Redditors outrage over Singapore job ad offering S$1,000 base pay for combined HR, sales and admin roles

SINGAPORE: A Reddit post highlighting a job listing offering a basic salary of S$1,000 for a multi-role position has sparked outrage online, with netizens questioning how such pay levels could be justified given the scope of responsibilities involved.

In a post shared on 22 December, a Reddit user drew attention to a job advertisement by a company called Nexus 777, describing it as “absolutely insane”.

The listing sought a single individual to take on a dual role as a Personal Assistant and HR Manager, while also overseeing sales operations and administrative support.

Wide-ranging responsibilities outlined

According to the job advertisement, the successful candidate would be responsible for end-to-end recruitment and talent acquisition, including screening applications, conducting first-round interviews, onboarding new hires, and managing employment contracts.

Beyond HR duties, the role also involved leading and motivating a team of sales telemarketers, overseeing outreach to a database of 6,000 contacts, coordinating lead generation efforts, and tracking team performance and incentives.

Administrative and operational responsibilities included preparing property co-brokage paperwork, managing sales-related legal documents, coordinating communications among introducers, buyers, agents, bankers and the co-founder, and ensuring all agreements were signed and processed correctly.

Pay details draw sharp criticism

Despite the extensive scope of work, the job listing stated a basic monthly salary of S$1,000.

Additional incentives included performance-based commissions of up to S$1,900 per month and a retention bonus of up to S$3,400 after 12 months. Total potential monthly earnings were listed as up to S$6,300, excluding CPF contributions.

The Reddit user said a base salary of at least S$3,000 to S$4,000 had been expected after reading through the responsibilities, but expressed shock upon reaching the compensation section.

According to the Ministry of Manpower’s website, Singapore does not have a minimum wage, with salaries subject to negotiation and agreement between employers and employees or their trade unions.

Netizens react: ‘How is this even legal?’

The post quickly drew a flurry of reactions, with many netizens expressing disbelief that such a role would come with a S$1,000 basic salary.

Several users pointed out that even part-time jobs they had previously held paid more, while others sarcastically suggested that the job poster may have forgotten to add another zero to the salary figure.

Some commenters questioned how such pay could be legal, given that the role effectively combined responsibilities of a sales manager, HR manager, personal assistant and administrative executive. 

Others criticised what they saw as employers relying heavily on commission structures while offering minimal guaranteed pay.

One user likened the setup to multi-level marketing or commission-heavy sales firms, noting that such companies often provide very low basic salaries while expecting staff to earn mainly through incentives.

However, some users noted that while the offer was “terrible”, it was not illegal to advertise a job with such a low salary.

Another user alleged that the advertisement was not intended for local jobseekers, suggesting that the low pay could be used to justify applying for additional S Pass quotas on the grounds that locals were unwilling to take up the position.