[84gunner]

Even before I quit SG, I have already lost all faith in the policies and laws in SG!

Reading many bros' complaints about the WC, and the unfairness in SG's laws, I really sympathise with bros here. I myself have been thru the ordeal. And the ordeal I went thru is quite lengthy too. Even fighting over the T & C took more than 1 year, it was never discussed directly with each other but via our lawyers. She was really stubborn and headstrong, at 1 point, both our lawyers were even thinking of giving up our case. Needless to say, my lawyer's bill came to 5 digit figure. I even had to borrow to pay off my legal bill.

Divorce is not a crime, but still, I was marginalised at work. Nothing I can do about it. Then came the economic recession, needless to say, when it comes to retrenchment, I was 1 of the 1st on the list. I was in and out of employment 4 times in 1 year during those days! I was left with huge debts, that I had to work 3 jobs (day / evening / night jobs) a day, slept average of 3 hrs daily and on the brink of survival. Those days, colleagues, clients and boss in my evening / night jobs that knew about my predicament pity me, often ta bao supper (fried rice, fried noodles) for me. I ate 2 meals daily only, so, often, 1 meal of the day is treated by others. I still remember, my lady boss and another colleague made a polite joke, that they like to ta bao / treat me, because I eat every single grain of the rice, every single strain of noodle, I ate them all up totally clean, can use as mirror! While many people, especially youngsters, like to waste food, no finishing up the food. They feel good to see that I appreciate the food they bought. Yes, I felt like a beggar, but I couldn't care anymore, survival is the only thing in my mind.

Then came a job offer from overseas. Of course, in my mind, I was dying to get outta SG even before that job offer came. Partly, to leave that miserable and unfair place. But a bigger cause is, to get outta the vicious lifestyle / financial cycle of working yr whole life for yr HDB flat, the materialistic chase (or be marginalised), etc. After getting yr salary, start paying off bills and instalments. Then gotta plan the budget and live till next pay day. This vicious cycle will go on for the rest of yr life in SG, unless either u get out (of SG), or there is a "breakthrough" or miracle. I dun buy lotteries (not interested), so this possibility is out for me.

I thought to myself, good, now there is a 2nd chance in life for me to prove myself, get outta SG, to a country I'd never been before (I haven't been to many other countries that time, except Msia and a few times, Indo), nobody knows me, it's a totally new environment for me, everyone interacts with me based on my personality / character, how much I achieve in my career depends solely on my merits / capability, I shouldn't feel marginalised anymore. My achievements will depend solely on my capability. If I don't achieve anything / much, then the problem is with my capability, not SG, not other people's problem, but mine. But If I achieve much more / better than in SG, then let my achievements be facts to prove to myself and my family.

When I left SG, I had only 1 huge suitcase of clothes and 1k SGD cash with me, those are good wishes ang baos from relatives and loans from overdrafts till the max (credit limit). I was in huge debts, no other resources / help I could get already. When I reached the new country, the company will only pay for my lodging in a 3-star hotel for 1 week. I am supposed to take care of my own accomodation. I was totally new to the country and the environment, but I had to be quick. This chance is not easy to come by, and if I didn't put in enough effort and screwed it up, I think I'll regret it for rest of my life. So I searched and rented an apartment, learnt to take public transport all within 1 week. After paying for the rental and deposit and budgetting for transportation, I don't have enough for meals till my 1st pay day. I arrived after HR did their payroll run, so I had to wait for next month's pay day. I ate mostly lunch (with colleagues) during working days. I thought of asking the company for some salary advance to help ease the transition, but I was thinking, maybe better not, so as not to leave a negative impression. Whenever I meet clients for dinners, it's with my senior colleagues / superiors, so I get to eat dinner at company's expense, my colleagues pay the bill and get reimbursed. When I got my 1st paycheck, I heaved a huge sigh of relief!

All these are quite some years ago, till today, no regrets, no looking back at divorcing, and leaving SG. If I didn't divorce, I'm unlikely able to get outta SG, and I'd very likely still be stuck in the vicious lifestyle / financial cycle.

All the above that I went through, is no fault of mine! Thanks to the "gangmen" policies, education "system", environment and laws of SG...