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Employer of Record Singapore

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Employer of Record Singapore

Singapore’s complex labor regulations often present challenges for businesses. Agility provides a streamlined solution for hiring local talent.

Currency

Singapore Dollar (SGD)

Population

5.9 million

Capital City

Singapore

Minimum Wage

No minimum wage

Local Language

Malay, English, mandarin, Tamil

Working Hours

40-44 hours per week

Employer of record in Singapore

When you hire in Singapore, the Employer of Record acts as the legal employer for your workers, taking care of the entire employment life cycle. This includes handling all the legal legwork, such as payroll, taxes, mandatory benefits, employment contracts, and ensuring compliance with Singapore labor laws.

  • Handles all employment matters
  • Functions as the official employer
  • Streamlines the hiring process
  • Ensures legal compliance when hiring a worker.

How does an Employer of Record Singapore work?

Agility

We handle the legal aspects of hiring workers, including managing HR, benefits, payroll, and taxes.

Company

Focuses on core business activities. Manages assigned employee’s tasks and performance.

Employee

Performs the assigned work, just like any other employee.

Cost Calculator

Use our easy calculator to explore the employment costs in Singapore. Share a bit more information, and we’ll deliver a detailed salary breakdown straight to your inbox.

Payment Frequency

In line with the Singapore employment act, salaries are paid monthly and within 7 days of the end of the salary period, or 14 days for overtime payments.

 

Employee Tax – 5% to 42%

Social security: 5% – 20%

Income tax: Begin paying once gross income is over 20,000SGD

 

Employer Tax – 7.75% to 17.25%

Social security: 7.5%- 17%

Skills development fund: 0.25%

 

Probation Period

Not a requirement, but it is common for companies to agree to a 3-6 month long probation period.

 

Employment Law

Employment contract

Wage statement

Labor union affiliation

Flexible work arrangements

Whistleblower protection

Protection from harassment

Data privacy

Workplace safety

Unfair dismissal protection

 

Employee Termination

Singapore’s employment laws generally favor employers, but they also provide some protections for employees. Employers must typically give notice before terminating employment, unless there is a just cause such as serious misconduct or incompetence. Employees may be entitled to severance payments in certain cases, especially for redundancy or termination without just cause. Prohibited grounds for dismissal include factors like race, religion, nationality, marital status, and pregnancy. Employees who believe they have been unfairly dismissed can file complaints with the Ministry of Manpower. Employment contracts often include specific provisions regarding termination terms.

There is no legislation establishing a general right to severance after termination.

 

Employee Benefits

Statutory Benefits

Central Provident Fund: All Singapore citizens and permanent residents must participate in the national pension scheme, and their employers are required to contribute to it monthly.

Health insurance: Access to a government-funded medical savings scheme is provided to all Singapore citizens and permanent residents. Foreign workers with work permits or S passes are entitled to healthcare provisions from their employer.

Common Additional Benefits

Medical coverage

Daily allowances

Extra vacation time

Employee stock options

Performance-based pay

Moving allowance

Immigration assistance

Flexible work arrangements

Professional growth

Statutory Leave

7-14 days off and bank holidays
5-60 days sick leave
16 weeks maternity leave
4 weeks paternity leave
42 days parental leave (per parent)

FAQ

Think of it like this: Agility EOR becomes the legal employer of your employees, taking care of all the paperwork and compliance headaches.

Agility EOR
  • We manage the onboarding process and ensure everything’s in order before your employee starts
  • We make sure your employees are treated fairly and compliantly in their relevant territory
  • We take care of all HR matters, and can answer any and all HR queries you may have e.g. maternity/paternity leave, holidays, sick pay, and more
  • We provide compliant contracts, process local payroll, and file taxes
  • We issue payslips and handle payments to the employee and authorities
Your Company
  • You find and manage your employees’ daily tasks
  • You support their development through their work
  • You follow our guidance on employment laws and best practices
  • You ensure payroll bills are paid to Agility EOR on time

 

Benefits of using an Employer of Record (EOR)

  • Faster and easier hiring: No need to set up your own legal entity.
  • Reduced risk and compliance burden: We handle the legal and administrative complexities.
  • More time and resources: Focus on your core business while we manage your employees.

There are various ways to employ people in Singapore, each with differing levels of costs and compliance:

Employee is employed by you and paid by you from your overseas Company

  • Pros: It seems to be the most economical and convenient option.
  • Cons: Failure to comply with mandatory social security contributions as required by law, with Singapore employment regulations affecting the employee.

 

Entity Set-up

  • Pros: Choosing this option may be the most cost-effective solution for recruiting a significant number of employees, typically exceeding 15.
  • Cons: Establishing a legal business entity and complying with Singapore’s labor and tax regulations can require a significant investment of both finances and time, especially for smaller businesses. This approach is often impractical for companies with fewer than 15 employees.

 

Using an Employer of Record
  • Pros: Employing an Employer of Record service in Singapore is the best way to efficiently handle payroll, HR, and compliance tasks, especially for small teams with less than 15 members.
  • Cons: It can be expensive when hiring many employees. Selecting the right Employer of Record provider can also be challenging.

 

Hire a contractor in Singapore
  • Pros: This option is budget-friendly when the employee is not tied to your company and can have someone else cover their responsibilities on days off.
  • Cons: Hiring a full-time employee exclusively for your company without the correct employment status is against the law in Singapore. The consequences for misclassifying employees can include fines and criminal charges.

Yes, if a worker is exclusively dedicated to your company and follows your organization’s instructions, they must be categorized as an employee according to Singapore employment laws.

Failing to do so is a violation of the law and can result in severe penalties, including unpaid vacation pay and social security contributions, the requirement to set up a local office, and potential legal action from the employee for violating their employment rights.

Setting up your business in Singapore starts with registering it with the Commercial Register and getting a trade license from the appropriate authorities. However, beyond the initial steps, tasks like setting up a physical office for tax purposes, opening a local bank account (often requiring in-person presence), using payroll software that complies with Singapore regulations, and meeting tax filing requirements can make the process more complex.

Hiring people in Singapore means adhering to specific legal obligations is crucial for HR compliance. In essence, it means ensuring your company strictly adheres to all employment and work practice regulations. However, HR compliance in Singapore is more than just following rules; it protects both your employees and your business. By complying with employment regulations, you ensure fair treatment for your workforce, covering areas such as sick leave, annual leave, minimum wage, and proper working hours. This not only promotes a positive work environment but also reduces the chances of facing financial penalties, legal consequences, and potential lawsuits due to non-compliance.

By teaming up with Agility EOR as your Employer of Record in Singapore, you can streamline tax and social security responsibilities. We take care of all employee-related paperwork and payments, guaranteeing full compliance and allowing you to concentrate on managing your business worry-free.

Agility EOR manages Singapore employment law and compliance, while your company is accountable for daily team management, handling performance concerns, implementing disciplinary measures, and promoting a positive work environment through transparent communication.

Agility EOR handles the legal side of things in Singapore , so you can focus on managing your team and their daily tasks.

In Singapore, both employers and employees have to pay taxes. Employers make contributions to the Central Provident Fund and Skills development fund for all employees who are Singapore citizens or Permanent Residents. Employees contribute to the Central provident fund and pay personal income tax.

Employees under a Singapore Employer of Record are entitled to legal protections and a standard employment contract. This encompasses statutory benefits such as maternity leave, annual leave, and sick pay, as well as relevant tax credits. It’s crucial to highlight that the Singapore public healthcare system offers coverage to all residents, not just employees.

Agility EOR handles the administrative burden of HR compliance for you:

Trusted Partners: Agility EOR works closely with top Singapore employment lawyers and advisors to ensure strict adherence to local legal requirements in employment contracts and other essential documents.

Comprehensive Understanding: We possess extensive knowledge of various aspects of Singapore employment law, such as payroll, social security, data privacy, notice periods, and remote work regulations.

Timely Response: Our internal team is readily available to provide immediate assistance whenever an issue arises.

Wondering if expanding in Singapore is right for you?

Read on or speak to a member of our team now

Singapore Employer of Record Benefits

When you choose Agility EOR to expand in Singapore, we guarantee an EOR Service tailored to the needs of your business

Compliance

We are on top of regulatory changes in Singapore so you can relax.

Cost reduction

Allow our economies of scale to work in your favour.

High Service Levels

You and your employees have a dedicated account manager.

Fixed Cost Pricing

We will agree our professional fees up front based on your needs – no nasty surprises!

Consolidated Invoicing & Payments

Make one monthly payment to cover all your tax, social and wages costs from one to one thousand employees.

Fast delivery

You can have 'boots on the ground' within days on our infrastructure.

Reduced Risk

All wage taxes are remitted in full to the Singapore authorities by professionals ensuring liabilities are met, giving you peace of mind.

Supply Chain Transparency

We only pay employees through local full employed solutions meaning Singapore payroll tax is paid on all funds.

Save Time and Money

Our expertise is at your disposal. The need for you to have internal HR, Payroll and admin staff is eliminated.

Download our full Singapore Employment Guide

Find out all about employing in Singapore

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