From 1 April 2019, the Employment Act will be amended to cover all employees. Wrongful dismissal claims will be heard by the ECT instead of by MOM.
The changes made to the Employment Act took effect from 1 April 2019. The changes include:
The changes apply to all employees, including existing and newly hired employees. Employers should ensure that your employment terms and conditions comply with the revised law from 1 April 2019.
For information on the key changes, you can read:
Covering all employees under the Employment Act
Managers and executives with a monthly basic salary of more than $4,500 will be covered by the Employment Act. Currently, they are not covered by the Employment Act.
This means that all employees in Singapore, with the exception of seafarers, domestic workers and public officers, will be covered for core provisions such as:
- Minimum days of annual leave.
- Paid public holidays and sick leave.
- Timely payment of salary.
- Statutory protection against wrongful dismissal.
Seafarers, domestic workers and public officers continue not to be covered under the Employment Act. They are covered by other Acts and regulations due to the nature of their work.
Covering more non-workmen under Part IV of the Employment Act
Non-workmen earning a monthly basic salary of $2,600 or less will be covered under Part IV of the Employment Act.
Part IV of the Employment Act provides additional protections such as hours of work, rest and overtime pay. Currently, it covers workmen earning a monthly basic salary of $4,500 or less and non-workmen earning a monthly basic salary of $2,600 or less.
Wrongful dismissal claims to be heard by ECT
Wrongful dismissal claims will be heard by the ECT. Currently, these claims are heard by the Minister for Manpower.
As the ECT already hears salary-related claims, this shift will provide a more convenient one-stop service to both employees and employers.
Similar to the existing process for salary-related claims, employees have to register their wrongful dismissal claims at TADM for mediation. If the claims cannot be resolved through mediation, they will be referred to the ECT.
For more info, you can refer to: