New Criteria for PEPs w.e.f. 1/12/2012

[sundaymorningstaple]

Read it and weep......

This is gonna slow a lot of folks down and it's gonna stop a huge bunch as well.

http://www.mom.gov.sg/foreign-manpower/ ... fault.aspx

Personalised Employment Pass - Before you apply

Changes to the Personalised Employment Pass

From 1 December 2012, the qualifying criteria for the Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) will be raised and some of its features will be refined. This ensures that the PEP remains a premium pass for top-tier foreign talent and is in line with recent moves to raise the quality of Employment Pass holders. The changes are:

Availability of PEP to P1 Pass holders who earn a fixed monthly salary of at least $12,000 and overseas-based foreign professionals whose last drawn fixed monthly salary was at least $18,000.
Increase of minimum annual fixed salary requirement from $34,000 to $144,000.
Change in validity of PEP from 5 years to 3 years.
New PEP holders can bring in their parents, spouses and children.
For more information, please refer to our FAQs.

CHANGES TO PERSONALISED EMPLOYMENT PASS (PEP)
FOR IMPLEMENTATION: 1 DEC 2012

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

Q1 What are the main changes to the PEP?
A1 From 1 Dec 2012 onwards:
P1 Pass holders who earn a fixed monthly salary of at least $12,000 and
overseas-based foreign professionals whose last drawn fixed monthly salary
was at least $18,000 will be eligible for the PEP. For overseas-based foreign
professionals, they should not have been unemployed for longer than a
continuous period of 6 months at the point of application. Correspondingly,
the minimum annual fixed salary requirement will be increased to $144,000.
The period of validity of the PEP will be reduced to 3 years.
New PEP holders can bring in their parents, spouses and children, similar to
the dependant privileges that are accorded to P1 Pass holders.

Before 1 Dec 2012, the following groups of foreigners are eligible for the
PEP:
 P1 Pass holders;
 Former P1 Pass holders;
 Overseas-based foreign professionals whose last drawn fixed
monthly salary was at least $8,000;
 P2 Pass holders with at least 2 years’ on a P Pass and earned a fixed
salary of at least $34,000 in the preceding year;
 Q1 Pass holders with at least 5 years’ on a Q1 Pass and earned a
fixed salary of at least $34,000 in the preceding year; and
 Foreign graduates from Singapore’s Institutes of Higher Learning with
at least 2 years’ on an Employment Pass and earned a fixed salary of
at least $34,000 in the preceding year.

Q2 What is the rationale for raising the qualifying criteria for PEP holders?
A2 The Government raised the Employment Pass (EP) qualifying salary
requirements in Jul 2011 and again in Jan 2012. The higher qualifying
salaries were accompanied by higher educational criteria. In line with our
recent moves to raise the quality of EP holders, we are refining the
qualifying criteria for PEP holders. This will also ensure that the PEP
remains a premium pass for top-tier foreign talent working in Singapore.

Q3 What is the rationale for changing the validity of the PEP?
A3 The PEP accords flexibility to PEP holders to be unemployed, for a
continuous period of up to 6 months, to facilitate their stay here in between
jobs. However, foreigners with in-demand expertise and skills should be able
to secure a job and obtain an Employment Pass (EP) before too long a
period. Therefore, we will change the validity of the PEP from 5 years to 3
years.

Q4 How will the changes affect existing PEP holders?
A4 The changes will apply to all new PEP applicants, including existing P1 Pass
holders who wish to apply for the PEP.
There is no immediate impact on existing PEP holders. MOM will give all
existing PEP holders until 31 Dec 2014 to meet the revised minimum annual
fixed salary requirement of $144,000.
PEPs due to expire within 6 months after 31 Dec 2014 (i.e. expiry taking
place between 1 Jan 2015 – 30 Jun 2015) will be allowed to remain until
expiry.
Dependents of existing PEP holders who are in Singapore by 1 Dec 2012
will be allowed to stay so long as their sponsors have valid PEPs.

Q5 Why is the revised fixed annual salary requirement imposed on
existing PEP holders?
A5 We have raised the fixed annual salary requirement for existing PEP holders
to position the PEP as a premium pass for top-tier talent. Existing PEP
holders who are unable to remain on the PEP can continue to
work and live in Singapore on an Employment Pass (EP) or S Pass,
subject to the prevailing EP and S Pass assessment criteria.

Q6 I am an existing PEP holder whose PEP expires after 1 Jul 2015. What
happens if I am unable to meet the revised minimum annual fixed
salary requirement of $144,000 for the year ending 31 Dec 2014?
A6 Existing PEP holders who are unable to remain on the PEP can continue to
work and live in Singapore on an Employment Pass (EP) or S Pass, subject to
the prevailing EP and S Pass assessment criteria.

Q7 I am an existing PEP holder and I have family members here on
Dependant Passes. If I convert to an Employment Pass, will my family
members be affected?
A7 Dependants of PEP holders who converted to Employment Pass (EP) or S
Pass will be allowed to stay so long as they are in Singapore by 1 Dec 2012,
and their sponsors have a valid EP or S Pass and do not change employers.

Q8 Is the PEP renewable upon expiry?
A8 No. The PEP is issued only once and is non-renewable.

Q9 I am a former P1 Pass holder. Am I eligible for the PEP?
A9 Former P1 Pass holders whose last drawn fixed monthly salary was at least
$18,000 are eligible to apply for the PEP. They should not have been
unemployed for longer than a continuous period of 6 months at the point of
application.

Q10 Why was the PEP introduced?
What is the difference between the PEP and EP?
A10 The PEP was introduced to strengthen Singapore’s attractiveness to highly
skilled foreigners and to facilitate their continued stay and contributions in Singapore.

Unlike the Employment Pass, the PEP is tied to the individual instead of a
specific employer. The PEP allows the holder to remain in Singapore for up
to 6 months in between jobs to evaluate new employment opportunities. The PEP
is issued with a validity of 3 years from 1 Dec 2012, and is nonrenewable.[/b]

[Mi Amigo]

TBH I was wondering when they were going to tighten up on PEPs - the anecdotal evidence from this forum suggests that it has become a more common fall-back when PR applications fail, a potential alternative to the now defunct EPEC, etc. etc.

[sundaymorningstaple]

After it was abused so much two years after it started, I was surprised that then didn't cancel the Pass, THB.

It was originally designed as a stepping stone to PR, but everybody just used it as a 5 year visa. As usual, the abusers struck again. Will they never learn?

[Mi Amigo]

Trouble is, those people by their very nature only think about themselves and not about the wider world or others in future who may suffer. It's the epitome of the "I'm all right Jack, bugger everyone else" mentality.

[nakatago]

It's more like a mentality and culture of scarcity. People scramble because they're afraid they'll lose out when things run out. In their minds, they think "We should hoard as many opportunities as possible." Poverty does that.

[Strong Eagle]

I tend to agree with you all, and... Singapore is really going to shoot themselves in the foot with this. Sure, there were/are abusers, and they will also eliminate a lot of "top tier" talent who won't want to take the risk of having the game changed yet again. 34K to 144K? If I read the FAQ right, PEP holders in under the old rules but making less than 144K are up shit creek. Buh bye, time to go home.

[nutnut]

Aiyoh!

Time to start applying outside Singapore for work! Even if you earn over 144K, still need to guarantee you will have consistent work for the time!

It'll stop the very junior workers abusing it though.

[v4jr4]

Or gahmen wants to try semi-closed door policy by boosting their own workforce
And will they touch the blue collars?

[nakatago]

Aiyoh!

Time to start applying outside Singapore for work! Even if you earn over 144K, still need to guarantee you will have consistent work for the time!

It'll stop the very junior workers abusing it though.

If they time it right, they won't need to. Some companies will probably move to Johor or Penang and take their expats with them.

[jsmheng]

Hello forum,

I know you don't take kindly to media types here, but I'm a reporter hoping to speak to PEP holders who might be affected by the tightened criteria. If you don't mind sharing your views (and yes, critical views are very welcome), you can reach me at 6319 5576. Cheers.

[Strong Eagle]

Hello forum,

I know you don't take kindly to media types here, but I'm a reporter hoping to speak to PEP holders who might be affected by the tightened criteria. If you don't mind sharing your views (and yes, critical views are very welcome), you can reach me at 6319 5576. Cheers.

Actually, "media types" are quite welcome. It's the "anonymous media types" who try to stir the pot under the guise of being some local blur carrot that we don't take kindly to.

I'd like to see the response... here and in your article.

[jsmheng]

That's nice to hear, cheers.

I'm having trouble finding any PEP holders at all, unfortunately - I'd imagine they'd have quite a bit to say about this, though!

I'm also contactable at janiceh@THAT.ACRONYM.THAT.MUST.NOT.BE.USED.com.sg, if anyone's out there...

[zzm9980]

Just checking that I understand this. My PEP expires Feb 2017. As long as I meet the salary requirement by the end of 2014, I'm good to stay until the end. Do I have that right?

Q4 How will the changes affect existing PEP holders?
A4 The changes will apply to all new PEP applicants, including existing P1 Pass
holders who wish to apply for the PEP.
There is no immediate impact on existing PEP holders. MOM will give all
existing PEP holders until 31 Dec 2014 to meet the revised minimum annual
fixed salary requirement of $144,000.
PEPs due to expire within 6 months after 31 Dec 2014 (i.e. expiry taking
place between 1 Jan 2015 – 30 Jun 2015) will be allowed to remain until
expiry.
Dependents of existing PEP holders who are in Singapore by 1 Dec 2012
will be allowed to stay so long as their sponsors have valid PEPs.

[zzm9980]

Oh, and MS is right once again.

I wonder how much more is still to come? P1 Salary requirements upped to PEP levels?

[sami123]

Hi all,

I got my PEP in May 2012 and I am well over the 144k annual salary. I was wondering if my PEP will now expire in only 3 years or will my current validity of 5 years continue.

I am trying to seek this information from MOM website but there seems to be quite a bit of ambiguity. Perhaps, they should come up with a better Q&A document than they have currently on the website....

Thanks all
Sami