Singapore Expats

Hi everyone,
have u experienced before changing job while you're using a s-pass..??
does our current company need to write such letter to MOM or another complicated things??

Or just change it easily at MOM to new company?

Thanks in advance

The new company will need to apply for a brand new s-pass. When it is approved, you will need to turn in the old s-pass and collect the new one.

But be very careful as Employers here tend to get upset if you haven't worked but a couple of months on your "S" Pass and may well try to blackball you with MOM so that your new employer is not able to get a pass for you. It does happens. This is not anecdotal evidence, I know this for a fact.

It's not being very fair to an employer when all you are possibly doing is treating it like a paid visa till you find what you are looking for.......

SMS

Hi everyone thanks..

so the conclusion, to get new s-pass from new company, my previous company have to write such a withdrawal letter to MOM?
Why is it so complicated..?
Im still new , in entry level career...
but a few of my friends can get e-pass after 6 months working ... in the same company..
is it possible for me to apply PR?
I've been living here for 5 years, and got my degree from private schooL here?

I think I'd better get PR,... I got some job offer but most of them always ask my residential status....
...

eightyseventhree wrote:Hi everyone thanks..

so the conclusion, to get new s-pass from new company, my previous company have to write such a withdrawal letter to MOM?
Why is it so complicated..?
Im still new , in entry level career...
but a few of my friends can get e-pass after 6 months working ... in the same company..
is it possible for me to apply PR?
I've been living here for 5 years, and got my degree from private schooL here?

I think I'd better get PR,... I got some job offer but most of them always ask my residential status....
...

No, that is not the conclusion at all. You need to read for meaning.

Your new company must apply for an S-pass for you. When you receive you approval in principle, and when your old company terminates you, they must send a letter of termination. If they do not do so, they are in violation of the law.

You can change jobs anytime but note what SMS said... if you attempt to jump from one employer to another after a few months, you may not be treated well.

If you have been in this country for 5 years what has been your status? S-pass all the time? You can only get an E-pass if you meet the salary and education requirements. Do you?

If you have been here legally for 5 years I would certainly apply for PR. But, you leave much unsaid in your posts.

Cheers.

Wow, this forum is very helpful!
I used student pass for 4 years, and its been 5 months holding s-pass.
Is it only an s-pass holder, we can't be free to transfer company, Must ask previous company to write termination letter to MOM.

Yes, few of my friends who get e-pass after six months working because they get e-pass salary.. they work for big company, and get salary increment within 6 months but must sign two years contract.

Regarding PR, I'm not really sure what else requirement we need to get it. but all I know, from my experience during job hunting in Singapore, most company prefer PR/Malaysian to foreigner like me.

Cheers
===

Frankly speaking, if you have been here for 4 years on a student pass, it was probably a government approved school. If you graduated with a degree and have been working for 5 months already, I would apply for PR asap. You will most likely receive it. I don't know what hidden employment agreement you have with your employer regarding bonds (would assume you have something though, knowing most local employers). Once you receive your PR, the company no longer has any hold over you as your only have to turn in your FIN card upon receipt of your Blue NRIC. Nothing is required from the employer in that case.

I got my degree from Private Institution in Singapore,
Erhhmm, what do you mean about ' knowing most local employers'?

I myself still doubt, I hope I can apply PR by my own without involving my current company's signature ,do I have to do so?
or do I need to use PR agency to get my PR asap...?

thanks

eightyseventhree wrote:I got my degree from Private Institution in Singapore,
Erhhmm, what do you mean about ' knowing most local employers'?

I myself still doubt, I hope I can apply PR by my own without involving my current company's signature ,do I have to do so?
or do I need to use PR agency to get my PR asap...?

thanks

My senior applied for PR without any letter from my company. She wrote a letter stating the reason is because my company wanted her to sign a 2 year contract in order to give her the form.

As for you, I think your chances are high. You do not need permission of your company to get a new job.

Your new company has to apply for an S Pass or whatever other pass. AFTER it has been approved, your current company has absolutely no right to stop you from leaving (unless your contract says you cant't leave, in which case that contract itself would be suspicious).

So in simple terms, you do not need any permission from them. Once you quite and take the other job and return your old S Pass, your ex-company will have their own problem if they do not do whatever they have to do - i.e. that's their own business

sundaymorningstaple wrote:But be very careful as Employers here tend to get upset if you haven't worked but a couple of months on your "S" Pass and may well try to blackball you with MOM so that your new employer is not able to get a pass for you. It does happens. This is not anecdotal evidence, I know this for a fact.

It's not being very fair to an employer when all you are possibly doing is treating it like a paid visa till you find what you are looking for.......

SMS

what is the advisable length of time to stay with a company before you get another job to avoid problems with getting a new S Pass? and to avoid the possibility of being blackballed in MOM by your current employer?

Normally the duration of your initial S-Pass If not the duration of the initial S-Pass (some are for 2 years) I would work at least 1 year before moving.. After that, you either renew if you haven't found anything or if you have, just tell the employer you do not want to renew. Unless, as noted, you have applied for and been granted PR. Also as mentioned, you do NOT need your current employer to obtain PR anymore. Although, if they do, it's always more beneficial but it's not hard anymore without it. MOM & ICA have lowered their standards so much now, that virtually anybody will be let in if they are still breathing and can spell their name at least phonetically. Definitely not like the old days before the Financial Meltdown of 1997.

sms

what might be happened if we changed our company before one year or at least 6 months... would we get any problem then?
if yes, how unfair... sumtimes we just not fit with project we're handling not because personal reason, or sumtimes we think our job doesnt get any benefit for our further career?

Thanks

Be thankful they gave you an opportunity to work here in the first place. It's sometimes hard just to get your foot in the door here. Read some of the problems of some of our other posters here before you start whingeing how unfair it is. Had this been 10 years ago, you probably wouldn't have even been allowed to apply let alone have a choice. Having said that, however, with "unfairness" whinge, they ought to give you automatic citizenship as you already have the game down pat. You make your own breaks in this world. If you make your bed lumpy you are the one that will have to sleep in it. What is 6 months in the scheme of your whole life? Especially considering that a misstep could cost you a lot more than just 10K if you burn a bridge and it comes back to haunt you. Think about it.

okay, actually...
I dislike my company since the second months I worked with them...
they always threaten me... finding my mistakes....
and I really wanted to change my company since that time...
i always tried to like them..
...
and now what happened to me.. all I feared has happened...
http://www.singaporeexpats.com/forum/ftopic54734.html

....
why they are so mean to me...

Like I've said before numerous times. If you make your bed lumpy, you have to sleep in it. You have, yourself, said that the contract was confusing. Why did you sign it? Did they tie you up and torture you into signing it? If you didn't understand it then you should have asked questions until you did. If that doesn't work you should have asked for a copy of it to take back so you could study it.

I know what you are going to say.....

"They wouldn't give me any time and said I should sign it now or lose the opportunity." Correct? You should have walked away from them right then. I don't care if you were brought here by an agent from Myanmar or not (was that a good guess?) At the end of the day, YOU signed an agreement and even if you, like the HighNotes5 investors, were just looking at the good, never overlook the detrimental whatif's because just as sure as god (if there is one) made little green apples, it will happen. Employers here are sneaky and underhanded is an understatement. You will almost always come out on the short end of the stick.

Before going to MOM though, be sure there isn't a clause in the contract that can be construed to support the employer as even if you win, you could lose as has been mentioned before.

Good luck. But be careful and treat it as a learning experience.