The IT industry has raised concerns with the Indian government around Singapore’s new framework for skilled worker visas, saying it could hinder ease of doing business due to the existing skills shortage. The industry has flagged the narrow criteria under the points-based framework, where only eight Indian universities are eligible for points and all nationalities are given equal weightage for diversity assessment, which may not reflect the on-ground realities, industry body Nasscom told ET. It also seeks to expand which roles are listed as being in a ‘shortage’.

The new framework is set to be implemented in September for visa revalidations. Starting September 1, those applying for visa renewals will have to earn at least 40 points under the new Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS), on top of meeting the qualifying salary, to get an Employment Pass (EP) to work in Singapore.

Shivendra Singh, vice president-global trade development at Nasscom, said that the shortage of digital talent in Singapore is well known and hence critical skills need to be brought in on non-immigrant visas including the EP.

“When the tech industry faces challenges globally, our government has been extremely supportive of our issues,” Singh said. “We have been raising the Singapore challenge with them and request the Singapore government to kindly consider, given the resolution will enhance our industry presence in Singapore and create a win-win partnership for value addition to Singapore’s economic growth story.”

For instance, under the qualifications pillar of COMPASS, IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay graduates can earn 20 points while those from specific faculties of five other IITs and IISc get 10 points.

Given that the IT industry is an employer of choice and recruits from other prestigious universities and colleges, there is a need to expand the list to be truly representative, Singh said.Further, under the diversity criteria, 20 points can be gained only if not more than 5% of PMET (professionals, managers, executives and technicians) employees in a candidate’s company are of their particular nationality.

“India is known as a global hub for digital talent. Given our focus on STEM education, there is a large pool of digitally skilled workforce available in India as compared to the rest of the world. Hence, equal weightage to all nationalities for diversity assessment may not fairly reflect the on-the-ground demand-supply situation,” Singh said.

Nasscom also wants more occupations to be included in the Shortage Occupation List where a candidate gets 20 points in skill bonus if their role is in the list. However, the skill bonus reduction to 10 points if the representation of the candidate’s nationality within the firm’s PMETs is one-third or higher is unfair, Singh said, given this parameter has been duly considered under the diversity category.

“The shortage occupation list needs to evolve based on what company requirements are, and these can be best defined by the companies which recruit,” Singh said, adding that Nasscom has prepared a list of the roles they would like included.

Nasscom also seeks greater clarity on what is needed to earn points under the strategic economic priorities pillar.

This category seeks to recognise organisations undertaking “ambitious investment, innovation and internationalisation activities in partnership with economic agencies” or is endorsed by Singapore’s National Trades Union Congress as “strong partners on company and workforce transformation activities”, as per the website of Singapore’s ministry of manpower.

The IT industry has raised concerns with the Indian government around Singapore’s new framework for skilled worker visas, saying it could hinder ease of doing business due to the existing skills shortage. The industry has flagged the narrow criteria under the points-based framework, where only eight Indian universities are eligible for points and all nationalities are given equal weightage for diversity assessment, which may not reflect the on-ground realities, industry body Nasscom told ET. It also seeks to expand which roles are listed as being in a ‘shortage’.

The new framework is set to be implemented in September for visa revalidations. Starting September 1, those applying for visa renewals will have to earn at least 40 points under the new Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS), on top of meeting the qualifying salary, to get an Employment Pass (EP) to work in Singapore.

Shivendra Singh, vice president-global trade development at Nasscom, said that the shortage of digital talent in Singapore is well known and hence critical skills need to be brought in on non-immigrant visas including the EP.

“When the tech industry faces challenges globally, our government has been extremely supportive of our issues,” Singh said. “We have been raising the Singapore challenge with them and request the Singapore government to kindly consider, given the resolution will enhance our industry presence in Singapore and create a win-win partnership for value addition to Singapore’s economic growth story.”

For instance, under the qualifications pillar of COMPASS, IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay graduates can earn 20 points while those from specific faculties of five other IITs and IISc get 10 points.

Given that the IT industry is an employer of choice and recruits from other prestigious universities and colleges, there is a need to expand the list to be truly representative, Singh said.Further, under the diversity criteria, 20 points can be gained only if not more than 5% of PMET (professionals, managers, executives and technicians) employees in a candidate’s company are of their particular nationality.

“India is known as a global hub for digital talent. Given our focus on STEM education, there is a large pool of digitally skilled workforce available in India as compared to the rest of the world. Hence, equal weightage to all nationalities for diversity assessment may not fairly reflect the on-the-ground demand-supply situation,” Singh said.

Nasscom also wants more occupations to be included in the Shortage Occupation List where a candidate gets 20 points in skill bonus if their role is in the list. However, the skill bonus reduction to 10 points if the representation of the candidate’s nationality within the firm’s PMETs is one-third or higher is unfair, Singh said, given this parameter has been duly considered under the diversity category.

“The shortage occupation list needs to evolve based on what company requirements are, and these can be best defined by the companies which recruit,” Singh said, adding that Nasscom has prepared a list of the roles they would like included.

Nasscom also seeks greater clarity on what is needed to earn points under the strategic economic priorities pillar.

This category seeks to recognise organisations undertaking “ambitious investment, innovation and internationalisation activities in partnership with economic agencies” or is endorsed by Singapore’s National Trades Union Congress as “strong partners on company and workforce transformation activities”, as per the website of Singapore’s ministry of manpower.