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Public Consultation on Review of the Industrial Relations Act

Employment practices

01 November 2013

  1. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) invites members of the public to give feedback on the review of the Industrial Relations Act (IRA).

    Background
  2. The IRA provides a framework for the prevention and settlement of trade disputes through collective bargaining, conciliation and arbitration.
  3. The Act was amended in 2002 to introduce limited representation to allow rank-and file unions to also represent certain managers and executives on an individual basis in disputes concerning dismissal, victimisation, retrenchment benefits and breach of individual contract. It was more recently amended in 2011 to establish a tripartite mediation process for managers and executives in the non-unionised sector for disputes arising from salary arrears, breach of individual employment contracts and payment of retrenchment benefits.

    Tripartite Workgroup on Union Representation of PMEs
  4. Professionals, managers and executives now form more than 30% of the workforce and their proportion is likely to increase further in the coming years. To update the IRA to reflect the changing workforce profile and workplace norms, a Tripartite Workgroup, with representatives from the MOM, the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) and the National Trade Union Congress (NTUC), was formed earlier this year to review the IRA. The Tripartite Workgroup has deliberated and tabled its recommendations, which incorporate feedback from SNEF and NTUC’s consultations with their respective constituents.

    Call for public feedback
  5. Details of the recommendations by the Tripartite Workgroup can be found in the public consultation document on the REACH website. [See Annex A]  
  6. MOM welcomes all feedback to help ensure the IRA remains relevant and continues to serve the long-term interests of businesses, employees and unions in Singapore. You can write in and give your feedback from 1 November 2013 to 21 November 2013 to:

Labour Relations and Workplaces Division
1500 Bendemeer Road #03-01
Ministry of Manpower Services Centre
Singapore 339946
Email: MOM_Consultations@mom.gov.sg

Annex A - Public Consultation Document - Proposed Amendments to the Industrial Relations Act