Indians not to trip on base salary norm for S’pore work visas
Minimum salary requirements will no more prevent Indian professionals from obtaining visas to work in Singapore.
By Gaurav Malani, TNN |
NEW DELHI: Minimum salary requirements will no more prevent Indian professionals from obtaining visas to work in Singapore. A key provision has been included in the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) between Indian and Singapore, highly-placed diplomatic sources said.
As of now, the salary benchmark was a key criterion that had to be met for grant of visa for Singapore. The Singapore government’s norm is that professionals seeking visa should draw salaries equal to the prevailing pay packet in Singapore. A number of professionals were denied visas due to non-compliance with this norm.
The situation is all set to change now as the CECA contains a provision under which the salary of the Indian professional would be calculated by including allowances paid in India as well as Singapore. Addition of these perks to the basic pay would enable Indian professionals to meet the salary benchmark criteria, the sources said.
This facility will be initially available to those classified under 127 categories of professional services. We expect a situation where Indian professionals are not denied visa only due to the salary benchmark criteria, said sources.
The development is significant for India since it implies liberalisation of Mode 4 in delivery of services. This category, also known as movement of natural persons under GATS, is considered a key area of market access in services for India.
As of now, the salary benchmark was a key criterion that had to be met for grant of visa for Singapore. The Singapore government’s norm is that professionals seeking visa should draw salaries equal to the prevailing pay packet in Singapore. A number of professionals were denied visas due to non-compliance with this norm.
The situation is all set to change now as the CECA contains a provision under which the salary of the Indian professional would be calculated by including allowances paid in India as well as Singapore. Addition of these perks to the basic pay would enable Indian professionals to meet the salary benchmark criteria, the sources said.
This facility will be initially available to those classified under 127 categories of professional services. We expect a situation where Indian professionals are not denied visa only due to the salary benchmark criteria, said sources.
The development is significant for India since it implies liberalisation of Mode 4 in delivery of services. This category, also known as movement of natural persons under GATS, is considered a key area of market access in services for India.
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