Singapore Expats

Hello,

I have read several posts from others and appreciate all of your input and help with these such matters.

I need advice as I do not know anyone in Singapore that can help me with this issue.

My boyfriend got a job in Singapore in November. I got a job offer at the end of November and company A applied for an S-Pass for me the beginning of December. Because of the holidays and they did not have quota at the time my pass did not get approved until February 7. During the time of my pass getting delayed and delayed company B approached me and offered me a job. Company B is more a better fit for me personally and mentally and has potential for long term employment where as company A, during the months of waiting showed that they were not a company I wanted to work for/with.

The only time I could schedule a meeting with company A to give them my notice my pass finally got approved. I did not do my medical or activate my pass in anyway, and now they are refusing to cancel and withdrawal my application causing me to have to leave Singapore in the meantime. I have reached out to them several times before I went back to Canada with no communication back. I contacted MOM for advice and they told me that I need to contact them to withdrawal it.

Now I am at risk of loosing my contract with company B as I have been waiting a month for them to put my application in.

What can I do to get my S-Pass canceled with company A? Do I have any rights in court for this matter? Company A has not told me about any agent fees or have spoken to me since I have my notice on February 8. I even gave them the money back for my application fees out of good measure.

Any advice is well appreciated! Thank you!

People here often wonder why employers here are considered crappy. It's because of people like this that the employer hires in good faith only to have the future employee stab them in the back. The employer probably had to give another person a miss because they had already committed themselves to an insincere applicant. When this happens I tend to tell the applicant you brought your woes on yourself. The best part is that IF you manage to get clear of Co. A, Co. B already knows that you have absolutely zero loyalty to anybody so the first sign of a downturn where they have to downsize, guess who may well be the first to go. Before you even get in the door you have already shown your colours.

Good Luck. You can always go down to MOM and they will cancel it for you. It's not recommended but because so many FT (and I use that designation loosely) from a couple of regional 3rd world countries have pulled this crap, there are lots of burned employers who have said it's payback time so MOM will take that into consideration. Potential employers who have been burned tend to try to blackball people who do this stuff, but it doesn't stick at MOM. But it's a small country and the grapevine is pretty fast.

sundaymorningstaple wrote:People here often wonder why employers here are considered crappy. It's because of people like this that the employer hires in good faith only to have the future employee stab them in the back. The employer probably had to give another person a miss because they had already committed themselves to an insincere applicant. When this happens I tend to tell the applicant you brought your woes on yourself. The best part is that IF you manage to get clear of Co. A, Co. B already knows that you have absolutely zero loyalty to anybody so the first sign of a downturn where they have to downsize, guess who may well be the first to go. Before you even get in the door you have already shown your colours.

Good Luck. You can always go down to MOM and they will cancel it for you. It's not recommended but because so many FT (and I use that designation loosely) from a couple of regional 3rd world countries have pulled this crap, there are lots of burned employers who have said it's payback time so MOM will take that into consideration. Potential employers who have been burned tend to try to blackball people who do this stuff, but it doesn't stick at MOM. But it's a small country and the grapevine is pretty fast.

Thank you for your response.

My decision was not made halfheartedly and I knew it would result in a character assumption made of me.

I do appreciate the honesty and insight into the culture that exists here. Was looking to see if I had any options as I have not been through a situation like this before.

Grateful for you taking the time to respond.

I was in your shoes once. I got Epass on Comp A. and while waiting (2 months) company B made a better offer. better this, better that blah blah blah. I still stick with company A.

You see getting approval from MOM wasn't easy. It took almost 2 months. And at that time the money, the environment doesn't really matter. ITS SINGAPORE! you make the best outta the worst. Life is about chances. Now you have the chance. what if MOM decided not to approve your pass on Comp B? who knows.

With company A, proving my loyalty they also trained me, molded me and finally I was able to get PR here.

All I can say is, it is your choice. make it a good one! God bless and good luck.

As for the pass cancel, I suggest you speak with your company. All else fails go to MOM. either way I think you have an IPA right? 2 months it will expire and if Comp B really wants you they will wait.

you all just need to know the trick. Do not tell current company in any way/resign until you get your new pass with new company approved (IPA). Does this sound too difficult?
you just need to tell MOM to cancel a pass, tell them that company doesn’t want to cancel it, period.