The Ministry of Manpower announced on 26 July 2016 that the qualifying salary for Employment Pass (EP) will be raised from $3,000 to $3,600 starting from 1 January 2017.

The ministry said that he aim for the raise is to keep pace with rising local wages, maintain the quality of the foreign workforce, and enhance the complimentary to the local workforce.

The last update of the minimum qualifying salary update was done in January 2014, from $3,000 to $3,600.

A monthly salary of $3,600 can only be applied to the first time applicants subjected to meeting other criteria on qualifications and experience.

Workers who had more years of experience are required to command higher salaries commensurate with their work experience and skill sets.

MOM will give time to make adjustments. Businesses with pass expires

  1. Before 1 January 2017: Will be able to renew, for a duration of up to three years, based on existing EP criteria.
  2. Between 1 January 2017 and 30 June 2017 (both dates inclusive): Will be able to renew, for a duration of one year, based on the existing EP criteria.
  3. 1 July 2017 onwards: Will have to meet the new criteria for renewal, for a duration of up to three years.

The ministry encouraged employers to use the Self-Assessment Tool on its website to assess if their EP candidates will meet the new salary criteria. The SAT will be updated by November 2016.

Assistant Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), Mr Patrick Tay, said that the change was a “positive move” towards keeping up with the rising median wages of the PMEs (professionals, managers and executives) and to maintain the quality of the foreign workforce.

Earlier on 21 July, The Executive Director of local fashion house, Yen’s Studio Pte Ltd, Yen Ser Ming, was sentenced to a fine for $72,000 in default 18 months imprisonment and the company was barred from hiring any foreign employees for falsifying salaries of her foreign employees.

MOM revealed that Yen had falsely declared the salaries of nine foreign employees to meet the minimum standard of the MOM to apply and renew S Passes between December 2010 and June 2013. Yen also falsely declared the salaries to renew S Passes of the same nine foreign employees in between October 2013 and October 2015. She also applied for two additional employees using the false declaration during the period of time. (read more)

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
You May Also Like

BHRN calls for immediate release of journalists and their drivers over drone use

The Burma Human Rights Network calls for the release of photographer and…

Good Samaritans in Singapore help cancer patient to obtain masks

On Monday (2 March), Redditor mellowminister (MM) updated a post that he…

【选举】反对党五年才露一次面? 余振忠反讥行动党“兼职议员”

余振忠质疑行动党议员之前几乎都是“兼职”选民代表,如何能够将选区每个层面都照顾好,“若真的都照顾好,为何现在需要挨家挨户拜票呢?”。 工人党马林百列区候选人之一余振忠,在脸书帖文,针对他听闻有执政党,批评反对党每五年才出现一次,而执政党已将每个层面都照顾得很好一事,发表看法。 他表示,他相信所有选民代表都有责任照顾自己的选区,而在有反对党参与的市镇会中,更必须全神贯注。他强调,工人党的议员几乎都是全职为选区付出的。该党的所有议员都在基层努力奋斗,很好地照顾所有范围,更保证若该党在马林百列胜出,也会延续服务精神,在市镇会、社区计划和国会中负起百分百责任。 “有行动党议员国会鲜少发言” 他指出,在2011-2015年担任非选区议员期间的纪录可以证明,他是最活跃的议员之一,“本地主流报章确实有报导这份纪录”。而在那之后,他也继续撰写政策,并协助该党的议员们。反观不少行动党后座议员,在为期四、五年的国会中,甚至不曾发言,实在应该自我检讨。 针对“消失”的言论,他认为不少行动党候选人在落选后,就真的“消失”了,有的尾随其他部长转到更容易胜出的选区、有者担任基层领袖(GRAs)、有者则进入选区某些领域工作。 帖文中,他分享了在2011年败选后,曾经执行过的人民拜访、食品分配等亲民和志愿者活动,有居民在今年的竞选活动上,还向他展示了他们的合照。 因此他反问败选的行动党候选人,是否有执行任何亲民且免费的活动。“他们是被付款才执行议员工作。他们甚至不是全职”,更挑战当选议员,可将他们的薪金和工作进行对比。

A Response to Transport Minister on Public Transport System in Singapore

by: Yong SK/ On July 11, 2011, the two major Public Transport…