Education, housing and CPF considered for foreign faculty members: Minister

SINGAPORE - The total remuneration package for each faculty member is negotiated and decided separately based on various factors and is not based on the nationality of the faculty member, said Mr Heng Swee Keat, the Minister for Education.

He said that the competitive situation, the seniority and standing of the faculty member, and the specific circumstances for the hire are all factors that are taken into account.

Mr Heng was responding in a written response to Assoc Prof Tan Kheng Boon Eugene's query about the benefits and allowances that non-Singaporean academic staff are entitled to in local universities and polytechnics.

He added that allowances and housing subsidies are granted to non-Singaporean faculty and returning Singaporean faculty alike, although the exact amounts may differ across the various institutions.

Some institutions also grant children education allowances to non-Singaporean faculty to take into account the fact that school fees for non-Singaporean children are higher than that for Singaporean children in Singapore.

The minister also pointed out that while Singaporeans and Permanent Residents receive Central Provident Fund contributions, non-Singaporean faculty are not entitled to it and as such may receive a gratuity payment instead.