Singapore: Employee rights

Updating authors: Thomas Choo and Bernadette How, Clyde & Co Clasis Singapore
Original author: Ravi Chandran, National University of Singapore

See the legal services provided by the author of International > Singapore, including any discounts/offers for subscribers.

Summary

• The main piece of legislation that provides rights for employees is the Employment Act. (See General)
• There are statutory rules on hours of work but these apply only to some employees in certain circumstances. (See Hours of work)
• There are statutory rules on rest breaks and periods but these apply only to some employees. (See Rest breaks and rest periods)
• There are no general restrictions on Sunday working. (See Sunday work)
• There are statutory rules on annual leave but these apply only to some employees. (See Holiday and holiday pay)
• Pregnant employees and new mothers have various rights. (See Maternity and pregnancy rights)
• A qualifying male employee may take shared parental leave. (See Maternity and pregnancy rights)
• There is an entitlement to paid childcare leave under one of two statutory childcare leave schemes or unpaid infant care leave. (See Childcare leave)
• A qualifying male employee is entitled to paternity leave and shared parental leave. (See Other leave)
• Part-time employees generally have the same statutory entitlements as full-time employees, pro rata to their hours. (See Part-time workers)
• Employees on fixed-term contracts have the same statutory entitlements as employees on open-ended contracts. (See Fixed-term workers)
• The employment contract of any employee in an undertaking or part transferred continues after the transfer as if it had originally been made between the employee and the new owner. (See Transfers of undertakings)
• Employees' wages and salaries have priority over other unsecured debts in the event that the employer becomes insolvent, up to a certain limit. (See Insolvency of employer)
• There are statutory rules on disciplinary procedures but these do not apply to some categories of employee. (See Disciplinary procedures)
• There are various rules regarding the collection, use and disclosure of personal data about an individual. (See Data protection)