What Are The Employee Benefits In Singapore

When it comes to employment opportunities in Singapore for foreign talents, benefits and securing a work visa like the Employment Pass are the most critical before signing the contract. These employee benefits are different across the world – check out what are the common employee benefits in Singapore.

What are the Main Types of Leaves in Singapore?

The most common types of leaves are annual leave and medical & hospitalisation leave.

1. Annual Leave
   • All employees are entitled to 7 days of paid annual leave
   • While 7 days of annual leave is the minimum, most employers offer 14 days (and up to 28 days)
   • Amount will be pro-rated based on the number of months worked
   • The number of leaves will increase with the length of stay in the company
2. Medical & Hospitalisation Leave
   • Paid sick leaves are entitled to an official Medical Certification
   • Up to 14 days of outpatient sick leave
   • Up to 14 days of hospitalisation leaves – this is only valid if the employee is warded or requires bed rest
   • Medical fees will be partly reimbursed depending on each individual’s contract
3. Childcare Leave
   • Singaporeans and Permanent Residents are entitled to 6 days of childcare leave for children below 7 years old
   • To lessen the burden on the employers, the 4th to 6th day of childcare leave is sponsored by the government at a cap of S$500 a day
   • The cap includes CPF contributions
   • Foreign employees are typically offered 3 days of childcare leave

Find out more about getting medications and Singapore’s health facilities here!

Annual Wage Supplement (AWS) & Bonus in Singapore

Aside from the entitled paid leaves, AWS, also known as ’13-Month Bonus’ and bonuses are additional common entitlements for employees, although it is not compulsory.

• AWS is a single annual payment
• Bonuses are offered at the end of each year to reward employees
• Not compulsory unless stated in the employment contract

Other Types of Leaves in Singapore

• Marriage leave
• Family leave
• Adoption leave
• Maternity leave
• Exam leave
• IPPT leave
• Compassion leaves
• Birthday leave

Allowances & Employee Benefits in Singapore

The common employee benefits and allowances include:

1. Transportation Reimbursements
   • Tax relief on transportation or transport-related allowances
   • Includes parking costs, taxi fares, or fixed monthly transport allowance
   • Not taxable in Singapore
2. Retirement Benefits
   • Singaporean employers need to deduct a certain percentage for retirement
   • CPF members above 65 can claim their pension
   • Compulsory CPF is tax-free for both employers and employees for local employees (Singaporeans & Permanent Residents)
3. Housing Allowance
   • Depends on your position and the allowance is dependent on your position
   • Includes covering the costs of rental for your apartment

Supplemental Employee Benefits in Singapore

Aside from the above, some companies also go beyond to provide more employee benefits to improve the overall compensation package and enhance overall well-being.

These include:

• Mobile Phone Allowance
  With a growing emphasis on a balanced work-life cycle, there is a greater need to distinguish between work and non-work hours. Thus, employers are increasingly offering employees a “mobile phone” allowance to purchase a mobile phone dedicated to work.
• Medical Insurance
  Large companies typically offer insurance coverage, with some even covering dependents to draw in talent.
• Study Benefits
  As the nation promotes active upskilling, employers are also training their employees constantly to upgrade their skills.
• Voluntary Benefits
  Large companies typically provide a range of products and services from other firms that can be enjoyed at a discount for employees (through the employer).
• Other benefits include:
  Dental, gym membership, season parking and other forms of insurance. The list is non-exhaustive.

Things to Check in Your Employment Contract

Aside from the abovementioned benefits, there are certain clauses that every employee in Singapore should check in their employment contract. This is because the employment contract holds the power that is binding for both parties, especially if you earn more than S$2,600 a month.

Here are key things to look out for:

1. Salary & payment date
   • Is the salary the agreed salary that you have with your new employer?
   • When are they paying you? Note that for different countries, some companies pay mid-month and some on the 7th.
2. Termination
   • How long is your termination period?
3. Probation
   • How long is your probation period?
4. Notice period
   • How long is your notice period?
5. Duration of contract
   • Is there a fixed duration for your contract?