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Contractor guide
Most contract jobs in Singapore are 6 or 12 month employment contracts, often through an agency. Here is how they compare with a permanent role on CPF, leave, AWS and renewal, and how self-employed contractors differ.
| Permanent employee | Contract employee (via an agency or direct) | Self-employed contractor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who you work for | The company, with no end date | The agency or the company, for a fixed term (often 6 or 12 months) | Yourself, under a contract for service |
| Employment Act | Covered | Covered, like any employee | Not covered |
| CPF (citizens and PRs) | Employer and employee contributions | Employer and employee contributions, same rules | No employer CPF; MediSave contributions above S$6,000 of net trade income a year |
| Annual leave and sick leave | Per contract, at least the statutory minimum | At least the statutory minimum, prorated to the contract | None, days off are unpaid |
| AWS and bonus | Often an AWS (13th month) and a variable bonus | Rarely, sometimes a completion bonus | None |
| Renewal | Not applicable | Renewal or conversion to permanent is common | New contract negotiated each time |
Most contract jobs in Singapore are fixed term employment contracts, usually for 6 or 12 months. You are either employed directly by the company or, very often, by a recruitment agency that places you with the client and pays your salary every month. As an employee you are covered by the Employment Act, you get CPF if you are a citizen or PR, and you get paid annual leave and sick leave.
Contract roles rarely include an AWS (the 13th month), a variable bonus or the same medical and insurance benefits as a permanent role, and there can be a gap before your next contract. A contract monthly rate a little above the base salary of a similar permanent role is often only equivalent over a full year.
Many contracts are renewed at the end of the term, and some are converted into permanent roles. Notice periods are usually short, from one week to one month, so check the termination clause before you sign.
A smaller number of contractors work under a contract for service, invoicing the client from their own sole proprietorship or company. They are not covered by the Employment Act, have no employer CPF and no paid leave, and handle their own tax and MediSave. This is more common for senior consultants and short advisory work.
This guide gives general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Check your situation with the Ministry of Manpower, the CPF Board and IRAS, or with a professional adviser.
Convert a salary into a monthly contract rateDo contract employees get CPF in Singapore?
Yes. A contract employee is an employee, so if you are a Singapore citizen or permanent resident your employer (the agency or the company) pays CPF on your wages: 17% from the employer and 20% from you up to age 55, up to the Ordinary Wage ceiling of S$8,000 a month from 1 January 2026. Foreigners on an Employment Pass or S Pass do not contribute.
Do contract employees get annual leave?
Yes. Contract employees covered by the Employment Act are entitled to at least 7 days of paid annual leave in their first year once they have served 3 months, plus paid sick leave and the public holidays. On a contract shorter than a year the leave is usually prorated.
What happens when my contract is renewed?
When a contract is renewed with a gap of one month or less, your service is treated as continuous for statutory benefits such as annual leave and sick leave. Renewal is also the best time to negotiate your monthly rate.
Is a self-employed contractor different from a contract employee?
Yes. Under a contract for service you run your own business: no CPF from the client, no paid leave, and you are not covered by the Employment Act. You pay your own income tax and must contribute to MediSave once your net trade income is above S$6,000 a year. You only charge GST if you are GST registered, which is compulsory above S$1 million of taxable turnover a year.
How do I compare a permanent salary with a monthly contract rate?
Take the full annual package, including AWS, bonus and the value of benefits, and divide it by the months you expect to be paid as a contractor. Our contract rate calculator does the maths for you.
