He's out of luck. MOM doesn't want to import foreigners with no marketable skills, which is what they'll assume (rightfully so) an American trying to work as a FDW is.SingLaw wrote: On another note, would an American citizen be eligible for a domestic helper permit? Or is my cousin, in short, out of luck?
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Work Permit for a foreign domestic worker/second jobs
- the lynx
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Well over here the rule only applies to foreigners. Only Singaporean citizens and PRs are allowed to take up multiple jobs or part-time jobs.SingLaw wrote:Just to flesh this out a bit...sundaymorningstaple wrote:No.
In fact, NO employment visa holder is allowed to work any job or in any other location that that which is on his Employment Pass, Doesn't matter if it's a maid, WP holder, S Pass or Q, P2, or P1 holder. However, a PEP holder CAN work multiple jobs as their passes are not contingent on the employer being the sponsor.
In Norway, I work as a lawyer as my primary job, but I also referee soccer part-time for fun/a bit of extra cash. Essentially, this is impossible in Singapore?
What's the rationale behind such a restrictive employment situation? I could understand if someone didn't have a job to begin with and would be a drain on social services, but why does Singapore dislike the idea of multiple part-time jobs or a full-time job with a bit of extra work so much?
I understand that you are interested to provide an opportunity to your relative to come to Asia and be exposed to new environment, while you have a familiar figure to help with your family here. Unfortunately, foreigners (unless with PR status) are not allowed to have jobs aside from what is stated on their visa (EP/S Pass/WP etc).
Ah ha. I hadn't found this page before:zzm9980 wrote:He's out of luck. MOM doesn't want to import foreigners with no marketable skills, which is what they'll assume (rightfully so) an American trying to work as a FDW is.SingLaw wrote: On another note, would an American citizen be eligible for a domestic helper permit? Or is my cousin, in short, out of luck?
http://www.mom.gov.sg/foreign-manpower/ ... orker.aspx
So he's out of luck for several reasons:
1. He's male
2. Not from an approved source country (although some of those countries are clearly not like the others...Hong Kong and South Korea stand out as no different, income wise, than the US)
3. Related to me
I imagine this won't be the first time I see a regulation in Singapore and am left thinking

- sundaymorningstaple
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SingLaw wrote:
On another note, would an American citizen be eligible for a domestic helper permit?
SMS wrote:No.
Seems pretty clear to me. I reckon it seem pretty clear to anybody else as well......SMS wrote:Nope.

Your last statement "left thinking" is a bit of a misnomer isn't it?

Last edited by sundaymorningstaple on Fri, 25 May 2012 3:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers
I'd imagine those countries (and Macau and Taiwan) are on the list so FDWs who gained residency there but feel life has been too easy can now come to Singapore and work more days for less money and crueler employers.SingLaw wrote:Ah ha. I hadn't found this page before:zzm9980 wrote:He's out of luck. MOM doesn't want to import foreigners with no marketable skills, which is what they'll assume (rightfully so) an American trying to work as a FDW is.SingLaw wrote: On another note, would an American citizen be eligible for a domestic helper permit? Or is my cousin, in short, out of luck?
http://www.mom.gov.sg/foreign-manpower/ ... orker.aspx
So he's out of luck for several reasons:
1. He's male
2. Not from an approved source country (although some of those countries are clearly not like the others...Hong Kong and South Korea stand out as no different, income wise, than the US)
3. Related to me
I imagine this won't be the first time I see a regulation in Singapore and am left thinking
Come on, seriously?sundaymorningstaple wrote:SingLaw wrote:
On another note, would an American citizen be eligible for a domestic helper permit?SMS wrote:No.Seems pretty clear to me. I reckon it seem pretty clear to anybody else as well......SMS wrote:Nope.
Your last statement "left thinking" is a bit of a misnomer isn't it?
In reading lots of posts on these forums, you seem to be one of the most knowledgeable posters and offer a great deal of help, but I'm not sure why you're being difficult with me here.
Had you quoted exactly what you were replying to, there would not have been any confusion on my part, but what you quote above was not the order of posts on this thread.
Your first post was very helpful and explained that no employment visa holder can hold a second job, but did not address whether an American could be on a domestic helper permit.
Your second post was one word and, I assumed, was replying to the post directly above it about whether an Australian could be on a domestic helper permit. Again, this did not address whether an American could be on a domestic helper permit.
When I asked the follow-up question that you quote above, you pointed me back to your first two posts, neither one of which addressed the question. Therefore, I'm not sure how you would expect anybody else to find your answers "pretty clear" as you put it.
I understand you guys get a ton of questions and lots of people come, take what they need from the forum, and leave, so I understand why long-term posters could get annoyed at questions they perceive as poorly researched. That being said, the Singaporean government's webpages aren't always the most clearly arranged information sources, so some questions that might seem obvious to long-term Singapore residents are less so to someone who has been trying to find the answer, but is less familiar with Singapore.
On another note, my last statement was supposed to read something more like "left thinking 'huh?'"...at least that's what I had interpreted the emoticon to mean.

Last edited by SingLaw on Fri, 25 May 2012 5:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Speaking of emoticons, where is one of those rolling/laughing ones when you need it?zzm9980 wrote:I'd imagine those countries (and Macau and Taiwan) are on the list so FDWs who gained residency there but feel life has been too easy can now come to Singapore and work more days for less money and crueler employers.SingLaw wrote:Ah ha. I hadn't found this page before:zzm9980 wrote: He's out of luck. MOM doesn't want to import foreigners with no marketable skills, which is what they'll assume (rightfully so) an American trying to work as a FDW is.
http://www.mom.gov.sg/foreign-manpower/ ... orker.aspx
So he's out of luck for several reasons:
1. He's male
2. Not from an approved source country (although some of those countries are clearly not like the others...Hong Kong and South Korea stand out as no different, income wise, than the US)
3. Related to me
I imagine this won't be the first time I see a regulation in Singapore and am left thinking

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