The Legal Services Division (LSD) provides legal advice and services to the Ministry’s divisions and departments, imposes administrative financial penalties, prosecutes offenders for contravention of Acts administered by the Ministry and adjudicates work injury compensation claims.
Mission
Administering justice through fair prosecution and regulatory enforcement, and providing quality, pragmatic and timely legal solutions to advance the Ministry’s mission.
Vision
A well respected, efficient and cohesive Legal Services Division, known for its high quality of work, practical and prompt advice and, its teamwork – always caring for its people and the professionalism of its officers.
Structure
LSD is led by a Divisional Director, who oversees the Prosecution & Regulatory Enforcement Department (PRD), the Civil Branch (Civil) and the Planning and Organisation Branch.
PRD and Civil are each headed by a Director or Deputy Director, supported by Senior Assistant Directors and other officers.
Functions
The Prosecution & Regulatory Enforcement Department is responsible for prosecuting offences under laws which are within the Ministry’s purview. These include:
- Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990
- Employment Act 1968
- Employment Agencies Act 1958
- Foreign Employee Dormitories Act 2015
- Workplace Safety and Health Act 2006
- Work Injury Compensation Act 2019
- Immigration Act 1959
- Child Development and Co-savings Act 2001
For information on Court Processes, please refer to the State Courts’ website.
PRD also impose administrative financial penalties for regulatory infringements and contraventions under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990 and the Employment Act 1968. Directions may also be issued to offenders to bring the infringement or contravention to an end (e.g. to stop a certain action) or to take a certain action to remedy the effects of the infringement or contravention.
The Civil Branch is responsible for:
- Providing legal advice to the Ministry on its policies and operations.
- Drafting and vetting contracts, tenders, memoranda of understanding, licence agreements and other documents.
- Handling civil litigation involving the Ministry or its officers.
- Assisting in reviewing, drafting and vetting the legislation administered by the Ministry.
- Adjudicating and hearing cases under the Work Injury Compensation Act 2019.
- Undertaking legal policy projects and proposing legislative or process reforms.
- Pursuing debt recovery actions or proceedings to recover unpaid administrative financial penalties owed to the Ministry.
- Advising on international law issues and representing the Ministry and Singapore at the International Labour Organization.