Five initiatives to foster stronger interactions and mutual understanding between locals and foreigners at workplaces and within communities

1. The Alliance for Action on Integration of Foreign Professionals (AfA-IFP), has released its report with five initiatives to strengthen the integration of foreign professionals into Singapore’s workplaces and communities.

2. Convened in 2025 by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), Singapore Business Federation (SBF), and Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), the AfA-IFP brings together employers, industry representatives and business leaders to identify practical ways to foster stronger interactions and mutual understanding between Singaporeans and foreign professionals. It is co-chaired by Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash, Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth & Manpower, and Mr Marcus Lam, Honorary Treasurer of SNEF and Deputy Honorary Treasurer of SBF.¹

Diverse perspectives shaped the initiatives

3. Through a series of engagements with diverse participants, the AfA-IFP gathered insights on how the integration of foreign professionals could be strengthened. Participants represented a broad range of organisations and professionals across different firm sizes, seniority levels, roles and backgrounds, ensuring that the initiatives were informed by diverse workplace experiences and perspectives.

4. The findings from the engagements underscored the need for employers, local employees and foreign professionals alike to play their part in achieving successful integration. Employers acknowledged the importance of fostering inclusive workplace practices but noted varying levels of readiness and capability to do so, while Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs) similarly saw opportunities to better support member firms, especially smaller ones. Local employees highlighted the importance of respecting and adapting to local customs and social norms, while foreign professionals welcomed early practical support to help them better integrate with their colleagues and the local community.

Five key initiatives

5. AfA-IFP members recognised that while some firms implemented inclusive workplace practices, there was a need to scale and systematise them across the entire corporate landscape. Five initiatives were identified to (a) help new foreign professionals better understand the living and working norms in Singapore, and (b) support firms to effectively implement inclusive local-foreigner integration practices at the workplace.

   1. EP Journey to provide Employment Pass (EP) holders a baseline understanding of Singapore’s norms, values, and practical day-to-day expectations. Introduced by MCCY, a six-month pilot of this orientation programme for selected new EP holders has commenced in May 2026. MCCY aims to reach 600 EP holder participants over the six-month pilot, before progressively scaling up the initiative to all new EP holders.

   2. TAC-led Orientation Day to help new foreign professionals better understand industry norms, connect with their professional communities, and gain a deeper appreciation of Singapore’s multicultural society. MCCY and SBF will partner TACs to organise sector-specific Orientation Day programmes. Unlike company-level onboarding, these programmes provide a broader platform for foreign professionals across firms within the same sector to learn from one another and establish connections. Six TACs² have committed to run these programmes from the third quarter of 2026, with plans to progressively expand participation across more TACs.

   3. Integration Playbook and Workshops to help firms that want to build inclusive workplaces but are unsure where to start. Developed by SNEF, the Integration Playbook provides practical resources for implementing workplace integration practices, which can be found at SNEF’s website (link). SNEF piloted workshops in February 2026 to equip HR practitioners and team leaders with the knowledge and skills to use the Playbook effectively. The pilot sessions were well received for their practical tools and implementation guidance. Building on this, SNEF will launch the Playbook, workshops and implementation clinics from July 2026 to support employers in contextualising and applying the Playbook’s recommended practices within their own workplace settings. Additional workshop runs and e-learning modules will also be subsequently rolled out to extend the Playbook's reach and accessibility. 

   4. Cultural Sensitivity Training Course by SBF Business Institute to equip Human Resource (HR) practitioners and team leaders with the skills to navigate diverse workplaces and foster inclusive leadership. The course includes experiential learning on unconscious bias, managing cultural differences, and applying inclusive leadership frameworks. The course was piloted in February 2026 with HR practitioners and team managers from various firms, and will be launched in 2Q 2026, with further plans to carry out more runs over the next three years.

   5. Central Repository of Resources to give firms and foreign professionals greater access to workplace and community integration resources. SBF has published an online repository providing one-stop access to materials on inclusive workplace practices and living in Singapore. The repository is available on SBF’s website (link) and will be progressively enhanced.

6. As of June 2026, over 50 firms have participated in the AfA-IFP pilot initiatives, with involvement from their HR practitioners, team leaders and EP holders. MCCY, SBF and SNEF will continue working with implementation partners such as the Institute of Policy Studies, as well as other industry partners such as the TACs to encourage the adoption of these initiatives across workplaces.

7. These initiatives were outlined in the AfA-IFP report launched alongside the inaugural TAC-led Orientation Day organised by SGTech today.

8. Co-Chair of the AfA-IFP, Minister of State Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash, who graced the event said, “Singapore's diversity has long been a source of strength, and maintaining a cohesive society requires effort from all of us. As we welcome newcomers, it is important that they understand our multicultural norms and values, while also feeling accepted and included. We all have a part to play in fostering mutual respect, fairness and inclusion, so that everyone can contribute and thrive.”

9. Co-Chair Mr Marcus Lam, who served as a panellist at the event, said, “Workplaces are where many Singaporeans and foreign professionals form their first and most meaningful connections, making firms and team leaders important partners in integration efforts. Our engagements highlighted that deliberate efforts by employers, local employees, and foreign professionals were needed to create an enabling environment where people from different backgrounds can connect and thrive together. Done well, these efforts can contribute to more productive workplaces, a more harmonious community, and a more competitive economy.”

For More Information

10. The full AfA-IFP report is available at: https://go.gov.sg/ifp-report

¹ The AfA-IFP was co-chaired by Mr Alvin Tan, then-Minister of State for MCCY & MTI, and Mr Marcus Lam, Honorary Treasurer of SNEF and Deputy Honorary Treasurer of SBF since its inception in February 2025. Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash assumed the role of Co-Chair in May 2025 following his appointment as Minister of State for MCCY & MOM.

² American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI), Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI), Singapore International Chamber of Commerce (SICC), SGTech, and Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association (SSIA).