Foreign Worker Quota Calculator (2026)
Calculate your DRC and S Pass sub-quota by sector — see exactly how many foreign workers you can hire for your local headcount under MOM 2026 rules.
What is the Foreign Worker Quota?
Singapore caps the proportion of foreign workers each company can employ via the Dependency Ratio Ceiling (DRC), which varies by sector. Within the overall DRC, S Pass holders face a tighter sub-quota. The headcount is calculated using LQS-eligible locals (full-time at $1,600+/month, or part-time at $800+/month working ≥35h/week).
Company Profile
DRC: 35.0% · S Pass sub-quota: 10%
Local Headcount (LQS-eligible)
Earning ≥ $1,600/month — counts as 1 head each
Earning $800–$1,599/month, ≥35h/wk — counts as 0.5 each
Current Foreign Headcount (optional)
Current Work Permit foreign workforce
Current S Pass holders (subset of foreign workforce)
Result updates as you type
Maximum total foreign workforce
5
10 local heads · Services · 35.0% DRC
Total foreign
5
DRC ceiling
S Pass max
1
sub-quota cap
Based on MOM 2026 sector quotas. Marine Shipyard DRC reduced from 77.8% to 75% effective 1 Jan 2026. Verify with MOM.
2026 Sector Quotas
| Sector | DRC | S Pass | Foreign : Local |
|---|---|---|---|
| Services | 35% | 10% | ~1 : 1.86 |
| Manufacturing | 60% | 15% | 1.5 : 1 |
| Construction | 87.5% | 15% | 7 : 1 |
| Process | 87.5% | 15% | 7 : 1 |
| Marine Shipyard | 75% (Jan 2026) | 15% | 3 : 1 |
Marine Shipyard DRC reduced from 77.8% to 75% on 1 January 2026.
How the Foreign Worker Quota is Calculated
The DRC is expressed as a percentage of the total workforce (locals + foreign). To work out how many foreigners you can hire from a given local headcount, the formula is foreign_max = (DRC × locals) ÷ (1 − DRC). The S Pass sub-quota uses the same formula with the sub-quota rate.
Worked example 1 — Services with 10 locals: DRC 35% → max foreign = (0.35 × 10) ÷ 0.65 = 5 workers. S Pass sub-quota = (0.10 × 10) ÷ 0.90 = 1 worker S Pass cap.
Worked example 2 — Construction with 5 locals: DRC 87.5% → max foreign = (0.875 × 5) ÷ 0.125 = 35 workers. The construction sector's 7:1 ratio is the most permissive in Singapore, reflecting heavy reliance on foreign labour.
LQS counting: If you have 8 full-time locals ($1,600+) and 4 part-time locals ($800+, ≥35h/week), your headcount = 8 + (4 × 0.5) = 10 LQS heads. Locals earning below the LQS thresholds don't count, no matter how many you employ.
Practical implication: SMEs in Services (35% DRC, 10% S Pass) need to maintain ~2 locals for every foreign worker. Companies often hit the S Pass sub-quota before the overall DRC, especially if they hire mostly mid-skilled foreign professionals. Plan headcount growth against both ceilings.
Services (35% DRC)
F&B, retail, IT, professional services
~2 locals per 1 foreign
Manufacturing (60% DRC)
Electronics, food processing, light industry
1 local per 1.5 foreign
Construction (87.5%)
Building works, civil engineering, infrastructure
1 local per 7 foreign
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Dependency Ratio Ceiling (DRC) in Singapore?expand_more
The DRC is the maximum proportion of foreign workers a Singapore company can employ relative to its total workforce. It varies by sector: 35% for Services, 60% for Manufacturing, 87.5% for Construction and Process, and 75% for Marine Shipyard (reduced from 77.8% on 1 Jan 2026). For example, in Services a company with 10 local employees can hire at most 5 foreign workers (because 5 / (10 + 5) = 33%, the maximum allowed under the 35% ceiling).
How does the S Pass sub-quota work?expand_more
Within the overall DRC, S Pass holders are subject to a tighter sub-quota: 10% of total workforce for Services, 15% for all other sectors. So for a Services company with 10 locals, the maximum S Pass headcount is 1 (because 1 / (10 + 1) = 9.1%). The S Pass sub-quota counts toward the overall DRC — it is a cap within a cap, not in addition.
How do I calculate my Local Qualifying Salary (LQS) headcount?expand_more
Only locals who meet the LQS thresholds count toward your foreign worker quota: full-time employees earning $1,600/month or more count as 1 head; part-time employees earning $800–$1,599/month at 35+ hours/week count as 0.5 heads. Locals earning below $800/month or working under 35 hours/week do not count toward the quota — even if they are on payroll.
What sectors are subject to the foreign worker quota?expand_more
Five sectors are subject to DRC limits: Construction, Process, Marine Shipyard, Manufacturing, and Services. Companies outside these sectors (e.g. trading, financial services head offices) do not face DRC restrictions but still need work passes for foreign workers. Hiring across multiple sectors requires using the most restrictive applicable DRC.
What changed for foreign worker quotas in 2026?expand_more
Effective 1 January 2026, the Marine Shipyard DRC was reduced from 77.8% (1:3.5 local-to-foreign ratio) to 75% (1:3 ratio). The S Pass minimum qualifying salary was also raised from $3,300 to $3,600 (general) and from $3,800 to $4,000 (financial services). The Local Qualifying Salary will increase further from 1 July 2026.
What happens if I exceed my foreign worker quota?expand_more
Exceeding your DRC means MOM will not approve new Work Permit or S Pass applications until you bring the ratio back within the ceiling — either by hiring more locals or reducing foreign headcount through attrition. Existing valid passes are not immediately cancelled, but renewals may be denied if the company is non-compliant. Persistent violations can result in penalties or work pass privileges being suspended.
Do Employment Pass (EP) holders count toward the quota?expand_more
No. EP holders are not subject to the DRC or S Pass sub-quota. The quota only applies to Work Permit and S Pass holders. However, EPs have their own qualifying salary requirements ($5,500 minimum from 1 January 2026, higher in the financial services sector) and Fair Consideration Framework job advertising obligations.
Sources
- • MOM (mom.gov.sg) — Calculate foreign worker quota and DRC by sector
- • MOM (mom.gov.sg) — S Pass quota and levy requirements
- • MOM (mom.gov.sg) — Local Qualifying Salary thresholds ($1,600 full-time, $800 part-time)
- • Foreign Workforce Policy Announcements at COS 2026 — Marine Shipyard DRC reduction effective 1 Jan 2026