-through
Find a better EOR — without risk
Compare EOR providers to gain insights on cost, coverage, and contract flexibility, ensuring compliance and payroll continuity.
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