EPEC Scheme Discontinued

Singapore has discontinued its Employment Pass Eligibility Certificate (EPEC) Scheme as from 1-Dec-2011. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will no longer process any application or appeal for EPEC from that date.

Current holders of EPEC that was obtained before 1 Dec 2011, who had not applied for Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP) and still interested to find jobs in Singapore, will have the option to apply for a non-renewable 3 months LTVP. Current holders of EPEC that already have LTVP will be able to stay in Singapore for the validity period of the LTVP. No renewal is allowed for expired LTVP for EPEC holders that had obtained LTVP before.

EPEC was introduced in 1992, which allowed qualified foreign job seekers that meet the criteria, to have extended stay in Singapore up to 2 years to look for job in Singapore. It had helped companies and businesses to get bigger pool of candidates/resources locally, however, it was seen as increased job market competition by locals.

What will be the impact of the discontinuation of this scheme? There will always be pros and cons in every policy change, and only time will tell, but let us hope that it will bring us a better year in 2012 to the local job market.

MOM Singapore has provided FAQ page related to this discontinuation of EPEC here: http://www.mom.gov.sg/Documents/services-forms/EPEC_FAQs.pdf