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Moving overseas is a big decision, and it’s one that can become more complicated when you have children. In addition to finding a new home and job, you’ll also need to consider your child’s schooling and well-being. How will they adjust to a new culture and climate? Will they be able to make friends easily?

Younger kids may have an easier time adapting while older kids are likely to struggle more with leaving their friends behind. With a little planning, however, the process can be much smoother. We’ve previously discussed the things to prepare before moving to Singapore but if you are planning to raise your child in Singapore, you will need to take the time to prepare thoroughly and ensure that it will be a positive experience for your whole family.

1. Explore the schooling options

One of the biggest decisions parents have to make is what kind of school to enroll them in: Local or international. Local schools can provide a more immersive experience, allowing your child to learn about the culture in Singapore and make friends with other children who are familiar with the area. Take note that if you are planning to enrol your child into a public school in Singapore, they will need to apply for a Student’s Pass unless they hold a Dependant’s Pass or an Immigration Exemption Order.

On the other hand, international schools may be a better fit for kids who are struggling to adapt to their new surroundings as they can provide a sense of stability and community. International schools can offer a more familiar educational experience, with curricula that are typically aligned with what children are used to in their home countries. If your child is not fluent in English, international schools also usually take a bilingual or multilingual approach to education, which can help your child learn the language quickly. With more than 50 international schools in Singapore to choose from, be sure to explore the various options available that can provide the best learning environment for your child.

2. Be familiar with the admission requirements

When that is done, it will be useful to know the school’s admission requirements before beginning the application process. This will save you time by allowing you to immediately eliminate options that are not a good match for your child. Each school may have a different set of criteria; some may require a placement test to assess your child’s academic abilities and ensure that they are placed in the appropriate class level.

Others may need additional documents as part of the registration procedure, so it is essential to check what will be needed in advance. For example, they will need a passport-sized photograph of your child, a photocopy of both child’s and parents’ passports, teacher reference letters as well as the most recent official transcripts or report cards. Once everything is submitted, the school will review your child’s application and notify you of their decision.

3. Know the start date of the application period

That being said, make sure to meet the application period of the shortlisted school to successfully secure a spot for your child. By knowing the start and end date of the application period, you can have sufficient time to gather the necessary documents and avoid any last-minute scrambling. Failing to meet the deadline can otherwise result in your child’s application being rejected, so it is crucial to plan ahead of time and align your move with it.

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With your child’s future school settled, you can then focus on other aspects of your relocation to Singapore. This includes getting comprehensive insurance coverage in your new country of residence. Life and medical insurance, for instance, can help to bridge the gap by providing access to quality healthcare and financial assistance in the event of an accident or critical illness. Even if you’re only renting a house in Singapore, it is also a good idea to insure your belongings with home contents insurance. Ultimately, insurance provides peace of mind – knowing that you and your family are protected against the financial consequences of unforeseen events.

To safeguard your family’s new chapter in Singapore, feel free to reach out to Expat Insurance and learn more about our home contents insurance policies today.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a seismic shift in the way we work, with many employees now working from home on a permanent basis. Even as more are able to return to the office, many are choosing to continue with the WFH arrangements they’ve made during the pandemic.

Challenges and benefits of working remotely

For some, the ability to work from home has saved them a significant amount of time and money on commuting costs. It has also given them more flexibility in terms of their work schedule, which can be a huge perk for parents or caregivers in Singapore. Additionally, some employees may simply find they are more productive when working from home.

However, while this arrangement has its advantages, it can also pose challenges for managers. This includes issues in:

Communication: Staying in touch with remote employees can be difficult, even with platforms like Slack, Skype and Zoom. Managers may also struggle to provide adequate supervision and support to staff who are not physically present.
Productivity: With people in different locations, it can be tough to keep track of what needs to be done and who is responsible for what. This can lead to confusion and frustration, especially if deadlines are not being met.
Company culture: Some employees may miss the social interaction that comes with being in the office. Managers may also miss opportunities for informal mentoring and networking that happen when staff members are in close proximity to one another.
Retention: If employees are satisfied with working from home, there is a risk that they may leave the company if they are offered a job with another company that allows them to work remotely. This can be a significant loss for the company, both in terms of the investment made in the employee and in terms of knowledge and expertise.

Moreover, working from home can make it difficult to establish and maintain professional boundaries. For example, employees may find themselves working longer hours and this can lead to burnout. As a manager, it is crucial to find new ways to stay connected with your employees and ensure that everyone feels engaged with their work. It’s a tricky balance to strike but with the below tips, you can motivate your employees to return to the office.

Return-to-office engagement ideas

1. Organise team lunches

For some, the prospect of going back to the office after months of working from home may feel like a step backwards. They may worry about readjusting to a more traditional work environment and managing their work-life balance. Others may find it difficult to reconnect with colleagues after being out of touch for so long.

As a start, team lunches can be a great step to gather everyone in the office. A weekly or monthly lunch gathering gives employees a chance to socialise, bond over common interests and catch up on work in a relaxed setting. This can provide a much-needed break from the isolation of working from home. It can also be a great opportunity for you to check in with your staff and get feedback on projects. When setting up team lunches, be sure to schedule them in advance so that everyone has time to clear their calendars.

2. Set expectations

Face-to-face interactions are still the best way to build relationships and encourage collaboration. Besides regular team lunches, you can also make it mandatory for employees to come into office at least once a week. This will give them a chance to collaborate or simply get to know their colleagues in person. Additionally, it will help to ensure that they remain engaged with the company and invested in its success.

3. Allow flexible working hours

With that in mind, another way to encourage remote workers to come into the office on occasion is to allow flexible working hours. With flexible working hours, employees can choose when they want to come in to work. This can help to make the office a more attractive place to work as it gives employees more control over their schedules and work-life balance.

4. Offer perks and benefits

Finally, employees should feel like they have a good work-life balance and that their health and wellbeing are being taken into consideration. On top of flexible working hours, you can also consider including more desirable perks like expanded choices for health insurance and staff gym membership as part of your wellness program initiatives. The goal is to make the office a more attractive place to work and give employees the motivation they need to return. By offering these employee benefits, you can effectively reduce absenteeism and improve productivity. In turn, you can gain a significant advantage in attracting and retaining top talent in Singapore.

If you are keen to renew your employee benefits insurance, get in touch with Expat Insurance today for more information.

In Asia, Singapore ranks 14th globally for quality of life and standard of living, according to the 2021 U.S. News Best Countries rankings. The Republic is known for its political stability, safety, cleanliness and thriving economy. It’s no surprise that many foreigners consider Singapore when thinking of cities to move to. If this is you, finding out the type of healthcare you need before you move could help to ensure you’re fully prepared if you have a health emergency in Singapore. In this article, we provide you with all the reasons why insurance is essential and how to go about choosing a plan.

Why is it important to be protected?

The cost of healthcare in Singapore has risen steadily over the last few years. According to data by Statista, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) of healthcare in Singapore in 2021 was more than twice than the figure in 1990 – indicating rising inflation levels. What does this mean for those seeking healthcare treatment here? If, for example, one develops a sore throat or breaks an arm, having access to the right medical treatment can help you heal quickly. If you contract a critical illness, like kidney failure or major cancer, being provided financial aid can help you cover the cost of treatment sessions and basic necessities like food and rent.

Medishield is the insurance plan offered by the Singapore government to Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents (PRs). As a foreigner living in Singapore, however, the same subsidy benefits for healthcare do not apply In order to not have to foot heavy hospital bills, having the right insurance plan that comprehensively covers you is key. This ensures you wouldn’t have to dip into your savings, take out a loan, or borrow from family and friends.

Benefits of medical insurance

Getting treatment at private hospitals can be expensive. The cost of treatment for private hospitals averages $1,800 to $3,700 per day. Your employer might provide you access to a basic healthcare plan, but this may not be enough to cover all your needs or that of your family. Private medical insurance plans can help to plug any gaps in these plans. There are also specific instances where foreigners would need top-up insurance. If you’re planning on having children, adding on maternity insurance will provide you peace of mind from conception to post-delivery. If you already have a family in Singapore, buying family insurance will help cover your family’s needs.

Benefits of life insurance

Life insurance, such as critical illness insurance and Total Permanent Disability (TPD) offers protection in the form of a lump sum payout. For example, if you contract major cancer or have a stroke, having a pay out can be helpful to cover treatment costs. You might also not be able to continue working, which can mean a loss of income. Having financial assistance can provide assurance and peace of mind by ensuring you don’t have to pay expensive bills. With a Total Permanent Disability (TPD) insurance rider add-on, you can also be assured that you will be protected in the event you lose your sense of sight or experience a loss of limb.

How to choose a health insurance plan?

When choosing a health insurance plan, it’s important to consider several things, such as your budget, your needs, the deductible amount and the coverage offered by the plan. Your goal is to have comprehensive coverage while taking on a plan with an affordable premium. Ensure that you are able to set aside this sum after deducting the cost of your basic necessities, such as food, rent and transportation. Take note of the deductible amount – the amount you pay before your health insurance pays out. The benefit of a lower deductible amount is that what you pay out of pocket is less, but you will have to pay higher premiums.

Some companies offer their staff employee benefits through group insurance. This insurance solution offers coverage in the form of hospital and surgical insurance, term life, critical illness, personal accident and dental. Find out what your employee already covers you for, and speak to your insurance provider to find out what gaps you might have in your plans. In this way, you can determine how you can supplement the plans you currently have, including the ones you might have from back home.

Protect yourself and your loved ones with Expat Insurance

Having access to healthcare when you need it is vital. As a foreigner living in Singapore, you can protect yourself from incurring high expenses by helping to cover the costs of medical care by having health insurance. Speak to our insurance advisors at Expat Insurance to have your current plans looked at and for us to walk you through the benefits of our various plans. We are keen on providing you with the best coverage by proposing insurance plans most suited to your needs so that you can protect yourself and your loved ones.

Recently moved into your newly renovated home with beautiful hardwood flooring? Or decked out your home with the latest OLED television? You might have invested in the items in your house and the total value of your fixtures, floorings, home appliances, kitchen silverware and carpets might be worth a lot. Ensure you have home and contents insurance to keep these items sufficiently protected in the event of a fire, flood or some other mishap. In this article, we list some factors to consider when choosing a home insurance plan to protect your home in Singapore.

What should you look out for when choosing home insurance?

1. Property ownership

The type of home insurance you should purchase is dependent on whether you own your house, are renting the property or are a landlord leasing out the property. If you own the property, insurance advisors recommend getting comprehensive coverage to ensure that you are well protected financially if your property and its contents sustain loss or damages during a fire, flood or in the event of a theft.

If you’re a landlord leasing out your furnished home, it’s especially vital that you buy insurance plans to cover the cost of damages to furniture, appliances or priceless items like artwork. By purchasing home insurance, you also mitigate potential rental loss if you are unable to rent out your property if this happens. If you’re a foreigner renting an apartment in Singapore, you might want to consider purchasing home and contents insurance especially if your home is unfurnished and you have bought several expensive items, as these items belong to you and not the landlord.

2. The value of your home’s contents

It’s sometimes easy to overlook the fact that your home is where all your personal items are housed and that the combined value of all your items can be significant. From home appliances to bathroom fixtures, to kitchen crockery – you want to ensure all of it’s protected in the event of a break-in or if a fire breaks out.

Big-ticket items like sofas, as well as home electrical appliances, such as your refrigerators and washing machines, can be costly. Your personal belongings like your clothes, shoes, bags, and jewellery are also considered part of your home’s contents and should be calculated as part of your home’s total value. Don’t forget to also add in your fine art and antique collection, such as paintings, and sculptures which can be especially hard to replace.

If you’ve renovated your home, take note to also include this cost when calculating the value of your home. Renovating your home can be costly, especially if it’s a major renovation involving flooring replacement, or the addition of built-in wardrobes, or new bathroom fixtures such as new toilet bowls and wash basins.

3. Coverage and add-ons

An important part of the process is determining what you would like to be covered for. For example, in the event of a major fire, what happens if your home is destroyed along with all your personal items, you sustain injuries and require a temporary place to stay? Will your insurance cover the costs of all of this? Taking the time to select a home contents insurance plan that provides coverage for these would help you put your mind at ease. Some key items include the following:

Damage to physical structure of house – Covers building structure.
Home contents – Covers home appliances, furniture, electronic devices, home entertainment systems.
Personal liability – Covers injuries sustained by someone in your home or any damages done to your neighbour’s property in the event a fire, for example, breaks out due to personal negligence.
Alternative accommodation – Covers interim accommodation if you can no longer live in your home while it’s being renovated.
Pets – Covers loss of pets.

Different policies offer levels of coverage and some providers offer add-ons at higher premium rates. Read the policies presented to you carefully to determine what is covered. To obtain comprehensive, all-inclusive coverage, consider all-risk plans – plans that cover you for everything except for what is explicitly excluded. Otherwise, insured peril policies provide coverage for only what is listed in your plan.

Insure your home and valuables with Expat Insurance

When deciding on a home and contents insurance and which provider to go with, it’s important to calculate what your home and the contents within it are worth to be able to determine if the coverage provided by the insurance plan sufficiently covers you. Browse Expat Insurance’s Home, Contents and Valuables Insurance to find out more. Or speak to our insurance advisors to learn more about how our plans can fit your needs and ensure you and your loved ones are adequately protected.

In the span of a year a lot can happen: Your company might have expanded, doubling or tripling in size, and you might have outgrown your medical or term life insurance policies; you may have set up a new overseas office which requires your employees to take business trips, so you might want to consider adding or upgrading your travel insurance plans.

Renew your employee benefits to meet your team’s evolving needs. The employee benefits insurance you take on will be tied to you for a year so take the time to carefully review your current plans, hear what your employees have to say and find how you can improve what you are currently offering them.

In this article we explain why employee benefit insurance renewals are important and what you can do to ensure you are prepared to handle them:

Why are employee benefits insurance renewals important?

The main aim of an employee benefits insurance plan is to be able to ensure your team is well taken care of if something unfortunate happens, whether it’s gastric flu or a sports injury that requires knee surgery. As an employer, you have a duty of care – the responsibility to ensure that your team is provided access to the hospital treatment they need when they need it. You want to be certain that no employee is left with a large hospital bill that they struggle to pay. Or that your employee’s family struggles to fulfil basic needs in the event of permanent disability or death.

Employee benefits can include protection plans, group term life and group medical insurance. Renewals of these insurance plans are an excellent opportunity for you as an employer to reassess your current plan and determine if it still provides adequate coverage. A 2022 survey conducted by market researcher, Milieu Insight, found that 60% of respondents said that they are more willing to join an SME that has medical benefits. By offering medical benefits that shield your employees well, you can attract candidates as well as retain your current employees.

What to consider when renewing policies?

1. Expiry date of your current plan

Having the expiry date at the back of your mind would ensure you give yourself enough runway and can prepare well ahead of time to deal with the renewal process and all it entails. You want to avoid a situation where you are undecided or are in the midst of negotiations with your insurance provider and your plan expires – leaving your team without any insurance and vulnerable if something happens.

So what should you do? Gather all the information you need and know what changes you have to make to your policies before your coverage expires. First, take note of how your team has changed, what their needs are now and how the new policies should fill in these gaps. Next, gather feedback from your team – what policies currently cover them? In what way do they feel their coverage can be improved? Lastly, with this information you can approach your insurance provider and start the process of choosing policies and negotiating premium costs.

2. Employee needs and satisfaction levels

Each employee has a different set of needs depending on their age, stage of life, and number of dependents. Ensure your employees are aware of the coverage they need and the plans your company currently has, by arranging a panel session. Expat Insurance organises an Employee Communication Session to ensure all employees are well informed of their current benefits at each renewal.

Getting direct feedback from your team on their needs is the first step to ensuring you can fulfil them. Create opportunities for regular, open dialogue about what your employees’ needs are. This can be done through a simple online survey. Also, review your employees’ claim history – this provides you with a clear picture of your employees’ current needs. It’s also important that you take note of feedback regarding the claims processing process – is it straightforward, hassle-free and free of dispute? If not, how can you, together with your insurance provider, improve this process?

3. Rising premium costs

The cost of medical service and health Insurance premiums are rising in Singapore due to the Republic’s ageing population, medical advancements and increasing cost of healthcare manpower services and operations.

Additionally, the cost of corporate insurance premiums may increase due to the changes in your team. If the average age of your team has increased, so will the cost of the premiums. The size of your team also has an impact on how much you pay for premiums. Take into account your claim history for the past year too, as a sizable claim amount can significantly increase insurance premiums costs for your company the following year.

This is also a good time to review the budget your company sets aside for insurance and to see how you can reallocate resources so that you are prioritising medical coverage.

Consult Expat Insurance to renew your corporate insurance package

Expat Insurance is an experienced insurance provider that understands that you want the best for your employees. Our insurance advisors in Singapore will review your existing employee benefits plans, the changing needs of your team and propose plans that match these needs.

Start a conversation with us today.

Singapore might be on your radar of countries to migrate to and start working in. It’s a great place to live and is ranked one of the top 10 cities in Asia-Pacific in terms of quality of living. Along with political stability, low crime rates and high-quality healthcare, Singapore also offers a thriving job market. Foreigners stand to gain from the numerous job opportunities the country offers. In the first quarter of 2022, the resident employment levels exceeded pre-pandemic levels, according to a report by Channel NewsAsia.

When considering jobs in Singapore, whether as a mid-career professional or someone looking to switch industries, it’s important to understand the job landscape here. In this way, you can chart your career journey here and be a step closer to working in a lucrative sector. If you are vying for a managerial position, understanding the right roles to take on will also help you to get there. In this article, we list some factors to consider when applying for jobs in Singapore as well as the key industries of 2022:

Factors to consider when choosing a job

It goes without saying that executive positions are some of the highest paying jobs in Singapore. According to a Michael Page report, C-suite roles such as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, command high annual salaries, starting from S$300,000 and can go up to as high as S$525,000. These figures apply to roles in sectors such as Business Services, Chemicals & Engineering, Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), Financial Services & Fintech and Healthcare & Life Sciences.

The digital transformation along with the changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic has also raised the profile of certain industries and heated up the job market in these sectors. Here are some of these industries you may consider when on the lookout for a job in Singapore:

Singapore’s most promising industries

1. Banking and finance

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) predicts that a total of 9,400 permanent jobs will be added to Singapore’s financial sector in 2022. Some examples of roles include financial analysts, compliance executives, relationship managers and risk managers. The fintech sector also shows much promise; with developments in blockchain technology, analytics, big data and artificial intelligence being applied to the financial sector to make financial services more secure. To keep in accordance with ESG principles, companies are also ensuring sustainable financial practices are in place, creating more job opportunities for professionals in this sector.

2. Cyber security

As Singapore gears toward becoming a Smart Nation, the Singapore government has set aside S$1 billion to ensure adequate resources are devoted to securing online infrastructure systems and protecting personal data and information. Several international cybersecurity companies like Palo Alto Networks, Ensign and Acronis have established branches here. If you’re a cyber security professional, whether a security analyst or a penetration tester, choosing to live in Singapore will prove to be an excellent choice.

3. Manufacturing

Manufacturing remains the Republic’s largest industry, contributing 20 to 25% of its annual GDP. Key industry clusters include electronics, chemicals, biomedical sciences, logistics and transport engineering. During the pandemic, from 2019 to 2021, biotechnology, pharmaceutical and clinical research companies recorded a multifold increase in hiring.

4. Artificial Intelligence, robotics and data analytics

As different sectors adopt industry 4.0 technologies, IoT connectivity and smart automation, the demand for professionals with the expertise to fill newly created roles related to tech has increased. Specialised software engineers, product engineers and developers are vital to the creation of robots, writing programming code that helps to automate tasks. Data science, analytics and machine learning also allow massive amounts of data to be collected and interpreted and for predictive analytics to offer solutions to problems. The role of the data scientist is hence growing in importance in Singapore and according to the Robert Half Salary Guide, it is one of the five in-demand jobs in Singapore.

5. Logistics and supply chain

COVID-19 has also had a significant impact on the economy. According to LinkedIn, the e-commerce sector recorded 87% growth and a 30% rise in new online consumers in 2020. As more people turn to online shopping, the logistics and supply chain industry has to also keep pace with these changes in purchasing behaviour. Hence, there is a demand for skilled and experienced professionals, such as warehouse workers and planning and supply chain executives in this sector.

Ensure you are protected with Expat Insurance

If you’re a foreigner who is looking out for job opportunities in Singapore, considering the top industries in the country can aid in your search. As you start reviewing job offers, taking note of the employee benefits package offered by your potential employer can also go a long way in ensuring that the healthcare needs of you and your loved ones are covered. Expat Insurance also offers top-up insurance that acts as an add-on to the insurance plans provided by your company.

Speak with us today to learn more.