The ONE pass – a visa that will allow its holders as well as their partners to work for five years – is Singapore’s renewed effort to lure global talent after its pandemic-era restrictions and efforts to protect local workers made it appear less welcoming. As economies reopen and find growth still stuttering, nations including the UK, the United Arab Emirates, Germany and Thailand are seeking out top achievers to power their recovery by providing easier access.
Singapore won’t limit the number of applicants for its newest work permit, Minister of Manpower Tan See Leng said, as the city-state seeks to burnish its appeal to the best minds globally.
The introduction of the Overseas Networks and Expertise (ONE) pass last week as well as other steps that make it easier to hire expats are a response to the tight labour market, Tan said in an interview with Bloomberg Television’s Juliette Saly on Monday. The city-state’s officials have mentioned that they see the competition heating up with the likes of London and Dubai.
“What we are really hoping to bring to Singapore are the rainmakers,” Tan said, referring to the efforts to attract leaders in fields across science, technology, engineering and math, as well as finance, arts, culture and sports. “It is an offensive strategy for us.”
