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Domestic Helpers and driving license

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ElizabethG
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Domestic Helpers and driving license

Post by ElizabethG » Thu, 31 Mar 2016 7:19 pm

Dear All,

Please may I ask a cuople of questions if you have had the following experience.
We want to take our current domestic helper from our current country to Singapore. She qualifies for it, according to what I have read on the website of the government.
Can you please advise:
1. Can u recommend a licensed, reliable agency that can do all the work related to getting her work permit for us./ I guess that would ease the whole admin.process/.
2. Can we drive based on our current or international driving licenses for the first 12 months even if we have obtained our work permits, etc.? Or do you suggest to do the theory test first as it could theoretically help gain useful infos on how to drive in Singapore./ we are coming from a country where we drive on the right side/.

Thank you very much!!!

BBCWatcher
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Re: Domestic Helpers and driving license

Post by BBCWatcher » Thu, 31 Mar 2016 7:36 pm

ElizabethG wrote:2. Can we drive...?
Serious question in reply: why would you want to drive in Singapore?

ElizabethG
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Re: Domestic Helpers and driving license

Post by ElizabethG » Thu, 31 Mar 2016 8:48 pm

Any other on the forum who can really help instead of writing useless questions? Thanks. :-)

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rajagainstthemachine
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Re: Domestic Helpers and driving license

Post by rajagainstthemachine » Thu, 31 Mar 2016 8:55 pm

ElizabethG wrote:Any other on the forum who can really help instead of writing useless questions? Thanks. :-)
why would you want to drive in Singapore?
To get there early is on time and showing up on time is late

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JR8
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Re: Domestic Helpers and driving license

Post by JR8 » Thu, 31 Mar 2016 9:20 pm

1) Don't know.
2) The below should answer this question; there's no value in me trying to summarise...

Something of a summary view...
https://www.ecitizen.gov.sg/Topics/Page ... cence.aspx
Driving in Singapore: How to convert a foreign driving licence

The full version from the SGn cops...
http://driving-in-singapore.spf.gov.sg/ ... ation.html
Information - Driving Licence
'Do it or do not do it: You will regret both' - Kierkegaard

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Re: Domestic Helpers and driving license

Post by x9200 » Thu, 31 Mar 2016 9:24 pm

And now it's time for a short quiz. Who insulted ElizabethG more?

a) BBCW/Raj
b) JR8

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JR8
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Re: Domestic Helpers and driving license

Post by JR8 » Thu, 31 Mar 2016 9:29 pm

Huh? I tried to help, and when I said 'no point me trying to summarise', that's simply because I don't know her precise circumstances (is the helper/maid from ASEAN? - we don't know, etc)... so, much easier for her to skim the links herself.

[Squint: Was that some some darkly ironic comment I'm not geting... lol]
'Do it or do not do it: You will regret both' - Kierkegaard

ElizabethG
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Re: Domestic Helpers and driving license

Post by ElizabethG » Thu, 31 Mar 2016 9:31 pm

Thanks JR8! The links are really helpful!seems that it will be very easy and quick to buy our cars and convert the licenses. Cheers

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JR8
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Re: Domestic Helpers and driving license

Post by JR8 » Thu, 31 Mar 2016 9:34 pm

Pleasure! :)

p.s. oh, and welcome to the forum
'Do it or do not do it: You will regret both' - Kierkegaard

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Strong Eagle
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Re: Domestic Helpers and driving license

Post by Strong Eagle » Thu, 31 Mar 2016 9:43 pm

What's with the stupid questions, "Why would you want to drive in Singapore?"

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ecureilx
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Re: RE: Domestic Helpers and driving license

Post by ecureilx » Thu, 31 Mar 2016 11:24 pm

ElizabethG wrote:Dear All,

...

Thank you very much!!!
On top of what JR8 said, there are a few employers who's maid do drive, one of them was featured in the local news papers.

No issues there ...

Singapore doesn't care which side of the road you drove before, they just have decided some licenses are not to be trusted ;) the links by JR8 should get you started.

Welcome to Singapore.

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Re: Domestic Helpers and driving license

Post by ElizabethG » Thu, 31 Mar 2016 11:32 pm

Thank you very much! Our nanny will not drive, only us . Just wanted to know if doing the theory test helps at all to adjust ourselves to a different driving environment we are used to in the Middle East.

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Re: Domestic Helpers and driving license

Post by sundaymorningstaple » Thu, 31 Mar 2016 11:45 pm

Believe me, the theory test, while helpful, will not help you adust to the local driving environment where immediately upon getting their driving license they completely forget about how to actually drive and just resort to pointing the cars. Oh, and directional indicators are optional equipment here. And also one car length for 15/km hr doesn't exist. Also, it doesn't prepare you for the total lack of spatial awareness of local drivers nor the bane of all drivers existence, the drivers of black BMWs who must take a special course on how to be an arsehole before the dealer gives them the keys to their new beemers
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers

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JR8
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Re: Domestic Helpers and driving license

Post by JR8 » Fri, 01 Apr 2016 2:57 am

ElizabethG wrote:Just wanted to know if doing the theory test helps at all to adjust ourselves to a different driving environment we are used to in the Middle East.
Hmmm... the theory will prepare you for any minor nuances in local laws but I doubt it would prepare you for the sillier behaviour you might encounter from other drivers.
But it might be that the general lawfulness of drivers in SG is better than you perceive. I'm currently in the Middle East and seeing people a) over-taking on the inside b) trying to run you off the road c) not giving way to pedestrians d) driving the wrong way down one-way streets etcetc is par for the course. In SG (IME) it's more a combo of poor driving skills + a kind of genetic tweak requiring absolute victory in any personal interaction, driving included ['kiasuism'].

Imagine 'white-van man' [uk] with lousy eyesight, who's running late. That was the kind of worst case scenario I occasionally encountered in SG. I just learned to let such occasional people by.... and [exhale]... let it go... with the hope that one day I might shortly come up on the crash-site of them bent around some concrete pillar :)
'Do it or do not do it: You will regret both' - Kierkegaard

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Re: Domestic Helpers and driving license

Post by PNGMK » Fri, 01 Apr 2016 5:53 am

Actually an FDW cannot legally drive in Singapore. I looked into this. Yes yes I know some do but they are not meant to.
I not lawyer/teacher/CPA.
You've been arrested? Law Society of Singapore can provide referrals.
You want an International School job? School website or http://www.ISS.edu
Your rugrat needs a School? Avoid for profit schools
You need Tax advice? Ask a CPA
You ran away without doing NS? Shame on you!

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