"Only Singaporeans Need Apply"

[Northwind]

What is this about:
"Only Singaporeans & PRs need apply"?

They still have to pay taxes on you...

Getting an EP - all the company costs are filling out a couple of forms and less than $100, which the employee could pay...

This is one of the most ridiculous things I've heard while here...definitely not the only thing.

[God himself]

I think you may find a similar law exists in your homeland, the USA -- and almost every country of the world.

[to Northwind]

This phrase is not ridiculous. The potential employer has to pay /apply the potential employee EP which costed certain sum of money.  I believe you have to pay every year ( not to sure on this ) to secure that status.

At least , the firm did not  specify race in relation to the job.

[peeps]

Laws in US are even stricter. Employers must demonstrate evidence that jobs to be taken by non-citizens of the US requiring a work permit must have been advertised and no suitable US citizen found.

[curiouskat]

whats so ridiculous about it? Companies not only have to pay extra for work visa fees, they also have to fork out a higher salary for foriegners (min. $3000/mth).  If they can get the same qualifications for locals, why hire a foriegner?  Besides unemployment is a problem for Singaporeans.  The govt is trying to make sure that S'poreans are considered over expats.

[It is common..]

This is quite common in some countries. I worked in Australia for 4 years on a work permit. Paid 48% tax without any benefits in return. Most of the jobs advertised there are with a condition that only Australian PR & citizens are eligible to apply.

[total bollocks!]

what a load of bollocks.  Most jobs in Australia don't specifiy anything or the sort, unless you are talking about public service jobs (for local, state, federal government) and given the relatively low level of public employment as a percentage of the workforce, i find it hard to believe that you only ever saw those type of job ads.

[NotSo]

That is not a law in the US.  I have worked in HR for 15 years and have hired many many people fresh off the boat.  We certainly don't advertise US citizens only that is against the law

[jeen]

You can hire fresh of the boat in the US, yes, but you need to also do a formality of 'advertising' the position so that US citizens were given 'fair chance' to apply for the position. No way you can advertise US citizens only, but I dont think that was the point of the previous poster.

But certainly, there's nothing wrong with expressing preferences for locals and residents. You may not like it, but you can well choose not to work here either. That's the way it is.

[To total bollocks!]

C'mon, i have experienced this. The first thing that the recruiter used to ask me was whether I hold a PR or Citizenship because most of the companies do not prefer to sponsor employees.

Most of the time I used to get replies like 'your skills are ok, but the company is not willing to sponsor you' kind of stuff.

[um...]

pay for the EP yourself then! It costs less than a hundred bucks!! It's not just that though, is it?

The reason that local hires are preferred is that expats want to earn more money have better benefits and go home before the sun goes down.

[MadMac]

Well, it says Singaporeans & PR's. So it's up to you to make a mid term commitment for at least 5 years and become a PR or forget about it. More than fair. I find it much more discriminating to require "English + Mandarin" in many job offers.

[Denmark]

Well, a fact is a fact, face it, this is ASIA, knowledge of native language may be an advantage. Job security is no longer in favour of you. If you got what is takes, companies will look for you instead of you looking for them regardless of circumstances. Cheers

[total bollocks!]

to c'mon total bollocks!:

Yes, i have personal experience in this as well - was never a problem for me in 10 years in Australia (four jobs in that time)

as i said, total bollocks - either that or your experience differs dramatically from mine and those of my friends and fellow expat colleauges who are still working in Australia.

[Maybe..]

it's worth seeing it as a commitment reason? Singaporeans/PRs not likely to move on from the country. Plenty of expat spouses are able to work would apply for jobs but what company wants to hire those for short term purposes?