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IMPACT – MEDIUM
What is the change? Starting Feb. 1, Singapore’s Ministry of Health will require two new vaccinations for dependent children who are applying for long-term passes.
What does the change mean? Foreign-born children ages 12 years old and below who are applying for a dependant’s pass, long-term visit pass, or student’s pass will be required to show proof of vaccination against diphtheria and measles.
Analysis & Comments: Foreign employees should plan to present proof of their children’s immunization records, including the measles and diphtheria vaccinations. Those seeking an exemption from the new requirement will need to obtain a physician-certified document and submit it to Singapore’s Health Promotion Board.
Source: Deloitte LLP. Deloitte LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC303675 and its registered office at 1 New Street Square, London EC4A 3HQ, United Kingdom.
What is the change? Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower has announced that it will adjust initial and renewal application and issuance fees for work passes and related passes.
What does the change mean? Administrative fees for Employment Passes, S Passes, work permits and other passes will increase in April.
Some of the relevant fees are highlighted below (all figures in Singapore dollars):
A full list of the fee changes is available here.
Analysis & Comments: The last update to the administration fee was in April 2013. Companies should factor the fee increases into their budgets and consider filing affected applications before the rate hikes take effect.
What is the change? Qualifying salary requirements for S Pass holders will increase from 2,200 to 2,300 Singapore dollars (from about US$1,606 to $1,679) in January.
What does the change mean? Foreign nationals who are employed locally in Singapore and who require an S Pass to work in-country are now expected to meet a minimum monthly salary of SG$2,300 in order to apply, an increase of SG$100 from the previously set salary requirement.
Background: The 2019 increase is part of a two-phase transition, announced by the Ministry of Manpower Committee of Supply in 2017, which will result in an SG$2,400 qualifying salary requirement for S Pass holders by 2020. To facilitate a smooth transition, employees with passes that expire between Jan. 1 and June 30 are able to renew their passes, for up to one year, based on the pre-2019 salary requirement. By implementing the increase in phases, Singapore plans to improve the quality of foreign labor in the country while helping employers retain their current employees.
Analysis & Comments: Employers should factor in the changes when planning assignments. Companies may need to review and make necessary adjustments to current employees’ salaries to ensure that they are able to retain their S Passes.
What is the change? The Ministry of Manpower has issued a reminder to employers and foreign workers about the rules for returning expired or old work pass cards.
What does the change mean? Applicants who are renewing their work passes should check their notification letter to confirm whether they are required to return their existing work pass card. Those who are required to do so should make sure they are not damaged or punched with a hole. Multiple work pass cards should never be stapled, taped or fastened together.
Analysis & Comments: To avoid delays in renewing or updating a work pass, employers should check their notification letter to determine whether they are required to return an old work pass or passes to the ministry. They should also make sure that the passes are not damaged or fastened together.
What is the change? Singapore will require two new vaccinations from dependent children who are applying for long-term passes.
What does the change mean? Beginning in February, foreign-born children up to the age of 12 who are applying for a Dependant’s Pass, Long Term Visit Pass, or Student’s Pass will be required to show proof of vaccination against diphtheria and measles.
Analysis & Comments: Foreign employees should plan to present proof of their children’s immunization records including the measles and diphtheria vaccinations. Those seeking an exemption from the new requirement will need to obtain a physician-certified document and submit it to Singapore’s Health Promotion Board.
What is the change? The Singapore Ministry of Manpower will impose new work permit conditions on those who employ maids and other foreign domestic workers, or FDWs.
What does the change mean? Beginning in January, employers will be prohibited from keeping any money belonging to their FDWs, including salaries, even if requested for safekeeping by the employee.
Background: The ministry said that the new policy would help avoid financial disputes between employers and their FDWs. Employers are encouraged to assist their FDWs in opening bank accounts and to pay the FDWs’ salaries electronically.
Analysis & Comments: Individuals who hire FDWs, including expatriate employees in Singapore, should prepare for the new rules and consider paying their household employees electronically. Employers of FDWs are encouraged to contact the Ministry of Manpower for additional information.
What is the change? New restrictions on how foreign residents can borrow money have been announced by the Ministry of Manpower and Ministry of Justice.
What does the change mean? Foreign residents who borrow from unlicensed lenders will have their work pass revoked and be repatriated. Additionally, the Singapore government will impose new legal limits on the amounts that foreign residents may borrow from licensed lenders.
Analysis & Comments: Foreign residents and their employers should be aware of the harsh consequences for borrowing from unlicensed lenders and the new limits on borrowing from licensed lenders. The strict regulation is intended to protect borrowers from unlicensed lending and encourage borrowers to seek debt assistance.
What is the change? The Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority has announced that it will conduct a trial on use of an electronic disembarkation/embarkation card for international visitors entering by air, land and sea.
What does the change mean? Passengers will eventually be able to submit their personal information and trip details through the ICA’s website or via a mobile app before their arrival. This will replace the disembarkation/embarkation card that is currently manually filled out.
Background: Border authorities are moving to a paperless system to streamline processes, reduce paper forms and retain passenger information within their databases. Passengers will fill out their disembarkation/embarkation card online via the ICA website or a mobile app. The card requires information such as the traveler’s name, local address, and travel document number. Information submitted electronically can be retrieved for future trips.
The change does not affect Singaporeans, permanent residents and long-term pass holders (e.g., students and workers) who are returning to Singapore, who do not need to submit any disembarkation/embarkation card.
Analysis & Comments: The move toward a paperless immigration clearance system is good news for travelers because it streamlines the process and reduces the need to carry and present the disembarkation/embarkation card to border officers. International visitors to Singapore may be approached by ICA officers during the trial period to participate in the trial and provide feedback that will be used to assess and help improve the system for full implementation.
What is the change? Singapore will introduce enhanced privacy regulations aimed at prohibiting businesses from collecting, copying or disclosing personal ID numbers—including National Registration Identity Cards (NRIC) numbers, Foreign Identification Numbers (FIN) and work permit numbers—unless required by law.
What does the change mean? Businesses face fines of up to 1 million Singapore dollars (about US$732,000) for violating the laws on personal data protection.
Background: The NRIC contains a permanent ID number issued to Singapore citizens and permanent residents, and FIN are issued to foreign workers. These numbers can be used to track personal information including home address, salary, medical details and property ownership. NRIC numbers are commonly requested for routine activities such as signing up for memberships, purchasing and renting items, and entering buildings.
Analysis & Comments: The new rules are intended to protect individuals against identity theft and fraud. Businesses that routinely collect personal ID numbers for purposes other than those required by law should develop policies for requesting and collecting alternative personal identifiers by the compliance deadline of Sept. 1, 2019.
IMPACT – LOW
What is the change? The Ministry of Manpower has removed the requirement that employers endorse forms with a company seal.
What does the change mean? Employers sponsoring foreign workers for all types of work passes can ignore the “company stamp” field on MOM forms (such as in-principle approvals, local sponsor forms, amendments of personal particulars, and others) while the agency updates its forms to remove the field.
Analysis & Comments: Companies sponsoring foreign workers have one less step in the endorsement process, thus reducing overall administrative completion time. Employers should note that signatures from an authorized signatory are still required on MOM forms.