Commentary

Why Singapore is still ASEAN's best business hub

The results of AmCham’s recently published 2014 ASEAN Business Outlook Survey clearly show that U.S. companies remain bullish on growth in Singapore and throughout ASEAN.

Commentary

Why Singapore is still ASEAN's best business hub

The results of AmCham’s recently published 2014 ASEAN Business Outlook Survey clearly show that U.S. companies remain bullish on growth in Singapore and throughout ASEAN.

Commentary

Why Singapore businesses need excellence as standard

Singapore has become internationally renowned for its business performance, but as global competition increases and the economy in South East Asia continues to struggle, excellence in business performance has become a necessity for all.

Commentary

Why Singaporeans should not be afraid of talking to strangers

Everyone accepts the importance of networking. Many of us get our best work through personal introductions, or hire our best people on the basis of a personal recommendation. We know the power of word of mouth.

Commentary

Things you need to know about opening up the U.S. to Singapore businesses

Recent economic trends have highlighted that the diagnosed death of the US economy may have been grossly exaggerated. Indeed, perhaps the doctors should be sued. While there are, no doubt, structural issues around national debt, housing, healthcare, and unemployment - there have been some positive signs that things are on the right track, and Singapore businesses looking to develop or expand export markets should take note.

Commentary

Here's how to build a very successful business culture

Increasingly, we are seeing local soccer teams trying to stock their lists of players with high-paid talent at the top of their game in their quest to win. Examples of this were seen in Singapore when Croatian-born Mirko Grabovac, Brazilian-born Egmar Goncalves and English defender Daniel Bennett were all brought in to strengthen the national soccerteam.

Commentary

8 tips to grow your salary in Singapore today

With the ‘Fair Consideration Framework’ measure that is recently introduced by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), it gives the local and foreign PMEs in Singapore, a more level playing field in the job market.

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Can Singapore's economic success be sustained?

The world economy is increasingly connected. Crisis in one part of the world can create ripples of instability to distant nations. A recent example is the Syria unrest that had caused financial uncertainty in global equity markets as investors flock to safe havens such as the US treasury. Countries can no longer be fully insulated from events far from their shore.

Commentary

How Singaporeans can think differently in this competitive time

Our landscape is changing. We have to think differently. A question is: can we?

Commentary

3 pieces of advice for successful networking

Dating and business networking. Most often, two separate topics and scenarios. However, there are a number of striking similarities. First impressions, the fear of rejection, the presence of alcohol, and holding out hope that you’ll get a ‘follow-up’ call or email—it’s all basically the same.

Commentary

Will the effort to hire locals first affect the foreign influx?

From August 2014 if you want to hire a foreigner you will have to go through the process of advertising for a local, first. Ministry of Manpower announced the new measures that will force employers to use the Ministry of Workforce Development Agency job bank for 14 days to advertise. The aim is to try and increase the amount of locals employed before being allowed to employ a foreigner.

Commentary

Does work still work for 21st century businesses in Singapore?

Adopting a more flexible approach can offer organisations access to a much wider range of talent.

Commentary

5 things Singapore bosses must know when drafting an employment contract

As a first-time director or a manager in medium-sized companies who’s on a hiring spree, you’re thinking: “What clauses should a Singapore employment contract constitute?” There are five key considerations when drafting one.

Commentary

Here's the road map to everyday negotiation in Singapore

Deals and agreements are made every day in the work environment, whether internally with colleagues or externally with business partners. Disputes are settled, synergy is created, and the vital process of negotiation determines the outcome for each party involved.

Commentary

How Singapore expats can effectively plan an 'international retirement'

Offshore Portable Retirement Planning for Expats in Singapore

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Debunking the 5 common myths of investing

If you ask the ordinary person in Singapore, what they think about investing their hard earned money, most of them will probably want to stay clear from it.

Commentary

How to keep the digitally-savvy, millennial Singaporeans happy

Millennials, also known as Generation Y, are those belonging to the last batch of the 20th century, and the first truly digital people of the new millennium. They were born from the early 1980s to the early 2000s, so technically, their ages range somewhere between 13 and 33.

Commentary

What Singapore's new maritime labour laws really imply

On 20 August 2013 the Maritime Labour Convention (“MLC”) came into force. It could be argued that this brings the shipping sector, kicking and screaming, into line with other generally accepted international labour conventions—but that would be, perhaps, an over-simplification of what is are complex cross-border issues.

Commentary