Sri Lankans can now apply for more types of jobs in Singapore after the country expanded its foreign worker recruitment list to include eight additional occupations. The changes took effect on September 1, 2026, opening new employment routes in aviation, childcare and food services.
Sri Lanka is among nine approved countries from which Singapore employers can recruit workers under the Non-Traditional Sources (NTS) Occupation List. The expansion creates opportunities for people with experience in restaurants, food preparation, childcare and aviation. It also adds to existing opportunities in manufacturing, hotels and transport.
Eight New Job Opportunities for Sri Lankans
Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower has added eight occupations to its NTS list.
The new categories cover three main sectors.
Food services:
- Butchers, fishmongers and related food preparers
- Food and drink stall assistants
- Kitchen assistants
- Waiters
Aviation:
- Cabin attendants
Childcare and social services:
- Babysitters and infant caregivers
- Child and after-school care centre workers, also known as educators
- Teacher aides
These changes allow eligible Singapore employers to recruit Sri Lankan workers for these positions under the Work Permit system.
However, employers must meet specific licensing and recruitment conditions. For example, food-service businesses need the relevant Singapore Food Agency licence, while childcare employers must meet requirements set by the Early Childhood Development Agency.
Airlines must also hold the required operating approval.
Minimum Salary Starts at S$2,000
Singapore has set a minimum fixed monthly salary of S$2,000 for foreign workers hired under the NTS Occupation List.
At the November 9, 2026 exchange rate, this is approximately LKR 519,000 per month.
This is the fixed salary requirement, not a guarantee of take-home earnings or monthly savings. Actual savings will depend on accommodation, food, transport, personal expenses and other deductions. Employers must also follow Singapore’s foreign worker quota rules. For NTS workers, the sub-Dependency Ratio Ceiling is limited to 8%.
This means not every Singapore company can recruit workers from Sri Lanka for these positions. Employers must have the required licences, available quota and permission to hire under the scheme.
Existing Jobs Also Remain Available
The latest expansion adds to occupations already covered by the NTS list. These include manufacturing workers such as machine operators, assemblers, welders, metal workers and quality checkers.
Other eligible roles include hotel housekeeping workers, porters, cooks, food processing workers and heavy vehicle drivers. Heavy vehicle drivers must meet the relevant Class 4 or Class 5 driving licence requirements.
This gives Sri Lankans with experience in manufacturing, engineering trades, hospitality, food preparation and transport additional routes to explore.
How Sri Lankans Can Apply?
Foreign workers cannot independently obtain an NTS Work Permit simply by applying to Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower. A Singapore employer must offer the job and submit the Work Permit application.
Therefore, applicants should first identify an eligible occupation and look for genuine employers recruiting for that role. They should also check the salary, working hours, overtime payments, accommodation arrangements and other employment conditions before accepting an offer.
Sri Lankan applicants should verify recruitment arrangements through the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment before paying fees or travelling. A Work Permit also does not provide automatic permanent residence in Singapore. It allows a foreign worker to take up approved employment under the conditions of that permit.
Singapore’s latest expansion gives Sri Lankan workers more occupations to consider. However, actual opportunities will depend on employer demand, available quotas, qualifications and relevant work experience.
Last modified: November 9, 2026
