Employment and search for current vacancies in Singapore in 2021

Economic situation in the country

Singapore is a highly developed post-industrial country with a per capita GDP of $85,000 per year. Today it is one of the largest financial centers and transport hubs in Asia.

Despite the fact that Singapore is inferior to Tokyo and Hong Kong in terms of trading volume on the stock exchange, thanks to more liberal financial legislation, this country has become a regional leader in the number of IT companies registered in it.

The inflation rate in the country does not exceed 0.6%, annual GDP growth is at 3.5%.

Among the countries of Southeast Asia, tiny Singapore has long been considered the most developed state. And not only in terms of income, but also in many other indicators:

• almost total absence of corruption,
• infrastructure level,
• stable economy.

Accordingly, working in Singapore can be a very profitable option for employing foreign specialists, including from Russia and the CIS.

Economic situation

Singapore is one of the Asian countries gradually striving to take a leading economic position in the world. Although essentially a city-state and having a very modest size, Singapore nevertheless occupies an important position in its region and the world. In the ranking of world economic development by GDP level, Singapore took 40th place in 2019. The country's unemployment rate is quite low at 2.2%. And the average salary, equal to $4,000, is acceptable compared to prices for housing and personal services.

There are few basic taxes for residents of the country

• for wages;
• at a profit.

Pros of work

• high salaries;
• opportunity for rapid business development;
• easy to find a suitable vacancy;
• low taxes.

Disadvantage of work

In Singapore, it is difficult to get a work visa.

The Singapore market offers many high-paying jobs, but with quite tough competition.

In-demand professions in Singapore

Citizens who are planning to look for any low-skilled jobs in Singapore will be disappointed. Similar vacancies are successfully filled by neighbors from the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia.

The Singapore government is interested in attracting experienced specialists in the following profiles:

• IT masters;
• programmers;
• medical workers: doctors and nurses;
• web developers and website designers;
• engineers;
• teachers;
• office managers;
• establishment managers;
• auto mechanics;
• biochemists;
• service sector: waiters, customer service managers;
• dishwashers, cleaners, laborers (the lowest paid professions).

Local employers offer salaries of S$500–24,000. 1 SGD is approximately equal to 40-50 rubles.

Important! To get a good salary, you need to choose highly qualified vacancies.

Investments

You can obtain permanent residence after two years of residence in Singapore by investing SGD 2.5 million . Money can be invested in both business and commercial real estate. In the latter case, it can be no more than 50% of the amount after obtaining permission from the Singapore government.

In addition to investing in business, money can be loaned to the State Treasury for two years at a good interest rate. The total investment period to obtain citizenship must be at least five years. To obtain permanent residence for close relatives, it will be necessary to invest an additional 300 thousand SGD for each.

Salary rates in 2021

The high qualifications of potential employees are highly valued in this country.

As you can see, salaries in Singapore are among the highest in Southeast Asia. In terms of income level, this small state can only compete with Japan.

Therefore, if there is an opportunity for legal employment in Singapore, this chance should not be missed.

The most common vacancies

There is no minimum wage in Singapore, there is simply no such law. High-ranking government officials and judges receive the highest salaries.

For example, the annual salary of the Prime Minister of Singapore is more than 2 million USD, and the salary of a judge can reach up to 1 million USD. Foreigners, with the exception of Indians, Filipinos and Indonesians, are not hired for low-skilled jobs.

Table: salary levels depending on qualifications for common vacancies

How to find a job without intermediaries

To find a job in Singapore, Russians need to constantly practice English, evaluate their chances and be patient. It is important to explore your options on your own and communicate with potential employers. For most jobs, language knowledge is the most important.

This is necessary even for employment by an unqualified employee. Working in Singapore without knowing the language is illegal employment, which can lead to negative consequences.

Independent search

Of course, you can look for work in Singapore through social networks or specialized forums at any time. True, such announcements appear quite rarely, because this country is very small both in terms of population and size. There are many times fewer Russian-speaking citizens here than in China, India or even neighboring Indonesia.

Popular resources for selecting vacancies in the Republic of Singapore

There are a variety of dedicated resources available to help you search for job openings in Singapore.

1. Singaporejobsonline.com. The portal has been successfully operating since 2002 and has managed to gain a decent reputation. In addition, it is possible to search for work through a personal account with a well-thought-out interface. On the website you can find complete information about the most interesting vacancies.
2. Jobstreet.com.sg. This site is considered one of the best for finding vacancies. In addition, you can search for vacancies based on your needs.
3. Monster.com.sg. The site has a well-thought-out interface. After the registration procedure, you can view vacancies, sorting them by employer, field of activity and other aspects.
4. Stjobs.sg. The labor exchange has been operating since 2006. Here are various vacancies for those planning to work in Singapore. Each advertisement contains a detailed description of the vacancy and a complete list of requirements.
5. Jobscentral.com.sg. The advertisements on this portal contain a lot of useful information about the employer's requirements, so job seekers can correctly determine whether they are suitable for employment.
6. Indeed.com.sg. There are different jobs available on this website. Searching for advertisements is simple. If necessary, you can sort ads using correctly selected parameters. Applicants can immediately find out the maximum possible salary.
7. Singapore.recruit.net. The site has a simple and user-friendly interface. Users have access to special tips for successfully searching for job offers.

Cooperation with recruitment agencies

If a foreigner is already in Singapore on a tourist or visitor visa, he can try to find a job through an intermediary company. There are not many such agencies. We recommend contacting us via contacts on the following websites:

• Singaporejobnetwork.com is a professional agency providing services such as resume writing, targeted searches, providing information about employers to whom your resume was sent, search reports by email.
• 3csynergy.com is the choice of those looking for work in the oil, construction or gas industries.
• Aegis-recruitment.com.sg is a popular recruitment agency in the country. Provides a classic set of services: creating a profile, sending a resume to potentially interested employers and a search report by email.
• Aasingapore.com is a well-known agency for recruiting foreign personnel for Singaporean vacancies. The portal contains a lot of useful information for job seekers.
• Spencerstuart.com is a reputable agency where you can choose a personal consultant. Work with candidates is carried out after registration on the site.
• Garnerintl.com is a great agency for those looking for technical jobs. Information technology, the oil industry, astronautics, aviation and energy are the main areas of the agency’s work.

For in-demand specialties, such a search can be quite successful. If the vacancy is suitable, you can re-register the legal status of a foreigner. This will allow you to obtain a work permit.

Official employment procedure

There is virtually no point in working in Singapore illegally. Firstly, they pay little for unofficial work. High prices will not allow you to live fully in this small state. Secondly, migration services work effectively and quickly identify illegal immigrants. Therefore, you need to know how to officially find a job in Singapore.

Sequence of actions

1. The employer enters into a contract with the future employee.
2. The employee applies for a work visa, which is issued by the Ministry of Human Resources.
3. The employee finds housing at his own expense and goes to work in Singapore.

Types of work permits

To legally work in Singapore, foreigners can apply for an Employment Pass .

It is allowed to be done by people who have a monthly income of at least 2,500 Singapore dollars (115,000 rubles). Also, the applicant must be at least a manager in position, have an academic degree or a confirmed high level of qualifications.

In addition, there is an Entre Pass visa (for entrepreneurs).

• EP – issued for a period of 1 to 2 years. Within the country it can be extended indefinitely. To obtain this visa, you need a university degree and a salary of at least $2,000 at your previous job.
• SP – issued for several years. It is necessary to have secondary vocational education and a certificate from a previous place of work indicating a salary of $1,800 or more.
• PEP – issued for 5 years. Gives you the opportunity to change jobs without completing additional documents. Issued only to outstanding specialists who can prove their skills.

Who doesn't need permission?

Freelancers are one of the categories of foreigners who do not need to obtain a work permit. On the other hand, it will be very difficult for such citizens to obtain a residence permit in Singapore.

• scientists;
• journalists;
• politicians.

Also, a permit is not required for seasonal and temporary work.

Obtaining a work visa to Singapore

The application and accompanying package of documents are submitted to the embassy in Moscow or Kyiv. If the procedure is carried out by the employing company, then the papers should be sent to the Ministry of Manpower and Employment of Singapore. The review process may take up to 2-3 months.

Required documents

The standard package of documents for obtaining a work permit in Singapore includes:

• a foreign passport with a remaining validity of at least 6 months;
• a copy of the passport page with biometric data;
• internal passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation (to confirm the registration address);
• a completed application form in English (Form 14A);
• one recent color photo, 35 x 45 mm;
• a copy of the marriage certificate (if available);
• invitation from a Singapore company;
• power of attorney to represent interests when submitting documents (if the application is submitted by the employer);
• receipt of payment of the visa fee (1530 rubles).

Most types of work visas are issued for 1-2 years. The Personalized Employment Pass is valid for 5 years.

Is it possible to extend

If you have a valid employment contract, a previously issued work visa may be extended for a period of 12 months. There is no need to travel outside of Singapore. An application for extension is submitted to the Ministry of Manpower and Employment.

Features of internship in the country

Participating in internship programs in Singapore is a great start to any professional career. In addition, a young specialist can earn good money during this time. And if a foreigner proves himself well, he may be offered full-time employment in Singapore.

The easiest place to look for internship offers is in the hotel or restaurant business. The requirements for applicants are simple: age from 25 to 35 years, specialized education, work experience in the profession of 2 years is desirable.

Internship Opportunities

Scientists, biologists, doctors, entrepreneurs, and tourism specialists go to Singapore for internships. The main thing that is needed is knowledge of English, because it is the state language. Such an internship will definitely benefit young people and provide an opportunity for decent employment in the future. Internship contracts are concluded for a period of three to twelve months and can be extended. At the end of the contract, it is quite possible to get a permanent job.

The most popular internships include areas in the fields of healthcare, culture and religious studies, and tourism.

Table: Resources for Finding Internships in Singapore

Development of your own business

If you have funds in the amount of $3.6 million, a citizen of the Russian Federation can count on obtaining a residence permit in Singapore. In addition, investing in the local economy also makes practical sense.

Business in Singapore for Russians is subject to low taxes. Security, complete absence of corruption, quick registration of companies - all this distinguishes Singapore from its neighboring countries - Malaysia and Indonesia.

Important! Foreigners cannot register businesses in Singapore on their own. A prerequisite is the use of certified registrars.

Opening a business visa (EntrePass) in Singapore

The EntrePass visa is issued to foreign entrepreneurs who plan to conduct their business in Singapore. It must be said that the Republic is trying in every possible way to attract foreign businessmen, so obtaining a visa does not become a problem for business immigrants. Initially, EntrePass is provided for a period of one to two years, but it can be renewed an infinite number of times, subject to continued business activity.

By the way, the EntrePass visa document is also the basis for the relatives of a businessman to move to Singapore.

To obtain this visa, you need to provide the authorities, in addition to personal data, with a business plan, a detailed description of the proposed activities of the company being opened, as well as a job description for future employees of the new company.

Reviews

Anatoly, 36 years old: “I’ve been in Singapore for two years now, working here as a cook in a Russian restaurant. The salary is good, the city is very clean, the climate is excellent, except for the rainy summer months. The only drawback is the high rent. You can save money if you rent an apartment as two or three people.”

Ekaterina, 24 years old: “I work as a dancer in a nightclub. Compared to India and China, where I worked before, it is much better here. Firstly, a higher level of security. Secondly, earnings are higher. I'm going to come here again next year."

Pros and cons of working in Singapore

The undoubted advantages of searching for vacancies and subsequent employment in the Republic of Singapore include:

• high level of security;
• the possibility of a beach holiday after work;
• high threshold of minimum wage offered by employers;
• English-speaking region.

The disadvantages include:

• length of the working day (the working week in Singapore averages 47.2 hours);
• the specificity of local legislation (prohibition on chewing gum, drinking any drinks in the subway and other things common for foreigners);
• the need to undergo screening for infectious diseases and mental health if you intend to stay in the country for more than a week.