Singapore is a thriving economy but not a mature one, which has forced the Singapore government to look outside its borders to overcome deficiencies. Even as Singapore plans to tighten immigration in 2014, the outlook for foreign works is still very favorable. With that in mind, here are some of the biggest benefits that Singapore provides to foreign working professionals.
S-Pass Work Permit
The S-Pass work permit is the documentation that a foreign worker requires in order to work legally in the country. In countries like the U.S. and U.K., such documentation can take weeks and sometimes months to process. In Singapore, however, if a foreign worker has the skills and/or experience needed there is an accelerated process that allows the worker to achieve his/her S-Pass in hours.
Fast, Simple Visa Process
Since Singapore has embraced the travel industry, most travellers can get a visa within days and many even sooner than that. However, Singapore has a special program set up for foreign workers that accelerates the process. In fact, if necessary, workers can apply for both the S-Pass and the visa at the same time and have them approved in a side-by-side fashion.
Job Placement
Singapore also has government-sponsored job placement services for people who have the skills and experience needed in the country. That office will work alongside a foreign worker’s staffing solution company in order to ensure that he/she finds a position in a timely manner and that it is a position at a pay level that is comparable to what would be earned abroad.
Tax Benefits
The Singapore government also offers a wide range of tax benefits to foreign individuals and foreign businesses as a form of enticement. Foreign workers will often pay several percentage points less than the norm, and the tax breaks are particularly friendly if the worker is required to pay taxes at home as well. In addition to straight-up discounts, there are tax breaks for savings, business expenses, travel expenditures and so forth.
Higher Wages and Benefits
Foreign workers are often able to achieve wages and benefit packages that are not only above local averages but better than what they would be able to achieve at home. The main reason for this is that the Singapore government also provides tax breaks to Singapore businesses that pay foreign workers well.
Living Accommodations
When you search for Singapore jobs @Recruit Plus, you’ll often notice that living accommodations are included or subsidized. This is also a matter of tax benefits as well as government-sponsored programs. Since finding a new home can be a stressful process, the Singapore government does this in order to ease the transition into the country and make the process more inviting.
Protection Under the Law
Compared to countries like the U.S. and U.K., worker protection laws are not quite as a robust. However, the Singapore government has enacted laws that ensure that foreign workers are treated in a way that is customary in their home country. In other words, there’s no fear of having to work 16-hour days.