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View All NewsSingapore – Guidelines issued advising employers to provide employment terms in writing
Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower in conjunction with the Labour Movement; comprising the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), and the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), announced that they have developed a set of guidelines to advise employers on issuing key employment terms in writing, reports channelnewsasia.com.
In a media statement, the NTUC said the guidelines would "translate to greater transparency for workers".
It added that providing employees with proper written terms will help them better understand their employment terms, salary, and benefit components; as well as provide proper documentation to the workers.
The Labour Movement indicated that it has been pushing for changes to ensure that workers receive greater protection under the Employment Act, and has also lobbied for similar rights to be legislated for migrant workers.
The Labour Movement noted that there have been cases of migrant workers who are affected by vague employment contracts, so such documentation is expected to facilitate the resolution of any employment-related disputes.
Ms Cham Hui Fong, Assistant Secretary-General of the NTUC, said: "[From] our experience with some of the workers - either they are contract workers or low-wage workers - they actually have no idea whether the employers are complying with the law.”
"So having written employment terms would ensure that there is clarity from both sides. That employers - even when employers change hands - would know that upon recruitment of these group of workers, this is a set of conditions that has been laid out, stipulated and agreed upon by both parties," she added.
The Labour Movement has also encouraged workers to keep a copy of written key employment terms, and clarify with their employers or HR personnel if they do not understand any of the terms.