Why the 'dignity' benchmark for NSmen wages should be S$3000 p.m. today.

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Why the 'dignity' benchmark for NSmen wages should be at least S$3000 p.m. today.

Why the 'dignity' benchmark for NSmen wages should be at least S$3000 p.m. today.
... Since the 'dignity' benchmark of the MICA Minister is that of media CEOs so that even media CEOs will sit up and listen... And because $3000 p.m. is the MINIMUM WAGE for a foreigner PMET to live BETTER than a Singaporean (priority for jobs (employer saves 17% CPF payment)), wife can do Singaporean jobs without need for work permit levy, employer CPF 17% surcharge etc (dependent's pass privilege (just obtain MOM 'letter of consent'))

From thread(HWZ): [Letter to Today] NS a duty, not a job — thus no ‘salary’: Mindef
How much to pay?
How much is enough?

According to this PAP coat-tail/walkovers MP Lim Wee Kiak , "If the annual salary of the Minister of Information, Communication and Arts is only $500,000, it may pose some problems when he discuss policies with media CEOs who earn millions of dollars because they need not listen to the minister's ideas and proposals. Hence, a reasonable payout will help to maintain a bit of dignity."

Already Singaporean PMETs are prejudiced against by HR/ employers because foreigner PMETs can be obtained at 17% reduced labour cost and 25% more take home pay value if U discount employer and employee CPF contribution respectively. (Ref: Local PMEs don't have it easy)

Thus, I would like to suggest that NSmen salary /benifit scales be pegged to the minimum foreigner PMET salary that qualifies them for (a levy free) EP. Foreigner EP holders shouldn't get more previledges than Singaporeans (the spouse of whom can get a 'dependent's pass' and work WITHOUT NEED TO PAY ANY LEVY), and such benchmark, in PAP MP Lim Wee Kiak's words: would surely afford Singaporean NSmen some "dignity".

Surely, the minimum wage of EP holders qualifying to be treated BETTER than Singaporeans should be the benchmark for the minimum wage of the NSman. Singaporean PMETs have long lost their dignity to foreigner EP holders doing PMET with govt policy mandated savings for companies. Singaporeans should not thus have to further lose their dignity through NS. 'Dignity' wages are but a stop gap solution I am proposing to the serious problem of foreigner PMETs being more welcomed than locals in the first place.

The current 'undignified' wages that NSmen are being paid:

[Chart: Singapore NS allowances from April2012 onwards.]

"If the annual salary of the Minister of Information, Communication and Arts is only $500,000, it may pose some problems when he discuss policies with media CEOs who earn millions of dollars because they need not listen to the minister's ideas and proposals. Hence, a reasonable payout will help to maintain a bit of dignity."
- MP Lim Wee Kiak apologises for comments on pay

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Local PMEs don't have it easy
Published on May 31, 2014 1:22 AM
I REFER to the report ("MPs want more protection, support for local PMEs"; Tuesday)
When I was the general manager of a local IT company and, subsequently, a financial controller for a Dutch multinational corporation, I preferred hiring foreign mid-level staff for the following reasons:
- The company did not need to pay CPF contributions for them;
- Their salary expectations were lower than Singaporeans'; and
- Their skill sets and experiences were on a par with those of Singaporeans.
The total cost differential between local and foreign professionals, managers and executives (PMEs) was 20 to 40 per cent.
An Asian foreign employee with a degree and work experience can easily afford a city apartment and family sedan in his home country if he makes $200,000 during his stint here.
In Singapore, $200,000 would allow a Singaporean with the same qualifications to buy only a three-room HDB flat in outlying regions like Woodlands or Jurong. A family car would set him back by $120,000.
An Asian foreigner's cost of living back home is so much lower than ours. Hence, he is more willing to work for $3,000 to $5,000 a month. But a Singaporean graduate earning $4,000 a month will be trying to keep up with inflation.
It does not make sense that a foreign PME working here has a bright future, while his Singaporean counterparts are struggling with their living expenses, unless they are in strong sectors like banking and health care, where pay is high.
A levy is imposed when one hires a maid, but there is no such tax for hiring foreign PMEs. No wonder foreign PMEs were replacing local ones at an increasing rate until tighter restrictions were imposed last year.
At the moment, the local PME retrenchment rate is still high as employers are hiring foreigners for the cost savings.
Over the medium to long term, this will weaken Singapore's economy as local PMEs will become structurally unemployed as they lose their skills and employability.
Lim Kay Soon
Local PMEs don't have it easy

Employment Pass (P1, P2, Q1)
Employment Passes are for hiring foreign professionals, managers and specialists
What Are The Criteria?
There are 3 categories of Employment Passes: P and Q.
For all Employment Passes, there are no restrictions on the nationality of the foreign employee.
The criteria for each category are in the table below:
Category Sub-Category Criteria Basic Monthly Salary
P1 Holds a professional, managerial or specialist job At least S$8,000
P2 Acceptable tertiary qualification/ Holds a professional, managerial or specialist job, At least S$4,500
Q1. Acceptable tertiary qualification, Holds a professional, managerial or specialist job, At least S$3,000

What Are The Privileges?
Dependant's Pass
P1, P2 and Q1 Employment Pass holders can apply the pass for their spouse and children (under the age of 21).

Long-Term Social Visit Pass
P1 and P2 Employment Pass holders can apply the pass for the following:
parents (for P1 holders only)
step children under the age of 21, spouse, handicapped children aged above 21

What Levies Do I Need To Pay
There is no Foreign Worker Levy for Employment Pass holders.
As the employer, you have to pay Skills Development Levy (SDL) for Employment Pass holders.

Is There A Quota?
There is no dependency ceiling for Employment Pass. You can apply for any number of Employment Passes.

Where Do I Apply?
You need to apply to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
EnterpriseOne - Employment Pass (P1, P2, Q1)

Dependent's pass holders (spouse of EP) can get Singaporean jobs, no levy needed, employer 17% CPF surcharge waived even...

In any case, IRAS, Singapore's chief Tax Agency defines NSmen allowance as income (parents also cannot claim child relief (QCR)) , so no reason why NSmen do not deserve 'dignity' for the duty they perform:
PS: NSmen if fail IPPT need to do 20sessions of remedial training. Minister when make mistakes is called "policy shift", or if at all: " honest mistake"...
After 12 or more years of "world class", every school a good school) education, 50yrs of nation building, no reason to need to kowtow to foreigner PMET by submitting our hard earned priviledges to them. Foreigner PMET should also be made to pay levy just like work permit holders; if anything, to match NSmen salary with the lowest ranking foreigner PMET. And we're talking about benchmarking a minimum wage here dear...
Employers hiring locals have to pay a CPF levy of 17% (employer CPF contribution), yet employers of foreigners pay zero employers levy. Where then can local PMETs find their dignity?
Has voting for PAP as the N Koreans vote for Kim Jong En (100%) in DPRK become a duty too in modern day Singapore???!!!