Singapore is an immigration country, with 70% of its population being Chinese. The linguistic characteristic is bilingual. Every year, Singaporean companies apply to the Ministry of Manpower to recruit a large number of Chinese workers to fill local labor shortages.
Working Hours
In Singapore, the general working hours are 44 hours per week. Certain industries, such as the food and beverage sector, may require shift work. If a company requires overtime, employees are compensated at 1.5 times the base salary for regular overtime and 2 times the base salary for Sundays and public holidays, in accordance with government regulations.
Insurance
The Singapore government mandates that local companies must provide statutory insurance for every foreign worker. Upon arrival, employers also enroll employees in group insurance. The compensation amount can be as high as tens of thousands of Singapore dollars. Some companies also provide additional personal insurance. Employers must offer benefits such as medical benefits, annual leave, sick leave, and overtime allowances. Generally, companies also provide additional employee benefits, such as marriage leave, childcare services, loans, and subsidies.
Accommodation and Living Expenses
Singaporeans generally eat out, with each meal costing about 2.3-3.5 Singapore dollars, leading to daily meal expenses of approximately 6-8 Singapore dollars (at regular food centers). For accommodation, typically shared by 2-3 or 4 people, the cost per person is about 200-300 Singapore dollars per month; cooking is usually not allowed. Calls to China (IP): $0.4/min; bus and taxi fares are slightly higher than in China but much cheaper than in Hong Kong. Generally, companies do not provide transportation, housing, or meal allowances, but some employers may offer meals for positions such as chefs and food service staff.
