What you should know about Complementary Assessment Framework (COMPASS)

Since September 2023, new Employment Pass (EP) and EP renewal applicants in Singapore have to comply with a system called the Complementary Assessment Framework (COMPASS).

COMPASS is a transparent points-based system that evaluates EP applications on individual and firm-related attributes. The framework is designed to give businesses greater clarity and certainty for selecting high-quality foreign professionals, while improving workforce diversity and building a strong local core.

The eligibility assessment system has to be done in two stages:

1. The minimum qualifying salary: to pass this stage, the salary offered to the candidate needs to be at least S$5,600 per month for all sectors and S$6,200 per month in the financial services sector (from age 23). The minimum salary requirement increases progressively with age, reaching up to S$10,700 at age 45 and above for all sectors, and up to S$11,800 for individuals in the financial services sector.
2. The COMPASS: to pass this second stage and qualify for an Employment Pass (EP) application in Singapore, criteria both from the candidate and the prospective employer will be assessed.

To pass the COMPASS stage, an application needs to earn a minimum of 40 points.

The framework evaluates each application on four foundational criteria and two bonus criteria. The foundational criteria are as follows:

1. Salary: the salary offered to the applicant must meet the EP qualifying salary requirement (stage 1, described above) but if the application needs to get points with this criterion, the offered salary will depend on the sector of the employing company as well as the age and qualification of the candidate.
2. Qualifications: for a bachelor’s degree (recognised in the UK system) and above, the application will get 10 points. 20 points for a degree from a top-tier institution.
3. Diversity: the company can get 20 points if the applicant’s nationality forms a small proportion in the employing headcount.
4. Support for local employment: applications can get 20 points if the hiring firm has a relatively high share of locals (Singaporeans or Permanent Residents) amongst its employees compared to other companies in the same sector.

In addition to the foundational criteria, applicants can earn additional points against two bonus criteria:

1. Skills Shortage: Applicants filling an occupation on the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) can earn bonus points.
2. Strategic Economic Priorities (SEP): Firms undertaking investment, innovation, internationalism, or workforce transformation activities can earn bonus points, provided they are supported by sector agencies or the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).