New Enhanced Self-Assessment Tool for EP Applications. Highlights of Advanced Labor Market Report of 2Q 2023.
Discover the latest Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) for EP applications and explore insights from the 2Q 2023 Advanced Labor Market Report by the Ministry of Manpower. Gain valuable knowledge about the labor market, employment trends, mediation for resolving work issues, and a comparative analysis of expat pay packages in Singapore and Hong Kong.
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Enhanced Self-Assessment Tool for (SAT) for EP Applications
From 1 August 2023, employers and employment agents can use the enhanced Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) to get an indicative outcome, including COMPASS scores for EP. The enhanced SAT should be used to assess EP applications which are to be submitted from 1 September 2023 onwards.
*Please note that an EP eService (formerly EP Online) account is needed to use the enhanced SAT. The COMPASS framework consists of individual and firm-level criteria, and details of the scores will be included in the enhanced SAT. Due to the sensitivity of the firm-level criteria, only users who are granted EP eService access can view these information.
What is this Self-assessment tool used for?
It is an online tool to assess if a candidate qualifies for an Employment Pass or S Pass based on the information provided, such as salary, educational qualifications and work experience.
It does not guarantee the actual outcome of the application. This is because there are other checks such as your quota (for S Pass) and the candidate’s history, that are not considered in this assessment.
What can you do in the SAT?
- Preview and check your details before submitting the self-assessment.
- Edit your details easily for re-assessment.
- Print your assessment results.
Source: Employment / S Pass Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) (mom.gov.sg)
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Labor Market Advanced Release 2Q 2023
Total Employment
Total Employment increased for the seventh consecutive quarter to 23,700. Compared to the previous quarter, the pace of increase was slower, and the pace of expansion was more gradual.
Growth in Employment
The primary factor driving total employment growth in the second quarter of 2023 was the non-resident workforce in the construction industry. There is a sustained demand for housing and other projects from both the private and public sectors. Among these workers, the majority consists of foreign individuals in low-wage roles who are required to have a Work Permit.
Sectors such as regional, social and personal services, financial services, and professional services continued to see employment growth, albeit with growth slowing amid global economic headwinds.
Contraction in Employment
Resident employment has contracted slightly but is still above pre-pandemic levels. Contraction in employment is mainly seen in the food and beverage and retail industries. However, this is common in the first half of the year. The food and beverage industry tend to hire temporary staff during the holiday celebrations and then reduce the number of staff in subsequent quarters as consumer demand eases.
Unemployment Rates
Unemployment rates rose in April and May and continued to 23.700% overall, 4.5% for residents and 6.1% for Singaporeans in June. and did not see any change. It continues to be at a low rate.
Retrenchments
Retrenchments declined from 3,820 in the first quarter of 2023 to 3,200 in the second quarter, similar to the non-recessionary range observed in 2019, pre-pandemic.
Top reasons for retrenchment were due to business reorganisation or restructuring. Services sector, especially information technology and wholesale trade, were the key contributors.
Layoffs in the manufacturing industry declined following large-scale layoffs in the fourth quarter of 2 and the first quarter of 8, while the number of layoffs in other industries also decreased or remained flat.
Source: Labour Market Advance Release Second Quarter 2023 (mom.gov.sg)
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Mediation Proves Highly Effective in Resolving Employment Issues Amicably
A recent report released by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) highlights the success of mediation in employment practices.
In 2022, employers and employees embraced a harmonious approach to resolving issues, leading to low incidences of employment claims and appeals. More than 80% of these claims were successfully resolved through mediation at the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) within just 2 months!
Even better news, over 90% of employees fully recovered their salaries and payments. It’s worth noting that the minority of employers facing difficulty in paying salaries were dealing with financial challenges.
🔎 Key Highlights
- Although there was a slight increase in employment claims and appeals from 2021, it remained lower than pre-COVID levels.
- Most claims involved salary disputes, mainly from companies facing business failures or financial difficulties.
- The dispute resolution process has been further improved through digitalization. The Online Dispute Resolution portal saw an increase in the number of claims processed, contributing to more harmonious workplaces.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, the focus is on creating inclusive workplaces with fair practices. Efforts are being made to enact workplace fairness legislation, and the Tripartite Committee on Workplace Fairness is actively engaging stakeholders to develop recommendations.
Source: Employment Standards Report 2022 (mom.gov.sg)
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Trend in Expat Pay Packages in Singapore vs. Hong Kong
Trend in Singapore
Expat pay packages in Singapore have surged by 4% in 2022, reaching US$258,762 (S$342,904) for average middle managers, according to a recent study by ECA International. This increase was mainly due to higher rental costs.
The surge in expatriate accommodation costs in Singapore is affecting both locals and expats, leading to a 9% increase in the cost of benefits in expat packages when measured in USD terms.
Trend in Hong Kong
On the other hand, Hong Kong experienced a 2% drop in expat packages, making Singapore a more attractive destination for foreign professionals. Despite the decrease, Hong Kong climbed to the world’s fifth-most expensive place to send expat workers, while Singapore sits at the 16th spot in the rankings.
Source: Expat pay packages jump in Singapore, drop in Hong Kong (straitstimes.com)
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