Work Permit Holder Change Employer (convert to S / Emp-Pass)

[man_687]

Hi everyone,

Hi i am 26 years old male who have worked in singapore for 1 year and a month. I am holding a B.Eng (Hons) Electronics degree and I am working as Systems Administrator on work permit pass. My current salary is SGD 1530. I had decided to move on to a better job which is suitable and desirable for me. I went for few interviews and finally an employer is willing to offer me a job with a pay of SGD 2500. He told me that I need to resign and handover my work permit pass to my current employer first before he could apply an employment pass or S-pass for me. My question is could I resign my current job only after my employment pass or S-pass application for my new job becomes successful?? This is because i am afraid after my resignation, if my Employment / S -Pass application being rejected i will become jobless and need to find other job again. My friend told me this way (changing employer while being on same job) is only applicable to S-pass / Employment Pass holders not for a work permit holder. Here I am requesting for your all for advise for my problem.

[sundaymorningstaple]

I cannot find it in writing at the moment, but if I remember correctly, you friend is correct. I think you may well have to leave Singapore first as well. But again, at the moment the link eludes me. If I can find it, I'll post the relevant link.

[monday]

Hi man-687
Both Sunday morning staple and your friend are correct. Your current work permit status must get cancel in order to apply to MOM by your future company unless they can’t apply. Once current status gone will get 15 days (if I’m not mistake) permit to stay in Singapore of course these 15 days not enough to get approval of your application in MOM it may take couple of month. So you’ve to go back to your home country wait for “in-principle approval letter”

[ksl]

Todays news paper the S pass levy will double in July to 100$ a month, over 3 years it will rise to 250$ by july 2012. Work permit holders will see increase between 10 and 30$ this year

I understand that some industries that do not adapt to technological progress, will be phased out all together, Singapore i looking for an increase in productivity, which has failed the last 10 years, hence the turn around and monitoring of business progress, no more expats coming in and reaping profits, with no capital investment or growth and Singaporean companies will also be hit hard this time around.

My own brother in law who is a Singaporean banker says they will enforce the rules, to increase productivity through automation and technology, if Companies fail to adapt, they will be phased out naturally.

[man_687]

thank you for all your replies. getting away from singapore for short period of time is not a problem for me because i am malaysian and my sister's home is nearby in JB only. My problem is the application processing time. Some of my friends say it will 4 to 5 weeks for Employment pass if applied manually or 2 weeks for Employment Pass if applied online. I have monthly commitments and cannot be unemployed for long period of time. Some told me getting S-Pass will not take up much time as EP is. Viewers, please help to advise me...

[FaeLLe]

The truth is no one knows / can be sure.

You should account for 3-4 weeks of non employment.
Consider pawning some assets or digging into non liquid / liquid assets for a line of credit while your employment status sorted out.

Good luck.

[sundaymorningstaple]

I really can't add anything to FaeLLe's post.

[MS tong]

Here are some of my Particular. I'm a Malaysian, 25 years old. My Highiest qualification now is Advanced Diploma banking and finance, but will be geeting my Bachelor degree soonest in March 2012. I have been working here for 5 years from admin to Account Assistant, to Finance executive now.

My HR is gg to appeal for the Spass application for me. Although I have met the requirement of Spass, but still got rejected from MOM again. Please advise. I have been study here for 4 years ( 2 yrs part time + 2 year full time). One of my lecturer is MP can get him to help me, so that my Spass application will be higher chances to get approval? or how shld my HR deal with this situation will be higher chances? please advise

[sundaymorningstaple]

From your nick, I'm assuming you are Malaysian Chinese. In which case, I'd recommend you wait until you have your degree in hand. I am also assuming your new position will be related to your degree. If so, a new degree and 5 years relevant industry experience should hold you in good stead. I know it is 5 or 6 months from now, but the downside to applying now is if you get another rejection letter it's going to impact your self-esteem even though it's no fault of your own. The MP route will get you absolutely nowhere in this case, I can vouch for that. The best thing that he could do is write you a glowing testimonial for your submission along with your Degree Certificate. But a letter of intervention from an MP to MOM to help you get the S pass will only raise the ire of the MOM Officer.

If you are not Malaysian Chinese, I can only wish you good luck because the odds will definitely be against you.

[thismyvoice]

I would not recommend asking the MP to help you write an appeal letter. I don't think he will write an appeal unless he knows you personally. After all, it is his reputation that is at stake.

However being an MP, he may be familiar with the workings of MOM and thus may guide you on how to improve your chance. My guess is that he will give the same advice as SMS.