Singapore Expats

Are S/W developer considered Professionals?? Are they covered by the Singapore Employment Act?

If they are "professional" I suppose they are. But I doubt if MOM sees it that way. Professionals would be doctors, lawyers, nutritionists, Financial Gurus, etc., etc.

If they earn over 2K/month, no, they are not covered under the Employment Act. So you have to negotiate in your contract.

Exactly, I thought Professionals are lawyers and doctors. But when I called MOM the officer enquired if I require any special skill to perform my job?
So if that is how they define Professionals then all are Professionals as s/w development require programming skills, accountants require financial skills and so on..
Weird that the Mom officer didn't know if s/w engineer/developer are considered Professionals.

Why the constraint on 2000$??? I didn't see that on MOM website?

Wrong.

However, with regard to The Employment Act, MOM sometimes uses their own definitions. What ever is expedient at the time. The definition is different when applied to the Employment Act versus Occupational Roles.

Professionals are those who have to gain national certification in their fields before they can practice. A software developer needs absolutely no certification at all in order to practice his craft. He is a tradesman, not a professional, just like a brick layer, or carpenter.

http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/non_version/ ... oyment Act

This is what the book says (professional[pro'fes·sion·al || prə'feʃnl]
adj. pertaining to a profession, of a skilled occupation; working in one of the skilled occupations ) Doesn't mention doctors, or accountants.

Professional only relates to the skilled occupation, though the degree of the skill required must play a role i should imagine.

SMS you are a diver your skill set would qualify you as a professional diver, through the certification process.

I recall a mechanic signing my passport photographs, as a professional which was accepted at the time. So i guess the word is different to everyone.

I certainly have my doubts of many professionals and/or experts, though that is another matter.

Though some form of certification is needed be it diploma, degree, course certificate. A professional soldier is a professional soldier, no matter how good they are at the job, providing they qualify.

You have to be recognised by some authorising body, I should imagine.

A self taught developer is not skilled until he qualifies. though it's a misconception to believe it's only doctors, lawyers and accountants though i guess some people can debate that, until the cows come home.

You gave me a good laugh this afternoon, ksl, I have to admit that. The thought that divers are professionals in the sense of the word that pertains to MOM has to be the best laugh I've had for a while. A diver is nothing but a tradesman who uses a very different mode of transportation to get to the job site every day. (The helmet & airhose is our taxi) People who have professions (granted POV) are considerably different than just holding a job. A professional is different than a journeyman or tradesman. But as usual you want to split hairs, so I'll let you run with it even though you know what I'm saying. But, you aren't helping the poor sod asking the question though.



Have a Merry Xmas

sundaymorningstaple wrote:You gave me a good laugh this afternoon, ksl, I have to admit that. The thought that divers are professionals in the sense of the word that pertains to MOM has to be the best laugh I've had for a while. A diver is nothing but a tradesman who uses a very different mode of transportation to get to the job site every day. (The helmet & airhose is our taxi) People who have professions (granted POV) are considerably different than just holding a job. A professional is different than a journeyman or tradesman. But as usual you want to split hairs, so I'll let you run with it even though you know what I'm saying. But, you aren't helping the poor sod asking the question though.



Have a Merry Xmas

I knew I would get a good laugh out of you, it's that time of the year for laughter and joy Merry Christmas!