SAF Portal

I had to apply for make-up pay for the reservist training attended by my 

employee. My login, with SingPass, to the SAF portal was rejected for 

some unknown reason. I received a message to call the SAF call center

1800-3676767

The automated messages programmed at the call center was quite inconsiderate.

I was asked first to identify my category - whether I was in SAF or Home Team. I 

did not fit into it. But there was no other option.

I tried SAF and was led to another automated message listing a number of

enquiry types. Again, I fitted into none of the pre-arranged choices. I tried the closest

choice and had to wait for someone to pick up the call. No one picked up the call. I gave up.

I sent my enquiry by e-mail and received a reply to call the same call center 

number.

My employee agreed to submit a manually filled form and asked me to sign and 

stamp it. Subsequently, I still received an e-mail to verify some transaction in the

SAF portal. My login to the portal failed again. 

I received the same message to call the call center. I tried and once again, 

got lost among the automated messages.

This transaction must have wasted two hours of my time. I wonder how many 

employers faced the same type of difficulty. Surely, it is time for SAF to wake up

and change their process? Surely a form that is signed by the employee and 

employer is sufficient and does not need to be re-verified? 

Can our economy afford to waste so much time on these mindless processes?

Tan Kin Lian