EP Rejection

[adam2254]

Hi All,

I am changing jobs and recently my new employer applied for EP
My EP got rejected recently by MOM stating the reason as:

The salary offered does not seem commensurate with this candidate's experience and qualifications. You may wish to look for a more experienced and qualified candidate

Offered pay 6700 SGD

Previously I was on EP then 4 months ago at time of renewal I got downgraded to S pass.
Reason for rejection of EP at that time was

This candidate no longer qualifies for an Employment Pass based on our tightened criteria. You may wish to consider leaner manpower options or to recruit Singaporeans on merit. If you still choose to keep this candidate, do consider if he/ she is able to command a higher salary for the value he/ she offers. Before you do, use MOM's Self Assessment Tool (https://services.mom.gov.sg/sat) to work out what you would need to pay this candidate for us to consider your appeal. You may also consider applying for an S Pass for this candidate if you have available quota. Otherwise please select a more qualified person.

At that time my salary was 6000 SGD.

Today I did a SAT and it shows I need atleast 6500SGD to be eligible for EP.
Please help

[Strong Eagle]

There is no help. The company needs to pay you more.

[jack12345]

Maybe need s pass

[adam2254]

@Strong eagle

But my employer was saying maybe I am being paid higher salary because MOM said "You may wish to look for a more experienced and qualified candidate
" means mom expects someone more qualified or experienced on this salary (According to my employer)

[sundaymorningstaple]

Your employer is a dumbarse.

[adam2254]

I only have 2.5 years of experience. Dont you think the salary is good enough?

[Strong Eagle]

Look, Adam... could be you, could be the company. Either way, you have a problem.

Here's some of the problems. A company has a "senior" position but only offers a little bit of money and offers a job to someone with only a little bit of experience.

Now, MoM doesn't like this. Your company is too cheap. They want senior people to be properly paid. So Mom says, "You may wish to look for a more experienced and qualified candidate," because they are telling the company they are too cheap.

Or... they know that the position pays more in most other companies. They think you are getting paid cheap because the company is hiring underqualified people. Not good for you because you don't get an EP.

And, probably the company didn't check the S Pass box on the EP application because they don't want to pay the S Pass levy. So now, you cannot get an S Pass, either.

And now, even if they offered to pay you more, MoM will watch, because too many companies offer more money to get an EP, then take it away from the employee.

That's your problem.

[adam2254]

@Strong Eagle @sms

Now my company is appealing with a justification that why I am a good fit for the position. (Maybe they are not changing the salary). Do you think this will help?

And are you sure the company cannot apply S pass now?

[sundaymorningstaple]

If you do not tick the top box Employment Pass and S Pass, your employer cannot go back and apply if rejected for the EP to apply for the S pass. They only get one shot at it. You only get one shot at it. So think carefully before you let your hummingbird mouth overload your bulldog arse!

Just kidding, but think seriously about this as if you only select EP you CAN NOT GO BACK AND DO IT AGAIN. The only way is if the company is part of a group of companies (different entities) with different names and CNS numbers so that they can apply using a different company. Remember one very important thing here, your FIN number that is assigned to you is forever or until you get PR. Once you get PR you will be issued with an NRIC and the FIN will be destroyed/retired. Even if you go home for 10 years and come back to Singapore to work again, you will still have the same FIN number.

[adam2254]

@sms

No not the same application. I meant cant employer apply another new application with S pass.

[Strong Eagle]

@sms

No not the same application. I meant cant employer apply another new application with S pass.

No... that's the point. If your employer didn't also apply for S Pass the first time, they can't come back later and apply for S Pass. Too much hanky panky by companies that first try for EP.

[adam2254]

@sms @strong eagle,

I see but I found contradicting info on other forum.
Could you check here the last post?
https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=828220
I think they have changed this now?

[sundaymorningstaple]

No contradicting. They just don't know what they are talking about. If you tick both boxes, you will be presented as a candidate for the EP, if you don't qualify for the EP then they will consider you for the S pass. By ticking both boxes you (your employer with your permission to do so at the time of application and the employer willingness to hire you on an S pass if they a) have sufficient quota for same, and b) if you qualify, in their eyes, for the S pass. The SAT is only to see if you are eligible to apply for the passes, it is not a guarantee that you will actually be approved for either one of them.

If you don't tick both boxes you can not and will not be allowed to reapply through the same company for the S pass. I'm not sure what the other posters qualifications are (although I do know of beppi as he used to be a regular of this forum for a long time). I am, on the other hand the HR Manager of a medium sized SME who has/had a staff between 125 and 155 staff over the last 14 years. I've seen it all to often.

But yes, they could have changed, but if that were so, they would have changed the application form on EPOL with immediate effect. I took the screenshot of the relevant portion yesterday and immediately posted it so it is current and up to date.

[Strong Eagle]

You go right ahead then, Adam. Who am I to stop you?

PS: What contradicting info? Your link says the same thing that SMS and I said.