Singapore

Guide to Employment in Singapore

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Singapore Public Holiday

New Year's Day

01 Jan
Chinese New Year's Day

10 Feb - 12 Feb
Good Friday

29 Mar
Hari Raya Puasa

10 Apr

Exchange Rate

September 18, 13:38 UTC

SGD

Wage

Minimum Wages

No statutory universal minimum wage.
Typical practice: No lower than S$2,600

Median Salary

JOB LEVEL	MONTHLY SALARY (SGD)
Entry-Level Positions	$2,000 – $4,000
Mid-Level Positions	$4,000 – $7,000
Experienced & Managerial Positions	$7,000 – $15,000
Specialized & Senior-Level Positions	> $15,000

Annual Salary Growth

3% - 5%

STATUTORY CONTRIBUTION

Current contribution rates

CONTRIBUTION TYPE	EMPLOYER AMOUNT	EMPLOYEE AMOUNT	APPLICABLE TO
Central Provident Fund (CPF)	17%, capped at S$1,071	20%, capped at S$1,260	Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents.
Skills Development Levy (SDL)	0.25%, between S$2 – $11.25	-	Singapore citizens, Permanent Residents, and all foreigners.
Self-Help Group Funds (SHGs)	-	Varies based on fund: between $0.50 – S$30	Singapore citizens, Permanent Residents, and some foreigners. Employees can opt out.

OTHER BENEFIT

Hospitalization, Surgical & Medical Benefits
Supplementary Retirement Scheme (SRS) contribution (capped at S$15,300, for tax relief)
Other allowances for transport or mobile phone

INCOME TAX

For residents:

Income Tax

TAXABLE INCOME	TAX RATE
First S$20,000 (S$0 - S$20,000)	0%
Next S$10,000 (S$20,000 - S$30,000)	2%
Next S$10,000 (S$30,000 - S$40,000)	3.5%
Next S$40,000 (S$40,000 - S$80,000)	7%
Next S$40,000 (S$80,000 - S$120,000)	11.5%
Next S$40,000 (S$120,000 - S$160,000)	15%
Next S$40,000 (S$160,000 - S$200,000)	18%
Next S$40,000 (S$200,000 - S$240,000)	19%
Next S$40,000 (S$240,000 - S$280,000)	19.5%
Next S$40,000 (S$280,000 - S$320,000)	20%
Above S$320,000	22%

For non-residents:

Flat rate of 15%, or resident rate, whichever is higher

WORKING HOURS

Statutory

up to

44 _hours

over 5 or 6 days

Typical Practice

40 _hours

8 hours, 5 days

OVERTIME

Overtime

Limits on overtime hours and pay apply only to blue-collar workers with salaries <S$4,500 or white-collar workers with salaries <S$2,600.

Overtime is capped at 12 hours a day and 72 hours a month.
Overtime pay is provided for work beyond the standard working hours, at a rate of 1.5 times the hourly basic rate of pay.
Hourly overtime pay = 1.5 x (Basic Monthly Salary x 12) / (52 weeks x 44 hours)

EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT

Fixed Term Contracts

Permanent Contracts

Probation

3 – 6 months

Termination

Notice period: 1 day - 1 month depending on length of employment.

Both parties must follow the terms and conditions for termination stated in the contract unless they mutually agree upon other terms.
A termination letter is mandatory. Any notice of termination must be in writing.

Severance:

Employees will be granted an ex-gratia payment if they have worked <2 years.
Unionized companies: 1 month’s salary for each year of service.
Non-unionized companies: 2 weeks – 1 month’s salary for each year of service.

PUBLIC HOLIDAY

Paid Public Holidays

Every year

When a public holiday falls on a non-working day, employees will get paid time off in lieu.
If employees work on a public holiday, they should be paid additional wages or given time off in lieu.

LEAVE

LEAVE TYPE	ENTITLEMENT AMOUNT	APPLICABLE TO
Annual Leave	Minimum 7 days, up to 14 days after each completed year.	After 3 months of employment.
Sick Leave / Hospitalization Leave	14 days for paid sick leave. 60 days for paid hospitalization leave (includes 14 days of sick leave).	After 3 months of employment.
Maternity Leave	16 weeks (citizen baby) 12 weeks (non-citizen baby)	Expecting mothers, who have worked for at least 3 continuous months before the birth of the child.
Shared Parental Leave	Up to 4 weeks, shared from the wife’s maternity leave.	Fathers, who have worked for at least 3 continuous months before the birth of the child.
Paternity Leave	2 weeks, with another 2 weeks subject to employer agreement.	Fathers, who have worked for at least 3 continuous months before the birth of the child.
Childcare Leave	6 days (citizen baby) 2 days (non-citizen baby)	Parents with children <7 years old. After 3 months of employment.
Adoption Leave	12 weeks (must be citizen baby within 6 months of adoption).	Adoptive mothers with adopted children 0-11 months old. After 3 months of employment.
Extended Childcare Leave	2 days (citizen baby)	Parents with youngest children 7-12 years old. After 3 months of employment.
Unpaid Infant Care Leave	6 days (citizen baby)	Parents with children <2 years old. After 3 months of employment.
National Service Leave	<40 days, depending on the training duration.	Men in military reserve, who are called up for training.