Date Published: 02 Feb 2010
The Service Literacy Test (SLT) is developed for Work Permit Holders in the Retail, Hotel and Food & Beverage sectors, where the ability to communicate in English is essential for delivering good and effective service.
From 1 July 2010, Ministry of Manpower (MOM) mandates that Work Permit Holders in these sectors will have to pass the Service Literacy Test in order to qualify for skilled levy status, in addition to the current skilled status requirements.
- Details of Service Literacy Test
- Registration and Fees
- Registration
Registration can only be made by employers who have received the Work Permit Renewal Notice of their Work Permit Holders or who have a valid In-Principle Approval (IPA) notice for their newly-arrived Work Permit Holders from MOM.
Employers of eligible Work Permit Holders will be notified by MOM about two months before the expiration of their Work Permit Holders’ work permit to register them for the SLT. Employers of newly-arrived Work Permit Holders will be notified by MOM that they can register them for the SLT immediately.
Registration for the SLT will commence in April 2010.
Alternatively, employers may wish to register their Work Permit Holders at the SLT Test Centre. More details on the location of the SLT Test Centre will be announced later.
- Test Fees
The fee for each of the test components (either Speaking or Listening) is $35 (excluding GST). The fee for two tests is $70 (excluding GST).
Payment must be made before the test. More information on the modes of payment will be made known later.
- Refund Policy
The assessment fee will be refunded if the notice of cancellation is given by the company at least 5 working days before the test.
Should the test taker choose not to proceed with the Speaking test after failing the Listening test, the Speaking assessment fee will not be refunded.
Employers who falsely declare the expiration date of the work permit of their WPHs during the booking of test dates will have their assessment fee confiscated, and their WPHs will not be allowed to take the test as scheduled.
- Frequently Asked Questions
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has appointed the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) to develop and administer an English language proficiency test for foreign workers in the Hotel, Retail and Food and Beverage (F&B) industries. Known as the Service Literacy Test (SLT), work permit holders (WPHs) in the three industries will have to pass the test in order to qualify for skilled levy status from July 2010. The new criterion is in addition to all other skilled levy requirements, such as possessing the requisite academic qualifications or passing certain skill/trade tests.
General
A
The SLT was developed based on general work settings in the three industries (Retail, Food & Beverage and Hotel) and comprises of two test components:
- A Speaking Test and
- A Listening Test
These will be computerised tests administered at a test centre. Administrative personnel will be at hand at the test centre to assist test candidates and to ensure that the tests are carried out according to stipulated procedures.
In the Speaking Test, participants will be asked questions by presenters recorded on video. Participants will listen to the questions using headphones and respond by speaking into an attached microphone. Their responses will be captured for assessment. Diagrams or pictures
may also be used in some questions. The Speaking Test is expected to take about an hour.
In the Listening Test, participants will use a set of headphones to listen to a conversation, an instruction or a comment, and some possible responses will be read out. Participants will select what they think is the most appropriate response. Diagrams, charts, tables or pictures may also
be used in some questions. The Listening Test is expected to take about an hour.
A
WPHs in the Hotels, Retail & F&B industries whose permits are expiring from July onwards or who are issued the permits from July onwards.
Companies that receive the work permit renewal notice from MOM of their existing eligible WPHs can sign them up for the SLT. This would be about 2 months before the expiration of their work permit.
Employers of newly-arrived WPHs can also sign up the WPHs for the SLT, once they receive the In-Principle Approval Letter.
Registration & Fee
A
Registration for the SLT will commence in April 2010.
Companies that receive the work permit renewal notice from MOM of their existing eligible WPHs can sign them up for the SLT. This would be about 2 months before the expiration of their work permit.
Employers of newly-arrived WPHs can also sign up the WPHs for the SLT, once they receive the
In-Principle Approval Letter.
Employers can register through an online booking system or at the test centre. More details on SLT will be made available on the website which will be launched from mid-February 2010
A
Employers can check with MOM if their WPHs are eligible to take the test to receive R1 status. Employers who wish to register their WPHs for the SLT should ensure that the WPHs meet all other R1 requirements.
A
On the day of the test, the WPH must produce his/her: 1) Work Permit, 2) a valid Work Permit Renewal Notice/In-Principle Approval Notice and 3) payment of test fee receipt before he/she is allowed to take the test.
A
No, currently, government subsidies for training are only given to Singapore citizens and PRs.
Employers of WPHs will have to pay for the SLT.
A
The SLT is different from the Workplace Literacy and Numerical (WPLN) test. The SLT is contextualised for the hospitality sector. WPHs in the 3 industries of Retail, Hotels and F&B must pass the SLT in order to qualify for skilled status on top of the current R1 skilled criteria.
Taking the Service Literacy Test
A
The WPL was developed for a broader work context beyond the service establishment context. It thus encompasses other competencies such as writing and reading. It also has different levels as it is designed with progression in mind.
The SLT, on the other hand, only tests for proficiency in Listening and Speaking. In addition, the SLT is contextualised to the hospitality sector.
A
The listening test results will be available right after the test and given to the WPH. The speaking test results will be available after two weeks and will be sent directly to the employer.
A
No. A Pass / Fail test slip will be issued. To pass the SLT, the WPH will need to pass both the Speaking and the Listening Tests.
A
WPHs may make two attempts to pass the SLT. If the WPH is unable to pass the SLT on the 2nd attempt, he/she will need to wait for 6 months before trying again. WPHs are encouraged to attend service literacy training during the 6-month wait, or between the first two attempts. Their work permit will not be cancelled if they fail to pass the SLT though they will not be given skilled levy status.
A
They only need to sit for the one that they failed. Employers will apply for their WPHs to re-take the test that they have failed, and there is no time frame to adhere to. However, if the WPH is unable to pass the test on the 2nd attempt, he/she will need to wait for 6 months before trying again.
A
It is the responsibility of the employers to register their new WPHs for the SLT while they are still under the 3-month provisional skilled status. Employers are encouraged to sign up for their new WPHs soonest possible.
A
No. Employers can only register their existing WPHs for the SLT after they receive the work permit renewal notice. This renewal notice is issued 2 months before the expiration date and employers are encouraged to sign up for their existing WPHs as soon as possible.
A
At this point in time, the SLT is meant for the current R1 WPHs as well as for the newly-arrived WPHs who fulfill the current R1 skilled criteria.
A
Employees need not submit the results as the test centre will transmit the results of the SLT to MOM.
A
The details are being finalised.
English Literacy Training Courses
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There is no stipulated list of training providers or courses as the SLT only aims to ascertain that the WPH can speak and respond appropriately in simple English, while handling routine tasks at the workplace. They are also able to listen and understand instructions given in English.
Employers are in the best position to decide what English training would suit their needs. We expect that some employers will make use of external training providers. Others would tap on their industry associations or train their workers in-house.
- Useful Resources
