Editorial MessageIn spite of ASPRI’s short span of a quarter into the year, many

events took place which saw plenty of opportunities for

friendships/partnership formed for our members and council

members and their clients.

Besides these, a whole range of networking events initiated by

ASPRI, the Association has also been working closer than ever

with government agencies, creating greater engagement with our

members through the Association’s activities.

Furthermore, informative sessions have been conducted to

update companies on the available government assistance programmes.

Read ahead to find out more about our activities. Feel free to

approach any of our Secretariat staff and we will be more glad to

assist you on any industry matters.

Editorial Advisory:

Mr. Charles Quek (President)

Mr. Lim Jit Say (Executive Director)

Editor:

Ms. Chantal Quek (Senior Manager),

Ms. Corlissa Shen (Executive

We welcome contributions of news

related to the process supporting

industry. Please send your

contributions or queries to:

chantal@aspri.com.sg

ASPRI Secretariat

26 Boon Lay Way

#01-88 Tradehub 21

S’pore 609970

t: 65605051 f: 65609692

pg 2Lohei Dinner

cum MOU

Signing

pg 3Inaugural

Youth Futsal

Tournament

pg 4

Excusive

Annual

Dialogue

pg 6

Manpower

Policy

Updates

pg 7

Secretariat

Updates

UEN : S97SS0046G

Jan – Mar 2013

Mr. Charles Quek was first elected into ASPRI

Executive Council (previously called ASPRI Steering

Committee) back in 2002. After serving ASPRI for

ten years, he was elected as President in 2012. The

Lohei was significant to him as he spoke as President on

that evening and also highlighted the plans of ASPRI

and its 7 committees.

ASPRI PROSPERITY LOHEI DINNER

2013 CUM MOU SIGNING WITH THE

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (WDA)

On 20 Feb 2013, ASPRI held its Annual Prosperity

Lohei Dinner at the Singapore Island Country Club

(SICC). The esteemed event saw an impressive 389

attendees from 86 member companies, including 50

invited guests from 20 companies, such as:

ExxonMobil

Shell Eastern Petroleum

PCS, and others.

ASPRI's Advisor, SMS. Lee Yi Shyan (Senior Minister

of State, Minister of Trade and Industry & Ministry of

National Development) graced the evening as Guest of

Honour.

Following the significant event of the MOU Signing

for the Development and Apprenticeship (DNA)

Programme, it was a night of performances by a live

jazz band, a windfall lucky draw winnings and

networking between our member companies,

government agencies and plant owners. Press journalists

from the Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) were also

present to cover the event.

Events Highlights

DID YOU KNOW?

Through the DNA programme, WDA

pledges $1 million to support these

companies, by providing structured

development and career progression

pathways for 46 locals over the next 2

years.

During which, these locals will undergo

a 12-month programme that will

comprise of company-specific

training to facilitate entry of new

workers into the industry.

These 5 participating companies are:

• Hai Leck Engineering (Pte) Ltd

• HSL Constructor Pte Ltd

• Mun Siong Engineering Ltd

• Rotary Engineering Ltd

• Shao Fook Engineering Pte Ltd

Signing of MOU with Mr. Ang Chai Soon (Director of

Healthcare Retail & Business Services Division, WDA) (3rd

from right) and the 5 participating companies.

A night of

entertainment,

celebration and

festivities.

Plenty of opportunities for networking Attendees truly enjoyed themselves

that night

Mr. Charles

Quek posing

for a photo

with ASPRI

Advisor SMS

Lee Yi Shyan

pg 2

On 2 March 2013, ASPRI held its Inaugural Youth Futsal Tournament.

Initiated by the ASPRI’s Youth Committee, registration was full with 16

participating teams in spite of it being our 1st tournament. Despite the extreme

weather conditions (where there was both scorching heat and pouring rain), the

participants were all praises and had no complaints. The passion amongst the

players were so strong that some were already looking forward to the next

tournament.

The event proved to be an excellent occasion where young people in the Process

Supporting Industry could network, form new friendships, strengthen existing

bonds, and still have fun.

ASPRI’S INAUGURAL YOUTH

FUTSAL TOURNAMENT

Events Highlights

Champion – PCS (Petrochemical

Corporation of Singapore Pte Ltd)

Drew 2-2 with Austin United in normal time. Won

3-1 on penalties

1st Runner Up – Austin United (Austin Energy

Asia Pte Ltd)

Drew 2-2 with PCS in normal time. Lost 3-1 on

penalties

2nd Runner Up – Rotary Stars (Rotary Engineering

Ltd)

Beat ExxonMobil 2-1 in the 3rd/4th placing match

Top Scorer – Mr. Vijayakumar Naidu

(Petrochemical Corporation of Singapore Pte Ltd)

Golden Boot Award with 7 goals

WINNERS

The Champions – Team PCS

1st Runner Up –

Austin United

Despite the extreme weather conditions, the

participants were all praises.

pg 3

Events HighlightASPRI ANNUAL EXCLUSIVE

DIALOGUE WITH MOF,

MOM, MTI AND IRAS

On 3 April 2013, ASPRI held its Annual

Exclusive Dialogue session for member

companies and the various government agencies,

namely the Ministry of Finance (MOF), Ministry

of Manpower (MOM), Ministry of Trade and

Industries (MTI) and also the Inland Revenue

Authority of Singapore (IRAS).

Presenters from the government agencies

presented on updates from Budget 2013, such as

corporate tax reduction, Wage Credit Scheme

(WCS) and also PIC bonus. Thereafter, a Panel

was present to answer questions and address

issues raised by the attendees. It was an

informative and candid, and many honest issues

were raised.

Attendees who were present had

the chance to raise their concerns

and questions.

Panelists (from left): Mr. Tan Kiat How (Director of Economic Programmes)

from MOF, Mrs. Penny Han (Divisional Director) from Ministry of Manpower

(MOM), Mr. James Goh (Immediate Past President, ASPRI 9th Executive Council)

from ASPRI, Mr. Chng Kai Fong (Director, Resource Division) from the Minsitry of

Trade and Industries (MTI), and Mr. Anthony Tan (Manager, Corporate Tax

Division) from Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS).

The dialogue would be

useful in helping

businesses to sustain or

even grow, especially for

the Small and Medium

Enterprises (SMEs).

MEMBERS’ NIGHTOn the 3rd April 2013, ASPRI

had its Member's Night at the

Lustre Lounge Bar, where

members were encouraged to invite

their clients to joim. The event saw a

wonderful turnout of 76

representatives from 34 member

companies. These representatives

include CEOs, directors, business

development managers and other

top management personnel.

It was a fruitful

time of

networking for

our attendees,

forming budding

friendships with one another and

also catching up with old friends.

Companies like CTCI, EastmanChemical, ExxonMobil, Interion,Jurong Aromatics Corporation,Neste Oil, Shell were present.

ASPRI is pleased to receive

sponsorship from our

member companies for this

Members’ Night, namely:

• HSL Constructor Pte Ltd

• Mun Siong Engineering

Limited.

pg 4

If interested in sponsorships, please contact

Ms. Chantal Quek at tel: 6560 5051.

Business Developments

ASPRI SEMINARS ON GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMMES (GAP)

Since the 20th July 2012, ASPRI has been conducting a series of 5 seminars

regarding the various Government Assistance Programmes on a regular

basis. These seminars highlight those schemes arising from the recent Budget,

and would see a turn out of at least 20 attendees per session.

Furthermore, the ASPRI-Institute

of Process Industry (ASPRI-IPI)

shared on the DNA Programme

and other relevant training courses

they provide, which would be

beneficial for members.

•Corporate Income Tax (CIT)

Rebate

•HR Capability Toolkit

•Business Advisory

Programme (BAP)

•Wage Credit Scheme (WCS)

•Productivity Innovation

Credit (PIC) Bonus

•Capability Development

Grant (CDG), etc

Topics covered during GAP:

pg 5

Highlights from Singapore Budget 2013

Qualifying Criteria for S-Pass Workers

MOM will increase the S Pass qualifying salary criteria from $2,000 to $2,200 as of 1 Jul 2013 (with older and more experienced S Pass applicants will need to qualify at higher salaries). It was also mentioned that Foreign Worker Levies, Work Passes and also S Passes wil l increase in 1 Jul 2014 and 1 Jul 2015

Changes to Foreign Worker Levy (FWL) Rates(current till 2015):

New Salary Rules for hiring Foreign Workers

From July 2013, the salary threshold for full-time local will be increased from S$850 to S$1000. Locals earning below S$1000 but more than S$500 will be considered as 0.5 local worker regardless if he/ she is working as full or part-time worker.

Wage Credit Scheme (WCS)

Under this scheme, the government will co-fund 40% of Singaporean employees with wages $4,000 or below for YA2013-2015.

NEW: PIC Bonus

With minimum spending of $5,000 on qualifying PIC activities, businesses will enjoy a dollar-to-dollar matching bonus (up to $15,000) in addition to existing PIC benefits for YA2013-2015. This bonus seeks to support businesses in the costs incurred for improvement in productivity and innovation.

Corporate Income Tax (CIT) Rebate

Initiated by IRAS, a three-year CIT rebate of 30% capped at $30,000 per Year of Assessment (“YA”) from YA 2013 to YA 2015. This scheme is given to help companies alleviate rising business costs over the medium-term.

Road Tax Rebate

In order to relieve business costs, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has set aside $46 million to provide 30% road tax rebate for goods vehicles (including goods-cum-passenger vehicles), buses and taxis for one year. this rebate will take place from 1 July 2013.

Increase in CPF Contribution Rates

CPF has introduced the increase in contribution rates for older workers (Aged 36 and above) with a monthly salary of $50 to $1,500. This scheme will commence in 1 Jan 2014, with the rates as follows:

SME Talent Programme

Launched by SPRING Singapore, together with industry chambers and trade associations and chambers, this programme seeks to attract polytechnic and ITE students over the next five years to join SMEs upon graduation.

SOURCE: http://www.singaporebudget.gov.sg/budget_2013/key_initiatives/business1.html#s1

pg 6

Income CPF Contribution rates

Employer Employee

>$50 - <$500 Raised to the full CPF

contribution rates of

workers earning more

than $1,500.

No mandatory CPF contributions required.

Gradually increases with wage, from 0% (at income of $500/month) to the full contribution rates (at income of

$750/month). $500 - <$750

$750 - <$1500 Raised to the full CPF contribution rates of workers earning more than $1,500.

IE Singapore

Market Readiness Assistance (MRA) Grant

Established by IE Singapore, this grant will help Singapore-based companies’ overseas venture by co-funding 50% of eligible costs, capped at $20,000 per year for each company. For more information, do visit the IE Singapore website.

SOURCE:http://www.iesingapore.gov.sg/wps/wcm/connect/775a5d004f18f068b1b9b51125e4d0d1/Market_Readiness_Assistance_Grant.pdf?MOD=AJPERES

Current 1 Jul 2012 1 Jan 2013 1 Jul 2013

DR Levy ($)Skilled/ Unskilled

DR Levy ($)Skilled/ Unskilled

DR Levy ($)Skilled/ Unskilled

DR Levy ($)Skilled/ Unskilled

Process (Work Permits)

MYE

MYE-

waiver

≤87.5% 180/300

380

≤87.5% 210/310

470

≤87.5% 230/330

500

≤87.5% 250/350

550

Existing Schedule Proposed Extension

1 Jul 2013 1 Jul 2014 1 Jul 2015

DR Levy ($)R1/ R2

DR Levy ($)R1/ R2

DR Levy ($)R1/ R2

Process (Work Permits)

MYE

MYE-

waiver

≤87.5% 250/350

550

≤87.5% 210/310

600/750

≤87.5% 230/330

600/800

UPCOMING EVENTS

22 May 2013: ASPRI Golf Tournament

12 June 2013: ASPRI Members’ Night

STAFF TURNOVER

Nov 2011 to Mar 2013

New Staff Arrivals

The ASPRI Secretariat would like to welcome three new members into its family:

1. Ms. Serene Tang – Accounts Executive, ASPRI (contact email: serene@aspri.com.sg)

2. Ms. Caphine Lee – General Manager, ASPRI-IPI (contact email: caphine@ipi.org.sg)

3. Ms. Sarah Heng – Sales Manager, ASPRI-IPI (contact email: sarah@ipi.org.sg)

Staff Resignations

1. Ms. May Ho – Asst. Manager, Accounts, ASPRI

2. Mr. Wong Chin Yeow – General Manager, ASPRI-IPI

COMMITTEES OF ASPRI

•Aims to promote the best interests of ASPRI members through events/activities

•Also, to expand the network with relevant organizations, institutions, TACs and even government agencies

ASPRI Youth Committee:

• Exists to gather the youths (Singaporeans and PRs) from the member companies who are in the Executive level and above to organise activities/ initiatives so as to benefit the process supporting industry as a whole and simultaneously creating a common identity among the youths.

Membership & General Affairs Committee

•Promotes productivity their mechanization, automation and best work practices

Productivity Committee

•Promotes safety awareness, to encourage continuous improvement in members’ safety practices

•Provides a platform for exchange of WSH initiatives

Safety Committee

•Seeks to ensure proper accounting records, better utilization and higher growth of funds

Finance Committee

•Provide focus and direction to member companies in managing their Human Capital challenges

HR Working Committee

•Promotes internationalization

•Helps member companies to explore, establish and expand overseas businesses through partnering with government agencies such as IE Singapore as well as overseas similar TACs and potential business partners

Internationalisation Committee

•Development of training courses relevant to and necessary for our industry

Manpower Development Committee

for more information, feel free to call our Secretariat

office at: 6560 5051.

Pg 7