Are you on assignment or local terms?

[ML]

I'm just curious how many of you are on assignment and how many on local terms? And how long do you plan to stay?

[SoSo]

Local.
As short as possible! (nothing to do with local terms)

[Enigma & Tilly]

We are both work for MNC's our packages are based on their own grading systems, but we would persume that they are local packages as their is no rental or vehicle allowence. We are both very happy with our respective packages.

[New Here]

I'm on local and I want to go home today.
I make twice as much but I seem to not be able to save as I used to....

[kat]

Local package - found my job once I got here.  Fortunately my boyfriend is on a good expat package so I get all the advantages - nice flat, use of car, share of per diem for expenses etc.  However, local package is OK and includes insurance although my salary is 1/2 the amount of our apartment rent!

[Bewildered]

I'm not sure if its that easy to differentiate between local and expat (or assignment terms). I'm on what I suspect are local terms, although my relocation costs here were paid and part of my package is paid as housing/school/car allowances. I think it may be tax-advantageous for the employer to do this as it avoids CPF etc.

I intend to stay another year or so. Although I like it here my wife finds it pretty restricting and we want my eldest kid to start High School in Oz next Jan. Fortuntaely I work for a company with offices in Oz and they are happy for me to move back there as and when I wish.

[Newby]

I just got head-hunted for a similar role, only the local pay was a third of my European package - it was a short conversation.

[alanh70]

I am also on a mixed package. I work for a relocation company - so, obviously my move from the UK was paid for - I have a company car - medical insurance etc - salary equivalent to my Gross in the UK - so, we are better off as the tax is much lower. I also have a wife and two kids (3 & 20 mnth) who love it here in Singapore. However, I am sure that will all change once it is time to put the kids through school. This is not part of my package and I believe it can work out to be very expensive. We shall stay for as long as

1. We want to
2. they want to have me.  

[ML]

For those of you who want to stay, it sounds like you're having a great time! I personally HATED it after 4 yrs there (stuck at home with infant) and can't believe I am SO looking forward to getting back this year !!

For those of you who can't wait to leave I hope things get better for you. After two years back in N.America, all my complaints about Singapore pale beside the crap that's happening here (US&Canada). Who needs to deal with ongoing strikes, mass layoffs, dotcom hell, bloody stupid politicians, getting shot, etc. etc.?  

Btw, my husband is on a mixed package - we asked for all benefits in salary so we could control it ourselves. Once I start working, we should be laughing all the way to the bank! (operative word: "should")

[BTDT]

I have been to SG on three separate assginments all on what appears to be quite generous expat terms - at the time, they perhaps did not seem so generous as expat packages were standard fare for foreigners working in SG.  Increasingly, employers are seeking expats on local terms to reduce costs and well... employees on these terms if they are prepared to accept them inevitably suffer.  My view is that SG "needs" expats and to that extent employers must continue to remunerate on expat terms or BEEF UP local terms to equalise or trained professionals will just drift away to better opportunities elsewhere.  SG is an Ok place to live provided you have the $$$ to enjoy it otherwise may as well stay in Sydney, San Fran or wherever.  SG has little to offer per se (that is why all the locals are trying to get out!) so they can't penalise salaried professionals by offering less than generous terms.  Although I would be interested to return to SG (currently in Oz) it MUST be on solid expat terms or forget it.  I have seen how some expats suffer (no car, inadequate accommodation, very high expenses (food, medical etc)) so may as well stay away.  You have to look at net disposable after tax income while maintaining your lifestyle.  My car costs 1/3 of what it costs in SG (and it is expensive here!) plus there is nowhere to drive it...
Eyes wide open...

[Yah Maan]

Agree with BTDT however some MNC employers don't want to establish or perpetuate the EXPAT terms concept so much prefer to hire on local terms however they will "equalise" the expat package to local package so that they can still attract the talent necessary without being SEEN to be offering and paying "expat terms".  After all the difference is only how the $$ is packaged right?

[SSS]

We're here on full expat terms (car, house, schooling, medical....) for 3 years.

[stuck]

I found this job on the net and came straight out and bought my family without really looking in to it, been here a year and cant wait to get out....i am on a expatish package,salary about the same as the uk ,job is as long as i want it and make it succesful, although business is very slow at the moment,  just cant settle here, looking at auz or nz next

[rose]

We are here on local terms and finding it rather difficult.  Although my husband is getting paid more than he did at home and the tax rate is lower, our overall disposable income is less.  Also we did not fully appreciate how much our quality of life would decrease (no car, an apartment half the size of our house back home, some huge dental bills so far).  We, like others, will probably do out our time here and move on as fast as possible.

[Fat Bob]

I'm on an "Expatriate Contract" which pays for rent and relocation. I miss out on CPF, but get a bonus every at the end of every contract (3 years long) which is linked to employers CPF. No car. Bad medical coverage.

Girlfriend is with me, she's on local terms, didn't get relocation, but relies on my flat to live in She does get employers CPF, plus medical benefits which are much beeter than mine.

We have been here 1 year. Love it. Staying as long as we can.

Of course, always nice to have more money, but I'm pretty tied in with the current job (the bonus), and we both actually like doing what were doing, so we probably wouldn't consider moving jobs (unless double pay....?)