Supervision task in Singapore

[k4ktus]

Hi there,

my company (germany) got a order for a supervision job in Singapore. The action will take about three month. As far as i know, the salary will go on as usual +some additional funds, means i will be payed under german law and condition.
What permission do i need? Who should care?
Do i have to pay taxes?
What else to be aware of?

Thx very much

[sundaymorningstaple]

So, speak in plain language so we can give you a plain answer without trying to decipher what you are tiptoeing around.

[Strong Eagle]

Since you will be working in a management position, you will need an employment permit (EP) to work. Therefore, your German company will need to create a wholly owned subsidiary in Singapore that will employ you... OR... they need to contract with an already existing Singapore company who can hire you. It doesn't matter where your salary is paid... what matters is whether you are working in Singapore in a revenue producing capacity.

[k4ktus]

Since you will be working in a management position, you will need an employment permit (EP) to work. Therefore, your German company will need to create a wholly owned subsidiary in Singapore that will employ you... OR... they need to contract with an already existing Singapore company who can hire you. It doesn't matter where your salary is paid... what matters is whether you are working in Singapore in a revenue producing capacity.

Thank you.

Except my work will last only 60day or less.

[sundaymorningstaple]

In your initial post you said three months. Last time I checked, that's well over 60 days. (It's 60 days from the day you land, not actual working days.). So, all that Strong Eagle said, applies. Additionally, you will be taxed at a flat 15% of your income if you are here more than 60 days (from the date you land) but less than 183 days.

Even if you are here less than 60 days, you still need your employer to obtain an employment pass consistent with your credentials, experience & salary. IF the MOM will give you one. They are not obligated to do so.

[nutnut]

And if you try and work without an EP, then woe-betide you if you get caught!

[Strong Eagle]

And if you try and work without an EP, then woe-betide you if you get caught!

The fact of the matter is that in white collar jobs, this happens all the time. He'll get a 60 or 90 visa, stay in a hotel or Serviced Apartment, perform whatever work he is going to perform and not show up on the radar because his pay is in Germany.

Who and how will anyone ever actually know what the nature of his duties are? He's company from a country with a strong contingent in Singapore. If it's really 60 days, I'd say he can drop in on a SVP and do whatever he needs to do.

Once again, this demonstrates that Singapore is not adequately addressing the needs of short term business entry... no visa available... unless the expectation is that a local entity gets an EP... but again... there are large numbers of people in for short term who work.

[nutnut]

Especially those who work for 2 weeks SVP....

[k4ktus]

SVP means social visitor pass?

[sundaymorningstaple]

correct.

[k4ktus]

Maybe a way to do:

Travel to Singapore with short term visit pass (for that I have nothing to do except travel to singapore with a valid passport, right?)
Get a e-pass. Extend it then for 60 day. See how works run and if necessary get a work permit in Singapore when 60 days are too short.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Don't think it will work like that. You don't get an employment pass by snapping your fingers. First of all you need to have a duly registered company or work for a company here. THEY have to apply for the employment pass as they are you sponsors. I would have assumed, I guess wrongly, that you would have read both Strong Eagle's and my earlier posts. If you get caught, you may well have some free lodging for a while. Courtesy of the Gahmen here.

[Strong Eagle]

I think OP has three options.

a) Do it all on a social visit pass, as done by many, probably workable with side trips to Bangkok, KL, etc by air. Serviced Apartment and/or hotel a must. But, as others have noted, not clear in the regulations and could potentially lead to problems.

b) OP's company creates wholly owned subsidiary or rep office to handle obtaining an EP.

c) OP's company finds a company in Singapore (like mine), willing to sponsor EP and to sign a contract with OP's company. But, no company, including mine, wants to do this for less than about a 25 percent markup.

Big MNC's fly people in all the time in all sorts of capacities. I've seen one large unnamed company fly in European project managers who stayed more than a month to try and fix a broken project.

Are they working here? I suppose so. Does it make one whit of difference to the employment possibilities for the average Singaporean? Absolutely not. Would it piss of the MNC's if their ability to move resources on a temporary basis were curtailed? Hell, yes.

But one thing should be clear here, OP. If your German company has won a short term contract from a Singapore based company (MNC or local), then it does need to be in compliance with respect to having a legal entity here... either b) or c), above.

[k4ktus]

Hi there

thanks so far for the answers. My company received a lump sum contract from a company in Singapore. But this is not somehow personal. Also the contract says, that all things belonging to work permit etc. shall be part of the contractor. Of course our personnel office is working on this issue, but I'm not sure if there doing right. In doubt I'll be the one who is convicted.
So a.) seems to be the most comfortable way to do because of the upon mentioned b) and c) is just not possible. What exact does the 60 days mean? Is it enough to go back to Germany for a week or something and then travel back with another 60 days?

[k4ktus]

a) means this here?
http://www.mom.gov.sg/foreign-manpower/ ... fault.aspx