From: bernd@melon.iss.nus.sg (Bernd Nordhausen)
Subject: Re: Request - Info on Singapore
Reply-To: bernd@iss.nus.sg (Bernd Nordhausen)
Organization: Institute of Systems Science, NUS, Singapore
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 03:44:16 GMT

In article <999@clbull.frcl.bull.fr> <nirmal@cl.bull.fr> writes:
>
>Greetings,
>
>I am posting this for a friend of mine who does not have
>access to the net. You can reply to me and I can pass on the 
>information to him.
>
>Firstly, some background info about my friend. He is a French national
>of Indian origin working for an American company in Paris. He 
>has been given an option to get transferred to his company's 
>Singapore branch which was opened recently. He is seeking  answers 
>to the following questions from the net so that it will help him
>in taking a decision whether to move to Singapore or not.
>
>1. What is the rate of income tax in Singapore ?

Very progressive, from 3.5% for less than $5,000 to 33% for income above
$400,000. There are very deductions, and benefits such as education allowance
and housing is taxed.

>2. Is there something like a social security scheme ?

There is no social security scheme as in the US or many European countries.
The government subsidizes many things like medical expenses for people who 
cannot afford it.

>3. How many paid holidays do you have per year ?

Between 14 and 28 days.

>4. What are the pension schemes ?

It is called CPF (Central Provident Fund), and is in effect a forced savings
program. The employer contributes 23%, the employee 17% of his/her income (upt
to a limit) to a fund. Normally the fund can only be accessed upon reaching 
retirement age.  Expats can take their CPF upon leaving Singapore, but if 
they choose to do so they cannot work in Singapore again.

Part of the money in your CPF can be used to buy government approved stocks, 
and housing. The employer/employee contribution has changed considerably in
times of recessions.

>5. How expensive is Singapore (rent for a 2 bed room apt, living
>   expenses for a family of 4 etc) ? 

Very variable.  Houseing for a two bedroom appt. can vary between $500 and
$4,000.  There is book available in Singapore entitled "Living Costs in
Singapore for Expats" (or something like that) that lists living expenses.

>6. How expensive is schooling ( He has kids aged 3 and 5) ?

Very expensive for expat schools, in general school fess are paid by companies.
Local schools are cheap to reasonably for expats.

>Please add other info which is useful and which I've missed out to ask.

In general, expat (expatriat) contracts differ considerably from local
contracts. A generous expat contract includes, on top of a fat salary, paid
rental for a big, nice flat, a car or car loan (cars are very expensive), 
educational allowance for kids, annual home leave for the whole family, 
and sometimes even a hardship allowance.

However, there are other expat contracts  that are far less generous, and more
and more foreigners choose a local contract in order to stay in Singapore. 


Cheers, Bernd
-- 
   Bernd Nordhausen (bernd@iss.nus.sg)
   Institute of Systems Science                           Ph: +65 772-6240 
   National University of Singapore                      FAX: +65 778-2571
   Singapore 0511                               
-- 
   Bernd Nordhausen (bernd@iss.nus.sg)
   Institute of Systems Science                           Ph: +65 772-6240 
   National University of Singapore                      FAX: +65 778-2571
   Singapore 0511                               
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