Changes to the Employment Act
November 21st, 2008 by ALVIN SOONG
Please note that the amendments to the Employment Act (EA) was passed by Parliament yesterday. These amendments will come into effect on 1st Jan 2009.
The key amendments to the EA are :
(I) Revised Coverage of the Employment Act
* Coverage extended to confidential staff (e.g. accounts assistants, HR clerks and secretaries)
* Junior managers and executives earning a basic monthly salary of $2,500 and below against non-payment of salary are protected and have access to MOM Labour Court for salary claims.
* Raise salary ceiling for non-workmen from a basic monthly salary of $1,600 to $2,000 under Part IV EA relating to Rest Days, Conditions of Service.
* Introduce a new Part IV salary ceiling for workmen at a basic monthly salary of $4,500.
* Re-define part-time employees from those who work less than 30 hours a week to those who work less than 35 hours a week.
(II) Employment standards and benefits
* Paid sick leave and paid public holiday extended to apply to all employees covered under EA.
* Reduce qualifying period for paid sick leave from 6 months to 3 months of completed service. Phase in sick leave entitlements between the completion of 3 months and 6 months of service.
* Allow employees to obtain medical certificates (MC) from public medical institutions for the purpose of going on paid sick leave, and not confined to MC issued from employer appointed doctors (if there is one) for paid sick leave.
(III) Penalties for infringements of Employment Act
* Increase amount of maximum penalty fines and composition offences for most offences under the EA.
A table highlighting the key amendments to the EA is attached.
Sources: Employment (Amendment) Bill, www.mom.gov.sg
Click here to download file:
employment_act_amendment2008.pdf
