Employment Act and Its Practical Applications

Course details

The Employment Act is the basic labour law governing employment relations in Singapore. It provides the basic terms and conditions of employment. It also spells out the rights and obligations of employers and employees. More importantly, it imposes labour discipline on the employees and provides avenues for employers to deny them statutory benefits in the event of breach of discipline. This is because the Employment Act was drafted based on the concept of “An honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay.”

Employers are liable for prosecution if they offer terms and conditions that are not in compliance with the Employment Act. It is important therefore that, in the unionised and non-unionised environment,HR practitioners, supervisors, linemanagers and executives should have a good understanding and appreciation of the Employment Act so as to minimise disputes on the employment issues with their staff and union.

Programme Objectives

At the end of programme,participant should be able to:

• Establish if employee can be offered higher starting pay in lieu of overtime claim.
• Determine if employer can dismiss employee who is frequently on sick leave.
• Know if employee can use annual leave to offset notice period.
• Ascertain if employer is obliged to grant maternity leave to employee for her third child.
• Answer if foreign workers are entitled to all benefits under the Employment Act.

Programme Outline

1. Historical Background of Employment Act
2. Contract of Service vs Contract for Service
3. Illegal Contract
4. Termination and Dismissal
5. Salary and Other Statutory Payment
6. Terms and Conditions of Employment
7. Shift Work and Payment: 12-Hour Shift
8. Statutory Leave and Conditions of Payment
9. Employment of Children and Young Persons
10. Protection of Female Employees
11. Other Statutory Provisions