E-Guide To The Employment of Foreign Manpower. Vincent Gabriel

The Singapore economy has undergone drastic changes. There is less and less of the traditional activities. A simple example is that Singapore has lost its place as the No. 1 port, yet Singapore remains a shipping and maritime hub.<br><br>Europeans find Singapore a convenient connection to the fast growing business opportunities of China and India and now Burma (also called Myanmar).<br><br>India and Burma represent the new frontier opportunities &mdash; What China was two decades ago of underpriced assets and a labour force willing to put in the effort.<br><br>Amidst this background the Singaporean worker Gen X vintage is rewarded according to his/her performance. The old cap on wages has been jettisoned. The gap between the average high performer who earns $50,00 and the cleaner who earns $850 is too great to be acceptable.<br><br>Drastic steps are being taken to bring the definition of low wage to be not less than a $1,000 a month. Creative steps are being undertaken by the government, the labour movement and employees to train and to do whatever is needed to bring up and maintain that wage level.<br><br>This means that foreigners on work permits should not be brought in, as they tend to cause wages to fall unless these foreigners earn at least $1,300 a month.<br><br>The relationship between foreigners on work passes and Singaporean workers (at these entry levels) is a love-hate relationship. On the one hand Singapore love to have &quot;maids&quot; (FDWs), marine contractors, labourers, healthcare workers, but on the other hand the &#39;S&#39; pass holders, the EP holders, who compete with tertiary-educated Singaporean at entry levels the relationship is not so receptive. Young graduates must be given <br>a chance to enter the workforce.<br><br>This book explains the employment regulations of hiring foreign manpower in Singapore and teaches how you the employer can comply with the Singapore labour laws.