Got a teenager who needs to stop using you as the Bank of Mum and Dad? Time to get them out to work, we say!
We’ll be honest, this story has been written with purely selfish intentions: a way of researching how to get a certain teenager of ours out to work! I was pretty sure there was some kind of job in Singapore he could do. But he proclaimed, “it’s just not possible, mum!”. Of course, mum was right. Teenagers can get work in Singapore, and yes, there are jobs available for teens. So, Jack: get out of bed and get yourself looking for a job in between your studies. And to all the other mums who have teens loafing around at home using you as their own personal bank, this one’s also for you. All you need to know about work for teenagers in Singapore.
Work for teenagers in Singapore: All you need to know
1. Official requirements for teenagers working in Singapore
Ministry of Manpower states that teenagers who are citizens or PR can work in Singapore so long as they stick to the rules. They must be aged between 13 and 16 years when they start (depending on the type of job), but they must also adhere to the following conditions:
- They are not permitted to work between 11pm and 6am.
- They are not allowed to work on public holidays without special permission from MOM.
- Teenagers aged 16 years and older can be employed in an industrial setting but the job must not involve injury risk, working on or servicing machinery, nor involve any underground work or uninsulated electrical apparatus.
2. Can my teenager work in Singapore as a non-citizen or PR?
If your teenager is in Singapore on a Student Pass, MOM has given us the following info:
Working during school vacations
If a teenager holds a Student Pass, they can work in Singapore during their school vacations only, and without the need for a work pass. They do, however, need to meet the following rules and regulations:
- They should be aged 14 and above
- They need to be a full-time, registered student at one of the following approved institutions:
- Anglo-Chinese School (International) Singapore
- Australian International School
- Canadian International School
- Chatsworth International School
- Digipen
- Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School
- Dulwich College (Singapore)
- EHL Campus (Singapore)
- ESSEC Business School (Singapore)
- German European School Singapore
- German Institute of Science and Technology – TUM Asia
- Government Junior Colleges
- Government secondary schools
- Government-aided Junior Colleges
- Government-aided secondary schools
- Hwa Chong International School
- Hollandse School
- Independent schools
- INSEAD, Singapore
- Institute of Technical Education, Singapore
- International Community School
- ISS International School
- The Japanese School Singapore
- LaSalle College of the Arts
- Lycee Francais De Singapour
- Millenia Institute
- Mountbatten Vocational School
- Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
- Nanyang Polytechnic
- Nanyang Technological University
- National University of Singapore
- Nexus International School (Singapore)
- Ngee Ann Polytechnic
- Overseas Family School
- Republic Polytechnic
- S P Jain School of Global Management Singapore
- Saint Joseph’s Institution International School
- Sekolah Indonesia
- Special Education schools
- Specialised Independent schools
- Specialised schools
- Singapore American School
- Singapore Institute of Technology
- Singapore Korean International School
- Singapore Management University
- Singapore Polytechnic
- Singapore University of Social Sciences
- Singapore University of Technology and Design
- Sorbonne-Assas International Law School – Asia
- Stamford American International School
- Swiss School in Singapore
- Tanglin Trust School
- Temasek Polytechnic
- United World College of South East Asia
- Waseda Shibuya Senior High School in Singapore
- Yale-NUS College of the National University of Singapore
Working during school term
If your teenager is studying at one of the following institutions and is on a Student Pass, then they can work during school term in Singapore so long as they only work for a maximum of 16 hours per week:
- Digipen
- Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School
- EHL Campus (Singapore)
- ESSEC Business School (Singapore)
- German Institute of Science and Technology – TUM Asia
- INSEAD, Singapore
- Institute of Technical Education, Singapore
- LaSalle College of the Arts
- Mountbatten Vocational School
- Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
- Nanyang Polytechnic
- Nanyang Technological University
- National University of Singapore
- Ngee Ann Polytechnic
- Republic Polytechnic
- S P Jain School of Global Management Singapore
- Special Education schools
- Specialised schools
- Singapore Institute of Technology
- Singapore Management University
- Singapore Polytechnic
- Singapore University of Social Sciences
- Singapore University of Technology and Design
- Sorbonne-Assas International Law School – Asia
- Temasek Polytechnic
- Yale-NUS College of the National University of Singapore
3. If in doubt…
Prospective employees know who they can and can’t hire, and on what passes. When your teenager is looking for a job in Singapore, make sure they are upfront about what their residential status is. The employer will be able to advise. It’s also worth double-checking with a quick phone call to MOM if you have any doubts. The website is very helpful and will clear up any confusion.
4. Popular employment options for teenagers in Singapore
Alternatively, Gumtree or Fastjobs are good places to get your teen searching for a job in Singapore. They’ll find everything ranging from tutoring and babysitting to banquet serving and dog walking. Have a good ol’ browse on Indeed which is full of casual and part-time jobs for teenagers.
Hot tip: Filter your search with keywords like, ‘part-time’, ‘student’, or ‘age 16’ to bring up the relevant jobs for your teen.
There really is no excuse now, kids!
