Last updated: March 2024
Key Takeaways:
- Employment agencies in Singapore assist foreigners in job placement and work visa processes.
- Companies in Singapore can hire foreigners with valid work visas, subject to MOM regulations and quotas.
- Fees charged by recruitment agencies typically range from 15% to 30% of the worker's annual salary.
- Engaging an employment agency can offer expertise, save time, and provide legal compliance assurance.
Introduction:
Navigating the job market in Singapore as a foreigner can be daunting. Employment agencies bridge the gap, offering vital services from securing a position to handling visa requirements. With the right agency, the process becomes streamlined and accessible, opening doors to career opportunities in Singapore's dynamic economy.
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Can Singapore companies hire foreigners? Yes, Singapore companies can hire foreigners, provided they obtain the necessary work visas. There are different passes for various skill levels, such as the Work Permit for unskilled or semi-skilled workers, the S Pass for mid-level skilled staff, and the Employment Pass for professionals in managerial, executive, or specialized jobs. The hiring process is regulated by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), which imposes quotas and standards to ensure fair employment practices. Employers must comply with these regulations to legally employ foreign nationals in Singapore.
Can Singapore Companies Hire Foreigners?
Yes, companies registered in Singapore can hire foreigners as long as they have work visas.
Although, there are a set of conditions to be followed when hiring a foreigner.
There is a quota system in Singapore-based companies where they should hire a certain number of Singapore residents before being able to hire S pass holders.
But, when hiring for managerial, technical, and specialist roles under employment pass, this quota system does not apply.
How to Employ Foreign Workers in Singapore?
Hiring foreign workers comes with standards and permits from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
First, only workers with work visas or work passes were allowed to work in Singapore.
These passes are issued between 18 to 50 years old.
There are different work passes issued depending on the employees' skills level.
Work Permit is issued for unskilled or semi-skilled foreign workers.
S Pass is needed for semi and mid-level skilled staff with a diploma or bachelor's degree, earning at least $2,400 a month.
An employment pass is a work visa for foreigners with professional, managerial, and executive roles in Singapore.
Lastly, a personalized employment pass is for holders earning at least $12,000 a month. This provides greater flexibility than the ordinary employment pass.
When the work visa is approved, only the requirements from the hiring company are needed like medical checkups.
How Much Do Recruitment Agencies Charge in Singapore?
One of your concerns may be the fee recruitment agencies charge.
The recruitment fees depend on the worker's annual salary. It can range from 15% to 30%.
From another perspective, agencies may charge no more than the worker's one-month fixed salary rate.
The Ministry of Manpower issues an in-principle approval (IPA) letter before the worker arrives in Singapore. This IPA letter indicates the fixed monthly salary and the fees paid to the recruitment agency.
If excessive fees are collected, workers may report the agency to the Ministry of Manpower for assistance.
Is it Worth Going Through a Recruitment Agency?
Hiring an employment agency may sound like an additional cost at first but it is worth it since they are specialists in their field.
The right employment agency gives you access to the best candidates, saves time, provides industry expertise, is knowledgeable in recruitment law, and would enable the company's growth and innovation.
Not sure where to start in finding the best employment agency?
We got you covered!
We have gathered the ten best and most reliable agencies to make your search easier, faster, and effective.
Top 10 Employment Agency Singapore for Foreigners
1. RecruitFirst Singapore
RecruitFirst Singapore - Employment Agency Singapore for Foreigners
Being a part of HRnetGroup Limited, established in 1992, RecruitFirst has a long list of matched workers and employees.
They started as a 4-person team which has now grown with 900 consultants across 15 Asian cities such as Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Seoul, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and many more.
In Singapore alone, RecruitFirst has covered seven cities and 23 industries.
They have more than 150 consultants and have matched 42,998 contractor employees.
RecruitFirst has leaders from different industries, such as consumer retail, healthcare, education, technology, and telecommunications.
These leaders give out insights to clients, advise candidates, and manage the consultants.
To apply, you can look for a suitable job on the Job Board posted on the website, fill in the necessary details, and submit your application. You will get a call from RecruitFirst once you are shortlisted.
Address: 391A Orchard Road, Ngee Ann City Tower A, #23-06, Singapore, 238873
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2. Randstad Singapore
Randstad Singapore - Employment Agency Singapore for Foreigners
Recruitment has been heavily driven by technology recently. To ensure human touch and real connections, Randstad Singapore remains your trusted human partner searching for the perfect role.
Randstad Singapore dives deeper than resumes and job openings.
Asking the right questions is their secret to pinpointing the needs and creating a great match.
With Randstad Singapore, you get a smarter and more personal HR experience.
They also have operations in other countries like Hong Kong, Malaysia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia.
If you are interested in being one of Randstad Singapore's contractors, they promise to support your career and provide a positive and rewarding work experience.
Randstad also gives out incentives if you refer a friend for a role.
Address: 50 Raffles Place #17-02/05, Singapore Land Tower, Singapore, 048623
Contact: +65 6510 1350
Learn more: Best Immigration Agencies in Singapore to Helping People Migrate to Singapore
3. BGC Group Pte. Ltd.
BGC Group Pte. Ltd. - Employment Agency Singapore for Foreigners
Established in May 2005, BGC Group has helped over 100,000 individuals land rewarding careers in successful companies that drive different industries.
They take pride in the solid ground of trust they have set for both job seekers and employers.
BGC Group is a group of HR Specialists for healthcare and life science, banking and finance, accounting, c-suite and senior executives, and information technology.
Permanent placement, consultancy, business process outsourcing, temporary and contract staffing, and outsourcing are other services they offer.
With their user-friendly portal, you can quickly search for open job posts or refer a friend for a role.
By 2028, BGC Group envisions becoming the leading tech firm in manpower outsourcing.
Address: 298 Tiong Bahru Road, #12-03 Central Plaza, Singapore, 168730
Contact: +65 6535 9696
4. Universal Employment Agency
Universal Employment Agency - Employment Agency Singapore for Foreigners
Are you looking for a licensed Singapore Maid Agency? Universal Employment Agency is your best choice!
Licensed by the Ministry of Manpower in 1986, Universal Employment Agency has served for over 30 years.
This agency is the leading professional consultancy that has long specialized in the placement of foreign helpers from Indonesia, Myanmar, and the Philippines.
The Universal Employment Agency promises to take care of its hires.
They offer application and renewal of maid work permits, placement of ex-Singapore maids, passport renewal, medical check-ups, and comprehensive insurance for maids in Singapore.
Being very keen on the needs and demands of employers, they have separate hirings for maids needed for housework and cooking, for newborn and infant care, and children care.
Address: 304 Orchard Road, #03-52 Lucky Plaza, Singapore, 238863
Contact: +65 6735 3456
5. Hunter Employment Pte. Ltd.
Hunter Employment Pte. Ltd. - Employment Agency Singapore for Foreigners
Hunter Employment Pte Ltd specializes in providing construction, manufacturing, and process workers.
This professional foreign worker employment sources most of the foreign workers from Malaysia, India, Vietnam, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and China.
They also provide employment contract drafting and Foreign Worker Act consultancy.
Over the years, Hunter Employment Pte Ltd gathered experience in handling foreign worker employment disputes and issues.
Hunter Employment also provides HR Management and consultancy for work pass applications, medical check-ups, MOM thumbprint scanning, workers' insurance, and many more.
Aside from providing workers for the manufacturing, construction, and service sector, they also have executive search and headhunting.
Address: 21, Woodlands Close, #08-44 PrimzBizhub, Singapore, 737854
Contact: +65 9626 5829 / +65 6696 6472
Also Read: Best Recruitment Agencies in Singapore to find Contracts, Permanent or Temp Jobs
6. Trust Recruit
Trust Recruit - Employment Agency Singapore for Foreigners
One of the top agencies in the country, Trust Recruit assists companies to save time from the back-and-forth conversations with HR and candidates that make the hiring process long and tedious.
This agency has more than 20 years of collective consulting experience and provision of customized workforce solutions for corporate clients.
Trust Recruit has worked for multinational corporations, the public sector, and private establishments involving both small and medium enterprises.
To ensure making the perfect match, Trust Recruit conducts a personal consultation with job seekers.
They offer other services such as permanent placement, contract placement, consulting, and payroll services.
Address: 20 Anson Road, #12-03, Singapore, 079912
Contact: +65 6228 4228
7. SE Global Employment Pte. Ltd.
SE Global Employment Pte. Ltd. - Employment Agency Singapore for Foreigners
SE Global Employment Pte. Ltd. provides professional employment solutions and legal consultancy for local and foreign workers in Singapore.
Their recruitment process starts by shortlisting the most qualified candidates matching the company's requirements, then scheduling interviews, applying for a work pass, preparing arrival documents, airport pick-up, and medical check-up, arranging to lodge for the workers, assist thumbprint scanning at MOM, industrial courses arrangement, and renewal of work passes.
SE Global Employment Pte. Ltd. is highly experienced in the manufacturing, servicing, construction, and administrative industries.
Address: 11 Woodlands Close, #05-35, Woodlands 11, Singapore, 737853
Contact: +65 8813 2288
8. Future Employment Pte. Ltd.
Future Employment Pte. Ltd. - Employment Agency Singapore for Foreigners
One of the top recruitment agencies in Singapore, Future Employment focuses on recruiting more foreign workers for various businesses in the country.
With over a decade of experience in the industry, their agents for foreign workers help both small and medium enterprises, as well as multinational corporations, discover the perfect match for their open positions.
Future Employment sources their foreign workers from China, South Korea, Myanmar, India, and Vietnam.
Their services include work pass or employment pass processing, home check, medical insurance, and Online Foreign Worker Address Service.
Address: 60 Paya Lebar Road, #12-12, Paya Lebar Square, Singapore, 409051
Contact: +65 6298 2987
9. Multiway Employment
Multiway Employment - Employment Agency Singapore for Foreigners
Looking for a one-stop foreign manpower solution to make the screening and hiring process seamless? Reach out to Multiway Employment!
Their major clients are from various industries such as cleaning service, renovation and construction, electrical and mechanical engineering, furniture manufacturing, food and beverage, and spa and beauty.
By providing training for their recruiting agents, they maintain a good and trusted relationship with their existing clients, resulting in recurring orders for years.
Multiway Employment ensures dispute management by giving long-term after-sales service.
Address: 21, Woodland Close, Primz Bizhub, #04-27, Singapore, 737854
Contact: +65 8322 0440 / +65 8655 2956
10. Firstcare Employment Pte. Ltd.
Firstcare Employment Pte. Ltd. - Employment Agency Singapore for Foreigners
Firstcare Employment Pte. Ltd. offers flexible staffing services based on the client's budget and timeframe.
They have local staffing services, foreign worker placements, work pass services, and human resources advisory solutions.
Firstcare Employment believes that staffing is not just about finding people but understanding the client's needs and searching for the right and most qualified employee to hire.
Address: Blk 61 Bukit Batok Crescent, #04-04C, Heng Loong Bldg., Singapore, 658078
Contact: +65 6464 8466
Employment Agency Singapore
Hiring someone to work for your business, either big or small, is a crucial step for your business' growth and success.
Getting an employment agency would help you maximize your time and budget, plus the expertise and talent pool they have.
To get the best one, check first if they are licensed by the Ministry of Manpower.
Then, you can schedule a consultation with their agents so they can assess your needs and give out opinions.
Getting an agency gives you access to legal and hiring opinions as well.
To make things easier and more efficient for you, just browse through this article and pick the best-suited employment agency for you!
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