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Since 2007! See how ridiculously desperate the FAP has been in trying to replace SGs to perpetuate their own power?! And how silly the 60% are in continuing to vote for them BLINDLY!
[h=2]Premium Employment Pass: Salary was only $34,000 a year?[/h]
November 7th, 2012 |
Author: Contributions
Leong Sze Hian
I refer to the article “MOM tightens criteria for premium employment passes” (Channel NewsAsia, Nov 7).
It states that “Starting next month, foreign professionals applying for a personalised employment pass (PEP) – which among other things, allows them to stay here continuously for six months while being unemployed – will have to meet more stringent criteria that includes a minimum annual fixed salary of S$144,000, up four-fold from the existing S$34,000 a year.
The validity of PEPs – which are non-renewable – will also be reduced from five years to three years.
The new criteria was put up recently on the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) website. The MOM said that the changes ensure that the PEP “remains a premium pass for top-tier foreign talent working in Singapore and is in line with recent moves to raise the quality of Employment Pass holders”.
I would like to applaud the MOM for further tightening the foreign labour policy.
$34,000 – “a premium pass for top-tier foreign talent”
However, I would like to take issue with creating and letting in this category of foreign workers all these years – How can a yearly salary of just $34,000 be called “a premium pass for top-tier foreign talent”? This monthly salary of just $2,615 is only about what a fresh graduate from the three local universities earn when they graduate.
Cheaper, better, faster than PMETs?
So, is it any wonder that so many Singaporean Professionals, Managers, Engineers and Technicians (PMETs) have been struggling competing against such “low-pay premium foreign talents”, who may be more experienced and qualified. but willing to work for relatively much lower pay?
Work for even lower pay?
As to “Those who are not eligible under the revised PEP criteria can continue to work and live in Singapore on an Employment Pass or S Pass, subject to the prevailing assessment criteria,” she (MOM spokesman) added”, this may lead to even fiercer competition with Singaporeans, as some may accept as little as $2,000 under the S-Pass in order to remain in Singapore.
Consequently, it may become even harder for Singaporean PMETs to compete in a slowing economy.
Jobs that we want?
I find some of new foreign labour policy and changes to be quite illogical. For example, why are we refusing to renew work permits when they expire (whilst letting in new permits in the same jobs at perhaps lower pay), in very low-pay jobs which most Singaporeans do not want, and yet at the same time allow “premium foreign talent” to stay for as little as $2,000 pay and take away jobs that most Singaporeans want?
Playing field worsen?
With regard to “The changes could come at a time when there is greater clamour for a PEP, he noted. “The fact that foreigners have to leave the country within a month of their Employment Pass ceasing, encourages a lot of people to apply for PEPs, particularly in the currently uncertain outlook,” Mr Hides added”, this may make the playing field even more unlevel against Singaporeans, as most employers may prefer to employ foreigners because they are stuck under the typical two-year contract with the same employer.
In this connection, the irony may perhaps be that PEPs being able to change employers, may actually make the playing field more level vis-a-vis Singaporeans, relative to Employment Pass holders.
Accept lower pay to stay in Singapore?
If you are an unemployed or under-employed PMET, I think you may face even harder times going forward, as some of the current 12,000 PEPs may be willing to and under pressure to work for lesser pay in order to remain in Singapore under an Employment Pass or S-Pass, as the 31 December, 2014 deadline approaches for them to qualify under PEP at an annual salary of $144,000 against the current $34,000.
In a sense, it is likely that the pressure for current PEPs to accept a much lower paying job may increase once the 31 December, 2014 passes, as they would then have only six months left to get a job to remain in Singapore.
Foreigners downgrading?
If we allow foreigners to downgrade from PEP to E-Pass to S-Pass or for that matter if it is allowed to Work Permit in order to continue to stay in Singapore, we may be making things worse for Singaporeans, particularly PMETs, as they may simply end up being willing to work for lesser pay.
.
Leong Sze Hian
Leong Sze Hian is the Past President of the Society of Financial Service Professionals, an alumnus of Harvard University, Wharton Fellow, SEACeM Fellow and an author of 4 books. He is frequently quoted in the media. He has also been invited to speak more than 100 times in 25 countries on 5 continents. He has served as Honorary Consul of Jamaica, Chairman of the Institute of Administrative Management, and founding advisor to the Financial Planning Associations of Brunei and Indonesia. He has 3 Masters, 2 Bachelors degrees and 13 professional qualifications. He blogs at http://www.leongszehian.com.
[h=2]Premium Employment Pass: Salary was only $34,000 a year?[/h]
I refer to the article “MOM tightens criteria for premium employment passes” (Channel NewsAsia, Nov 7).
It states that “Starting next month, foreign professionals applying for a personalised employment pass (PEP) – which among other things, allows them to stay here continuously for six months while being unemployed – will have to meet more stringent criteria that includes a minimum annual fixed salary of S$144,000, up four-fold from the existing S$34,000 a year.
The validity of PEPs – which are non-renewable – will also be reduced from five years to three years.
The new criteria was put up recently on the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) website. The MOM said that the changes ensure that the PEP “remains a premium pass for top-tier foreign talent working in Singapore and is in line with recent moves to raise the quality of Employment Pass holders”.
I would like to applaud the MOM for further tightening the foreign labour policy.
$34,000 – “a premium pass for top-tier foreign talent”
However, I would like to take issue with creating and letting in this category of foreign workers all these years – How can a yearly salary of just $34,000 be called “a premium pass for top-tier foreign talent”? This monthly salary of just $2,615 is only about what a fresh graduate from the three local universities earn when they graduate.
Cheaper, better, faster than PMETs?
So, is it any wonder that so many Singaporean Professionals, Managers, Engineers and Technicians (PMETs) have been struggling competing against such “low-pay premium foreign talents”, who may be more experienced and qualified. but willing to work for relatively much lower pay?
Work for even lower pay?
As to “Those who are not eligible under the revised PEP criteria can continue to work and live in Singapore on an Employment Pass or S Pass, subject to the prevailing assessment criteria,” she (MOM spokesman) added”, this may lead to even fiercer competition with Singaporeans, as some may accept as little as $2,000 under the S-Pass in order to remain in Singapore.
Consequently, it may become even harder for Singaporean PMETs to compete in a slowing economy.
Jobs that we want?
I find some of new foreign labour policy and changes to be quite illogical. For example, why are we refusing to renew work permits when they expire (whilst letting in new permits in the same jobs at perhaps lower pay), in very low-pay jobs which most Singaporeans do not want, and yet at the same time allow “premium foreign talent” to stay for as little as $2,000 pay and take away jobs that most Singaporeans want?
Playing field worsen?
With regard to “The changes could come at a time when there is greater clamour for a PEP, he noted. “The fact that foreigners have to leave the country within a month of their Employment Pass ceasing, encourages a lot of people to apply for PEPs, particularly in the currently uncertain outlook,” Mr Hides added”, this may make the playing field even more unlevel against Singaporeans, as most employers may prefer to employ foreigners because they are stuck under the typical two-year contract with the same employer.
In this connection, the irony may perhaps be that PEPs being able to change employers, may actually make the playing field more level vis-a-vis Singaporeans, relative to Employment Pass holders.
Accept lower pay to stay in Singapore?
If you are an unemployed or under-employed PMET, I think you may face even harder times going forward, as some of the current 12,000 PEPs may be willing to and under pressure to work for lesser pay in order to remain in Singapore under an Employment Pass or S-Pass, as the 31 December, 2014 deadline approaches for them to qualify under PEP at an annual salary of $144,000 against the current $34,000.
In a sense, it is likely that the pressure for current PEPs to accept a much lower paying job may increase once the 31 December, 2014 passes, as they would then have only six months left to get a job to remain in Singapore.
Foreigners downgrading?
If we allow foreigners to downgrade from PEP to E-Pass to S-Pass or for that matter if it is allowed to Work Permit in order to continue to stay in Singapore, we may be making things worse for Singaporeans, particularly PMETs, as they may simply end up being willing to work for lesser pay.
.
Leong Sze Hian
Leong Sze Hian is the Past President of the Society of Financial Service Professionals, an alumnus of Harvard University, Wharton Fellow, SEACeM Fellow and an author of 4 books. He is frequently quoted in the media. He has also been invited to speak more than 100 times in 25 countries on 5 continents. He has served as Honorary Consul of Jamaica, Chairman of the Institute of Administrative Management, and founding advisor to the Financial Planning Associations of Brunei and Indonesia. He has 3 Masters, 2 Bachelors degrees and 13 professional qualifications. He blogs at http://www.leongszehian.com.
