SINGAPORE: In the heart of Singapore’s bustling work culture, a growing number of individuals silently navigate the challenges of being ‘overemployed’ – holding down two full-time jobs to make ends meet. Overemployed Singaporeans are often those with low wages, but nowadays, it has further extended its reach to white-collar professionals who leverage remote and flexible work opportunities spawned by the pandemic.
The Straits Times reports on those who struggle with this dilemma. One is Ms X, a dedicated school teacher in her early 30s, silently shouldering the responsibility of being her family’s sole breadwinner. Despite a monthly take-home pay of S$3,000 from her teaching job, she has been working a second full-time role as a tutor for a tuition company since 2020. The additional income is crucial to supporting her young children and elderly parents, whose medical expenses sometimes exceed what her teaching salary can cover.
The Ministry of Manpower’s statistics from January 2023 reveal that 3.1% of the Singaporean workforce is engaged in multiple jobs, a slight dip from the 10-year peak of 3.5% in 2021. Manpower Minister Tan See Leng reported in September 2022 that 53,200 Singaporeans were employed in two or more jobs, with half earning less than S$1,500 per job monthly.
While these numbers shed light on the economic necessity behind ‘overemployment,’ they also raise legal and ethical questions. Some individuals, such as Ms X, face potential repercussions from their primary employers due to contractual obligations. The Ministry of Education (MOE), Ms X’s employer, explicitly prohibits teachers from concurrently working for tuition or enrichment centres, emphasising a commitment to disciplinary action against those violating such standards.
According to an MOE spokesperson, “MOE takes a serious view of misconduct by our staff, and will not hesitate to take disciplinary action against those who fail to adhere to our standards of conduct and discipline.”
Also, “The employee should not work for a direct competitor of their employer. To do so can be a ground for dismissal,” said Lawyer S. Suressh, Head of Harry Elias Partnership’s employment practice.
Another ‘overemployed’ Singaporean is Germaine, a 25-year-old student juggling two remote customer service jobs to pay for her studies. She manages her workload by alternating attention between clients and coordinating with colleagues to handle customer calls efficiently. Despite the exhaustion, Germaine carves out time for a social life. She takes the time to exercise three evenings a week and enjoys having dinner with her family and meeting with friends.
The ethical conflict surrounding moonlighting or working secondary jobs without employer knowledge is evident in cases like Mr Q, a product manager running a graphic design business on the side. His decision to supplement his income is rooted in the financial challenges posed by supporting a family and paying for his children’s education. While his actions may breach his employment contract, Mr Q rationalises it as necessary for his family’s well-being.
Jasper Toh, principal consultant of human resources firm Impact Best, highlights the potential consequences. He stated, “In some instances, employers might give little to no notice before firing employees found to be moonlighting. They might even notify prospective employers of these individuals about their moonlighting activities if a character referral is requested.”
Despite these challenges and risks, those navigating two full-time jobs remain unapologetic about their choices, noting the financial necessity driving their decisions.
Ms X encapsulates this sentiment, stating, ” I don’t think anybody wants to be in the situation of working two jobs full-time and never having a break from anything. Some of us do it because we desperately need the money to keep our family afloat.”/TISG