Labour Court to handle PMEs salary dispute

Labour Court to handle PMEs salary dispute
By Mustafa Shafawi | Posted: 27 August 2010 1254 hrs

SINGAPORE: Professionals, Managers and Executives (PMEs) earning monthly salaries of up to S$4,500 will soon be able to make use of the Labour Court's adjudication process for their salary disputes.

The Manpower Ministry (MOM) said the court will be able to handle salary disputes involving sums of up to S$20,000.

Based on its data, the ministry said all claims lodged by PMEs fall within this limit.

The provision is part of a proposed tripartite employment dispute resolution mechanism for PMEs and employers, which was first announced in January.

The mechanism which covers PMEs earning monthly salaries of up to S$4,500 monthly is now being put up for a two-week public consultation.

MOM said the proportion of PMEs in the workforce has increased significantly and is likely to increase in the future.

With increased economic volatility and shorter business cycles, it said more PMEs may face employment disputes with their employers.

The mechanism provides PMEs and employers an avenue to settle their employment disputes speedily and at low-cost.

MOM said this will help bring about more harmonious workplace relations.

It said potentially, more than 500,000 or half of all PMEs in the workforce and their employers will have access to the new employment dispute mechanism involving adjudication and tripartite mediation.

-CNA/wk

- wong chee tat :)