Singapore exploits the lack of internship places of Australian foreign medical students, convinces graduate doctors to come and work

 

SINGAPORE intends to 'fully exploit' the lack of internship places for foreign medical students in Australia in order to convince more graduate doctors to come and work here.

Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan yesterday described Australia's shortage as 'an opportunity'. He added: 'We have training places. We welcome applicants, especially returning Singaporeans.'

But he said locally-trained graduates will have no problems getting a place, and there is still room to accommodate more students.

The Straits Times reported on Tuesday that foreign medical graduates in Australia may miss out on internship places in the country's hospitals, which will leave them unable to practise there. The development comes as Singapore faces a high demand for doctors.

Asked whether the Australians had talked to the ministry about internship arrangements, Mr Khaw said at least one medical school dean has expressed an interest in collaborating with Singapore. The minister added that he views this as a 'recruitment exercise'.

Mr Khaw compared it to Singapore's recent success in attracting those who trained in Britain. Speaking at an event in Woodlands, he said this success was down to 'various European Union rules which favour, for example, East Europeans rather than Asians', adding: 'So I just roll out the red carpet.'

The demand for doctors is set to stay high with the opening of Jurong General Hospital in 2014. A third medical school, a tie-up between Nanyang Technological University and Imperial College London, is set to start in 2013 to boost the number of local doctors.

Meanwhile, Australia's internship shortage is set to worsen next year, when two schools' first batches of medical students graduate. Graduates there must complete a year of internship with an authorised hospital before being allowed to gain medical accreditation.

Singaporean medical students who cannot get places could still face problems even if they want to come back to Singapore to take up internships.

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) at One North Buona Vista

This is because, having been out of the country for several years, they may lack the appropriate contacts and knowledge of which specialities to apply for.

Some are calling for the Singapore authorities to help them secure internship placements here. One of them, Ms Whitney Chua, 22, feels places should be 'guaranteed to all medical graduates'.

Mr Quak Zhi-xuan, 25, a final year student at Monash University and president of student group the Singapore Medical Society of Victoria (SMSV), said such measures to help graduates who had studied abroad would make their decision to return here much easier. To push for the authorities to take more action, the SMSV is forming a new student association, the Singapore Medical Society, which will include Singaporean medical students across Australia. There are 500 to 750 Singaporean medical students in Australia.

Canadian Aaron Wong, 24, a final-year student at the University of Melbourne, is keen to take up an internship in Singapore. But if he wishes to return to Australia to practise medicine, he will need to take an extra exam. This barrier, he feels, is something that the Singapore authorities can help get removed.

The Health Ministry said there are currently 30 house officers who studied in Australia working here.

What does an expatriate in Singapore need to know about paying taxes and how much?

Expatriates need to pay taxes, and the amount of tax depends on how much you have earned and on your tax residency in Singapore.

A  resident expatriate will be taxed on all income earned in Singapore and any overseas income that was brought into Singapore prior to 01 Jan 2004. The income, after deduction of tax reliefs, will be taxed at progressive resident rates. The foreign-sourced income (with the exception of those received through partnerships in Singapore) brought into Singapore on or after 01 Jan 2004 is tax exempt.

Tax implications at a glance

If your period of stay (including work) in Singapore	Resident status	Tax implications
Is 60 days or less	Non-resident	Your short term employment income is exempt from tax.
Is 61 to 182 days in a year	Non-resident	Your income earned in Singapore will be taxed at 15% or progressive resident rates, whichever is higher. Director’s fees and other income earned in or derived from Singapore are taxed at the prevailing rate of 20%
Is at least 183 days in a year	Resident for that year	All your income will be taxed at progressive resident rates.  You may claim tax reliefs.
Is at least 183 days for a continuous period over two years	Resident for both years	As above
Covers three consecutive years	Resident for both years	As above

 

Singapore’s taxation rate is one of the most competitive in the world. After deducting personal reliefs, personal income taxes are levied on a graduated scale which starts at 0% and is capped at a favorable 20%. There is no tax on income derived and received outside of Singapore, and no capital gains or estate taxes to worry about.

	Chargeable Income (SGD$)	Rate (%)	Gross Tax Payable (SGD$)
On the first On the next	$20,000 $10,000	0 3.50	$0 $350
On the first On the next	$30,000 $10,000	- 5.50	$350 $550
On the first On the next	$40,000 $40,000	- 8.50	$900 $3,400
On the first On the next	$80,000 $80,000	- 14	$4,300 $11,200
On the first On the next	$160,000 $160,000	- 17	$15,500 $27,200
On the first On the next	$320,000 $320,000	- 20	$42,700

 

Please refer to the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore website for more information.

MOM Introduced Measures to Prevent Profiteering from employment of Foreign Workers

For those who are planning to take their chances to hit the jackpot in Singapore, read and understand this information carefully.

To summarize, it is an offense/illegal for employers and employment agencies to collect/receive any form of payment (whether monetary or in kind) in exchange for employment consideration.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) introduced new Work Permit and S Pass conditions to prohibit employers from receiving payment as consideration for employing foreign workers, and recovering employment-related costs from foreign workers. A new licence condition will also be introduced to prohibit employment agencies from offering payment to employers, in exchange for hiring foreign workers through them. The new conditions will make clear to employers and employment agencies that engaging in such malpractices constitute an offence.

1. Why is MOM introducing new Work Permit & S Pass Conditions and Employment Agency Licence Condition to prevent employers and employment agencies from profiteering from employment of foreign workers?

   Such practices increase the debt burden and compromise the welfare of foreign workers. The new conditions will make clear to employers and employment agencies that engaging in such malpractices constitute an offence.

2. What are the new Work Permit and S Pass Conditions? When will it be effective?

   From 14 July 2008, it is an offence for employers to receive any form of payment (whether monetary or in kind) from a Work Permit holder or employment agent as consideration for the employment of the Work Permit holder. Employers are also prohibited from recovering employment-related expenses such as the levy and security bond, from their Work Permit holders. These new conditions will also apply to employers of S Pass holders.

3. What are some of the employment-related expenses that cannot be recovered from the foreign worker?

   An employer is not allowed to recover employment-related expenses, (whether monetary or in kind), which are payable by the employer. Some of these include, but are not limited to:
   a) fees associated with application, issuance, renewal, or reinstatement of the Work Permit or S Pass
   b) costs associated with furnishing a security deposit required by MOM;
   c) costs associated with medical insurance required by MOM;
   d) costs associated with medical examination required by MOM;
   e) foreign worker levy payments required by MOM;
   f) costs associated with training a foreign employee, where the training is provided by employer or required by MOM; or
   g) repatriation costs.
   

4. Who will be affected by the new Work Permit and S Pass Conditions?

   The new Work Permit conditions prohibiting employers from receiving payment (whether monetary or in kind) as consideration for the employment of the foreign worker or recovering employment-related costs will apply to all employers of Work Permit holders, including foreign domestic workers, and employers of S Pass holders.

5. What is the penalty for employers who do not comply with the new Work Permit and S Pass Conditions?

   Errant employers who breach the new Work Permit and S Pass conditions will be fined up to $5,000 and/or imprisoned for up to six months under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act. They will also be barred from employing foreign workers in the future.

6. What is the new Employment Agency Licence Condition? When will it be effective?

   From 14 July 2008, employment agencies will be prohibited from offering, directly or indirectly, any form of payment (whether monetary or in kind) to employers, in exchange for the employers hiring foreign workers through them.

7. Who will be affected by the new Employment Agency Licence Condition?

   The new Employment Agency Licence condition will apply to all employment agencies carrying out recruitment or placement activities of foreign workers, including foreign domestic workers.

8. What is the penalty for employment agencies who do not comply with the new Employment Agency Licence Condition?

   Employment agencies that breach the new Employment Agency Licence Condition will have their licences revoked and their security deposit forfeited.

9. Will MOM be implementing other measures to curb the errant practice and the recovery of employment-related costs from foreign workers?

   MOM is working with the Singapore National Employers Federation to advise employers not to engage in such malpractices.  Foreign workers will also be educated on the new regulatory measures through guidebooks issued by MOM, namely “Working in Singapore - A Guide for Foreign Workers” and “A Handy Guide for Foreign Domestic Workers in Singapore”, as well as briefings conducted during safety orientation courses.

10. How will employers and employment agencies be informed of the new Work Permit & S Pass Conditions and Employment Agency Licence Condition?

    Employers of Work Permit holders (including foreign domestic workers) and S Pass holders, as well as employment agencies will be informed of the Work Permit and S Pass Conditions and Employment Agency Licence Condition via circulars from MOM. MOM will also announce the new conditions on the WPOL and via the EA Alert.

11. How can foreign workers report breaches of the new legislations?

    Foreign workers can call the MOM Call Centre at (65) 6438 5122 or email to mom_fmmd@mom.gov.sg.

12. Where can I find more information on the new Work Permit and S Pass Regulations and Employment Agency Licence Condition?

    You may wish to call the MOM Contact Centre at (65) 6438 5122, or access the website for more information on the new Work Permit and S Pass Conditions and Employment Agency Licence Condition.

 

Source: http://www.mom.gov.sg