Employment in Singapore for expats

kxtg2431 · Post by **kxtg2431** » Sat, 07 Jun 2014 11:20 am

Hi,

I'm from Jakarta and I'm thinking of moving to Singapore. I've been researching a little about employment Pass in Singapore and found out MoM issues several types of employment pass like S Pass, E Pass, etc. I'm a software developer with 8 years of experience, what is the suitable pass for me? is it true that my salary needs to be at least S$5000 to qualify for employment pass in Sing? I also wonder if it's okay to put the name of my current company as "Company Confidential" in my CV? Thanks

zzm9980 · Post by **zzm9980** » Sat, 07 Jun 2014 11:43 am

kxtg2431 wrote:Hi,

I'm from Jakarta and I'm thinking of moving to Singapore. I've been researching a little about employment Pass in Singapore and found out MoM issues several types of employment pass like S Pass, E Pass, etc. I'm a software developer with 8 years of experience, what is the suitable pass for me? is it true that my salary needs to be at least S$5000 to qualify for employment pass in Sing? I also wonder if it's okay to put the name of my current company as "Company Confidential" in my CV? Thanks

- Suitable is the "best pass you can get".
- Not true, S$4000.
- No, probably not.

Read this page:
http://www.mom.gov.sg/foreign-manpower/ ... fault.aspx

kxtg2431 · Post by **kxtg2431** » Sat, 07 Jun 2014 12:46 pm

so, should it be Employment pass or S pass? what I understand now is that EP is for bachelor degree holder or higher, while S pass is for non skilled workers like mechanics or technicians or welders. is this correct? So, it's recommended to show your current employer in the CV? because I thought it would jeopardize my current employment if the recruiter calls my employer. Thanks

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Sat, 07 Jun 2014 1:01 pm

kxtg2431 wrote:so, should it be Employment pass or S pass? what I understand now is that EP is for bachelor degree holder or higher, while S pass is for non skilled workers like mechanics or technicians or welders. is this correct?

This is not correct. Most of the lower rung PMETs here are S pass holders. Also most of the frontline F&B staff and lower level IT personnel are also S pass holders. As are technicians. Lots of S pass holders were EP holders two years ago but were downgraded due to more stringent criteria in both the S & EP ranges.

So, it's recommended to show your current employer in the CV? because I thought it would jeopardize my current employment if the recruiter calls my employer. Thanks

You sure don't give employers any credit here, do you? You think they just pick up the phone and call your current employer? Strange person. Anyway, doesn't matter as even if you don't put your employers name down, as soon as you have your new potential employer apply for your IPA (In principle approval) your old employer, if they check with MOM regularly like I have my HR exec do about once every fortnight, they will see when your FIN number is entered into the system, that you have a application submitted/pending/approved, as the case may be. They cannot see your potential employer, but they will know you are trying to make a move. This means, if you haven't told them and you are unsuccessful getting another pass approved with the new employer, you might also find yourself out the door if the old employer need to shed staff for some reason, because you have already let them know, albeit, not deliberately.

kxtg2431 · Post by **kxtg2431** » Sat, 07 Jun 2014 3:03 pm

Well, it happened once before to my friend, so the recruiter agent was a rookie and he thought of calling the company my friend was working for to ask if he's really working there. As for my company being in contact with MoM, I think it's quite unlikely since my company is based in Jakarta, or are you talking about something else entirely? thanks

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Sat, 07 Jun 2014 5:02 pm

I couldn't answer that without seeing the CV that he submitted to the potential employer/recruitment agency here. A lot would depend on how he presented the information on his CV. I'm not going to try to second guess him. But I suspect it might have been something in the way it was written.

kxtg2431 · Post by **kxtg2431** » Sat, 07 Jun 2014 5:38 pm

and could you please clarify about the part where you mention being in regular contact with MoM? and also about FIN number? I assume this would only apply to Sing based companies that want to keep track of its expat employees?
So basically this case doesn't apply to me since my company is based in Jakarta and I'm an Indonesian? My company does have a branch in Singapore, but that's not a problem so long I don't apply there right? I mean there's no way the Singapore branch is able to know that I'm applying for work visa right?
thanks

beppi · Post by **beppi** » Sat, 07 Jun 2014 5:52 pm

I don"t know if you can conceal your previous employment in the EP application towards MoM. But it is of course POSSIBLE to write "confidential" in your job application towards the potential employer. However, it (and your motivation for doing so) clearly shows that you mistrust them - and I personally would never hire somebody who mistrusts me!
A much better approach is being open, mentioning the current employer and asking them to not call, because you prefer the company to hear from you yourself that you intend to move on. This is a completely reasonable request that most employers will accept.

kxtg2431 · Post by **kxtg2431** » Sat, 07 Jun 2014 6:34 pm

ah, I see. and is it possible that the Singapore branch is able to see if I'm applying for EP, even when they're in regular contact with MoM? thanks

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Sat, 07 Jun 2014 7:17 pm

kxtg2431 wrote:ah, I see. and is it possible that the Singapore branch is able to see if I'm applying for EP, even when they're in regular contact with MoM? thanks

No, because you will not have a FIN number until your first Singapore approval has been granted. That is assuming you have never worked here before. Your FIN number, once given, will remain the same regardless of how many jobs and EP you have had. It will not change until the day you apply for and receive PR. At that time you will be issued an NRIC number. So, as long as you haven't worked for them here, you have no problem. Nobody else can see even if they know your FIN number as only the current employer will be allowed access to the EPOline database.

kxtg2431 · Post by **kxtg2431** » Sat, 07 Jun 2014 7:26 pm

nope, I haven't worked in Sing before. So, basically that case applies only for employers who want to keep track of their expat employees, right? thanks

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Sat, 07 Jun 2014 7:57 pm

Spot on.

kxtg2431 · Post by **kxtg2431** » Sat, 07 Jun 2014 8:50 pm

okay, thanks a lot mate.

the lynx · Post by **the lynx** » Tue, 10 Jun 2014 10:30 am

You can conceal your current employment reference in your CV. Just put "Employment reference will be provided upon request." But it is impossible to remove your current employment altogether from your employment history in CV.

Post by **PNGMK** » Tue, 10 Jun 2014 11:05 am

FYI Indonesians are not at the top of the list in MOM for preferred source countries...

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