V17 Thread



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 up to $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 bennike129: Nov 8 2015, 07:20 AM

Newbies who are interested in joining our Whatsapp group and future gathering or makan/yumcha session, pm the following;
Lester1987 argiope mackiddo . Please ensure you have a valid Whatsapp account.

Kindly include your phone number (Sg number only), name, age, gender, work location.
We do organize meetups from time to time.

This post has been edited by Mackiddo: Jan 25 2016, 12:59 PM

Finally, a new thread to rant.

/inb4 1st

Hi Everyone! Welcome to the new thread!

My PR status is still pending but I've changed to a new employment with new E-pass and better salary.

What should I do next? I heard I need to fill up the Annex A from Form 4A again right?

Shoot them an email! ICA_PR@ica.gov.sg

Good luck.

Will changing job during PR application lower down the chances in getting PR ?

This post has been edited by fcuk90: Nov 8 2015, 10:03 PM

I think it does. A friend of mine (an local uni alumni) did it and his application was rejected.

This post has been edited by icycokes: Nov 8 2015, 10:15 PM

Hey there, how long did you waited before applying for a PR?

Anyone working in Becton Dickinson? How is the working environment and benefit over there?

Thanks for the reply.

Gahmen or private uni?

congrats on the new thread !!

you can email them at ICA_Feedback@ica.gov.sg together with your application ID and state that you've changed job.

That's what the officer at the counter told me when i was applying.

Hi Hi! Newbie here and will be joining sg on 21st Dec in one of the big 4's! Mind I join in the makan/yumcha session?

Hi all, was a long time lurker in the previous Working in Singapore threads (since I first moved to Singapore for work). Now amazingly V18 already haha

For accomodation hunting in Singapore, would recommend to use www.nestia.com in addition to the other sites listed. I think it is quite new but the travel time search filters were really handy when i was looking for a place to stay. The UI + room pictures also all look neat and slick like AirBnb-esque. Their customer service helped me out once so I felt oblieged to give them a recommendation haha

On a sidenote, the job market's really getting worse . Many companies going through hiring freeze

Congrats! PM MacKiddo or Lester1987, our "Big Two" daikor in charge of the LYN whatsapp support group.

Hi All,

I'm expecting to land into SG in week time. how to join the whatsapp group ?

refer to post #2.

hi, is it easy to find job in sg now?

Ok thanks, I will try =)

No idea... Hopefully not...

Almost 6 months...

Thank you~~

Yeah damn easy

NUS. All these while we thought being graduated from a local uni is a sure way to get PR but he got rejected for no reason. We figured maybe it was because of his job change during the application.

This post has been edited by icycokes: Nov 9 2015, 11:05 PM

criminal record, cheong record, health condition, high risk towards national security, not within prioritized grouping... etc etc, many other reasons

O no wonder. Local gahmen national uni. I heard o level u get 11 f9 u still can go in medicine. But some people a level get 4 a1 can't even get a place. Come to think of it, o level aggregate score of 99 of cos better than score of 4 right? These people not competent only get 4/100 still make noise blame the gahmen policy for discrimination. Still got the 30% reserved seat for certain group btw?

Of coz foreigners from uni of masala and uni of babalut will be prioritised and given PR first.

Don't forget Southern Pacific Uni alumni. No need to attend any classes etc just buy the cert, when public find out and kpkb just say "oh i really thought it was a legit uni," no problem oso.

Greetings guys, I'll be start working in sg tomorrow, hope could join the thread here...

hi, anyone changed their driving license to sg ?

I believe u still can drive in malaysia after u changed to sg driving license, but would it affect your malaysia car road tax renewal ?

just use msian license in msia and sg otherwhere else

Hah, i thought law dun allow u have 2 license at the same time right ? When u apply for sg license, u need to gv up malaysia license ....... pls correct me if wrong

Do you need to show drivers license when renewing road tax?

you don't need a valid driving license to own a car be it in SG or MY.
I bought a car in SG before I even converted my driving license, pretty sure the same applies to MY.

When you get the salinan lesen memandu from JPJ you have to fill up a form, if you state that you need the salinan to get SG driving license then the moment you exit MY customs your MY driving license will be blacklisted. Blacklisted is not the same as "giving up/surrender", but I know some folks manage to retain their MY driving license in active state after getting their SG license ($$ only ma, Msia truly Asia )

If you are still young and plan to stay in SG for years, just get your SG license and let JPJ blacklist your MY license. SG license is so much better you can drive overseas without getting any letters from JPJ (most countries they allow you to drive as long as your driving license is in English), no expiry date, and you can drive freely in MY.

Encountered roadblocks a few times in KL, show them my MY IC with SG driving license never got any issues. Once or twice kana a few hungry ones trying to be smart say I cannot drive with SG license I just tell them to check AKTA 333 and they let me go.

Hah ? When u renew insurance and road tax , u dun gv driving license ?

Which jpj u go ?

Bro, the question i asking is how you maintain ur existing malaysia car status if you are do not have valid driving license anymore . Not the pro and con of my vs sg license.

My personal exp tell me , whenever i renew insurance and road tax back in malaysia , i do gv them a copy of my my driving license. Do they really check with their system, this one i do not know.....

So hoping someone who converted their license and have same exp, can share their story.

No need to give driving license one la to renew. Your runner don't know what they doing.

Who on earth goes to JPJ on their own to renew? You renew car insurance of cos ask your insurance person gaudim everything using their runner mah.

I came to SG 4 years ago still maintain KL car til now. Every year just remit money to insurance company, they will gaudim it and deliver the new road tax disc to my parents.

This post has been edited by deodorant: Nov 11 2015, 10:26 AM

Like everyone has replied, you DON'T NEED to own a driving license to buy a car. And certainly you don't need to own a driving license to pay your road tax/auto insurance.

Any problem with his statement?

Wait what? Cheong record??

I received my offer letter earlier this week so once I put my signature on the dotted line my move to Singapore will be put in motion. I should be in Singapore by mid next year if all goes to plan. No turning back now.

Mid next year?
My god...you have a 6 month notice period?

Ok. no driving license then is good. Thx all for reply.

someone posted a link to look for accommodation in sg besides the one in the first post, anyone has the link? need to look for somewhere to live along the circle line

No. This is an intra company relocation.

Ah I see, sounds good

Can review how's the package like? Dollar to dollar match? With accommodation provided and any other perks?

Dollar to dollar for my base is within 10% variance of my last drawn, but there are additional living and commuting allowances as well as loyalty bonuses. Other benefits should be same as regular employees. Should be fairly comfy for one person. In interests of confidentiality I'd rather not reveal the actual range.

Can I use public gym in SG (ActiveGYM/Clubfitt)? I read in ActiveSG website, gym membership is applicable to SGporean & PR only.

This post has been edited by Dagger69: Nov 11 2015, 12:50 PM

mind sharing which industry you belong in?

Engineering

Just saw your tag you're from penang, seems like one of those US firms that operates in penang and singapore as well?

very nice opportunity you have there congrats!

Yup MNC
Thx hope I'll like Singapore

Why worry? Just pay $2 per entry.
I noticed the gym and pool is quite cheap in singapore.

Yup it come with sweat and urine free of charge too.



This post has been edited by Fiona Chin: Nov 11 2015, 02:52 PM

LoL, I only earn peanuts not like you can afford $300 per month membership.

i think there's some law governing this in msia... cant rmb liao... anyone got source of akta?



are you looking for room or whole unit?

i believe you can... public gym dont require membership to use its facilities

Check with your nearest CC la

just a room

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Hi everyone, I am new into Sg and looking into room rental. Came across this situation. Any words of wisdom?

This post has been edited by libragurlshirl: Nov 11 2015, 03:48 PM

I have yet to relocate to Sg, but from the looks of the e-mail, terms and condition, powderful UK Ingrish, the entire conversation and story seems to be very, very fishy. So fishy, that it'll make any wet market blush.

Then again, I have yet to relocate to Sg and I have no experience handling rental. Take my words with spoonful of salt. Or probably a cup.

Oh hey, by the way, congrats!

This post has been edited by simonhtz: Nov 11 2015, 04:05 PM

NONONONONONO. No transfer of money then receive the keys and crap especially to oversea accounts. This is 99.99% scam. Don't do it.

You can get the bunny agent here he will recommend you room with extra services .

Confirm its a scam, better chances getting inheritance from an African prince

about what?



i no do room, only whole units thanks for recommending though

Anyone know what's the average pay for a Finance Manager or Audit Manager in SG?
What's the range for small, medium and large (MNC/Listed) companies?

Personally I found this site quite useful for assessing one's market rate.
Auditing Manager

guys, i remitted an amount from POSB SG to MAYBANK MY and on the POSB side I have confirmation that the remittance is done (this morning) and my account balance has been reduced. However, from the MAYBANK side, the amount is yet to reflect. Normally how long does that take?

Thanks for the confirmation. Luckily I didnt do any transfer. I said I wont place any deposit without viewing and contract. Btw, who is bunny agent?

Between, just asking will the HR in Sg will go check with my current employer in Malaysia?

AlaskanBunny is our resident top agent.

Gym increase to $3.30 already for non-citizen/non-pr since middle of this year..
Still cheaper than private gym though

It depends. If you are earning RM3K and below, mostly won't call. But if you are earning RM3k and above, they will call to verify your salary and performance.

You got something to hide?

Just curious.
The only thing I am going to hide is bad relation with my boss and which affect my performance review. (First job, only sign what the boss is given and found out was not the common practice)

But ald tell the HR main reason for my bad performance review, different ideology, whether get a job doesn't matter me since I am going to fire my current boss when finish the current project.

but is it crowded on weekdays? after working hours? how is it like on the weekends too?

thank you

yeaps.. can be crowded during peak times irregardless of what day

Guys,

Any prepaid/post-paid plan you guys recommend to setup upon arrival to Sg? With my IPA, it is sufficient to get a postpaid plan or prepaid will do just fine?

I'm seeing that I'll probably need 2-3GB of data per month, minimal local calls and probably higher IDD usage calls back to home here in Malaysia.

Any advise is appreciated, thanks!

I got Singtel prepaid on my first day here. They only need my passport.

And then I subscribed to the 30 days 3GB Data Plan for only $20.

This post has been edited by Dagger69: Nov 12 2015, 11:05 AM

Thanks for the input man

Anyone get EP rejected from MOM and apply for appeal? Can share some info?

Alright. I spend at least 5 days every week at the gym so with membership it will be cheaper for me.

Ahh I see. Yea still cheap. 0.70 cheaper than our MY Gym Rakyat

If it is a 3-days a week affair, it would be cheaper than getting a membership?? Damn, gym is cheap over there.

hi there,

better consult your comapny's HR or IT dept first... they might have corporate plan which gives up huge discounts...

Well that depends on the gym's per entry payment vs monthly membership. Based on my experiences with many gyms, it is never worth it to get membership if only 3 days a week. Minimum 4 days

how much is gym membership in sg assuming you take 1 year plan?

s$50-s$200/mth depending on gym.

How many years of exp? 1st year mgr?

is that S**** company just by M*****?

Errr nope don't think so

Stay in a condo that come with free gym? But then the maintainance fee also few hundred.

To all sifu sifu,

I am looking for some advise on transportation back to Malaysia. Preferably a bus to KL area. I always use FirstCoach but it was for holiday. Now that I am working here, I notice that its impossible to book a ticket especially for Friday after work and Sunday evening.

Can someone please advise me?

Thank you !

firstcoach still the best bang for your $$$, you can book online too..

But right now, most of the tickets are sold out. Any other bus provider that I can book online? Or I just have to go to Golden Mile Complex to book one?

Aeroplane?

I tried to look for Malindo and its super expensive. Its priced at SGD100+ one way !
T___T why so expensive wan... haha.