For many employers in manufacturing and services, hiring lower-skilled foreign workers has become harder as S Pass qualifying salaries and levies have risen. To give those sectors breathing room, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) operates the Non-Traditional Sources (NTS) Occupation List, which allows firms to hire Work Permit holders from a wider set of countries for a defined list of hard-to-fill jobs. This 2026 guide explains what the NTS Occupation List is, which occupations and source countries it covers, the conditions that apply, and how it fits within your overall foreign-worker quota.
It is written for HR managers, operations leads and business owners in sectors that rely on Work Permit labour. Used correctly, the NTS route can ease a genuine manpower crunch; used carelessly, it can lead to rejected applications and compliance problems.
What is the NTS Occupation List?
Work Permit holders in the manufacturing and services sectors are ordinarily hired from a set of approved source countries. The NTS Occupation List widens that pool, letting firms in these sectors hire workers from Non-Traditional Sources for specific occupations that face persistent shortages and low local take-up. It was introduced to help employers adjust to tightening S Pass rules by providing an alternative source of Work Permit manpower for roles that are hard to fill and hard to automate.
The NTS route sits within the broader Work Permit framework. It does not create a new pass type; it expands who you can hire on a Work Permit, and for which jobs, in the covered sectors.
Which source countries are included?
The Non-Traditional Sources are a defined group of countries beyond the traditional source countries for services and manufacturing Work Permit holders. They include Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Under the NTS Occupation List, firms in the manufacturing and services sectors may hire from these countries, but only for the occupations on the list.
Which occupations are covered?
The list is deliberately narrow and targeted at roles with pressing manpower needs. Occupations on the NTS Occupation List have included jobs such as cooks, food-processing workers, heavy-vehicle drivers, housekeeping and cleaning workers, porters and certain manufacturing operatives. These are roles that see low local uptake and are difficult to mechanise, which is precisely why they were selected.
Because the list is targeted rather than open-ended, employers must check that the specific role they want to fill is on the current list before planning an NTS hire. A job that is superficially similar but not named on the list will not qualify.
Conditions and safeguards
The NTS route is subject to the usual Work Permit rules plus some scheme-specific safeguards.
Quota and levy still apply
Hiring under the NTS Occupation List does not exempt you from the sector Dependency Ratio Ceiling (quota) or from paying the applicable foreign worker levy. NTS workers count within your overall Work Permit headroom in the same way as other Work Permit holders.
Sector eligibility
The NTS Occupation List applies to firms in the manufacturing and services sectors. Employers should confirm their sector classification and that their intended role falls within the list for that sector.
Fair hiring obligations remain
Employers must still comply with fair-hiring expectations. Where applicable, this includes advertising and considering local candidates in line with the Fair Consideration Framework before turning to foreign hires, and treating all workers fairly once employed.
Periodic review
MOM reviews the NTS Occupation List periodically, working with sector agencies and tripartite partners, so both the covered occupations and the terms can change over time. Employers should not assume the list is static.
How NTS fits with S Pass and Work Permit planning
The NTS Occupation List is best understood as one lever among several for managing foreign manpower. Where a role genuinely requires higher skills or salary, the S Pass route remains appropriate. For lower-skilled roles hit by shortages, the NTS route can widen the hiring pool without pushing the firm over its S Pass sub-quota. And for sectors covered by the Progressive Wage Model, wage-floor obligations still apply to the workers hired. The right mix depends on your role profiles, your quota headroom and your cost structure.
Frequently asked questions
Can any company hire under the NTS Occupation List?
No. It applies to firms in the manufacturing and services sectors, and only for the specific occupations on the list. Confirm both your sector and the role before planning a hire.
Do NTS workers count towards my quota?
Yes. NTS Work Permit holders count within your Dependency Ratio Ceiling and attract the applicable levy, just like other Work Permit holders.
Which countries count as Non-Traditional Sources?
They include Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Always check MOM for the current position.
Where can I find the current list?
The definitive, up-to-date NTS Occupation List and its conditions are published by MOM. Because the list is reviewed periodically, confirm the occupations before applying.
How we can help
Foreign-worker planning is a balancing act between quota, levy, wage rules and the specific passes each role qualifies for. Through our licensed employment-agency arm, Raffles Corporate Services helps employers map roles to the right pass, check NTS eligibility, and manage Work Permit and S Pass applications and renewals. If you are wrestling with a manpower shortage in a covered sector, we can help you find a compliant path.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute immigration or legal advice. MOM rules change; confirm the current requirements with MOM or a licensed adviser before acting.
— The Editorial Team, Raffles Corporate Services