S Pass or E Pass

[aleksandrowa]

Hi
I have Dependant's Pass, was offered a role in Finance, have a 4 years and 8 mnts of experience, Master in Finance and Accounting, Bachelor's in Finance and Accounting, Bachelors in Administration (all diplomas from Poland), I am Polish, have never worked in Singapore, I am CIMA student since Feb 2017.
I had a very similar role in Poland that I got here in Singapore.

My salary would be 4700 SGD. Employer is well recognized MNC which has a huge operations in SG and all around the world. My job was posted on jobs bank more than 3 weeks.

I made self assesment on self assesment tool on MoM website and it said that I am likely to qualify for S pass.

My employer wants to ask for E Pass for me.

Please be honest, what are the chances to get EP under below example?

[sundaymorningstaple]

Based on your qualifications and experience, your salary is probably too low consideration the position (in the MOM's eyes). Passes are given based on both criteria (academic) and experience versus salary being offered.

I think the MOM thinks the MNC is low-balling you so they are only allowing an S pass which will even the score for the employer trying to lowball. On an S pass the employer will have to pay a levy of $330-$650/mo if you are on an S pass. If the employer would offer you $5350/mo then you might get the EP. as that is what it is going to cost the employer anyway on an S pass. There are no levies (yet) on EP holders.

Tell the employer you want %5300/mo and apply for an EP. But also tell them to be sure to check the S pass box as well. e.g., if you don't, you will ONLY be considered for the EP, but if you do tick that box, you will be considered first for the EP but it they feel it's a no, they will then consider you for the S pass.

If you don't tick the box on the first application, and the EP is rejected, you cannot then apply for the S pass and you will be dead in the water as it were.

sms

[aleksandrowa]

Thanks for your advice, really appreciate.
The salary is not negotiable I am afraid. It does not seem to be a solid to get an EP

It is so hard to find a job here, I hope that it will be not rejected. I don't mind salary level as I see very nice opprtunity for career development.

[Strong Eagle]

The salary is not negotiable I am afraid. It does not seem to be a solid to get an EP

It just goes to show you how stupid the HR departments are in most MNC's in Singapore. Just as SMS said, they could pay you more, get an EP, and avoid paying the S-Pass levy, and still come out ahead.

They are unable to do the simple arithmetic to understand that both you and they benefit from a higher salary.

You should visit your hiring manager (and HR) and explain how a higher salary benefits both of you.

[ecureilx]

You should visit your hiring manager (and HR) and explain how a higher salary benefits both of you.

that may not end well, if the employer's HR are dinosaurs

[aleksandrowa]

I rethink what you wrote here and try to find a strategy.
As the job is very nice, it 150% what I want to do, that's also a job I would apply in my home country and hope to get. Really liked the hiring manager, also a foreigner, nice person, I felt a connection and I think it's very important.

Beside the odds like salary not giving me chance to get EP pass, everything is perfect.

What I am going to do, it's to contact Hiring Manager and tell two options:
1) we could stay at current salary level but I would like to have letter of consent for my Dependant's Pass as I don't meet the EP Pass criteria
2) if you want to ask for EP pass, we need to change the salary level to 5350/monthly as I checked on SAT it's a minimum for my current experience and education (getting an S Pass is also at risk as that's a Specialist role and anway company would pay 300-650 per month for my S Pass as you said, secondly if I am not getting EP becuase of salary level, that could be a reason also to reject S Pass).

As I don't want to have in my first application for EP a rejection and as I think it's very important to avoid, I am going to start looking for also another jobs offer. I rejected another job offers for that Financial Analyst role so I believe I could find something else. But I am really keen on this job offer so I am going to negotiate and fight for myself but I am not going to agree on S pass on the current salary level. No problem with going for LOC at current, so I hope the Hiring Manager won't think of me as a rude person who wants to earn more and would understand the situation.

That's my thoughts so far.

[Sing1]

Hi there,

I have recently hired an East European at a salary close to your HR's offer, the EP was approved in the first attempt! Through my personal experience of hiring expats here in Singapore I can state that the salary threshold for an EP differs as per nationality, eg. an Indian expat needs a minimum of SGD5,000 to 5,500 per month whilst a Malaysian gets an EP with3,500. Indeed, depending on the employer - GLC or Private, these figures are subject to change. However, the current salary stated by you seems to be good enough for your EP to be approved. Do share the outcome. Best wishes!

[aleksandrowa]

Hi Sing
Thanks fot the information shared That's very nice of you that you mentioned good news.


My employer asked for S Pass for me, the application was filled today.

I am not happy about that they choose S Pass way but in fact I don't have anything to loose and meanwhile I will keep looking for other jobs oppurtunies as it takes a while here (just in case if I will not be granted S Pass).

I will share the outcome when it will be avaiable.

I hope at least that I have Dependant's Pass granted for 24 months just recently will help a little as I am going to stay here anyway that time.


Anway the circumstances I am looking forward to start that job and not any other one as it is my prefered one due to job responsibilities. I really loved my Polish job which was similar to this one so I would be very happy if my S Pass would be granted.

[aleksandrowa]

Hi All
Just a quick udpate:

So the S Pass application was filled on Monday.
And today my S Pass is approved. So very quickly


So I am very happy

[Sing1]

Hey aleksandrowa,

Heartiest congratulations! Happy for you. Best wishes for your career here in Singapore!

[aleksandrowa]

Thank you. That's nice of u. Wish u all the best and sucess also on your career path!