Do Singapore Employers issue relieving/release letter?

[machoman]

Hello,

I have been employed in Singapore for a while now. Also I am from India. I have a question that if anyone decides to resign from the job and leave Singapore, is a relieving letter issued to them? I am not sure if it is a standard practice here in this country and so this question.

Also the reason I ask this is because Employers in India usually look for such documents during the process of hiring. So it will be expected of you to carry with you the Relieving letter from the previous organization.

I would be very grateful if anyone could throw light on this...

Thanks

[sundaymorningstaple]

Most Singapore employers issue letters if they initiate the release from service, e.g., released due to inability to renew work permit, termination letter, redundency letter, etc, etc.

But if the employee resigned, then usually the only letter is the one the employee must give to the employers (resignation letter).

Recommendation letters are nice but not obligatory from the employer if you want the employer to be brutally honest. A good employer may give if asked for, but be careful what you ask for.

[the lynx]

Recommendation letters are nice but not obligatory from the employer if you want the employer to be brutally honest. A good employer may give if asked for, but be careful what you ask for.

Another term Singaporeans use for this document is also 'testimony' and 'statement of service'.

[bro75]

You could ask for a simple certificate/statement of employment, which is a letter that states the duration of employment and last position held. It may also include latest salary information.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Those we give regardless as they ask for them for most anything, loans, school subsidies, HDB applications, etc. Even for PR applications. We just call 'em "Too whom it may concern letters" but they don't give any recommendations or indications of character other than being a current employee, which generally is taken to mean a decent employee as they haven't been sacked.

[Strong Eagle]

Print your own. Who's going to know the difference?

[sundaymorningstaple]

SE, you are right, except for HR people like myself when sourcing a candidate. I usually check references and make phone calls when I can to confirm data if I really see a potential employee. Of course it also depends on the level of the applicant and the position being sourced for.

[machoman]

Hello all,

I guess we would just be looking at something like This person was employed with us from beginning date to end date and was drawing xxxx SGD. I am not sure if a character voucher is or any recommendations are necessary.

Would asking for such a letter from the employer after resignation be obliged or entertained?

Thanks

[Strong Eagle]

Hello all,

I guess we would just be looking at something like This person was employed with us from beginning date to end date and was drawing xxxx SGD. I am not sure if a character voucher is or any recommendations are necessary.

Would asking for such a letter from the employer after resignation be obliged or entertained?

Thanks

This is why I say you should just create your own. Grab a piece of company letterhead. Write down what you just wrote here. Be honest. Then sign it as a department (Human Resources or the department where you worked)... no actual names.

Then, guys like SMS can actually contact HR and find out if the information is correct, but without a named person, it all ends there.

[singaporeflyer]

Hello all,

I guess we would just be looking at something like This person was employed with us from beginning date to end date and was drawing xxxx SGD. I am not sure if a character voucher is or any recommendations are necessary.

Would asking for such a letter from the employer after resignation be obliged or entertained?

Thanks

I think should be ok. I have worked for 3 companies in SG till now and all were able to give letters of the above format including the conduct without any issues.

If you request politely to your employer or ex-employer they should be ok for it.

[machoman]

Hello all,

I guess we would just be looking at something like This person was employed with us from beginning date to end date and was drawing xxxx SGD. I am not sure if a character voucher is or any recommendations are necessary.

Would asking for such a letter from the employer after resignation be obliged or entertained?

Thanks

I think should be ok. I have worked for 3 companies in SG till now and all were able to give letters of the above format including the conduct without any issues.

If you request politely to your employer or ex-employer they should be ok for it.

Thanks everyone for the responses. The discussion certainly has offered more clarity.

[ecureilx]

Most Singapore employers issue letters if they initiate the release from service, e.g., released due to inability to renew work permit, termination letter, redundency letter, etc, etc.

But if the employee resigned, then usually the only letter is the one the employee must give to the employers (resignation letter).

Recommendation letters are nice but not obligatory from the employer if you want the employer to be brutally honest. A good employer may give if asked for, but be careful what you ask for.

plus in Singapore, for mid level jobs, prospective employers ring up the former employers directly, and add to it the need to submit pay slips ... reference letters are not so needed per se ..

[vishalgupta2]

Most Singapore employers issue letters if they initiate the release from service, e.g., released due to inability to renew work permit, termination letter, redundency letter, etc, etc.

But if the employee resigned, then usually the only letter is the one the employee must give to the employers (resignation letter).

Recommendation letters are nice but not obligatory from the employer if you want the employer to be brutally honest. A good employer may give if asked for, but be careful what you ask for.

plus in Singapore, for mid level jobs, prospective employers ring up the former employers directly, and add to it the need to submit pay slips ... reference letters are not so needed per se ..

Calling up for reference check makes way more sense than reading a standard letter saying "This guy did a great work and we wish him luck".

[ecureilx]

Calling up for reference check makes way more sense than reading a standard letter saying "This guy did a great work and we wish him luck".

yah, and Singapore employers do it, despite they asking sweetly "do you want us to not contact your employer, and if so, explain why" and you happily tick "YES" to that, and then you get a call from your ex-employer saying somebody called ..

Kiasuism at work for prospective employers

then again, I know atleast one of my former employers will not say nice things because they changed from an IT Products company to a plastic distributor and I refused to stay as a sales man for Plastic drums etc .. and the HR/CEO (same person) is not happy till date, that I left him than work for him for peanuts doing an unrelated work ..