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IMPACT – MEDIUM
What is the change? The Royal Thai Embassy in Singapore has launched an electronic visa application system that allows applicants to complete, submit and check the status of application forms online.
What does the change mean? Effective Feb. 1, visa applications submitted at the Royal Thai Embassy in Singapore may be submitted electronically. Manual applications will continue to be accepted until April 1, at which point all applications must be submitted online.
Background: The online process involves creating a login and password, completing an application form, uploading the form and required supporting documents and submitting the application. The applicant may then check the status of the applications, and once the status shows that it has been reviewed, the applicant then brings a duly signed hard copy of the application form, a passport and, in most cases, a photograph to the embassy before the visa can be obtained. Additional details are available on the Royal Thai Embassy website.
BAL Analysis: Applicants may now use the new online visa application system and will be required to do so beginning April 1. The system is expected to streamline the visa application process, though technical delays are possible as the system is rolled out.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group in Singapore. For additional information, please contact singapore@bal.com.
Copyright © 2017 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.
IMPACT – HIGH
What is the change? The Immigration and Checkpoint Authority is warning the public of a fake website that is designed to look like the ICA website and phishes for users’ personal information.
What does the change mean? Customers transacting with the ICA should verify that they are using only the official website: www.ica.gov.sg.
Background: The ICA warned the public Tuesday about the fake website. Screenshots of the fake website appear as a customer portal for users to fill out a fake entry visa application that seeks detailed personal information about both the applicant and the Singaporean sponsor.
The ICA said that no data had been compromised and they were working to bring down the fake website.
BAL Analysis: Companies and individuals should exercise caution when transacting with various government entities via online portals and confirm that they are only using the official websites.
What is the change? Singapore has changed its requirements on how long foreign nationals may remain in the country to conduct work pass exempt activities.
What does the change mean? Effective immediately, foreign nationals may perform work pass exempt activities for no more than 90 days in a calendar year. The Ministry of Manpower’s website has removed language that restricted work pass exempt activities to a maximum of 60 days in any one visit, but makes it clear that foreign nationals conducting work pass exempt activities are limited by the duration of stay provided on the short term visit pass issued upon entering Singapore.
Background: Foreign nationals are not required to obtain a work pass for a number of activities in Singapore, including (but not limited to) organizing seminars, participating in exhibitions, providing certain specialized services related to the opening of a new plant or operations, and providing arbitration or mediation services. The change described above does not affect which activities are exempt from work pass requirements, but only the time a foreign national can remain in Singapore to conduct such activities. A full description of the requirements for a work pass exemption is available on the Ministry of Manpower’s website.
BAL Analysis: Business travelers should take note of the change and make sure they adhere to the limit of 90 days in a calendar year for performing work pass exempt activities in Singapore.
What is the change? Singapore has released a report on labor market trends in 2016.
What does the change mean? Singapore’s economy continued to grow slowly, with modest growth in local employment, while foreign employment contracted for the first time since 2009. Median income for citizens continued to grow, though at a slower rate than in past years. The annual average unemployment rate remained low, but increased from 1.9 percent in 2015 to 2.1 percent.
Key statistics:
BAL Analysis: Singapore has worked to encourage employers to localize their workforces and restructure toward an economy that is lean on manpower. The report shows that the total number of employed persons in Singapore hit 3,672,600 in December 2016. Of that number, 2,279,700 were locals and 1,393,000 (not counting foreign domestic workers) were foreigners. Locals made up 66.4 percent of the Singaporean workforce (not counting domestic workers) and foreigners made up 33.6 percent. These percentages are roughly on par with 2015 levels and reflect the two-to-one local-to-foreigner ratio that Singapore stressed as a key workforce benchmark in the 2016 budget speech.
What is the change? A phone scam has resurfaced in which callers posing as Ministry of Manpower or other government officials are asking for money from foreign nationals.
What does the change mean? Foreign nationals are reminded that phone and email scams are common and should be suspicious of any calls in which someone claiming to be a MOM officer seeks payment over the phone.
Background: The MOM has reported numerous fraudulent scams in recent years, including fake MOM websites, phishing e-services and phone and email scams. In 2014 and 2016, MOM warned that callers posing as MOM officials were able to fraudulently display a MOM Contact Centre’s number on the receiver’s caller ID.
BAL Analysis: Foreign nationals should be wary of any calls from individuals claiming to be MOM officers who ask for money to resolve a work pass issue. Employees who think they have been the target of a scam should call the MOM hotline, police hotline and their BAL professional.
What is the change? The Ministry of Manpower has launched the Human Capital Partnership program to assist select employers in nurturing their Singaporean workforces.
What does the change mean? Employers in the program will have expedited service and access to a dedicated hotline at the ministry, as well as access to additional government resources and support.
Background: The Human Capital Partnership is a new program for employers “who invest in human capital and adopt progressive workplace practices.” According to the ministry, government will partner with selected employers and provide resources and support to help them build their business and stay competitive by developing their workforce throughout various career levels. In exchange, businesses will have special benefits, such as expedited processing for transactions with the ministry.
B·A·L Analysis: The program is part of Singapore’s overall goal to enhance the local labor force by encouraging employers to nurture and grow their cores of local workers. Companies applying to participate in the program will be assessed on their human resources track records and the types of training, mentoring, incentives and other programs they offer their employees. Companies of any size, revenue or sector will be considered.
Copyright © 2016 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.
What is the change? Singapore has instituted a requirement that employers seeking to appoint employment pass holders from another company to their board of directors must first obtain a letter of consent from the Ministry of Manpower.
What does the change mean? The ministry has said it will generally grant letters of consent in these circumstances if (1) the company is “related by shareholding” to the employment pass holder’s employer and (2) the pass holder’s appointment is related to his or her primary employment in Singapore.
Background: The change was recently announced and will apply retroactively as well as prospectively, i.e., companies with employment pass holders from other companies already serving on their board of directors must apply for a consent letter for that pass holder. Letters of consent must be renewed whenever employment passes are renewed in order for the employee to continue serving as a company director.
B·A·L Analysis: BAL is able to assist employers seeking to appoint an employment pass holder to their board of directors by helping submit applications for letters of consent.
What is the change? Employers are reminded that the minimum salary for employment pass holders is set to increase Jan. 1 from 3,300 Singapore dollars to SG$3,600 (about US$2,592).
What does the change mean? Employers should begin preparing now for the new salary threshold. The salary requirement will take effect Jan. 1 for new employment pass applicants, and a transition schedule will be in place for applicants renewing existing passes.
Background: The Ministry of Manpower announced the increase in July as part of its regular salary adjustments to keep pace with rising local wages, maintain the quality of the foreign workforce and enhance the competitiveness of local workers. The last salary adjustment for employment passes was in January 2014, when the minimum was raised from SG$3,000 to SG$3,300 per month.
New applicants filing after Jan. 1, must meet the new salary thresholds. For existing employment pass holders, the ministry will provide a period for businesses to adjust, using the following schedule:
The ministry also recommended that employers use the Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) on the agency’s website to assess whether candidates will meet the new salary criteria. The SAT will be updated in November.
BAL Analysis: Employers who have not already done so should begin reviewing the salaries of employees holding employment passes and plan ahead for the renewals if necessary. This increase to minimum salaries is one of many recent measures that tighten the employment pass eligibility of foreign workers.
The Ministry of Manpower has charged the managing director of a Singaporean company with 20 counts of collecting kickbacks from foreign employees, in a case that highlights how serious MOM is about cracking down on employers who mistreat foreign employees.
Key Points:
BAL Analysis: MOM is aggressively investigating employers who take kickbacks or engage in other mistreatment of foreign workers. MOM has asked anyone with information about employers who operate in violation of the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act to contact the agency by telephone at (65) 6438 5122 or email at mom_fmmd@mom.gov.sg.
What is the change? The Thai Embassy in Singapore has said that that visa processing times will be left to the discretion of individual visa officers and that it will no longer abide by standard two-day processing times.
What does the change mean? Visa applicants should expect longer processing times and should submit applications no later than five to 10 business days before they plan to travel.
Background: The embassy says that, with the change, the minimum processing time will be three days (including the day of submission), but that applicants should leave five to 10 working days, particularly during busy holiday seasons.
BAL Analysis: Visa applicants should take note of the change and adjust their schedules if necessary.
Copyright © 2016 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com