Written Answer to PQ on checks on illegal overtime cases and prevalence of trend in specific sectors

NOTICE PAPER NO. 3385 OF 2025 FOR THE SITTING ON 4 FEBRUARY 2025
QUESTION NO. 7143 FOR ORAL ANSWER

MP: Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye

To ask the Minister for Manpower (a) how frequently does the Ministry conduct checks for incidents of illegal overtime, where the number of overtime hours exceed 72 hours in a month; (b) how many cases has the Ministry enforced in the past five years; and (c) whether there is an increasing trend of illegal overtime incidents in specific sectors.

Answer:

1. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) conducts around 5,000 Workright inspections yearly to check on employers’ compliance with employment laws, including on regulations against excessive overtime. Employers found to have lapses are referred to Employment Act clinics for training and rectification. More serious enforcement actions such as fines and prosecution will be taken if the lapses identified are more severe or systemic.

2. Our calibrated enforcement efforts have been effective. In the past five years, there was no uptrend of cases involving excessive overtime, neither overall nor in any particular sector. On average, MOM received complaints on about 50 employers each year for excessive overtime exceeding 72 hours in a month and took enforcement action on around 25% of these employers. MOM will continue to educate employers and take enforcement action to ensure compliance with the law.