Click here for previous thread (v16)

Job Hunting

- Job hunting is more difficult now thanks to the Fair Consideration Framework but still possible.
- Popular Job Search Sites: Jobstreet, Monster, eFinancialCareers

Employment

- There are 4 types of Work Passes for foreigners in SG: WP, S-Pass, EP and PEP. Visit MOM website for more information on these passes.
- The company hiring you has to initiate all the formalities for you so no need to worry too much on what type of pass or how to apply for it.
- Note that different types of work pass have different rights, benefits & restrictions.

CPF and Income Tax

- If you work 183 days or more in a calendar year you are a tax resident and pay the same progressive tax rates as locals.
- If you work less than 183 days you are not a tax resident and pay flat 15% tax or progressive tax rates as locals (whichever is higher). However the following year if your employment spills over into exceeding 183 days you can request IRAS to re-assess you as a tax resident and refund you the difference in tax paid.
- Visit IRAS website for more information on taxes.
- CPF (equivalent of our EPF) is only mandatory for PR's and SC's (Singapore Citizens) at 16% Employee, 20% Employer, capped at first $5k per month.
- Some companies will encash the employer portion for foreigners.
- Visit CPF Website for more information on CPF.

Permanent Residence

- ICA does not have any official guidelines for PR approval (or any points system like Australia/NZ).
- Previously most agencies recommend applying for PR after 1 year if you are on P1 EP, 2 years or more if you are on P2/Q1 EP.
- Visit ICA website for more information on applying for PR.

Accomodation in Singapore

- Accomodation $600-$100 (room) $2000-$3000 (entire flat)
- Typical costs are 1st month rental + 1 month deposit (for each year of the lease) + 1/2 month agent fee (for each year of the lease).
- Foreigners can only own Private Condominiums and are subject to ~18% stamp duty. PR's can own Private Condominiums and Resale HDB's are and subject to ~8% stamp duty.
- Popular room/house search websites: PropertyGuru, FlatsDB, RoomsDB, EasyRoomMate.

Accomodation in Johor

- Foreigners on Work Pass living in Malaysia and commuting to SG can drive MY-registered cars and bikes. Cars incur $35 and bikes incur $4 VEP/daily.
- PR's and SC's living in Malaysia and commuting to SG can only drive SG-registered cars and bikes into the island.
- Visit LTA website for more information on operating a car in SG as a foreigner.

Driving in Singapore

- Foreigners on Work Pass are allowed to drive in Singapore for the first year only using Malaysian Drivers License. For second year onwards you are expected to convert to Singapore license.
- Visit eCitizen site for more information on converting your license.
- Note that foreigners on work pass are only allowed to drive Malaysia-registered cars if you stay outside Singapore. Visit LTA site for more information.

Expenses

This is very subjective depending on the spending power of different individuals. Basic monthly expenditure:
- Accomodation $600-$1000 (room) $2000-$3000 (entire flat)
- Food $500 and up
- Transport $60 and up
- Handphone, bills and utilities $100 and up
- Entertainment, shopping etc $xxxx

This post has been edited by deodorant: Jan 2 2015, 04:10 PM

Meet-Up's and Gatherings

- Next Meet-up/Gathering TBA
- To be added to the Cool People whatsapp group PM MacKiddo

Sports Gatherings

- Next Badminton 8am 14th Dec Toa Payoh Sports Hall
- To be added to the Badminton whatsapp group PM me.


This post has been edited by deodorant: Dec 8 2014, 11:14 AM

Top 15 spammer from v16:

IwanAGP 165
Fiona Chin 140
deodorant 127
alaskanbunny 108
Mackiddo 102
sheng291 89
JohnJon82 70
razo2 64
Tigerr 58
seantang 57
General Fahmy 52
crazy25kid 47
gnc88 43
ThanatosSwiftfire 41
crapp0 39

Oh cepatnya sampai v17. Cos of RM2.63 : SGD ka?

i hardly post also Nō 5. think got flawed in your formula man.
it have been 8 solid years since V1 was started (https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/358174) .

This post has been edited by Mackiddo: Dec 7 2014, 06:56 PM

congratz on V17!

Pertamax.... Yeah

a question to recent applicant, from the moment you sent out your application to securing the job, how long did it take?

1 week plus to get offer letter

One of you guys...working and living in spore...

wah so nice! 1 week after sending in application already got an offer!! so good lah you

reporting page 1

grats on v17 ~
rainy days recently at the east

Reporting in!

What do you guys think? MacBook Air or Pro?

Wah still cannot get champion spammer.

8 years ago rate should be around 2.2?

Anyone here before the 97 crisis?

Not my formula, is LYN sendiri calculate one


1 week timeframe probably varies a lot depending on seniority, position, industry, company, etc. My current job I think application to 1st day on the job took 2+ months.


MBP IMO. It's still plenty light and portable enough to do poser activities in starbucks and yet powerful enough to get real work done if needed.

Just curious... but with Macs, is there something you can use for MS Office files? And is there a good torrent p2p client? Now that I'm not gaming, that's all I use laptops for... work and torrents.

I'm looking for a new laptop but although I like how the Macbooks look, I have zero clue on Macs... Considering Macs this time around as any Windows laptop with equivalent Macbook form factor and battery life are way more expensive (like Thinkpad Carbon or Sony Z-series).

there is ms office for mac
no idea abt p2p

Initially I was comparing Macs and non-Macs laptop. I gave a "big" picture thought which then led me to get a Mac, reluctantly. Apple has successfully created an ecosystem for its hardware, which unfortunately, I am an unconscious victim. I have a few iPhones and iPads, the ever-confusing iCloud accounts, and potentially AppleTv. I hope the yet to be explored conveniences of staying in the ecosystem would facilitate the crappy iTunes streaming of my devices, seamlessly.

I have since narrowed down to MBP and MBAir. Similarly, my applications are for web surfing, Microsoft office works (light), photo-editing, movies, torrents, pdfs, and lots of pdfs. Proprietary rights (software) are strongly enforced under Apple and I do foresee paying quite a premium for these. This applies to Microsoft office suite but the availability of "Parallel OS", standalone OS, and Microsoft365 will still allow Mac-user to work on office-based projects. The only issue is the price.

Thoughts?

V17 !!!