Chances to obtain an Employment Pass

[Dinho]

Hello everyone,

I`d like to ask the more experienced members here about how hopeful I should be about getting my Singapore Employment Pass. Here are the details.

I have been offered a trainer/quality assurance manager position with a multinational company. The SG branch has about 10 employees, half of them foreigners. There are also about 15 self-employed contractors, all Singaporean. The proposed salary is 95k SGD p/a before tax.

I am a Slovak citizen (Caucasian) with 11 years relevant experience, a BA from my home country and a UK NVQ level 7 diploma (both relevant to my current field of work, which is education and vocational training).

My prospective employer submitted the EP application on 26 April but has not received anything from the Ministry yet. Should I start being concerned? I was wise enough not to resign at my current workplace but at the same time the agreed start date is fast approaching. What do you think about my chances considering all the recent restrictions on foreign employees?

Thank you for any insights, in advance.

[andri.tjiu]

Don't worry much about your start date, all of it was decided by the approval of your EP. You cannot work in singapore as foreigner if you didn't have valid pass for working. This is know by all company in singapore.

Minimum you get IPA or In Principal Approval before resign from your old company, this to make you safe that you can safely working in Singapore, how long the approval take places it depending on how complete the document that submitted and how close the relationship between the company and MOM, ICA and IRAS.

The process can take couple of days to 2 month period based on my previous experiences, the one that know how long and get approved or rejected is only the officer and the GOD that know it.

For the time being just relax and If you want, please follow up with the hiring company regarding the EP status, the HR or agency can follow up with MOM for the progress. Good luck with your EP.

[x9200]

Hello everyone,

I`d like to ask the more experienced members here about how hopeful I should be about getting my Singapore Employment Pass. Here are the details.

I have been offered a trainer/quality assurance manager position with a multinational company. The SG branch has about 10 employees, half of them foreigners. There are also about 15 self-employed contractors, all Singaporean. The proposed salary is 95k SGD p/a before tax.

I am a Slovak citizen (Caucasian) with 11 years relevant experience, a BA from my home country and a UK NVQ level 7 diploma (both relevant to my current field of work, which is education and vocational training).

My prospective employer submitted the EP application on 26 April but has not received anything from the Ministry yet. Should I start being concerned? I was wise enough not to resign at my current workplace but at the same time the agreed start date is fast approaching. What do you think about my chances considering all the recent restrictions on foreign employees?

Thank you for any insights, in advance.

I guess it will come down to 2 factors:
1) how unique is your skillset/education in Singapore job market? - not so many local guys can do the job? who are you going to train? etc etc
2) is this MNC any important international player the SG gov may wish to establish some more significant presence in Singapore?

[Dinho]

Thanks to both of you. Here are my answers to these questions.

1. I believe my skills and experience are rather rare in Singapore, that`s why they want me first place. I`ve been working for a competitor in Europe where these are a lot more common.

I don't know the SG market so much but I think there aren't many locals who can and, more importantly, wish to do this job for this money.

I am going to train young professionals and graduates from SE Asia, not Singaporeans.

2. This company is a big player but mostly in China and Europe. I don't think there is a lot of room for expansion in SG, they use this branch to train employees and contractors from other SE Asian countries because of the convenient location and great infrastructure.

[Dinho]

Just to let others know who might be in a similar situation: The Ministry contacted my prospective employer and asked for a certificate of authenticity for my degree. So I`m going to get one from my uni, send it and see what happens then.

[x9200]

If your skill set is pretty unique then I believe you should have a reasonably good chance. Of course no guaranty as this is always at the discretion of MOM/ICA to grant the passes but alltogether (including your salary/years of experience etc.) does not show any obvious obstacles.

And thanks for the update.

[Dinho]

Unfortunately, my application was rejected today. The reason is that the proposed salary is too high compared to my previous ones. Just to let others know, I was on the equvialent of 55-70k SGD in the last couple of years with considerably lower costs of living in Europe. Anyway, the employer immediately appealed with a letter explaining these differences. A verdict is expected on 27 May. My concern is though that appeals are told to be successful only when significant new facts are presented and this is not the case with mine. So Singapore is looking to fade away in the distance.

[the lynx]

Unfortunately, my application was rejected today. The reason is that the proposed salary is too high compared to my previous ones. Just to let others know, I was on the equvialent of 55-70k SGD in the last couple of years with considerably lower costs of living in Europe. Anyway, the employer immediately appealed with a letter explaining these differences. A verdict is expected on 27 May. My concern is though that appeals are told to be successful only when significant new facts are presented and this is not the case with mine. So Singapore is looking to fade away in the distance.

First time I hear that one gets rejected for salary that's "too high". I guess only in Singapore this can happen.

[x9200]

I think somebody mentioned cases like this before but the context was slightly different: MOM apparently suspected that rising up of the salary was just on paper and it was associated with the appeal process (salary low - rejected followed by an appeal with increased amount to fulfil a certain goal).

[sundaymorningstaple]

With a very, very high potential of a kick-back scheme in order to get the pass approved, possibly. I'd think like that.

[ecureilx]

With a very, very high potential of a kick-back scheme in order to get the pass approved, possibly. I'd think like that.

And in the past, once MOM decides something fishy is going on, any amount of denial did nothing to change their mind !!! Unless MOM has become soft of late !

[Dinho]

Sounds like I should forget about this and move on. The employer is surprisingly positive though, they keep saying that they're counting on me, such rejections happen and they'll sort it out etc. Little to lose I guess, I'll share the result of the appeal too.

[Barnsley]

Seems harsh ...

I thought kickbacks were at lower levels than this

[Dinho]

Update: Since the result of the appeal hasn`t been announced, the employer phoned the ministry and was told that my case had been escalated to a manager, whatever that means. I haven`t read anything like this on this forum, perhaps someone has similar experience?

[sundaymorningstaple]

Sounds like the employer is really asking for it. What may happen is that you may get the Pass but the Employer may well have caused the MOM to put it on the "one to watch" list Remember, if they ask you to kick back a portion of your pay at the end of the month, it's time to walk away as the MOM can require you to submit your banking and CPF records for inspection at any time. If you participate in at kick-back scheme you will be considered an accomplice to defraud the government and you will be jailed and upon release, repatriated and forbidden to come to Singapore again for an indeterminate amount of time (usually forever). Good Luck.