Singapore, Abroad Study

Physical location:

Singapore is an island city state located at the southern most tip of Peninsula Malaysia The main island of Singapore is 42 k.m. from the east to west and 23 k.m. from north to south. The total land area is 647.5 square k.m. Average daily temperature is a maximum of 30.8 degrees C in the afternoon and the minimum is 23 degrees C. just before dawn . Average daily relative humidity is 84.4 % .

Population:

Total population: 4.1852m (2003) 4.2403m (2004 mid-year estimate)

Resident population : 3.4373m (2003) 3.4869m (2004 mid-year estimate)

Singapore's population as at year 2000 is 4.0 million including 754,524 non residents which makes up 18.8% . In 1996 the number of foreigners was 560,000 or about 15% of the population. This figure was 10% or 300,000 in 1990. The Singapore population is expected to reach 5.5. million by 2040 or 2050. Although the total fertility rate has been below the 2.1 figure needed for the population to replace itself the large influx of foreigners has led to faster than expected population growth. Singapore needed 56,400 babies each year just to replace itself. Singapore needs more foreigners to sustain economic growth as it cannot produce enough people for the work force each year. Between 12 - 15% of Singapore's GDP stemmed from the contribution of foreign workers.

Based on 1996 figures for foreigners, Westerners ( Americans, British, Germans and French) make up about 32,000 while Hongkongers number 24,000. There are about 80,000 Filipinos, 70,000 Thais, 20,000 Sri Lankans and 300,000 Malaysians, Indians, Indonesians and Chinese Nationals. The working age limit for foreigners is 16-50 years (minimum 18 years for maids which will be raised to 23 years on 1/1/05) but foreign domestic helpers may continue to work up to 60 years old. The retirement age for Singaporeans is 62 years so EP and S Pass holder may work until this age limit

78.6% lived in HDB Flats, 7.9% in Private Apartments and 6.3% in Private Houses. Of those living in HDB housing 21.4% lived in 5 rooms & executive flats, 29.5% in 4 room flats and 22.9% in 3 room flats.

Foreign Worker's Policy:

The philosophy of the Foreign Worker's Policy is to maintain a controlled and revolving pool of foreign workers to supplement the local workforce due a a declining birth rate, aging population, fast economic growth and Singaporeans shunning dirt, dangerous and demeaning type of work. The approved sources for foreign workers for Singapore Work Permits issued by the Ministry of Manpower includes South Korea, Taiwan, People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, Macao, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines There is no nationality restrictions to work in Singapore under Singapore Employment Pass or S Pass issued by Singapore Ministry of Manpower. There are about 560,000 foreign workers in Singapore.

English language is the official government administrative language and hence all documents to be submitted for official matters to ICA or MOM must have English translations .

New Jobs

40,000 new jobs must be created every year because 56,000 people enter the labour market and 16,000 leave it every year. Among the jobs seekers are 10,400 fresh graduates from the 2 local universities, 13,500 from the 4 local polytechnics, 5,000 ITE graduates and about 10,000 retrenched workers seeking re-employment. Local university graduates usually enter the job market in May or June same as UK and USA. Australian graduates finish in July or December. About 45000 jobs will be created each year for the next 5 years if the Singapore economy grows steadily at 5% a year. The shift is to knowledge-based activities.

The annual job growth will be fastest in:

Business services 8,800
Financial intermediation 5,900
Computer related activities 4,700
Transport & logistics 4,000
Education 2,800
Health care 2,300
Wholesale trade 1,900
Petroleum & chemicals 1,400
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Medical Examination for Foreign Workers Foreign Students & SPR

Medical Examination is required for foreigners who applied and obtained in-principle approval for WP, S Pass, Employment Passes of 6 month's duration or more, Long Term Immigration Passes and Permanent Residence. The Medical Report from a Singapore registered doctor should be submitted in person by the applicant. Issuance of the Student Passes, Work Permits, S Passes. Employment Passes, PR will be subjected to the outcome of the medical report. We can arrange for your full medical exam ready for next 2-3 days collection for about S$46 or express service same day / next day collection for S$60. Call Steve 65-98365486 to make arrangements

Work Permit Holders

The Employment of Foreign Workers Act defines a foreign worker as one who is not a citizen of Singapore and who seeks employment with, or is offered employment by, or is in the employment of, an employer at a salary of not more than S$2000 a month. A foreign worker with a basic pay of S$2500 or below needs a Work Permit from the Controller of Work Permits before coming to Singapore. The WP is normally issued for 2 years basis.

Click here for assistance in employing a Malaysian worker at a lower levy rate of S$80 if the worker has completed at least a Full Malaysian Form 4 School leaving Certificate.

Foreign Domestic Workers

There are about 150,000 domestic workers in Singapore of which about 75,000 are Filipinas. WEF 1/1/05 the minimum age limit will be at least 23 years + 8 years of formal education & must pass a compulsory English test within 3 days of arrival.

Employment Pass Holders

An Employment Pass is a must for a qualified or skilled foreign professional who may be employed if his Singapore employer can pay him or her a basic monthly salary of S$2501 or more (wef 1st Dec 2001) Applications to Singapore Ministry of Manpower should be supported by certified copies of academic or professional qualifications, working testimonials and reasons why a foreigner is required for the job. EPs are generally issued for 1 to 3 years.

In 1996 50,000 of the 560,000 foreigners in Singapore are Employment Pass Holders who have tertiary or professional qualifications or are paid at least S$2001 basic salary a month. The inflow of EP holders over the past few years is about 2,000 a year but with the Singapore Government's policy of attracting top talents from around the world number of EP applications may rise.

Dependent Pass holders require only a Letter of Consent from the Employment Pass Department of Ministry of Manpower to work in Singapore if the salary is S$2501 or more . The DP holder has to apply for a Work Permit at the Work Permit Dept if the salary is less than S$2500

Professional Visit Pass Holders

Professional Visit Passes are required by foreign artistes and professionals taking up short-term assignments in Singapore. Foreigners on short term assignments would not need these passes unless they are entering Singapore to conduct or attend forums of a racial, communal, religious, caused-related or political nature. Foreign religious workers here to give talks, foreign journalists in Singapore to write or cover an event and those performing at night-clubs and lounges must also apply for work passes. Where appropriate a foreigner would have to apply for a public entertainment licence if his activities or performance is carried out in public.

Student's Pass Holders

It is an offence under the Singapore Immigration Regulations for a foreign student to attend school without a valid student pass. A foreign student seeking admission to a kindergarten, private school or an institution of higher learning e.g. university or polytechnic should approach them directly for admission. Donation to the Education Fund of the Ministry of Education is not required for admission to a kindergarten, private school or institute of higher learning. In 1995 38,383 student passes were issued by Immigration and Checkpoint Authority of Singapore. The present foreign student enrolment in Singapore is about 50,000. This figure is likely to grow by 3 times in the near future to 150,000

English , Computer Science, and MBA courses are favourite subjects of study by foreign nationals. The local sponsor for the application for a student's pass can be a Singapore citizen, Singapore P.R. or the school or institute where the applicant intends to study. The following documentation are required for a student pass application: letter of acceptance from the school, travel documents, identity card of local sponsor, birth certificate, educational certificates, parent's marriage certificate. The local sponsor should furnish a security bond for the amount of S$5,000 for students from the P.R.C. India, Bangladesh & Burma. For other countries the Security bond is between S$1000 to S$1500. Under a recent ICA ruling PRC students aged 19 years and below can submit their application for STP directly to ICA in Singapore without having to go through via the Singapore High Commission in Beijing

Singapore Laws

Foreigners working, living or visiting Singapore are subject to Singapore laws. Singaporeans and foreigners are accorded the same protection under Singapore Laws. The trafficking and possession of illicit narcotic drugs carries the mandatory death sentence. Overstaying or entering illegally in Singapore is a serious offence and on conviction the penalties may include mandatory imprisonment and caning. Employers hiring illegal workers are also severely punished with huge fines plus possible caning for repeat offenders.

Examples of Some Offences and their Penalties

Drunkenness in public place - Imprisonment of up to 1 month or fine up to S$1000
Making false police report - Imprisonment of up to 6 months or fine up to S$1000 or both
Theft - Imprisonment of between 3 to 7 years or fine or both
Overstaying - Imprisonment of up to 6 months or fine up to S$4,000 or both. Caning of not less than 3 strokes and imprisonment of up to 6 months if overstayed beyond 90 days
Drug trafficking or murder - death sentence
Illegal workers fine up to S$5000 or to imprisonment up to 1 year or both
Foreign workers who moonlight while holding work permits will face a fine of up to S$5000 and be barred from future employment.
Anyone caught employing foreigners without a valid work permit will be charged in court even if that foreigner has entered into Singapore legally as a Student or as a Social Visitor e.g. tourist. The first time offender faces a minimum fine of up to 24 months of foreign worker's levy and a maximum fine of up to 48 months levy for each illegal worker employed or to imprisonment of up to 1 year or both. For the second or repeat conviction the penalty will be a mandatory jail sentence of 1 to 12 months in addition to the above fines.
Those found guilty of employing over stayers / illegal immigrants face a jail sentence of 6 months to 2 years and a fine of up to S$6000 plus compulsory caning if he employs more than 5 immigration offenders as workers.

Application for Singapore Permanent Residence & Citizenship

Singaporeans & Foreign Spouses

Immigration rules have been relaxed to allow Singaporean women who marry foreigners to bring in their husbands. From 2nd Jan 1999 Singaporean woman can sponsor her foreign husband for PR so long as the family has the means to support itself. Foreigners who have ever work in Singapore under Work Permit scheme must obtained the prior written approval of MOM before contracting a marriage with any Singaporean or SPR. Failure to adhere to this MOM ruling can cause the offending party to be barred from entering into Singapore.

Singapore Income Tax Liability for Foreigners

As long as you work in Singapore either on Work Permit or Employment Pass or Professional Visit Pass , your earnings will be taxed in Singapore unless ........ The employee is responsible to pay his or her income tax to the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore. Personal income tax are levied at progressive rates