Singapore Jobs for Filipinos Getting Scarcer

Most Filipinos gather at the food court in Lucky Plaza, Orchard Road, Singapore

2011 job prospects in Singapore is getter harder - way harder than it was in 2010 when both Ciel and I went job hunting there for almost four months and found no decent jobs. Only the service sector was open to Filipinos. Imagine walking inside a restaurant or a food chain and you'll discover that the waiters are all college graduates from the Philippines.

I got an Employment Pass Eligibility Certificate (EPEC) and a one-year visa to look for a job in Singapore. But it was useless since jobs-in-demand are for engineers and IT specialists only.

Today, I got this letter from Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM):

Dear EPEC Holder,

Discontinuation of Employment Pass Eligibility Certificate (EPEC) Scheme

The Employment Pass Eligibility Certificate (EPEC) scheme would be discontinued from 1 December 2011. We would no longer accept any applications or appeals from that date.

However, all EPECs already issued would remain valid until their expiry dates. If you have not already done so, you will continue to be eligible to apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) from the Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA). In general, a non-renewable three-month LTVP will be issued.

Thank you for participating in the EPEC scheme. For further queries, please refer to our online FAQs or contact the MOM Contact Centre at +65 6438-5122.