Can Anyone Shed Some Light on ICT's?

[Myasis Dragon]

New one on me. I always thought MoM mostly OK'ed EP's for large MNC's without asking too many questions. But now, it looks like transferred staff don't get to be "regular" EP's unless the MNC goes through the regular hiring practices.

https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2021/0 ... -exempted/

[PNGMK]

Hi Wayne, I think it's a new rule since late last year. I too don't quite understand it. I can't imagine for example our regional president (an Italian lady) being pleased that her husband and children can't come in on a DP. I think there must be a subtlety here that the news articles are missing (for example maybe this rule disappears when the salary is above a certain level).

[Myasis Dragon]

Hi PNGMK... yes, I agree that all the news articles seem incomplete. In an example similar to yours, I was contracted by a German guy who was regional senior VP for information technology. This guy made big coin. He was definitely an intra company transfer... from Germany for a few years in KL, then about 5 or 6 in Singapore, then back to Germany.

I wonder if they get around it by specifying expertise not available in the Singapore work force, for example, bringing in a systems architect with deep knowledge of company structures that no local could possibly have.

[Myasis Dragon]

I just got some better light shed on this thing at another website:

https://www.lexology.com/library/detail ... db128475e1

If the candidate is expected to be transferred to Singapore from an overseas entity on a permanent basis and/or to be joined by their family in Singapore, the employer should consider applying for the EP via the job advertising route, or by relying on other applicable ground for exemption from the job advertising requirement (e.g., company size, salary). Accordingly in order for the MOM to assess the EP application as an non-ICT case, the employer should not declare that the candidate is an overseas ICT in the EP online application form. The MOM has confirmed that this would not be considered as a false declaration.

[PNGMK]

^ this seems awfully contrived and probably a temporary solution which really shows that the clamp down on ICT is a bandaid for a specific issue that needs addressing (but what is that issue? - edit: it can't be the old bogey of too many Indians as the CECA is specifically exempted).

[sundaymorningstaple]

PNGMK, that is exactly what prompted the new ruling (which as been in effect since last year shortly after the whole CECA issue was broached by the local population). It came about specifically because of that, but as per normal, the Gahmen use a big brush and just tar the whole bunch. Yes, it's going to cut off their noses just to spite their faces, but then again, the government has a long history of doing just that. Use a grenade to kill a fly when a flyswatter will do just fine. But you have to admit, a lot of people will do almost anything is the money is right. The CECA exemption had to stay in place, but they used the abuse by the Indian Companies to forestall any other foreign companies from doing same.

[PNGMK]

Well, that's about as stupid a thing an "expat destination" could do. I don't expect it to last in it's current form.