ONE Pass to rule them all: New work pass offers foreign workers longer stays, and more

The pass, however, is only granted to talents who meet the salary threshold of $30,000.

With talent being the only resource of Singapore, the country cannot afford to lose the global war for talent. This is why the government has further enhanced its work pass framework and introduced the Overseas Networks & Expertise (ONE) Pass.

Zhao Yang Ng, local principal in the Employment Practice Group of Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow, said the ONE Pass is more beneficial to foreign workers compared to the other work passes, like the Employment Pass (EP), since it has a five-year validity period.

Typically, an EP has a two- to three-year validity, whilst the Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) is granted for up to three years, Bird & Bird ATMD's Senior Associate, Natasha Cheng, explained. Apart from longer validity, ONE Pass also eliminated the need for holders to reapply for a new pass to change jobs, unlike EP holders who need to undergo the process of reapplication.

ONE Pass holders will also be able to "concurrently start, operate, and work for multiple companies at any one time. EP holders can only work for the entity which sponsored his/her EP unless specific permission is sought and obtained from the MOM," said Ng.

But amongst the benefits that ONE Pass provides, Cheng said the biggest privilege a holder could get is having a dependent, particularly their spouse, to work in Singapore on a letter of consent.