Employment Pass - Medical checkup & Drug test??

[Lisafuller]

Hello all,
Recently got a job offer for a really great opportunity in Singapore and the company is in the process of obtaining an EP visa. I have an expected start date of early August.
I currently live in a country where cannabis is legal.
Of course, we all know Singapore's laws when it comes to drugs and am detoxing right now, but I did want to find out whether a urine test is a mandatory part of the medical checkup process for an EP. I know some clinics include it, but are there instances that don't require one? Could I do my medical tests abroad first, and bring documentation with me in lieu of doing one in Sg?
Want to reduce as much risk as possible of a potential negative outcome.
Would also like to know whether it's fairly common for MNCs to drug test in SG as well if anyone has any intel.
Thanks and looking forward to joining you all in SG!

You should have sufficient time to have THC disappeared from your body. But better cut your hair short before arriving. Nope, not a jail suggestion THC can be detected in hair even after 3 months.

Didn’t know that. If it’s true, you’d be better off shaving your head entirely!

[Lisafuller]

I wouldn't sweat it very much. Look, if you show up at the airport, looking like a hair tree with glassy eyes, torn jeans, and a tie dye t-shirt, you might attract some attention. Happened to the son of a friend of mine a couple of decades ago. Arrived from LA, still stoned from the edibles he had managed to consume on the way over. He was given a blood test upon arrival, they detected THC, and he was put on the next plane back to LA. First his father heard about it was when he got a call from his son back in LA.

Bottom line: If you fly over straight, and wearing business casual, you are not going to be hassled anywhere coming over. It's unlikely you'll need to do a piss test, and even if you do, if you haven't been imbibing lately, lots of liquids and dilute urine always helps. The detection of THC and its metabolites depends on a number of factors. Depending upon how heavy a user you are and how long you used consistently, metabolites build up in fat and take time to be expelled from the body. Drink lots of liquids.

As for MNC's in SG, I can't answer that. I will say that drug tests are rather perfunctory, piss in a cup type tests. Companies do it more for the show to others than actually giving a shit about marijuana these days.

I believe they are perfunctory as long as the authorities don’t suspect anything. If they even have the slightest bit of doubt, things get a whole lot more serious.

[nelyanne]

quote from https://mediwaymedical.com/medical-exam ... ikQAvD_BwE

Information You Need To Know About Statutory Medical Examinations By MOM, ICA & LTA

All ICA and MOM’s work pass or renewal pass applicants who have been granted the in-principle approval (IPA) will be informed and given a copy of the medical examination form which requires them to undergo a medical examination in Singapore, which normally includes blood tests to check for HIV/Syphilis/Malaria Parasite, a Chest X-Ray to check for Tuberculosis, Urine tests to check for pregnancy & sugar levels and finally a medical exam by a doctor to check if they are physically and mentally fit to work.

Only with a completed medical check up report that can be easily done at our ICA medical check up clinics, applicants will be able to submit the application to the Work Pass Division of MOM or Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) with the in-principle approval letter. Applicants who are found to have infectious diseases will not be granted any work permit, employment pass, long-term social visit pass or permanent residence in Singapore.

At Mediway Medical & X-Ray Centre you are also able to get your MOM medical check up done as per the requirement set by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) when you apply for the Taxi Driver’s Vocational License (TDVL) or the Private Hire Car Driver’s Vocational License (PDVL). PDVL medical check up includes a chest x-ray and physical examination by our qualified medical practitioners.

This quote doesn't say specifically that ALL work pass holders need a medical checkup...

It's true for Work Permit holders and S Pass holders.

It can be checked on MOM website, the page about S Pass holders specifically mentions the need for the checkup under section "Bring your candidate into SIngapore: https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permi ... for-a-pass
While the page about the process for EP holders - does not:
https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permi ... for-a-pass

[Lisafuller]

Regardless, OP was asked to participate in the medical test so I don’t think it would be possible to refuse it. If anything that would look really suspicious.

[sundaymorningstaple]

As noted, S & WP require the medical exams, however, at least up to a couple of years ago, EPs generally only had to sign a medical form declaring that they didn't have any of the several thing they are looking for. That may have changed, but declaring falsely is a way to get a quick ticket out of Singapore when/if they find out the person lied on the declaration form. But MOM has always retained the ability to require a medical for anybody coming into Singapore on ANY type of residency pass, be it employment, educational or dependent.

[Lisafuller]

The MOM will always reserve the right for any sort of check, so it’s better to stay safe than sorry. Even if they don’t ask for one, which they have in this case, refusing to sit for one would not be acceptable. We certainly don’t have hipaa rights like in the US.