Another policy tightening is on the horizon :(

[nakatago]

I started having the feeling as if I'm watching a sitcom.

P.S.: nakatago, do you know how French call the Big Mac?

Le Big Mac!

[bobypf]

I started having the feeling as if I'm watching a sitcom.

P.S.: nakatago, do you know how French call the Big Mac?

Le Big Mac!

[JayCee]

Western movie references (and sarcasm) probably go over the head of a lot of posters here, in particular the ones with masters. If you were talking about movies without any particular plot but where they sing and dance around a lot though, you'd be alright I think

[andrew22]

[URL censored due to copyrights issue]

There it is-- EP minimum boosted to $3k. Not sure how much that move accomplishes...especially on the heels of the increase to 2.8k.

Changes will take effect beginning Jan. 2012.

No word on the new "educational" qualifications, wonder how those will look? Perhaps stricter institution standards would make sense considering the prevalence of 'ivy league state tech--online campus (Hons)" degrees that have been seemingly getting the job done until recently?

[singaporeflyer]

Details about the educational qualification for Q1 in the new change is already there on the MOM Site.

[andrew22]

Details about the educational qualification for Q1 in the new change is already there on the MOM Site.

Aha. Thanks for the heads up. 'spose I wasn't too far off then:

Q1 Pass: We will tighten the educational qualifications requirements so that only those from good quality institutions will be eligible. We will also move away from the single qualifying salary of $2,800 today. Instead, the applicant will have to earn a salary of at least $3,000, with the requirements depending on his qualifications and experience:

a) Young graduates from good institutions could qualify if they earn at least $3,000

b) Older applicants would have to command higher salaries to qualify, commensurate with the work experience and quality they are expected to bring

[bobypf]

So at the end they didn't completely cut off the applicants without a degree. And nothing about the S pass is mentioned there.

[Tigerslayer]

Wow... glad i just renewed by Q1... I would be pretty nervous if my renewal time was coming up.

Dread to think what it will be like in 2 years time. I can only see the requirements getting higher still.

[bobypf]

Wow... glad i just renewed by Q1... I would be pretty nervous if my renewal time was coming up.

Dread to think what it will be like in 2 years time. I can only see the requirements getting higher still.

Hey, Tiger, do they always issue the EP for 2 years?

[sundaymorningstaple]

No. All the requests for renewals that have been done recently, as long as the employer requests it, are for 24 months, but it could be as few as 6 months or as great as 60 months (rare). The giving of 24 months came about after the last mass upgrade of the S pass quotas, from 1800 to 2000/mo. MOM gave a window to apply and to help employers to handle the increased salaries, allowed renewals (even early renewals - I know, I renewed all my S pass holders who where going to expire between May and the end of the year - lose some months, but gain a year at the old salary rates. Even if you apply for 24 months (with the new rates) it is ultimately up to MOM to either yeah or nay it. So no. No guarantees of getting 24 months, but the likelihood is there.

[revhappy]

Guys, I just read about the latest speech of PM Lee on the National Day yesterday and I'm very worried about the new upcoming tightening up on the foreign workers.

http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/ED ... gn-workers

What do you think of this? Are they only throwing dust in the eyes of the locals or we can expect another real tightening up? How worse the situation can get?

The office of Lucas Films that has been mentioned in the article happens to be the same building as my office in changi business park

I see those guys always in the lift. I agree they are really cool dudes working out there. All kinds of nationalities. Many of them are chinese but from their accent you can clearly make out they are chinese from the USA.

[Barnsley]

Guys, I just read about the latest speech of PM Lee on the National Day yesterday and I'm very worried about the new upcoming tightening up on the foreign workers.

http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/ED ... gn-workers

What do you think of this? Are they only throwing dust in the eyes of the locals or we can expect another real tightening up? How worse the situation can get?

The office of Lucas Films that has been mentioned in the article happens to be the same building as my office in changi business park

I see those guys always in the lift. I agree they are really cool dudes working out there. All kinds of nationalities. Many of them are chinese but from their accent you can clearly make out they are chinese from the USA.

Yeh , I know a few of the guys from there, you can spot them out and about the Signature Building, they are the ones in flip flops

I am not sure the Govt can really dictate to Multi-Nationals though can they? Especially in IT , as can't the companies just upsticks and move somewhere else at the drop of a hat?

[richie303]

Ok, so here is the situation, anyone wonder what will happen.

I know x and x has considerable skills, degree and experience in a field that is not taught in Singapore and is required (in a medical field).

The current rate for x's job is under the new threshold but above the old threshold of P2 pass. However, the skills are not available locally.

What is likely to happen?

The hospital x works for employs mainly foreign talent, although, they also employ locals who trained in Aus and UK. (10%) if they don't increase the salaries then these people will potentially not get extended (including x) and the hospital and patients will lose the experience and 90% of the staff.

I imagine this is not the only case, but what do you think the outcome of this will be? increased medical care charges for the poor in order to pay for the increase in wages or just recruiting people without the experience to do the role?

Interested to hear the comments on this case in particular.

Richie

[sundaymorningstaple]

Ok, so here is the situation, anyone wonder what will happen.

I know x and x has considerable skills, degree and experience in a field that is not taught in Singapore and is required (in a medical field).

The current rate for x's job is under the new threshold but above the old threshold of P2 pass. However, the skills are not available locally.

What is likely to happen?

The hospital x works for employs mainly foreign talent, although, they also employ locals who trained in Aus and UK. (10%) if they don't increase the salaries then these people will potentially not get extended (including x) and the hospital and patients will lose the experience and 90% of the staff.

I imagine this is not the only case, but what do you think the outcome of this will be? increased medical care charges for the poor in order to pay for the increase in wages or just recruiting people without the experience to do the role?

Interested to hear the comments on this case in particular.

Richie

Providing the salaries are not below S pass levels, they will, on renewal, provided they still qualify academically & experience wise, have their passes renewed but at a lower level. P2's will be downgraded to Q's and Qs to S passes. This could conceivably cause some inconvenience and even cause some losses, but at they are a private hospital, they will have no special dispensations.

Regarding niche occupations.....

The employees must FIRST qualify for the position with salary, academics & experience. If they can get past that hurdle, then the company has to justify why they need to have a foreigner (niche knowledge). But. The potential/employee has to first qualify.

Ultimately, the same thing that will happen with ANY private company if they cannot get sufficient help. They will move or close shop. Or, the stock holders will have to settle for smaller dividends. If they raise their prices too much, then they wont fill the beds if the government hospitals can still do it cheaper. But as long as there are expats, they will pay the increased prices, in the silly thought that private hospitals, cause they charge more, are better. Taint so.

[ecureilx]

sorry to wade in later .. but Singaporeans, have found, they have 'voice'

in essence, they realised they can complain and complain loudly

like, the president election, you suddenly see guys demanding the president is not a mouth piece of PAP - though the just plainly forgot that PAP or not, the president's power is defined in the constitution .. and that's it ..

likewise, some of the comments I been hearing ..

- EPEC is an informal PR for foreigners

- S Pass holders are actually paid super high (Cant' blame the comment as certain nationalities, even low paid, dress super nice and make the natives suspect that the foreigner is getting paid more than the 1,800)

- the common grouse of locals: a lot of small time companies are 'charging' back the salary

- more often than enough, a lot of recruitment companies favour foreigners, for 'placement' fee ..

I been here long enough and am yet to see a lazy Singaporean .. atleast in my line of work or those I work with ..

But, after a couple of Tigers, they spill their emotions .. that suddenly a foreigner is appointed as their manager or senior, who seem to know nothing or is still groping in the dark .. (though the foreigner maybe earning lower than the junior is not obviously understood .. )

so, it goes much more than lip service ..

I can even refer some specific forums, where foreign staff had asked "my company pays me 1,800, but they transfer back 800, is that normal or should I ask them to deduct less" .. or "I have been placed in compulsory company accomodation, costing 500 $ a month, is there any option to break contract and stay on my own ?? "

I could go on ..

As a foreigner, it is not easy to pass judgement on locals .. A lot of locals who became jobless and had to switch jobs, from what I have seen, are primarily in F & B line .. where the locals were happy to work for the pay, and suddenly they had foreigners working for lesser pay or bosses preferrred foreigners as they latter in reality was paying back the boss .. et al ..

And the people whom I know, are really hard working, and after 10 plus years working in the 'night life' (Bar / restaurant) they were forced to give up their nocturnal work style ..

Tough calls ..