Singapore:
An Expatriate Destination
By Griselle
Cardoza
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September 2007
| Singapore
was and is still an extremely popular expatriate destination.
It offers a
myriad of possibilities to anyone wishing to make a home here. According
to the Singapore Economic Development Board, this island nation is the
second most attractive environment for highly skilled foreigners and Asia's
number one place to live and work. It is also Asia’s least bureaucratic
place for doing business.
The key growth
industries in Singapore are Biomedical sciences, Chemicals, Communications
and Media and Electronics and Healthcare. The Banking and Finance sectors
attract the majority of expatriates, as Singapore is Asia's international
banking hub.
The Singapore
Ministry of Trade reported that the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for
the fourth quarter of 2006, rose 5.9% compared to the same period in 2005.
On a quarter –on- quarter seasonalised annualized basis, real GDP grew
by 7.6 %, following a 5.6% gain in the preceding quarter
The standard
of living is comparable to many First World countries with state of the
art facilities for education, shopping, sports and recreation.
The Singapore
International Chamber of Commerce publishes an annually updated comprehensive
guide on the cost of living. This provides information on various essentials
such as Accommodation, Rental Terms, Housing Costs, Restrictions, Property
Tax, Essential Services, Utilities, Communications, Domestic Services,
Vehicle Quota System, Vehicle Taxes, Car & Fuel Prices, Electronic
Road Pricing System, Public Transportation, Education, Medical Expenses,
Food & Clothing, Entertainment & Leisure, Income Tax and Reliefs
are Banking and finance, Central Provident Fund, Changing Factors and also
the Expatriate Consumer Price Index.
How committed
is the potential assignee?
Ideally the
preparation for this international assignment should begin eight to twelve
months in advance (most times, this is a luxury!). This allows the expatriate
and his or her family to comprehend what the move will involve. It must
be understood that open-mindedness is the key factor in the success of
any relocation.
No matter how
simple a relocation may seem, the demands of working overseas can be quite
considerable. It requires a great deal of commitment from the employee,
that is far greater than, that of the one who agrees to a relocate from
New York to Los Angeles or vice versa. The Company must determine as best
as possible how committed the employee will be on assignment.
Family
Family concerns,
especially spousal discontent is one of the major reasons for failed assignments.
How keen will
a family from the United States or the United Kingdom be, to relocate to
Singapore, which is on the other side of the globe…. |
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RESOURCE
LINKS FOR SINGAPORE
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A number of spouses
feel that HR is not empathetic enough during this time. This might be due
to lack of direct communication or even a miscommunication of the
policy entitlements. This can be avoided by involving the spouse in the
process right from the start and/ or having destination service providers
provide timely reporting to HR on the status of each move.
Many employers
are now offering the employee and the spouse a familiarization or a Look
See trip to destinations such as Singapore, to help them during this decision-making
phase. This provides the potential relocatee with a valuable insight as
to what to expect from the new host country….in terms of living standards,
cultural differences both, in the workplace and at home and numerous other
aspects, which you may well take for granted back home.
Contact Singapore
is one organization, which, promotes working and living in Singapore. It’s
global network offers professional advisory services and it works with
partners in industries, professional organizations and institutes of higher
learning to link Singapore- based employers to a wide network of global
talent.
According to
Contact Singapore there are approximately 1100 recruitment firms providing
placement services including management consultancy. The Straits Times
(the local English daily) also runs a comprehensive list of positions available.
In addition, there are a number of websites with job listings in the various
sectors
Employment
in Singapore
This country
relies on foreign talent at both ends of the scale. While the immigration
process in Singapore is relatively straightforward, foreign professionals
and executives, who wish to work in Singapore, require to apply for the
relevant permits.
As mentioned
earlier, this country relies on foreign talent at both ends of the scale.
While the immigration process in Singapore is relatively straightforward,
foreign professionals and executives, who wish to work in Singapore, require
to apply for an Employment Pass (EP). Employers are required to sponsor
EP applications; hence it is necessary to find a job prior to relocating.
These passes are categorized based on the basic monthly salary of the individual.
Depending on the position you are in, an expatriate may enjoy an attractive
salary plus perks.
This makes
the cost of living seem reasonable for an expatriate. It is also pleasing
to note that the tax rates are significantly lower than any European country.
Singapore’s
proposed GST rate of 7% is also relatively low by international comparison.
The inflation rate in 2005 was 0.5%.
The Singapore
Ministry of Manpower endeavors to make the application process as smooth
and efficient as possible. If possible, it is advisable to ensure immigration
paperwork for the entire family is in order prior to leaving the home country.
Business
Environment
Singaporeans
are generally cosmopolitan in their outlook. If one does commit a social
faux pas, a simple apology should suffice as they understand that you come
from a different culture. However, as a general rule be courteous at all
times and avoid discussions about topics like religion, racial issues and
politics. English is the language of business and punctuality at business
appointments is vital.
Housing
Housing in
Singapore is relatively highly priced. Private housing here ranges from
an apartment with or without condominium facilities, swimming pool and
tennis courts, to landed properties.
A property
agent can be appointed to assist in property search. Most expatriates wish
to negotiate a housing allowance as part of their remuneration package.
Education
The Singapore
education system provides a diversity of education solutions that cater
to the various individuals. In addition to the local Singapore institutions,
there diversity of education solutions that cater to the various individuals.
In addition to the local Singapore institutions, there are a number of
international schools such as the Australian International School, Japanese
School, Singapore American School, Chatsworth International School, to
name a few. The ExpatSingapore website gives a cost comparison of some
of these international schools (ExpatSingapore is an online publication
containing articles, resources, tips, and updates for the expatriate in
Singapore. (www.expatsingapore.com)
Medical
facilities
Singapore
is widely known as the region’s medical hub. It’s healthcare facilities
are at world-class standards with well-qualified doctors and dentists and
numerous pharmacies conveniently located. All healthcare professionals
must be registered with the relevant bodies.
Expat organizations
Singapore
has numerous expatriate organizations, which aim to connect with their
people living overseas.
The American
Association of Singapore, The American Women’s Association, Australia &
New Zealand Club, The Hollandaise Club are some of these, which aim to
unite members, further cultural interests and also aim to participate in
community activities within Singapore. They also provide a wealth of online
resources, information and links for their nationals living in Singapore.
Culture
The Singaporean
society is a very cosmopolitan one and English is the most commonly used
language.
However, sometimes
its Western appearance can be misleading as many things are still done
in a very ‘Asian’ manner. Chinese, Malays and Indians are the main races,
which make up the Singaporean population. The majority of Singapore's business
people are ethnically Chinese; therefore, a distinctly Chinese paradigm
pervades.
The locals
often tend to use ‘Singlish’, which is a mix of English dotted with other
local languages and phrases may end with ‘lah’, ‘mah’….etc., and this is
something expatriates find hard to get used to.
Weather
The weather
is hot and humid all year round. Temperatures range between 22 to 30 degrees
Celsius. Humidity is almost 80%. Singapore has showers all year although
December to Feb is considered to be the ‘rainy season’.
Leisure
& Entertainment
Singapore
is well known for its shopping and variety of food. Not surprisingly, shopping
and eating are two of the favorite pastimes in the country! Top designer
brands are all available at very competitive prices.
Singapore also
offers a number of activities for children. The Jurong Bird Park and the
Singapore Zoo are world famous. Singapore also boasts of the world’s first
night safari.
And for those
long weekends one can always do a trip to neighboring Malaysia, Indonesia
or even Thailand.
Summary
All moves
are, to say the least quite stressful.
When one decides
to relocate to Singapore, it is advisable to get organized well in advance
to avoid last minute stress. It is also key to explore the opportunities
for the trailing spouse, if any, as this is a key factor in the success
of the relocation.
As with any
move, you will need an open mind….remember every country is unique and
every move will have its own set of challenges…soak up all the positives
of each relocation and enjoy the time there.
And yes, don’t
forget to stop for a great Singapore Sling!
| Reloglobe
have recently announced the launch of their Asia Pacific relocation network
website, it is a workforce mobility community striving towards excellence
in the workforce mobility business, with special focus on the Asia Pacific
and Oceania regions.
This region
has become a hot-spot for expatriate assignment activity in the last few
years and the world is witnessing a gradual but sure emergence of world
super powers, with booming economies, in these continents. Recognizing
the need to bring together all corporations and individuals associated
with global mobility in the region, Reloglobe was established. The aim
is to enable all workforce mobility professionals share best practices,
become aware of industry trends, network with professionals within the
industry, design global mobility strategies and most importantly aim for
successful employee assignments and create a win-win situation all around.
They are currently
inviting all (expatriates, HR professionals, relocation companies....everyone!)
to become part of the community as the industry continually evolves. Registration
is at NO COST and also entitles you to a free listing in the online Reloglobe
Workforce Mobility Directory. For registration and information on benefits,
please visit: www.reloglobe.com |
|
Expats
Guide to Asian Sales and Marketing
|
A No-Nonsense Expats
Guide to Asian Sales and Marketing - No-Nonsense
Expats Guide to Asian Sales and Marketing - Interested
in making money in the Asian Market? If you're willing to work hard
the yeilds are very lucrative. I have spent more than 25 years in
China trade and Asian sales and marketing generally, and am based in Kuala
Lumpur where I have been for 7 years now. I've set up a number
of American and European companies out here, and have had great success
at doing it, so I know that what I have to say will be of interest to anyone
who has an interest in entering the Asian market. If you want to enter
the Asian Market my report has the information you'll require. |
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